Brand New to the Forum, Let Me Introduce Myself

Discussion in 'Sun City General Discussions' started by Andria, Sep 14, 2015.

  1. Andria

    Andria New Member

    Greetings! I am brand new to the forum, but have been reading posts for a couple of weeks. I plan to move to original Sun City in 2016. Still working and will be working when I get there (home based insurance business). No plans to retire. I am lonely here in the Seattle area and want to be in a community where there is lots to do and people to do things with when I take some down time. I am single and hope there are other singles in Sun City who like to do things in groups. Also, other Boomers who get together would be fun. Theater, dining, trips, wine tasting, etc. Can't wait to move there. It seems to be just what I'm looking for.
     
  2. Mullet

    Mullet Member

    Welcome to the forum, Andria. My wife and I just purchased in the original Sun City and will be arriving in a few weeks. Hopefully you'll find this venue as valuable as we have.
     
  3. Cynthia

    Cynthia Well-Known Member

    Hi Andria. I just bought but won't be moving in for a few years. I'm also one of those single boomers hoping there are others. Welcome to the forum.
     
  4. Andria

    Andria New Member

    Nice to meet you Cynthia and Mullet. i look forward to learning more about the Sun City lifestyle from the long timers.
     
  5. LinW

    LinW Member

    Aloha, Andria - Welcome. I bought a little condo in Sun City and will be moving in November. I'm lonely here as well. I also work at home and that's isolating, especially here in my remote chunk of the jungle, really looking forward to the change. I've been out here 11 years, it will be wonderful to be around people and activities and shopping again. I'm also single and like the idea of group activities, organized or spontaneous, perhaps the occasional "ladies who lunch." Only downside I can see is I'm going to have to buy some clothes, can't go out among 'em wearing my usual scruffy shorts and tanks and slippers (flip-flops). Fifty-six days and counting. My mantra has become, "Can't wait!"
     
  6. sussea

    sussea Member

    Welcome Andria. Right now my husband and myself live in Washington too. I grew up in the Seattle area. We bought a condo 3 years ago and will be living down there half of the year when I retire. You will love it. The people are so nice and friendly.
     
  7. pegmih

    pegmih Well-Known Member

    "scruffy shorts and tanks and slippers (flip-flops)" are the norm:smile-new: for both men and women.
     
  8. J_and_V

    J_and_V Member

    Hey Andria -
    Welcome to the forum. We also just recently purchased in SC and will be making the move slowly over the next 6 months.

    On my drive into downtown Seattle this morning I heard that the area is seeing the largest increase in population since the Gold Rush. That's reason enough for me to pack up and leave.

    We have tons of info, and if we don't have it Bill (BPearson) can probably get it.

    Have you checked out the list of clubs? https://sunaz.com/clubs/ There are all kinds of social clubs. You won't be lonely for long.
     
  9. aggie

    aggie Well-Known Member

    Welcome to the forum Andria.
     
  10. Cynthia

    Cynthia Well-Known Member

    And keep posting. We need more new posters and like to hear your thoughts.
     
  11. BPearson

    BPearson Well-Known Member

    Welcome Andria; you've made a wise choice and one more and more folks are making on a daily basis. 6 to 7 homes are selling every day of the week, 365 days of the year. There's not just one reason for it, but literally hundreds. Sun City is that special.

    There's been a shift in buyers in the past 15 years, and that's a good thing for singles. The traditional home owner was a married couple. And given the mortallity charts, there were lots of widowed women. That created some problems as married couples were far less likely to mingle. I remember in the late 90's letters to the editor or vents where married women were lamenting those single women on the prowl to steal their husbands away (honest to God).

    But of course now the proponderance of buyers are boomers and they come here with a whole different mindset. Everyone has single friends (male and female) back home and Sun City is no different in that regard.

    My wife plays lots of tennis with a group of folks (early 60' and 70's). They hang together with back yard parties and concerts within Sun City. Among them are several single women and they fit quite nicely. They are included in virtually any and all events, which is typical of boomers. And the other thing is us old farts (men) tend to slow down and the women often go off doing their own things, so it's far less a couples set-up in that regard.

    The key is to get out and meet people. The clubs are the perfect way to do that. With 130 of them, your options are plentiful and you can find ones that will accomodate your work schedule. 55 years ago Sun City was called the "great social experiment" and today, it still is. The perfect melting pot for seniors wanting to stay busy.

    Tell us a little more about yourself; how you found Sun City and why you choose it?
     
