55+ Active Adult
55+ Active Adult New Construction Communities in Austin
Thinking about active-adult living in the Austin area? New construction makes it easy: single-story, low-maintenance homes in amenity-rich, age-qualified communities. Here are the communities to know, how 55+ buying is different, and why so many retirees choose Texas.
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Exploring 55+ living in Austin?
Tell me what you are looking for, community feel, budget, and which side of the metro, and I will send the active-adult new-construction options that fit, explain the age rules and dues, and represent you (builder-paid in most cases) from tour to closing.
The short answer
The anchor of 55+ new construction in the Austin metro is Del Webb’s Sun City Texas in Georgetown, one of the largest active-adult communities in the country, with Del Webb Lost Pines in Bastrop as a newer, smaller option. Active-adult living means single-story, low-maintenance homes, lock-and-leave freedom, and resort-style amenities, in age-qualified communities where at least one resident is typically 55 or older. Texas’s lack of a state income tax is a major draw for retirees.
Why it works
Why active-adult new construction fits this stage
Single-story, low-maintenance living
Most active-adult homes are single-story, right-sized, and built to age in place, with low-upkeep yards. You trade a big older house and its repairs for a new, efficient, warrantied home.
Lock-and-leave freedom
The HOA handles the exterior and landscaping in most active-adult communities, so you can travel for weeks without worrying about the house. That is a big draw for a lot of retirees.
A built-in social life
Clubs, fitness centers, pools, pickleball and golf, and a calendar of events mean neighbors in the same life stage and an easy way to meet people, which matters even more if you are relocating.
New, and made for this stage
A brand-new home means a builder warranty and years of low maintenance, and active-adult floor plans are designed around single-level living, wider doorways, and easy-access layouts.
Where to look
The active-adult communities to know
The established 55+ new-construction communities in the Austin metro. Confirm current availability and age rules with the community.
Sun City Texas (Del Webb)
GeorgetownThe anchor of active-adult living in the Austin metro and one of the largest 55+ communities in the country. A massive, amenity-rich Del Webb community north of Austin in Georgetown, with golf, multiple amenity centers, hundreds of clubs, and a deep range of single-story floor plans. If you want the full active-adult lifestyle at scale, this is the one to see first.
Kissing Tree
San MarcosBrookfield Residential's active-adult community on the west side of San Marcos, building since 2016 and heading for about 3,150 homes. An 18-hole semi-private golf course, a 20-acre amenity campus called The Mix with an indoor lap pool, eight pickleball courts and 18 miles of trail, and no MUD on the tax bill. The rule here is more flexible than most: the primary occupant must be 55 or older, but additional occupants may be 19 or older. Watch the dues, which run nearly $180 a month apart between the detached and attached products.
Del Webb Lost Pines
BastropA newer Del Webb active-adult community east of Austin in the Bastrop pines, for buyers who want the Del Webb amenity lifestyle in a smaller, more natural setting away from the busier north corridor. A strong option if Georgetown feels too big or too far from your side of the metro.
Some larger master-planned communities also include age-restricted or single-story sections without being fully 55+. Ask about the current options that fit your budget and the part of the metro you want.
Know before you buy
How buying in a 55+ community is different
Four things active-adult buyers should understand that do not come up in a standard neighborhood.
The age rule
Active-adult communities are age-qualified: generally at least one resident must be 55 or older, with limits on younger occupants under the federal Housing for Older Persons Act. The exact rule varies by community, so confirm it, especially if a spouse is under 55 or family may live with you.
Amenity and HOA dues
The clubs, pools, golf, and staff that make active-adult living great are funded by HOA and amenity dues that run higher than a standard neighborhood. Budget for them, plus any MUD or PID tax, as part of the true monthly cost.
The single-story premium
Single-story homes and premium lots (greenbelt, golf course, cul-de-sac) price accordingly, and the most popular plans move fast. Knowing which lots and plans hold value is where a buyer's agent earns their keep.
A different resale pool
When you eventually sell, your buyer must also qualify by age, a smaller pool than an open-market home. It is not a problem in a strong active-adult market, but it is worth understanding going in.
Why here
Why retirees choose the Austin area
No state income tax
Texas does not tax income, including retirement and Social Security income, which can meaningfully stretch a fixed budget.
Mild winters, active outdoors
A long, warm season for golf, walking, and the outdoor lifestyle active-adult buyers want, though summers are hot.
Healthcare and an airport
Strong medical systems and a major international airport for visiting family or traveling in retirement.
Value vs the coasts
Retirement dollars generally go further here than in California or the Northeast, especially in new construction.
Find your community
Exploring 55+ living? Let’s find the right fit.
Tell me the community feel you want, your budget, and which side of the metro, and I will send the active-adult new-construction options that fit, walk you through the age rules, dues, and the plans and lots worth having, and represent you from tour to closing, with the builder covering my fee in most cases, disclosed in writing before you tour. Relocating for retirement? I can be your eyes on the ground.
Start your 55+ search
Good to know
55+ communities in Austin, answered
- What are the best 55+ new construction communities near Austin?
- The standout is Del Webb's Sun City Texas in Georgetown, one of the largest active-adult communities in the country, with golf, multiple amenity centers, and hundreds of clubs. Kissing Tree in San Marcos is the strongest option on the south side, a Brookfield community heading for about 3,150 homes with an 18-hole course, a 20-acre amenity campus and no MUD. Del Webb Lost Pines in Bastrop is a newer, smaller option east of Austin. Some master-planned communities also include age-restricted sections, so ask about the current active-adult options that fit your area and budget.
- What is Sun City Texas?
- Sun City Texas is a large Del Webb active-adult (55+) community in Georgetown, north of Austin, and one of the biggest of its kind in the country. It offers single-story new-construction homes plus resort-style amenities: golf, fitness and amenity centers, pools, pickleball, and a very active club and events calendar. It is the marquee 55+ community in the Austin metro.
- What are the age requirements to buy in a 55+ community?
- Active-adult communities are age-qualified under the federal Housing for Older Persons Act, which generally requires at least one resident of a household to be 55 or older and limits how many younger residents a community allows. The specifics vary by community, so confirm the rules for your situation, particularly if a spouse or family member is under 55.
- Is Austin a good place to retire?
- For many retirees, yes. Texas has no state income tax, which can meaningfully stretch retirement and Social Security income, and the Austin area offers a mild climate, strong healthcare, a major airport, and an active cultural scene. Weigh the summer heat and Texas property-tax rates (including any MUD or PID in newer communities) as you plan.
- Do active-adult communities have higher HOA dues?
- Usually, yes. The amenities and lifestyle, golf, fitness, pools, clubs, and staff, are funded through HOA and amenity dues that run higher than a standard subdivision. Factor them into your true monthly cost along with any MUD or PID tax, and ask exactly what the dues cover before you buy.
- Does using a buyer's agent cost me anything in a 55+ community?
- Generally no. On new construction the builder pays the buyer-agent fee in most cases, disclosed in writing before you tour, so you can have an advocate on the lot premium, the plan, the dues, and the contract at no added cost. Register your agent on your first visit to keep that representation builder-paid.
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Builder-paid representation
Looking at 55+ living in the Austin area?
Tell Luke the community feel and budget you have in mind and he will send the active-adult new-construction options that fit, explain the age rules and dues, and represent you from tour to closing, with the builder covering his fee in most cases.
Luke Allen
Licensed Texas REALTOR, TREC #788149
Austin Marketing + Development Group