They wanted a view to die for, at least 10 acres, and a minimum of three or four bedrooms.  Oh, and an eight stall barn.

That wish list didn’t sound like it was coming from a typical couple approaching their later years.  But REALTOR® Pam Dent, with Gayle Harvey Real Estate, knows that “typical’ and ‘senior’ just don’t go together anymore.  People used to just associate seniors with downsizing, close to town, no yard, and prioritizing access to services.”  As a Seniors Real Estate Specialist® (SRES®), Dent has helped plenty of seniors relocate to Central Virginia, and only some of them fit that mold.  Very often, seniors have their eye on this area to catch their second wind and create any lifestyle they can imagine.

And that is exactly the draw of Central Virginia as a hot spot for people approaching, or in the midst of, their senior years.  If they can imagine it, they can do it here.

Great views?  Great adventures!

There is no doubt that the natural beauty of this area is one of the top reasons that seniors choose to move here.  The Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah Valley is the backdrop against which locals get to live their lives every day.  The views are tremendous in every direction, and they’re equally impressive from a condo or a multi-acre mountain retreat.

If just looking isn’t enough though, don’t worry.  Those views all come with an invitation to partake in adventure.  Hiking, biking, trail running, skiing, boating, and fishing … they’re all available in Central VA.

Whether cruising Skyline Drive or on a quest to hike all 500 miles of trails in Shenandoah National Park (SNP), seniors make up a significant percentage of the 1.4 million annual Park visitors.  Add in the state and local parks, and the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests just to the east of the Shenandoah Valley, and this area boasts one of the largest protected natural areas east of the Mississippi.  One of the ultimate outdoor adventure pursuits, the Appalachian Trail, slices right through Central VA.  It’s a nature and outdoor adventure lover’s dream destination. 

For winter sports, nearby Wintergreen and Massanutten Resorts offer all the fun and games. 

Water lovers also find plenty to enjoy, so bring along the fishing gear.  Flat water exists in area reservoirs and small lakes, while Lake Anna and Lake Louisa up the ante with thriving lake communities, beaches and boating. 

Those drawn to a current will be glad to know that the Rapidan River, running from SNP through Madison County, was named 38th in the top 100 U.S. trout fishing streams.  Tying flies?  Frequent the South River in Waynesboro, a popular destination for fly anglers. 

The James and Rivanna Rivers offer a range of water adventures, as do state and local parks, including paddling sports and rentals.  Albemarle County and Charlottesville are getting new riverfront trails and acquiring land fronting the Rivanna River to assure long term public access.  These treasures will continue to attract seniors and nature lovers of all ages for decades to come. (See post on health affects of nature and biophilia.)

Location, Location, Location

Even without the gems that Mother Nature provided, this location allows easy access anywhere along the east coast.  Midway between New England and Florida, this can be a great rendezvous or departure point for family, friends, and business ties.  Travelers familiar with Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport (CHO) can appreciate its customer friendly size.  And if a connection isn’t available out of CHO, Richmond and Washington, D.C. airports provide reasonable alternatives.

Yes, this area is nestled amidst the mountains.  But anyone needing a break from all that nature can take advantage of the close proximity to Richmond and D.C. for an urban fix; and two hours to the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean for big boats, sand, and salt water.

The location also serves up just the right climate.  All four seasons show up, but the winters don’t have quite the bite that they do up north.  Cynthia Hash, REALTOR® with Keller Williams Alliance – Charlottesville, is also a SRES®, and sees this frequently with her senior clients.  “This ‘snowbird-like’ migration ends up being a one-way trip as they realize they can have it all here.  So they decide to stay.  Any further south, and winter disappears; further north, and the winters are too severe.”

Higher Education and All That

While most seniors aren’t planning to go back to school, there’s something about the appeal of a college town that just can’t be denied.  Two public universities, four private colleges and universities, and two community colleges infuse the area with youthful energy.  For those that do pine for the classroom, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at the University of Virginia offers short courses, outings, and special events year round.

UVA alumnae are among those seniors celebrating a new homecoming, just like in olden days.  Dent has helped alumnae that had their careers elsewhere, and then came back.  “There may have been no jobs in the area, or the grass was just greener somewhere else, when they graduated 30 or 40 years ago.  Maybe they’ve been coming back for football or basketball games, and now that their career is over, they have a chance to get back to what they left behind and realize that they always missed.”

The colleges and universities also create a vibrant arts and cultural scene.  Hash asserts that “Charlottesville is a small town that entertains like a big city.  Arts, music, theater, and dance performances here are just a notch below professional level.  And not just in Charlottesville; in the surrounding counties as well.”  Mary Baldwin University’s Deming Fine Arts Center graces Staunton with a full calendar of performances and gallery showings.

