Osprey Cove; WH Gross Construction Where to Retire Magazine November 2008

8/14/2019 Osprey Cove; WH Gross Construction Where to Retire Magazine November 2008

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eter and Brenda Simmonsof South Dartmouth, MA,did some serious home-

work to find their eventu-al retirement community.

The couple knew they’d be betting

that their investment in a new out-of-state property would suit their wants and needs for years to come.That can be a big gamble.

But many developers helppotential homebuyers narrow theodds by offering tryout packagesfor a tempting price. The various-ly named programs allow visitorsto see the community and avail-able lots, meet their potential

neighbors and experience theamenities (often including freerounds of golf).

Spending a couple of days at acommunity can provide a valuablesampling of life in a new place andinsider information from others whohave made the move from else-

where. Prospective buyers can sizeup both the community and the

town to assess the overall fit.Sherry Rottweiler, the VacationGetaway manager for Sun City Anthem at Merrill Ranch, a Del Webb

From top: Guests visiting Robson Ranch in

Texas, as well as many other communities,

can enjoy a free round of golf with their

stay. Port Ludlow offers waterfront living

overlooking Puget Sound and the Olympic

Mountains. The Stay & Play package at

Osprey Cove in Georgia includes lodging in

a Club Suite overlooking the golf course.Opposite page: An overnight visit to Wood-

side Plantation in South Carolina allows

guests to sample the social atmosphere.

80 WHERE TO RETIRE

Want to know if a community is rig

Copyright © 2008 by Where to Retire. All rights reserved.


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can indulge in the beauty and serenity of thiscoastal golf destination.”

Brenda and Peter did just that, participating inthe Stay & Play package at Osprey Cove and thenmaking a purchase. The Simmonses already owned a second home in Naples, FL, and had

thought about retiring there. But ultimately thecouple decided they wanted a lower populationdensity with a less-urban look and feel.

So they started exploring. Peter says geogra-phy is a critical first step for any empty nestersplanning to relocate. “You need to have a gener-

al sense of where you want tobe,” he says.

The couple knew they want-ed a warmer climate, and whilethat was important, Brenda and

Peter say the make-or-break fac-tor on their home site was a wel-coming environment. Peterexplains that it had to be “friendly and with a sense of community.

We wanted the type of hospitality that the Northeast is not tradition-ally known for.”

To begin their quest, he askedBrenda to point to a spot on the

map she’d like to visit, and sheopted for Georgia. So they headedsouth, spending time at several sitesin the state. They checked intoOsprey Cove on a whim when they

were driving past the community near the Flori-da border. “We pulled in and stayed there fourdays. We saw property, and we purchasedsome,” Peter says.

At first glance, that seems impulsive. But by visiting other communities as a basis for compar-

ison, the Simmonses had streamlined their deci-sion-making process. Instead of having a ‘mustlist’ of amenities for their retirement community,

community near Phoenix, AZ, says the overnightpackages are important both as a sales tool andas a way to educate consumers. The Vacation Vil-las where guests stay offer “a perfect way toexperience the amazing atmosphere and lifestyle… and a great way for prospective buyers to test

out the community before they buy,” she says.Diana Peters, vice president of WoodsideDevelopment, which offers visitor packages at

Woodside Plantation in Aiken, SC, agrees. “It’s animportant tool to give people the opportunity toget here and look,” Peters says. “We can address

every lifestyle need and want, and we feel like if we can get them here, they’ll stay.”

Gloria Wilson, regional sales manager forLandMar Group, developer of Osprey Cove in St.Marys, GA, says her company’s Stay & Play pack-ages “are important because they offer guests the

chance to experience our private club communi-ty and all the amenities Osprey Cove has to offer.It’s a great way to show the property, and visitors

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008 81

you? Packages let you stay to experience amenities, mingle with residents • By Mary Vinnedge

COUNTERCLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: ROBSON COMMUNITIES, MATT HAGEN, LANDMAR GROUP, WOODSIDE PLANTATION. BACKGROUND: FOTOLIA/[email protected]



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“we knew what we didn’t want,”Brenda says.