  12. waynes

    waynes New Member

    Hi Andria,Looks like there are a few of us from the Seattle area moving to Sun city,My wife and I live in lynnwood wa. And we will be moving there this Oct,we have visited there twice and love the place.we Wil be renting while we look for our home.Will be great to get away from the Seattle winters.I think you will love it here to.
     
  13. Andria

    Andria New Member

    Thanks or all the messages back. For those in Washington, if there is any interest to get together for drinks/dinner sometime, I'd love to do that. I'm in Everett.

    BPearson, thanks for your thoughtful remarks. The coupled ladies get their 'shorts in a bunch' everywhere. Boomer women have often been married ourselves, or prefer women to start with, and as I often say to those married women: If I wanted a husband, I would have kept one of the ones I had. But this is always joking. I've been divorced for a long time (close to 30 years), but have dated a lot over the years and had many amazing relationships until a few years ago. I don't rule out having a husband again, but will survive just fine on my own if that's how it works out. I'd rather not have a 'used' model. Joking again.

    I hope there is some diversity in Sun City by now. I enjoy exposure to many cultures and am very supportive of all lifestyles including LGBT. I hope Sun City is welcoming to all types. I hope there is access to a wealth of food choices in restaurants, access to organic produce and protein if I want them, and a top notch liquor store because I can't be all good all the time. I worry I won't be able to take the heat and live there all year round, but need to sell my condo to use the funds to purchase in Sun City. I've decided that original Sun City is right for me and it and I are about the same vintage. I don't plan to look elsewhere - it's what I'm going to do. I love wine and food pairing and study it pretty seriously, but know it's just a beverage and have had several glasses of wine that came from a box. One very recently.

    You have asked for a little about me. I owned a home in Seattle for many years and sold that, buying a condo (worst decision ever) in Everett. Followed a boyfriend to this town and didn't know anyone on the promise of a forever relationship. About a year later after I had upended my whole life and retooled my business he ended our relationship without explanation during a bad patch he went through. All this in the market downturn of 2008. I've been buying time for the condo value to come back up and get close to be able to punt this condo and move somewhere else. I've no desire to go back to Seattle and decided I wanted to find a new life for myself.

    My parents winter in Yuma and I try to spend several weeks with them in March/April before they head back to where I grew up - Idaho. I have no children. So I'd like to be some place close to where my folks will be - but not in a tiny park model trailer in Yuma near them. The sidewalks roll up pretty early and I'd rather have happy hour at 6 or 7 than 4:30 because I work a lot. And I'd like friends to take day trips with, go to plays, out to eat, to Vegas. I'd like to just have more fun. I work a lot! And if there were activities and groups at my disposal I'd do more ... I work at lot. There's a pattern to what I'm trying to accomplish. I'd like to be somewhere with people closer to my age, some at least, and Yuma park model option is not it. Don't misinterpret, people 70s and 80s are great in my book, but again I'm looking for diversity. I plan to work a very long time because I like to work and old insurance agents never really quit until we have too if we enjoy the work.

    I am a long term care planner and help people learn about the risk of long term care and help them with insurance and other solutions to manage that cost. I also help people convert life insurance to pay for care right now if they didn't plan in advance. I've specialized since 2009. Long term care has impacted my life a lot and I love helping people who want to have choice and be in the driver's seat when help is needed. Most of my consultations are by webinar and right now I work in 6 states.

    I have some questions I'll put in a separate post. Thanks again for all the welcome wishes. I hope to meet you all in person one day.
     
  14. Andria

    Andria New Member

    Some questions I have:

    I don't see many posts recommending homes with solar panels and I thought that's what I wanted. I have discovered through research that some tax advantages for those may end in 2016. I did see some posts that people were experiencing reasonable electric bills during the hottest months of 150 - 250 per month so maybe solar is not so important. Are new purchasers adding solar at all if it's not there?

    I am following homes on zillow to try to see what's available. I wouldn't mind a bit of a fixer. But it seems that properties are going very quickly. I don't know if I will settle on 2 or 3 bedrooms (always thinking about work space). Totally up in the air and so many homes have been remodeled so nicely or just need a little help to be so nice.

    For those shopping now, if you think your realtor is superb, I'd love the referral. I'll call them when I'm ready.

    I find it so odd there is carpet in the bedrooms. I would think there would be a trend for hard surfaces everywhere. I think that's my preference.

    There appears to be a lot of different HOAs everywhere, including many single family homes. I'd never have a condo again if I can help it, and it appears many single family homes have no additional association outside of the main SC one. That's what I'm after. I can have that, right.

    If one has citrus trees on property, what maintenance is there to have those. Same goes for cactus, palm, etc. Trying to see what costs there are. I won't probably have a pool home.

