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Laguna Woods
24351 El Toro Road, Laguna Woods, California 92637
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Large, Well-Established Southern California 55+ Community of Laguna Woods Draws Retirees Thanks to its Variety of Housing Styles, Good Selection of Prices and Plentiful Amenities
Roughly seven miles from Laguna Beach in Orange County (and 40 miles from Los Angeles), Laguna Woods is a town almost entirely comprised of Laguna Woods Village (once known as Leisure World), a well-established 55+ development with nearly 13,000 homes and 18,500 residents. The community was built from 1964 to 1986 and has an interesting variety of architectural styles and a wide range of amenities. And while one resident in each dwelling must be at least age 55, anyone of any age may purchase property (as long as certain financial requirements are met).
Residence styles include single family homes, attached homes (condos) and apartments (which are also called condos). The ownership legal structure is either condo ownership or co-op ownership.
Buyers of condos receive a deed and own the the airspace within the domicile, plus a share of common spaces used by other residents.
Buyers of a co-op become a shareholder in a corporation that owns the building, and the buyer carries a leasehold interest in the individual unit.
There are more than 90 different floor plans from which to choose, and sizes range from one bedroom to three bedrooms. The variety does not end there, though.
Some homes have a two-car garage; other have a carport. Some have flat roofs; some have pitched, tile roofs. Some share laundry facilities; some come with a washer and dryer. Most residences have air conditioning.
Apartment prices start at around $2,500 and condo/single family home prices start in the low-$100,000s, topping out in the millions. Co-op fees start at about $530 per month. Condo fees are about $500 to $600 per month. There is also a minimum annual income requirement of $36,000 (co-ops) to $42,000 (condos) and a minimum asset requirement of $125,000 over the purchase price of a home. Please verify these prices and requirements with a Realtor as they are bound to change.
Laguna Woods' apartments are located in two tall towers named, appropriately, The Towers. They are comprised of two look-alike buildings with a receptionist office in the center. Residents enjoy two restaurants on the ground floor, one which requires formal attire and one which does not but still does not allow t-shirts, shorts, bermudas, capris, hats (except women) or baseball hats.
Each apartment has a mini kitchen (electric cooktop), a fridge, a sink and a pantry space. The residents (owners or renters) have a monthly mandatory meal fee and maintenance fee (approximately $2,060 to $2,655 for one person and an extra $650 for a second person - please verify with the community). Utilities, housekeeping an dinner, but not breakfast or lunch, are included in the fee.
There is also a minimum annual income requirement for living in The Towers, which ranges from $32,527 for one person to $50,620 for two people. Seventy-seven has been the average resident age in The Towers for years, but the age has dropped to 67 years now that baby boomers have been moving in. It should be noted that The Towers is not an assisted living facility.
Community amenities are many and varied. There are two golf courses (one 27 hole and one 9 hole, plus a driving range and chipping area), seven clubhouses (with five swimming pools, indoor and outdoor), a fitness center, a performing arts center, a tennis complex with 10 courts, a computer lab, a community library, two garden centers, classes, workshops and more than 250 activity groups. The equestrian center features a show ring and a grandstand and provides an opportunity for riding lessons and trail rides. Horse boarding is available.
There is also a community bus system, and new residents are greeted with monthly orientations. Saddleback College offers the Emeritus Program in which 100 courses are available to residents of Laguna Woods. Channel 6 is the community TV station. The development is gated with controlled access and roving security patrols.
Medical facilities, shopping centers, theater events and restaurants are all close by, but none are located within the development itself.
Temperatures vary between 65 degrees and 85 degrees throughout the year, and precipitation is low.
Visit www.lagunawoodsvillage.com for more information. Go to tinyurl.com/ybbdrmx9 for listings.
California:
California is the most populous state in the United States, and it is the sixth largest economy in the world.
Because it is so long, the climate varies greatly. Everything from deserts, forests and snow covered mountains to the world famous moderate temperatures of Southern California are here. Record temperatures have included a low of minus 35 degrees and a high of 134 degrees.
Missions placed within a day's walk from one another dot the length of the state and started appearing in 1769. Juan Cabrillo first sighted California in 1542 and inspired the missions. A few of the most famous ones are San Juan Capistrano (the swallows return every year at the same time), and San Diego (the first one).
A few of California's natural resources include petroleum, timber and natural gas. Industries are manufacturing (machinery, transportation equipment, electronics), aerospace and defense, biotechnology, and tourism. Of course, Hollywood and Disneyland are known around the world. Other famous attractions are Yosemite National Park, the Golden Gate Bridge (San Francisco), Point Reyes National Seashore, Sequoia National Park and San Simeon State Park (Hearst Castle).
The lowest point in the U.S. is California's Death Valley at 282 feet below sea level, and the highest point in the Lower 48 is its Mt. Whitney at 14,491 feet above sea level. Outside of Hawaii and Alaska, the state's Lassen Peak is one of the two active volcanoes in the U.S. It last erupted in 1917.
More immigrants settle down in California than in any other state.
Stats:
Population - 39,802,500
Persons 65 years old and over - 13%
High school graduates, age 25+ - 81.0%
Bachelor's degree or higher, age 25+ - 32%
Persons of Hispanic or Latino origin - 39%
White persons, not Hispanic - 40%
Median household income - $64,500
Median home value - $399,000
Social Security Taxed - No
Source: U.S. Census
Are 55+ Communities Really "Retirement" Communities?
Many people who live in age-restricted communities (usually for people age 55+) are still gainfully employed. So why would they live in what is considered a "retirement" community? Why not continue to live in a standard neighborhood? People still employed choose age-restricted communities for the same reasons as people who are retired do: the safety, amenities and sense of community that one can provide. And whether employed or not, once the kids are grown, it is sometimes nice to live in a neighborhood where small children do not congregate.
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