Upgrade to a new and close-knit community

Life is better when more of it happens near the people you love. Thankfully, several of Northern California’s new-home communities cater to people who want to live that way. Most also weave in additional benefits of lowmaintenance living and convenient, high-quality amenities.

The variety of newhome offerings allows buyers to start or continue building home equity with a more relaxed approach to ownership. Have you explored every option?

It might be time to look into how life would feel in a newconstruction townhome, duet-style home, cooperative community or condominium homes. By purchasing these kinds of homes, people gain a stronger sense of community with greater interaction, familiarity, networking and companionship.

These communities create opportunities for multigenerational families to purchase two smaller homes near one another, which may be easier to manage than a larger home on a property requiring more work. Doing so lets everyone enjoy the pride of ownership and independence they’ve earned while maintaining comfortable proximity to family.

Speaking of which, a home purchase often signals or celebrates a new stage of life, thereby warranting simplicity. For some, the promise of retiring from fulltime work in the near future calls for less work around the house and more time for recreation, family time, travel or adventures.

Many new-home communities tailor to people who are 55 years or older and include a mix of home plans with spacious, single-level floor plans. You can even find some of these groups of 55+ homes embedded within or adjacent to communities for people of all ages.

Thanks to California’s Proposition 19, eligible buyers age 55+ can transfer the base taxable value of their previous home to the new home. For the same property tax burden, those who qualify can trade the obligations and maintenance of an entire house and its property for carefree relaxation in a more upscale setting.

Those who love to entertain at home need not worry. Although the residences in a new, multifamily community may be smaller than a detached home, the net effect is an upgrade. Shared parks, recreational facilities, walking paths, dining establishments and other settings bring people together and provide ways to gather with larger groups.

Tip: If the idea of downsizing has you worried that all your belongings won’t fit in the new home, think of this move as a reason to declutter in preparation for an upscaled lifestyle.

For others, marriage or the prospect of starting a family means time will be better spent with loved ones than repairing an older home’s blemishes or mowing the lawn every week. And for first-time buyers or those relocating for a career change, the blend of highquality construction and opportunities to get to know more people are the perfect match.

Other reasons to consider higherdensity homeownership include the lowermaintenance lifestyle:

Townhomes, duplexes, condominium homes and co-op communities typically include shared responsibility for the upkeep of common areas or professional upkeep as part of homeowners’ monthly dues. In some cases, the service offerings from homeowners association dues can include professional home repairs and scheduled maintenance.

Even green thumbers find more joy in managing smaller gardens by owning a home surrounded by beautifully manicured, professionally maintained common areas. Most units feature private balconies or porches where homeowners can cultivate their own gardens of plants, flowers and herbs.

Next, the affordability factor may be the reason some buyers choose townhomes or duplexes. Homes in these communities are typically lower priced than singlefamily homes, which can be especially helpful for first-time buyers looking to finally own in California.

Those who seek out how to live in environmentally friendly ways may also appreciate that multifamily communities provide benefits for the earth. For starters, development costs for these kinds of homes are lower per unit. In addition, multifamily homes make more efficient use of energy and water.

Finally, these communities often feature added security. Some townhome and duplex communities include gated entrances or security features, providing owners a strong assurance of safety in addition to the comfort of seeing and getting to know the neighbors more readily.

What are your plans this week? It might be time to bring the generations together and tour some townhomes, condos or co-op communities.