The typical low country house is one story (no steps) with limited outside maintenance required, including yard maintenance. Because there is a large selection of homes suited for retirement on Hilton Head and Bluffton, The Gated Communities Specialist™ recommends that you choose a house, not a condominium, with the size and features you want in a good gated community with the recreational amenities you want.

The trend over time is to downsize your residence but this does not mean that you have to buy a villa right away (condominium and villa is the same thing). As your needs change, you can always change your residence to a smaller house or even a condominium.

If you choose a condominium, the condominium association will take care of your exterior maintenance, buy your insurance and provide other services for you like trash pick-up, pest control and security. Condominium residents must obey rules and regulations that should be reviewed for your satisfaction with special attention to whether your pet is allowed. Condos are joined to each other above, below and side by side.

To avoid steps, a first floor location may be best if there is no elevator. For the same reason, you may prefer a flat to a townhouse floor plan. Condominium owners sometimes pay special assessments for capital improvements that exceed the association’s budget reserves.