In this article, we will take a look at 15 affordable beachfront retirement communities. If you wish to skip our detailed analysis, you may go directly to 5 Affordable Beachfront Retirement Communities.

Baby Boomers are retiring by the millions. Transitioning into the golden years can require many of them to find ideal retirement communities that are both affordable and ideal for living.

Retirement Dilemmas

In the United States of America, 56 million adults are 65 or older today. By 2040, this figure will climb to a staggering 80 million people. 234,000 of these individuals have moved for their retirement, a 4% spike from the previous year. The spiking figures imply that more and more retirees are considering a move for their golden years, with factors such as climate and affordability backing their moves.

In fact, a nationwide survey by Motley Fool reveals that over 40% of workers today plan to move to a different region or city when they retire. Since many states do not tax social security or pensions, retirees are inclined to flock to these states. Out of these, the most desirable destination state for retirees is Florida, offering affordable places to retire that are considered among the best for retirees.

However, retirement moves may not be all that easy. CNBC highlights that mortgage expenses have been doubling since January 2023, coupled with a severe housing shortage. This implies that relocations may not prove to be very futile for prospective retirees. Rent-price gains have remained above average in 2023, at 8.4%, while rent growth rates reached almost 7% during the same time.

While price growths are expected to taper off by the second half of 2023, renters are still paying more as yet. The best foot forward for retirees during these times is to consider retiring in the suburbs or sharing accommodation with someone else, notes Hale from Realtor.com. Retirees can also consider awesome places to retire on $3,000 a month or less such as Shreveport in Louisiana, Lubbock and Laredo in Texas, and Tucson in Arizona, to name a few.

Beachfront Retirement Communities

Almost everyone loves the beach, and many wish to retire near them. While there are numerous retirement communities near the beach that can help retirees live by the shore, affordability can be a huge deciding factor. For this reason, it is wise to arrive at such affordable places in a rational way. First, one can look up the best beach towns to retire in the world, such as Manarola in Italy, Polperro in England, or even Tamarindo in Costa Rica.

If looking for options within the U.S., look up the top U.S. beach towns for retirees, such as Portland in Maine, Jacksonville in Florida, and Myrtle Beach in South Carolina, amongst others. Within these towns, the next thing to do is to explore theaffordable communities, such as Riviera Beach in Florida, Leisure World Seal Beach in Seal Beach, California, and South Shore Falls in Apollo Beach.

Retirement community builders such as Toll Brothers, Inc. (NYSE:TOL), Taylor Morrison Home Corporation (NYSE: TMHC), and other senior housing companies such as Brookdale Senior Living Inc. (NYSE:BKD) have founded numerous such communities that retirees can choose from. Retirees may also be interested to discover the best-kept secret places to retire if they wish for a low-key, laid-back retirement style. Options include Savannah in Georgia, Tarpon Springs in Florida, and Asheville in North Carolina, amongst many others.

It is true that living on one’s own may seem like a good choice for many retirees, but many others find retirement communities to be more engaging and fun. Toll Brothers, Inc. (NYSE:TOL), Taylor Morrison Home Corporation (NYSE: TMHC), and Brookdale Senior Living Inc. (NYSE:BKD) have founded many of these luxurious communities to choose from. Several retirement communities of Toll Brothers, Inc. (NYSE:TOL) are in the Northeast; many of Taylor Morrison Home Corporation (NYSE: TMHC) communities can be found in Florida, while Brookdale Senior Living Inc. (NYSE:BKD) is spread across 41 states.

Methodology

In order to compile the list of 15 affordable beachfront retirement communities, we began by rounding up the most affordable beach towns in the United States. Three (1,2,3) sources were used to determine such beach towns. Forums on Quora and Reddit were also taken into account to assess opinions from retirees about affordable beach towns they prefer.

Next, we compiled the list of retirement communities within our sources and selected beachfront retirement communities from amongst them. Communities were then ranked based on their different starting price ranges for homes (low, mid, high) in a descending order of lowest absolute prices. We have mentioned home price ranges in multiples of 1,000.

Here are the top affordable beachfront retirement communities:

15. Sea Breeze at Lacey – Forked River

Price Range: Mid $400s

Pristinely nestled on the Jersey shore, Sea Breeze at Lacey is an age-restricted community in Orange County, New Jersey. Active adults will enjoy their time at Sea Breeze at Lacey with all the amenities that they offer. A 13,000-square-foot clubhouse offers a state-of-the-art fitness center, saunas, and even an aerobics room. Residents can also socialize at the ballroom, coffee bar, arts and crafts, and similar areas. There are lots of walking and biking trails and even a heated pool for residents to enjoy.