    Generally, what utility costs are there to absorb.

    Who is the primary internet provider. This is key as I am on line all day and on the phone for hours.

    That's enough to bother you with.
     
  15. Cynthia

    Cynthia Well-Known Member

    My home has 4 palms and 4 citrus. Right now my only water expense is for the trees (I'm not living there yet) and this month it cost $12. Maintenance would be a yearly trimming and if you want to pay someone to pick up the fallen leaves/fruit. Single family homes do not have an additional association fees that I know of..they are not in an HOA. I do plan to put in solar before the 30% tax break ends in 2016, unless I change my mind. My suggestion is look at realtor.com as they are more current on what is sold already...they have a direct MLS feed. Some houses go fast and some good ones hang around, but if you see something you like you need to act on it. Some people decide which house based on the phase they want to live in and some decide by the model they like. Or both if you can get it. I take it you understand about the three phases?
     
  16. Andria

    Andria New Member

    Thank you Cynthia. I am aware of there being three phases but have no idea which one would appeal to me. I have no floor plan I favor but have been trying to sort them out one from another. Thanks for suggesting the other website.
     
  17. Andria

    Andria New Member

    Nice to meet you LinW. It is very encouraging you have found a place. Won't be long now.
     
  18. Andria

    Andria New Member

    Thank you. Yes, I found this site and have read the newsletter and looked into the clubs.
     
  19. BPearson

    BPearson Well-Known Member

    Thanks for the info A, always easier to talk to people when you get to know them a little. Cynthia is right, SCHOA covers the community's standards, while condo's have their own associations. There's a thread on that very topic here and it will give you a better idea how it works.

    That said, let's do a down and dirty on the basics: Sun City has 27,000 rooftops; 2 thirds of them are single family and 1 third are attached (condo's, twins and quads). Those roughly 9000 attached units have 386 different condo associations. The 18,000 single family homes fall under the CC&R's from SCHOA.

    Single family homes in Sun City average 1400 to 1600 square feet with the smallest coming in around 900 and the largest pushing over 2200 square. Attached homes are again all over the map in size. Some of the early ones are under 900 square and the largest are again more than 2000 square. The best thing you can do is to start reading some of the early threads on the site where we did some pretty good overviews on the variety of homes available.

    There are three primary phases with phase 1 being south of Grand Ave. Phase 2 between Grand Ave and Bell Road and Phase 3 north of Bell road. There's a small section where Quail Run golf course is some folks call Phase 4. The curious thing about Sun City is each phase has a variety of all of the various types of housing.

    A good realtor can help you boil down what you want; you just need to let them know what your preferences are (price, square footage, etc) and you won't waste time on things that won't interest you. I know at least one of the recent buyers will send you a pm with a realtors name who did a great job for them.

    In this market, having a realtor on top of new listings is critical. And with the 140 units KHovnanian is building and set to open in the next couple weeks it will only get more crazy. That said, new listings come up constantly. They just aren't lasting long if they are priced right. A good rule of thumb for starters is $100 per square for homes that aren't remodeled (less if they are absolutely vintage). Remodels obviously increase based on what's been done.

    Attached housing is a little different, with that $100 per square foot usually having substantial remodeling. In fact, Mullet (mick on this site) just bought a gorgeous patio home in that square foot range and it's absolutely drop dead gorgeous. I'm sure when you come down he'd be willing to give you the tour. Cynthia bought an awesome lake front home (there's two lakes in Sun City), while Lin will be moving here from Hawaii and picked up a condo. And then there's J_and V_ from Seattle that bought a house a block from me.

    I have access to show you several types of housing if you come in to town. It just helps to know your options. There's truly something for everyone. If you are willing to buy a fixer-upper, you have more choices, but beware, flippers are on the lookout, so they are competition. Obviously they want to steal a property for the lowest price, so your ceiling may be higher.

    As far as solar, we put it on the house a little over a year ago. It's a lease and is saving us a tad under $50 a month. We over-bought the number of panels as we were more concerned about a hedge against growing utility costs. Obviously solar panels are perfect for Arizona weather and they are all over Sun City.

    The primary internet provider is Cox and their high speed internet is really good, but not cheap. There's a couple of other choices, but you are somewhat limited. Perhaps others can tell you what they use. Utilities, water and garbage pickup are the bulk of your monthly costs. You'll be delighted with property taxes as they are far lower than from home (we have no school district, much to the chagrin of folks outside the walls.

    There's so much more, but that's the nuts and bolts.
     
  20. Andria

    Andria New Member

    Thanks very much. I did see that prior thread. Attached homes must be duplex or one common wall?
     

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