For the most part, gone are the days of using the phrase “retirement community”. While Florida may still be a very popular retirement spot for those looking to enjoy the year-round sunshine and tropical weather, it’s quickly becoming a favorite for active adults, so the term “active adult community” is better suited for what we’re talking about.

Active adults are typically considered those aged 55 and over, who may still actually work part- or full-time and live a very independent lifestyle. A community geared towards active adults simply realizes that these residents are most likely at the same stage of life and share similar interests when it comes to leisure time, while looking for relatively maintenance-free living.

There are many active adult communities around Orlando, and we’re highlighting a few you may want to tell your parents about (or bookmark for yourself for now or later!).

Solivita

This 55+ community that has been named one of the Nation’s Top 50 Master-Planned 55-Plus Communities by Where to Retire magazine. Living in this gated community in Kissimmee means you can easily walk, bike or drive your golf cart to indoor and outdoor dining venues, spa and fitness complexes, tennis courts and other facilities for sports and games. You can also meet new friends while participating in social clubs and classes. Solivita takes what the above communities have to offer and bundles the amenities into one perfect package that is intended for retirees.

The first month of 2017 is over and we are heading into February (already!?). This means we have 3 events in Kissimmee and the surrounding area for you to check out, a few of which allow you to enjoy the practically perfect weather we've been having here lately. We're pretty sure our friends and family in the north are jealous anytime they take a look at pictures shared on Facebook or Instagram by us Floridians. But these events (and our weather) are just another reason why Florida is one of the best places to call home.

Watch Finding Dory at Kissimmee's Lakefront Park

Kissimmee Utility Authority and the City of Kissimmee partner together on the first Friday of every month to host a Movie in the Park extravaganza that features free admission, popcorn, a kid's inflatable zone, trivia contests, prize giveaways and the showing of a different movie each month on a massive 32-foot screen. This month, they have chosen the hit film Finding Dory. The activities will begin at 5:30 pm on Friday, February 3rd with the movie starting at 7 pm. They suggest you bring blankets, lawn chairs and a picnic dinner (oh, and of course, your favorite people to spend the evening with)! 

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One of the most popular questions we get asked when sitting down with first-time home buyers is, “How much can I afford?” which essentially is the question, “How much will my monthly payment be?” Many people live in terms of monthly payments when it comes to things such as homes, cars, and so on, which means understanding the amount of home you can afford in terms of a monthly payment is very common.

One thing we try to remind buyers when meeting with them is not just to consider how much they can afford to pay monthly for their new home, but how their current lifestyle factors into buying a home.

It’s only normal to be accustomed to living a certain way, whether you’re big on travel, going out to eat, or planning for retirement. When buying a home, there are often costs associated with home ownership that you may not have considered when first setting your home buying budget. Take those costs, plus your monthly mortgage payment, and there could be very little wiggle room left for anything else. That is if you don’t plan ahead.