14. Sea Isle Landing – Long Beach

Price Range: Low $400s 

Snuggled on Alamitos Bay in Long Beach, California, Sea Isle Landing is an affordable retirement community to enjoy. Many homes enjoy a waterfront view, and residents can walk to the beach. There are plenty of dining venues, entertainment options, and recreation to enjoy around the community. The community features condo homes with custom tile work, recessed lighting, USB ports, soft-close cabinet hinges, and other facilities to make senior living easier. Daily conveniences such as grocery stores and pharmacies are nearby too.

13. Del Webb at Grande Dunes Myrtle Beach

Price Range: High $300s 

Award-winning building developer Del Webb has established the retirement community in Myrtle Beach called Del Webb at Grand Dunes. The community features single-family and attached homes with resort-style amenities. There is an onsite clubhouse as well as a Grand Dunes Ocean Club located on the Atlantic Ocean’s sandy beaches.

The private beach comes fully equipped with lounge chairs so that residents can enjoy and relax. There is even a lifestyle director that plans out activities for the residents every day. State-of-the-art fitness centers, arts and crafts studios, pools, and gathering spaces are only some of the various facilities offered.

12. Latitude Margaritaville Daytona Beach

Price Range: Mid $300s 

This Daytona Beach retirement community called Latitude Margaritaville provides live entertainment, scrumptious dining, and recreation. Aerobics studio, state-of-the-art fitness center, lap pools, and whirl spas are some of the facilities offered at this community. Walking trails span across the community, offering a tropical landscape to enjoy.

There are numerous pickleball, tennis, and bocce ball courts, along with a warm pool and a poolside bar. Right next to the community, there is a 200,000-square-foot retail center called Latitude Landings with a Publix supermarket and other shopping centers.

11. Island Walk Naples

Price Range: Low $300s 

Island Walk is a beautiful community minutes from the Gulf Coast in Naples, Florida. The gated community comes with a full-time activities director who plans out the activities for the residents. Amenities within Island Walk include a bak, beauty parlor, library, tennis courts, swimming rooms, and even card rooms. Outdoor, residents are free to enjoy the resort-style swimming and lap pool, tennis and bocce ball courts, and also a putting green.

10. Lely Resort Naples

Price Range: High $200s 

This one-of-a-kind retirement community is set amidst thousands of acre-long cobalt lakes along Florida’s coast on the southwest. The resort-style community features amenity-filled clubhouses as well as championship golf courses for residents to enjoy. The Players Club & Spa is the main takeaway of the community that includes service spas, club rooms, billiards, an arts and crafts studio, and even a business center.

Residents can also enjoy group cycling, pilates, strength conditioning, and yoga at the aerobics and dance studio. A lagoon-style pool outside adds beauty and splendor to the community, equipped with a Tiki bar. Overall, it is a great place to stay.

9. Cameron Village – Myrtle Beach

Price Range: Mid $200s 

Featuring single-family and attached garden homes, Cameron Village is an amazing retirement community in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The residents have easy access to beaches as well as plenty of outdoor recreational activities. Restaurants, entertainment, and retail stores are located nearby as well. The community clubhouse organizes all the social activities, and residents can enjoy outdoor pools, tennis and basketball, and all the walking trails. Home Owner Association fees are relatively low, and overall, it is an ideal location to live in.

8. Southshore Falls- Apollo Beach

Price Range: Mid $200s 

Southshore Falls is a luxurious community located in an ideal location at Apollo Beach, Florida. Not only do retirees get to enjoy the glistening waters of Tampa Bay, but they have access to all the incredible neighborhoods nearby. Shopping, beach, and entertainment are three major takeaways from living in the community. Lined with ponds and walking trails, there are two lagoon-style pools, a community center, and loads of activities to keep retirees busy. Some of the facilities offered within the center include a fitness center, ballroom, cards room, and billiards table.

7. Leisure World® Seal Beach – Seal Beach

Price Range: Low $200s 

Located in California’s beach town called Seal Beach, Leisure World Seal Beach is another affordable beachfront retirement community for retirees. Ocean breezes keep the atmosphere cool whilst providing a resort-style living style for seniors aged 55 and above. The neighbors are welcoming, the houses are low-maintenance, and there are lots of activities to do about the day. There are six clubhouses within the community with fully equipped kitchens, lounge areas with fireplaces, and meeting rooms. Pools, a fitness center, a billiards room, computer room are some other activities offered.

6. Sugar Sands – Riviera Beach, FL

Price Range: Low $200s 

Riviera Beach, Florida, is home to a condo retirement community known as Sugar Sands. Residents in the community can enjoy the beautiful beaches of the Atlantic Ocean, located between Lake Worth Lagoon and A1A. The community building has an exercise room fully equipped with endurance and strength training equipment, a meeting and multipurpose room, a catering kitchen, a billiards room, amongst many others. There is a pool and spa, lots of walking and biking trails, and about 80 boat docks for the residents.

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Disclosure: none. 15 Affordable Beachfront Retirement Communities is originally published on Insider Monkey.