Bring the Snowbird Lifestyle Home
With Parkbridge Communities
Temperatures are rapidly dropping, and very soon the snow shovel will be your best ally: it’s time to head down to warmer destinations. As snowbirds, we look forward to the sense of community, security, activities, affordability, and freedom to travel that many southern properties provide. Many of us wish we could bring that lifestyle home when we return to the comfortable temperatures of spring and summer in Canada. Here are the top five reasons why any Canadians should consider embracing the snowbird lifestyle at home, and how they can achieve it:
1 COMFORTABLE TEMPERATURES:
Brace yourself this winter! The Old Farmer’s Almanac has recently revealed it’s predictions for the upcoming winter season, and it’s not great news. The cold weather may be the number one reason we head south, and the opposite is why we head home! By April, many southern states are uncomfortably hot or stifling hot and humid - whereas home sweet home has gloriously agreeable spring, summer and fall weather. We leave with few cares about the southern property. If only we could do the same for our northern one.
2 FREEDOM OF LIFESTYLE:
With just a little bit of planning, the snowbird lifestyle allows many Canadians and retirees a relatively stress-free lifestyle all year. Throughout Canada and the U.S., there are many communities that let us affordably split our time between two homes, without sacrificing our quality of life. In a land lease community, homeowners own the house but lease the land. They enjoy security, safety, and peace of
mind when they head south for the winter or any trip during the spring, summer, and fall, as many of these communities look after and maintain their residence. These property management services can include snow shoveling, home watch security, mail collection, and more. The same worry-free lifestyle we enjoy down south.
3 TRUE SENSE OF CONNECTIVITY:
There is a vast network for snowbirds where they can meet other like-minded people. Many Parkbridge communities have Social Clubs or Residents Associations, which organize dinners, dances, golf tournaments, and other social activities which foster social connectivity and that true sense of friendship. A current snowbird named Les Ferrey, a homeowner for seven years at Park Place, a Parkbridge Lifestyle Community, just outside of Wasaga Beach, Ontario says, “I love getting together with my neighbours for an impromptu drink or get-together or hosting my friends for a jam session at our home. What makes us so happy about Park Place is the wonderful people that we’ve met that make up the community and who we are proud to call our dearest life-long friends.”
4 ACTIVE & HEALTHY LIVING:
By heading south snowbirds are not forced to hibernate indoors all winter, and they can stay active through planned activities and outdoor amenities. The same can be true at home where it can be easy to stay active and enjoy the warm weather when you have the proper facilities. Many Parkbridge communities have indoor and outdoor pools, work-out facilities, organized fitness classes, golf courses, walking & biking paths, and more.
5 HAPPINESS:
Less stress equals more happiness. In fact, in a recent Dutch study it was reported that there was a “protective relationship” between optimism and mortality. People with less stress, and therefore a positive attitude, quite simply, lived longer. The land leasing concept of home ownership lends itself to a stress-free, happier lifestyle. Land leasing can be quite affordable for those transitioning into retirement and becoming snowbirds. It allows them to unlock money from their existing homes, start doing the things they’d rather be doing, and stop doing the things they’d rather not be doing (like grass cutting, snow shoveling or maintaining a house that feels too big.) In a sense, leasing lets a retiree have a happy, stress-free lifestyle that they have worked hard for, and deserve.
PARKBRIDGE LIFESTYLE COMMUNITIES
Interested in the snowbird lifestyle and the land lease concept? Parkbridge Lifestyle Communities (www.parkbridge.com) is Canada’s leading land lease owner and developer. Learn more about their approach:
INVESTED PARTNERSHIP
Parkbridge is invested in their communities alongside their homeowners. They work continually with them to ensure there is ongoing, thoughtful investment in community infrastructure, standards, and amenities so they feel safe, proud and at home in the communities where they live.
ATTAINABLE HOME OWNERSHIP
Parkbridge’s land lease approach is one of the most attainable housing options, allowing homeowners to maintain and grow equity in their homes at a lower cost relative to other home ownership options, while still having money available for life’s other priorities.
VIBRANT COMMUNITIES
Parkbridge fosters vibrant, active communities, giving homeowners access to well-maintained, shared amenities where they can participate in various activities and feel connected to the communities in which they live.
QUALITY & RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT
Parkbridge believes in building sustainable communities. We introduced our first certified Energy Star home, offering an exceptional value while using significantly less energy, and continually look for new ways to make and sustain communities.