Remove ImagesGoing Maintenance-Free
December 21, 2012
It may be surprising to discover that baby boomers are heading up the push for maintenance-free living. Where once they wanted a house with four bedrooms and a big backyard for their children, these empty-nesters are now looking for freedom from the relentless rounds of lawn mowing and home upkeep that come with home ownership. They want the freedom to pursue new activities and travel without the constant worry of home maintenance.
Betty Smith of Allen Tate Realtors agreed, saying that the age group she finds most interested in maintenance-free living is the pre-retirement group, those in their 50s to 60s. Although they are still working, their children are leaving, and they want to simplify their lives. While they don't want the exterior upkeep chores, they still want amenities such as nice master baths, 9-foot ceilings and large family rooms.
Some are even interested in having two maintenance-free residences – perhaps one close to their original neighborhood where they have friends, their church and favorite shops, and another home at the beach, the mountains or near children who have moved away. What they don't want, however, is the upkeep – particularly the outdoor maintenance chores. A number of area builders are offering freedom from those chores with their latest developments.
Custom homebuilder D. Stone Builders has turned its focus to active adult communities. All of its recent communities are maintenance free. D. Stone has eight twin and townhome communities right here in the triad, as well as in Clemmons and Madison, and a golf community at Jefferson in the Blue Ridge Mountains. All are planned to meet the needs of mature adults and young professionals who want to reduce the hassles of home maintenance.
But it's not just boomers seeking maintenance-free living. Generation Xers (those in their 30s and 40s) and millennials (those in their 20s) also don't want to be tied down. And when it comes to couples, often both adults are working, so there isn't anyone around to do the necessary upkeep. If they have children, dance lessons, gymnastics, swimming, soccer and music lessons keep these families on the go leaving little extra time. While singles – especially women, who make up a large part of today's homebuyers – also don't want to have to tackle those maintenance chores.
D. Stone's Jordan Creek in the Jamestown/Sedgefield area on Mackay Road is a maintenance-free townhome community with a convenient location. When complete, Jordan Creek will have 70 maintenance-free homes. Jordan Creek offers first-floor living areas and master bedrooms, but homes can be designed with extra bedrooms and/or bonus rooms on the second floor.
D. Stone Builders' Seven Gates and Southern Gates are both just off New Garden Road. Close to the library, parks, restaurants and shopping, Seven Gates will have 36 brick twin homes, and Southern Gates will consist of both single-family and twin maintenance-free homes. Like Jordan Creek, home maintenance is taken care of through the homeowners' association.
In northwest Greensboro is D. Stone's Blakeney at Irving Park. These luxurious twin homes offer 9-foot ceilings, gas fireplaces, two car garages, hardwood floors in living areas, private patios and maintenance-free exteriors.
The triad is blessed with a wealth of maintenance-free communities in a wide range of prices and locations. Realtor Sara Clark of Lewis and Clark Realtors is excited about the maintenance-free community in southeast Guilford County – Stone Gables Villas at Forest Oaks.
Stone Gables Villas consists of beautiful twin homes with large bedrooms, high ceilings, well-appointed kitchens, two-car garages, optional screened porches and brick and stone maintenance-free exterior designs. Golf and pool memberships are available at nearby Forest Oaks Country Club.
Stone Gables Villas is situated for those who love all kinds of outdoor activities, not just golf. Close by is Hagan-Stone Park with its hiking and biking trails, fishing ponds, camping and picnic facilities. And with the new shopping center now open close by, Stone Gables Villas at Forest Oaks has everything you could want in maintenance-free living.
For more information, check out D. Stone Builders at www.dstonebuilders.com, and Lewis & Clark Realtors at www.lewisclarkrealtorsgso.com.