If spending your retirement surrounded by other active adults in a community with plenty of options for fun sounds ideal, you may want to consider a retirement community. There are numerous retirement communities in Texas. This guide will walk you through some of the best options in the Lone Star State, many of which are near the best places to retire in Texas. We provide the information you’ll need to decide which retirement community is going to check all of your boxes, whether that’s easy access to the golf course or a deluxe indoor pool.
If living in one of these communities is your goal, you should work with a financial advisor to get ready. SmartAsset can help you find an advisor who meets your needs with our free financial advisor matching service. If you’re already in the Lone Star State, we have a list of the top financial advisor firms in Texas for your consideration as well.
Alamo Country Club
Price Range: Below $100k – High $100ks
Number of Homes: 526 homes
Age Restriction: 55+
Located in South Texas, Alamo Country Club is near many attractions in the Rio Grande Valley area, including cities like San Antonio. On site there is a nine-hole golf course as well as a driving and chipping range. There is also a clubhouse with an exercise room, locker rooms, meeting rooms, a card room, a library, a catering kitchen and a billiards room. Outdoors there is a pool and spa, a tennis court, shuffleboard and horseshoes. There are also trails connecting to lakes, ponds and parks, making this an ideal spot for those who want an active retirement.
Alamo Country Club went up between 1981 and 2001. Only resale homes are available. The community consists of 526 single-family homes. Most have open floor plans and at least two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a one-car garage. Your association fee includes golf access, a secured entrance and upkeep of amenities and common areas.
Villas in the Park
Price Range: Low $200ks – Low $300ks
Number of Homes:227 homes
Age Restriction: None
Both single-family and attached homes are available for resale at this Fairview community that Grenadier Homes built between 2007 and 2014. The attached homes have two to three bedrooms, two to three bathrooms and an attached two-car garage. Th master suite is on the first floor, and each unit has a private patio and granite countertops. The single-family homes are bigger, with up to 2,588 square feet of living space. They have three to four bedrooms, two to three bathrooms and a two-car garage. Homes have brick or stone exteriors.
The community has a clubhouse with a multipurpose room for gatherings and an exercise room for working out. There is also an outdoor pool, a patio, a basketball court, a pond and a gazebo to enjoy the beautiful sun throughout your Texas retirement.
Oaks at Wildwood
Price Range: Low $200ks – High $200ks
Number of Homes: 86 homes
Age Restriction: 55+
Epcon Communities built Oaks at Wildwood between 2007 and 2012. The community, located in Georgetown, includes 86 homes. They are available for resale when owners choose to sell. The homes are all attached in groups of four, and there are two models, ranging in size from 1,718 to 1,884 square feet. The homes have two to three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a two-car garage, plus a generous storage room.
The clubhouse is where people gather at Oaks at Wildwood. At the clubhouse, you’ll find a big screen TV to enjoy the game, a fully equipped kitchen and a computer and media room. There is also a 24-hour fitness center so you can squeeze in a workout any time, day or night. Weekly yoga and dance classes can also help you stay in shape. Outside, there is a pool to swim and relax.
Amberwood at Fall Creek
Price Range: Low $200ks – High $200ks
Number of Homes: 58 homes
Age Restriction: 55+
This small community was built by Dunhill Homes in Humble between 2008 and 2012. Amberwood at Fall Creek will attract golfers, as the community has two 18-hole golf courses, a 31,000-square-foot practice range and a clubhouse with a full-service restaurant right on premises. One of the courses even hosts a professional tournament. There is also an activity center with tennis courts, a picnic area and a playground for the grandkids. A pool is also available for your use. Another recreation center has a pool, a jacuzzi and a cabana.
The homes in Amberwood at Fall Creek range from 1,524 to 1,888 square feet. There are multiple floor plans to choose from, and you can have one to three bedrooms and two to three bathrooms. All units have a two-car garage, and some homes have a sunroom. All of the units have Energy Star-qualified appliances and programmable thermostats.
Villas at Willow Grove
Price Range: Mid $200ks – Low $300ks
Number of Homes: 157 homes
Age Restriction: None
Life at Villas at Willow Grove is centered around the community clubhouse. Here you can play a game in the multi-purpose room or exercise in the gym. There is also an outdoor pool in the community, a patio and a barbeque area. There are also plenty of trails to walk and even a dog park to get your furry friends some exercise.
Grenadier Homes built the homes in the community, located in McKinney, between 2010 and 2018. Only resale homes are now available. The 157 homes range in size from 1,259 to 1,691 square feet. They have two or three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a two-car garage. Units also have outdoor spaces, granite countertops and high ceilings. A homeowners association fee covers the cost of lawn mowing, weeding, fertilizing, edging and watering. Make sure to factor in that extra cost when considering cost of living.