Round out the lively cultural offerings with superb food, wine, and craft beer venues to please the most discriminating enthusiasts.  From high-end, white-tablecloth dining experiences to ethnic cuisine served out of food trucks, Charlottesville and the region deliver exactly what foodies want.  Wineries, breweries, and cideries serve up homegrown cheer in beautiful settings for all to enjoy. 

When Things Go Wrong

While all of that is fun and good, at some point, disease or injury may arise where it’s not welcome.  Chalk up one more reason to look at Central VA as the place to grow old.

UVA provides access to a world-class academic medical center on the cutting edge of research, treatment, and prevention.  UVA Health System is known for its pioneering approach to new treatment modalities and cures.  Their Movement Disorder Clinic and the Emily Couric Cancer Center are just two of the award winning specialty clinics that serve the region, and beyond.  The newly expanded emergency room has vastly improved the ER experience and is the latest upgrade that keeps UVA at the forefront of western medicine. 

So anyone relocating here can rest assured that they will be in good hands, and can choose between a teaching hospital or community hospitals, such as Augusta Health and Sentara Healthcare.

Other problems aging seniors face are best solved by a network of community support.  Central VA has a wide variety of support networks that help seniors transition or age in place.

All counties have vibrant senior community centers.  Other models of support rely on volunteers. 

Ed Davis, REALTOR® with Kline May Realty in Waynesboro, saw many seniors struggling to deal with legal, financial, real estate, and other issues.  He convened a group of trusted professionals to lend a helping hand to downsizers and seniors in Augusta County.  Augusta Senior Resources emerged as a free referral service offering seniors advice and assistance with the inevitable decisions that accompany aging.

The newest volunteer networks are two membership Village-style grassroots efforts.  Cville Village (http://cvillevillage.org) is recruiting members and volunteers to coordinate an affordable menu of services to help seniors age gracefully at home while remaining active in their communities.  A similar Village is in the planning stages at Wintergreen.

Relocating seniors can age confidently, knowing that whatever the need, from life-saving surgeries to life-enhancing social supports, the solution can be found here.

Finding Just the Right Home

All the boxes have been checked, and the decision is final.  Now, for the house.  With just as many housing options as there are reasons to move here, there will be no problem finding just the right home.

The SRES® can be particularly helpful.  These REALTORS® have been trained to meet the real estate needs of maturing adults and should have the best options and information available to help inform this life-changing decision.

As buyers start pricing their dream of moving here, they may be pleasantly surprised; or the numbers could be what initiated the move.  Hash says that affordability can be a huge driver.  “People coming from Northern VA, D.C. or the Northeast, usually find that this area compares favorably both in housing prices and real estate taxes.  I recently worked with a senior gentleman that was priced out of his New England home by real estate taxes.  The favorable tax environment here solidified his decision to relocate.”

Davis agrees.  He says “seniors are fleeing from high taxes in the Northeast; and seeking out small town living.  This area delivers both.” 

“Even though there are not that many strictly 55+ communities,” according to Dent, “seniors generally don’t have a problem finding what they want.  Condos, farms and estates, single family and attached housing, resort living, and gated and golf communities abound.  This lets seniors choose the level of maintenance compatible with their lifestyle.  If they will be traveling part of the year, a community that provides all exterior maintenance may be a priority.”

Hash notes that seniors wanting to live with their family as a multigenerational household may still desire some privacy and elbow room.  The Belvedere, Riverside and Old Trail neighborhoods in Albemarle County allow accessory dwelling units on some lots.  Zoning allowing this style of living may be a growing trend as affordable housing becomes a higher priority for communities.

For seniors interested in collaborative living, Nelson and Albemarle Counties’ cohousing developments deliver.  Intergenerational Emerson Commons is thriving in Crozet, while the EcoVillage just outside of Charlottesville prepares to break ground.  Nelson County’s Buck Creek Village is unique in that it is a rural seniors-only cohousing community.

The diversity of housing and community options reinforce the decision to make this the place to age.

And what about that eight stall barn?  Dent says it was for a couple moving from a subdivision in Massachusetts.  They were looking for a second home with several acres until they are both retired and can move here full time.  “You see, they had always boarded their daughter’s horses, and they felt it was time to spread out a little and get exactly what they really wanted.”

Typical?  Not so much.  But typical doesn’t exist with today’s seniors.

This article first appeared in the Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors January 22, 2020 edition of Real Estate Weekly.