How to permanently holiday at home
Our homes are our havens, and living in a supportive community is more important now than it’s ever been. If you’ve dreamed of finding a ‘forever home’ and always been left feeling like there must be something better out there for you, then it’s time to try something different.
Sabine, 63, lived in Western Sydney for years and didn’t know one single neighbour she could say hello to, let alone ask for a helping hand when she needed it.
After relocating from the city to the coast and moving to Sunnylake Shores into an architecturally designed home a few years ago, her life has improved on every level – including her health.
She finally decided to move to be closer to her mother and with the hope of improving her lifestyle. “It’s a lot better for me where I am living now,” she says. “I’m so much more relaxed. Here, you have a community, and everyone talks to each other. You’re involved, it’s as simple as that.”
It’s a happy story, and one which is heard again and again at Sunnylake Shores. There is a welcome togetherness in being around others who are at a similar life stage. Instead of feeling a lack of connection surrounded by a younger crowd, you can be an integral part of a community where people look out for each other. It’s one of the main benefits of being a part of an over-55s lifestyle community.
Living in a brand new air-conditioned, light and airy home means you feel comfortable. Being surrounded by likeminded people means you have someone to talk to and do something with. It’s about experiencing both fun and freedom every day. Most importantly, feeling like you belong and are in control of your life.
“We’re very happy here,” adds Lorraine cheerfully, from her home in Ingenia Lifestyle’s Sunnylake Shores community. She and partner John were on a road trip a few years ago from Sydney to their home in Brisbane, took one look at the location and decided: “This is where we’d like to be.”
Thankfully their instinct was right. “We used to spend a lot of time away, travelling around Australia in our caravan to have a holiday. But what’s lovely here is that we can go for a short walk or drive and be at the lake or the beach.
“Everything is on our doorstep. And because of the location of the village, we’ll never be built out either. There’s no way we’d move from here now.”
The lifestyle on offer is hard to beat. There’s the option to be included in a variety of activities such as craft groups, shopping outings, trivia nights and activities such as Tai Chi. The Ingenia Activate program means it is your choice how social you are each week. There is always a range of events on offer to help you meet more people, stay active and pursue what interests you. Or if you prefer to sit under a tree and read a good book, then you can just lie back and enjoy the serenity of living life by the lake.
There’s also a strong sense of safety and security, community facilities to enjoy with family and friends, and a pet-friendly environment. A dedicated onsite Community Manager is always on hand to assist wherever is needed.
Of course, the financial benefits of investing into a land-lease model are huge. At Ingenia Lifestyle there is no stamp duty, no council rates and no exit fees or deferred management fees (DMF). Your home is an owned financial asset, and you keep 100 per cent of any capital gains. With a land-lease model, while you buy your home, you essentially lease the land for 90 years. The benefits are you have access to all the facilities on site which are managed by someone else. Everything to enjoy and nothing to worry about.
At Ingenia Lifestyle Sunnylake Shores on the banks of Lake Munmorah, for example, there is a Community Clubhouse which features a billiard table, a library and a lounge area. If you have grandkids or visiting friends or family to entertain, there’s also an outdoor pool, casual BBQ and picnic areas, a boat ramp, jetty and even a playground.
Can’t decide between living near the water or bushlands? At Ingenia Lifestyle Sunnylake Shores, both the lake and the bush are right on your doorstep. Located between Newcastle and Sydney, both are just one hour away by car.
Making a sea change and living waterfront is more attainable than you think.
This is a sponsored article produced in partnership with Ingenia Lifestyle.