Bonterra at Cross Creek Ranch
Price Range: Mid $200ks – High $300ks
Number of Homes: 700 homes
Age Restriction: 55+
Construction on this Fulshear gated community began in 2016 and is still underway by both Taylor Morrison and Darling Homes. There will be 700 single-family homes when it is completed. A variety of floor plans are available. The Taylor Morrison homes range from 1,582 to 2,878 square feet, while the Darling Homes’ Sanctuary Collection runs from 2,355 to 3,063 square feet.
Though it’s not yet completed, Bonterra eventually will have a 10,000-square-foot clubhouse with a fitness center, aerobics and dance studios and locker rooms. It will also have space for club meetings and card games between friends. Outside there will be a pool, a patio, pickleball courts, a bocce ball court and a fire pit. Since Bonterra is part of another master planned community, Cross Creek Ranch, residents also have access to another clubhouse for the broader community. This clubhouse offers amenities including a pool and a disc golf course.
Ladera Mansfield
Price Range: Mid $200ks – Mid $400ks
Number of Homes: 186 homes
Age Restriction: 55+
Another brand-new development, this gated community in Mansfield will eventually feature a 4,500-square-foot clubhouse with a fitness center, media room and catering kitchen. There will also be outdoor amenities worth moving to Texas for, including a heated pool, a patio with fire pits, pickleball and bocce ball courts, a barbeque area and scenic ponds.
Integrity Group plans to build a total of 186 homes in Ladera Mansfield. Most of the homes will be single-family homes ranging in size from 1,519 to 2,511 square feet, all laid out on one story so you never have to worry about stairs. You can add a second floor for guest quarters if you wish, though. All homes come with tray ceilings, crown molding, granite countertops and stainless steel appliances.
Frisco Lakes
Price Range: Mid $200ks – High $600ks
Number of Homes: 3,000 homes
Age Restriction: 55+
Frisco Lakes is located 30 miles north of Dallas. The community, which Del Webb began building in 2006, will have a whopping 3,000 homes when construction is finished. Single-family homes are available for sale both as new construction and for resale. Homes have two to four bedrooms, two to three bathrooms and a two or three-car garage. They also have great rooms, gourmet kitchens and plenty of outdoor space.
Frisco Lakes has two clubhouses and an 18-hole golf course. Other amenities available include a fitness center, an indoor walking track, a dance studio, a ballroom, an arts and crafts studio, a library, a billiards hall, multiple pools, tennis courts, bocce ball courts and horseshoe pits. The second clubhouse opened recently and is still being completed.
Windsor Hills
Price Range: Mid $200ks – Low $400ks
Number of Homes: 437 homes
Age Restriction: 55+
The clubhouse at Windsor Hills has everything an active retiree could want in terms of entertainment and recreation. There is a fitness center with treadmills and weights, a lounge to play pool and darts, a television, an arts and crafts studio and a library. There is also a multi-purpose room with a catering kitchen. Outside you’ll find a resort-style pool and spa, plus plenty of paths for walking and enjoying the landscape.
The homes themselves are single-family homes built by Lennar Homes in The Woodlands between 1999 and 2002. They range in size from 1,733 to 2,783 square feet. Both one-story and two-story models are available. Each has an open floor plan, high ceilings, gourmet kitchens, master suites and walk-in closets with plenty of space for all your clothes. Sunrooms and large patios are also common.
Heritage at Vizcaya
Price Range High $200ks -Mid $500ks
Number of Homes: 650 homes
Age Restriction: 55+
Construction began on Heritage at Vizcaya in Round Rock in 2015, and only new homes are currently available for sale. Eventually there will be 650-age restricted homes in this neighborhood, which is part of a larger, 1,200-home community for all ages. The homes, built by Taylor Morrison, are offered in 12 different models ranging from around 1,500 to more than 3,000 square feet. Open floor plans, gourmet kitchens and personal customizations are all available.
There is a full-time social director to organize the fun at Heritage at Vizcaya. The clubhouse features a fitness center, catering kitchen, billiards and a card room. Outside you can play tennis, pickleball or bocce ball. There is also an event lawn, a fire pit, a dog park and a place to host a barbeque.
Tuscan Village
Price Range Low $300ks – High $700ks
Number of Homes: 196 homes
Age Restriction: 55+
Tuscan Village is a resort-style community with buildings inspired by classic Italian architecture. Construction started in 2012 by Legend Communities and is still ongoing. There are both townhouses and attached villas available. The townhouses range in size from 1,294 to 1,790 square feet and feature two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a one- or two-car garage. The villas are offered in 13 floor plans ranging from 1,663 to 3,219 square feet. Homes have stone and stucco exteriors, and you’ll have a choice of 13 stain options for cabinets.
