Bruce and Virginia Dodd first downsized and moved into an active adult community about six years ago. They felt confined in the 1,800-square-foot condominium and decided to move into a single-family home.
They heard about the lifestyle and floor plans at Soleil Laurel Canyon, where amenities include a 28,000-square-foot clubhouse, fitness center and aerobics studio, gourmet teaching kitchen, performing arts theater, amphitheater, community garden and greenhouse, pool, numerous social activities and clubs, and the adjacent Fairways of Canton golf course.
Bruce, 66, a retired pharmaceutical sales representative, talked about the two-bedroom home that he and Virginia, 64, a retired postal service worker, bought in Canton.
Q: Why did you decide to buy?
A: We liked living in a 55-plus community, but were in a quad-ranch home (four attached homes), which felt confining. We only looked at Soleil and fell in love with the beautiful model homes. We put our money down and took a year to build the house.
Q: What were your priorities?
A: We didn't want to downsize further. We bought a premium lot with a nice view of the mountain range off the back patio and dining room. In the design center, we chose hardwood floors, bathroom tile, granite counters, custom cabinets and drawers under the stove top for pots.
Q: What have you added so far?
A: We kept the furniture we had and incorporated many of the antiques we had, like the dining set that I used to eat at as a kid at my grandmother's house. We have a seven-foot china cabinet and secretary drawer that we use for glassware. We also added built-in bookshelves and plantation shutters, which dresses up the house.
Q: What’s the lifestyle of the community?
A: Every home around us is brand new, so we got to know our neighbors when everyone was out here looking at their homes during different stages of construction. We've been to Friday events and a fish fry, and we both enjoy playing golf. In fact, we downsized from two cars to one car and bought a golf cart.
Q: What advice do you have for senior buyers?
A: When you downsize, decide if you want a single-family home or condo. When we bought our first home (in an active adult community), we didn't look at the other option and I wish we had.
At a Glance
Bruce and Virginia Dodd’s new home has two bedrooms, two bathrooms and 1,900 square feet. Homes in Soleil Laurel Canyon, developed by Active Lifestyle Communities, range from the mid $200,000s to high $400,000s.
About the Author
Keep Reading
The Latest
Featured
