55+ and Active Adult Communities in Bucks & Montgomery County PA
The 55+ community market in Bucks and Montgomery County is one of the most active segments in the region. Baby boomer homeowners with significant equity in large single-family homes are the largest seller pool in this market — and many of them are transitioning to active adult communities that offer lower maintenance, community amenity, and lifestyle alignment with their current life stage. If this describes you, this page explains your options, what they cost, and how the transition works.
How 55+ Communities Work Under Federal Law (HOPA)
Under the Housing for Older Persons Act (HOPA), a community qualifies as a 55+ community if at least 80% of occupied units have at least one resident who is 55 or older. Individual communities set their own specific requirements within this framework. Some require all residents to be 55+; others allow a younger spouse. Some have age minimums for all adults in the household; others have more flexible policies. Always verify the specific age and occupancy requirements for any community you're considering — they vary significantly.
Properties in qualifying 55+ communities are typically exempt from the Fair Housing Act's familial status protections, meaning they can legally restrict occupancy to qualifying residents. This is why these communities can market specifically to older adults without violating fair housing law.
55+ and Active Adult Communities in Bucks & Montgomery County PA
The region has a significant selection of 55+ options across multiple price points and community types:
Toll Brothers luxury 55+ communities: Regency at Rockhill Ridge (Bucks County) and other Toll Brothers age-restricted communities offer new construction townhomes and villas in the $500,000–$900,000+ range with extensive amenity packages. HOA fees are typically $300–$600/month but cover substantial community amenities including clubhouse, fitness, and outdoor activities.
Mid-range established communities: Multiple established 55+ communities throughout Bucks and Montgomery County offer resale townhomes and villas in the $250,000–$500,000 range. These older communities often have lower HOA fees than new construction but less modern infrastructure.
Continuing care communities: Several CCRCs (Continuing Care Retirement Communities) in the region offer independent living, assisted living, and memory care in a single campus. These typically require entry fees and ongoing monthly payments.
How to Sell Your Home and Move Into a 55+ Community
The most common transition pattern: a homeowner in a 3–4 bedroom colonial with significant equity sells their current home and purchases into a 55+ community, often using the equity proceeds to buy in at a significant down payment or all-cash. Coordinating the sale of the existing home with the purchase of the 55+ property is the critical challenge — whether it's a resale community with normal closing timelines or a new construction community with a build-out period of 6–14 months.
I handle sell-and-buy transitions for this audience regularly and understand the specific timing and coordination challenges involved. Full sell-and-buy coordination page here →