What’s the Best Way to Sell Your Retirement Community Home?

Review retirement community rules and restrictions

Like other deed-restricted communities, those that cater to residents aged 55 and older have specific rules — including about how to sell your home. “You may not be able to do a ‘For Sale’ sign,” Wills said. “You generally can do open houses; not all of them allow signage.”

Whether potential buyers can park on the street or in your driveway is but one hurdle, however. Remember what you went through before buying your particular retirement home.

Did your community require you to submit to health and financial screenings? With features such as a full-service spa and outdoor activities such as cycling, boating, and fly-fishing, these communities are typically not equipped to provide health-related services or increased care, so they want assurance that residents can take care of themselves.

At the least, potential buyers must be old enough. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development says that an age-restricted community aimed at people aged 55 and older must have housing where at least one person is that age in at least 80 percent of occupied units. Anyone under age 19 cannot be a permanent resident.

Another possible deal breaker? Whether your community allows pets. Because many seniors have companion pets, Wills said that homes in communities that allow pets are easier to sell than ones that don’t. “That’s always an issue with resales.”

You may also find that interested buyers may be put off by your community’s restrictions. Homeowners Association (HOA) documents tend to be meticulous in general, but they’re more restrictive in communities catering to people aged 55 and older.

“There are advantages because it’s regulated, so it keeps your property values stable,” Wills said, but not everyone wants to be told where they can park their car or how they can decorate their home’s exterior. “If you decide to move into a 55-plus community, what I tell my clients [is], I give them the rules and regulations before I write any offers to make sure they’re comfortable with all the rules.”

Check the policy around hiring an outside agent

This depends on your particular community. Some have internal sales offices, such as The Villages, a 55-plus active adult retirement community of about 32 square miles in Central Florida.

Others have a real estate office within the community or nearby that services the community, Wills said. “Most of them are open market, and it will sell.”

You may also need to coordinate with the community staff to schedule tours, inspections, and paperwork. Your agent should know how to coordinate with on-site staff or the property manager for a smooth sale.

Be prepared to face competition from new development

New construction is the main competition for retirement homes, Wills said — and no wonder.

Maintenance can be a chore and an expense that the older homeowner often can’t manage. One in every three seniors has some type of disability, and 21% has difficulty walking or climbing steps, according to the Profile of Older Americans. This could add to the difficulty of home maintenance. Older homes may also have moderate to severe problems with heating, plumbing, electrical issues, and upkeep.

NAR statistics show that most homebuyers aged 69 to 98 in 2024 purchased homes built from 1962 to 2003. This group bought new homes primarily to avoid renovations or problems with plumbing or electricity, enjoy the amenities of new home construction, and have the ability to choose and customize design features.

Work with a real estate agent who has experience in selling this type of property

When choosing a real estate agent, check that your agent has expertise in the particular restrictions that retirement communities might have for home sellers and experience working with seniors.

“Not to generalize, but you have to work with seniors a little bit differently,” Wills said, noting that she often needs to be flexible, especially regarding how to handle paperwork and technology.

Some clients are comfortable signing documents electronically, while others prefer a pen and hard copies.

“I have others that don’t even use a cell phone,” she said. “I was at a client’s home just yesterday to help them with some paperwork. They had a computer, but when I said, ‘Well, let’s print the form,’ it turns out they didn’t have a printer.”

Selling a retirement home can be daunting, especially if you need to list it because your health or family circumstances change.

As important as it is to research resale value and how your retirement community compares to others, it’s also valuable to find an agent who sympathizes with the emotions and stress you might be experiencing. You want someone who helps you to feel comfortable every step of the way.

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