There is plenty to do outside your home as well. Tuscan Village, located in Lakeway, includes an 11,000-square-foot public library where you can can listen to frequent guest speakers who come to talk to community residents. The community also includes a park, a clubhouse with a fitness center and social rooms and walking and biking trails.
Robson Ranch
Price Range Low $300ks – High $700ks
Number of Homes: 7,200 homes
Age Restriction: 55+
Robson Ranch is very large gated community in Denton that has been under construction by Robson Communities since 2002. The community features a 17,500-square-foot clubhouse that has a 400-seat ballroom where events like theatrical performances and guest speakers are held. The clubhouse also has a weight room, a cardio room, an indoor lap pool, saunas and a full-service salon. There is also a basketball court, which also can be used to play pickleball and volleyball. Outside there is a resort-style pool, lighted tennis courts and more pickleball courts. The community is also host to an 18-hole golf course and a restaurant.
The community includes single-family and attached homes, and both new construction and resales are available. There are 25 different floor plans to choose from that range in size from 1,404 to 3,736 square feet of living space. Most homes have two to four bedrooms, two to three-and-a-half bathrooms and a two- or three-car garage. If you opt to buy new construction, you’ll have the ability to customize some aspects of your home.
Heritage Towne Lake
Price Range High $200ks – Mid $800ks
Number of Homes: 196 homes
Age Restriction: 55+
Both new homes and resales are available in Heritage Towne Lake, which has been under construction by multiple builders in Cypress since 2007. The single-family homes in the neighborhood range in size from 1,553 to 3,372 square feet. There are a number of different collections offered from the multiple builders that have worked in the neighborhood over the years, so you’ll have plenty of options to choose from. Home features available include attached garages, covered patios and stainless steel appliances.
No matter which type of house you live in, you’ll have access to numerous amenities at Heritage Towne Lake. There is a 16,000-square-foot clubhouse with a fitness center, a hobby room, a ballroom and a library with computers. There is also an outdoor pool and walking trails. You’ll even have the option to boat and fish on the water. Eventually, there will be a town center with retail and restaurants.
The Corvalla at Stonebriar
Price Range Low $700ks – Low $1ms
Number of Homes: 196 homes
Age Restriction: 55+
The Corvalla at Stonebriar is brand-new condo development. Building just began in 2017 and only new units are available at the moment. When development is finished, there will be 121 condos, ranging from 2,439 to 2,773 square feet with two bedrooms, two-and-a-half to three baths and underground parking. Your can customize master suite so it is perfect for you. Your kitchen will include top-end appliances, and all units have private outdoor terraces. Some even have fireplaces.
There are plenty of amenities in the Frisco community to keep you busy, too. There is a clubhouse with meeting rooms for clubs or gatherings with friends or family. Outside, there is a resort-style pool and a shaded lounge area. The community even has a concierge to help residents make the most of everything The Corvalla at Stonebriar has to offer.
Sun City Texas
Price Range Low $200ks – Low $1 millions
Number of Homes: 9,900 homes
Age Restriction: 55+
Del Webb started construction on Sun City in 1995, and eventually there will be 9,900 homes in the retirement community. Both attached and single-family homes are available as new construction and for resale. Homes range from a cozy 940 square feet to a more luxurious 3,000 square feet. Most homes have two to three bedrooms, two baths and a two-car garage. Extra bedrooms and a bigger garage are available options. The prices here can get a bit high, but remember: there is no income tax in Texas, so make sure to keep that in mind when budgeting.
There are lots of clubs you can join in Georgetown’s Sun City, including clubs for tennis, woodworking, arts, stained glass, pickleball, photography and more. There are also several recreation centers that offer amenities like hobby and craft studios, a gym, dance studios, community pools, a woodshop and nine miles of trails. There’s even a dog park for your four-legged friends.
Tips to Be Able to Retire in a Retirement Community
- Retiring to place like one of the above retirement communities takes money, so you’ll want to start planning now to ensure you’re financially prepared. A financial advisor can help you do that, and SmartAsset’s free financial advisor matching service can help you find an advisor who meets your needs. Just answer a few questions about your financial situation and goals. Then we match you with up to three advisors in your area, all fully vetted and without disclosures. You’ll then get a chance to ask questions and decide if you want to work with one of your advisor matches.
- Start saving sooner than later for your retirement, especially if moving into a retirement community is part of your retirement dream. As indicated by our 401(k) calculator, the sooner you start saving, the more you’ll reap the rewards of compound interest. And don’t forget to take into account Social Security when tallying up your total retirement income.
- If you’re thinking of buying a home in one of these retirement communities, you’ll likely need a mortgage. Calculate your estimated monthly mortgage payment with SmartAsset’s free mortgage calculator.
- Maybe Texas isn’t for you. See if you find any retirement communities that appeal to you in Colorado or Delaware.
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