“Many communities have no trees,and the homes are lined up so closethat you can reach out the windowand touch the neighbor’s house. InOsprey Cove, the lots are a little larg-er, a little more private. We’re fromNew England, and we wanted trees.

We saw trees in bloom.“And the people were friendly, withopen arms,” she says. “We couldn’tdrive through without getting a wavefrom everyone.”

Residents invited them to see theirhomes and discussed the community

with them. They narrowed their lotchoices to one with a marsh view, one

with a lake view and one with a golf course view, Peter says.

“On Memorial Day, we were at acookout with a homeowner whoseproperty was near the lot with themarsh view,” he says. “The sunset

was beautiful. So we bought theone with the marsh view.” Theirhome was started late last summerand is to be completed early in2009.

Here are tips for evaluating retire-ment locations:■ Try everything. Like most guests,

the Simmonses checked out the pooland played the golf course. Forgolfers, the course is very important,Peter notes. “Some are too long, andothers might not be interesting to thegolfer,” he says.

Brenda and Peter even evaluatedmundane situations, such as runningsimple errands. “We didn’t want to besitting in traffic to go buy groceries,”he says.

Depending on their priorities andinterests, potential buyers may wish tocheck out theaters, museums, housesof worship and other amenities of thetown.■ Talk to everyone. You’ll probably

have contact with a salesperson andthe golf pro, whose self-interests areserved if you buy. But Peter and Bren-da emphasize striking up conversa-tions with workers — the waitress atthe restaurant, the bartender, the bagboys in the pro shop, the kids who

work at the pool. “They’ll give you anaccurate picture” because they’re not

involved in the sale, Peter says.■ Consider accessibility to major

highways and airports. Retirees often visit friends and family several times a year, and a long drive to an airport orto a major highway connection may be unacceptable. For Peter and Bren-da, Jacksonville International Airportin Florida will be only about 30 min-

utes from their Osprey Cove home,and Interstate 95, a major north-southartery, will be five minutes away.■ Look into medical facilities. Small

hospitals and doctors’ offices are some-times part of or adjacent to master-planned communities. Larger regionalmedical centers might be only a fewmore minutes away. If a particularmedical need exists already — cardiaccare, for instance — the prospectivebuyer should confirm that a specializedfacility is nearby. Jacksonville’s MayoClinic, which offers a range of special-ists, appealed to Brenda.■ If possible, work with a salesper-

son who lives on the property, Peteradvises. He or she will know thedetails of daily life in the community and will be able to introduce you toresidents.■ Go to happy hour or similar get-

togethers if one occurs during yourstay. Many visitor packages offer thesecasual gatherings on Friday nights,

Peter says. Introduce yourself andmeet residents to assess the fit of thecommunity with your desires, he says.■ Ask the community if more than

one visit is allowed. It’s a good idea tosee a place in different seasons to get abetter idea of the ambience year-round.

Brenda sums up the process by say-ing, “It’s like they say on those college

visits with your kids: You’ll know it when you feel it.”

Many communities offer visitation

programs. Here’s a look at a few of them.

Osprey CoveSt. Marys, Georgia

Many homes are on the golf course, while others have views of the lake,marsh or preserve. Some lots havedeepwater boat launches. Osprey Cove is about 30 minutes from Jack-sonville International Airport and 40minutes from Jacksonville itself, which

is home to cultural amenities, majormedical facilities and a National Foot-

The Academy Village—Where curious minds share a love of life-long learning.

The prestigious Arizona Senior Academy and impressive amenities are on site.

Nestled in a magnificent Sonoran desert setting on Tucson’s east side,

The Academy Village offers a variety of elegant homes priced from the 180s.

Constructed and marketed by Doucette Homes, Inc.ROC License #124550

The Academy Village housing is intended for occupancy by at least

one person 55 years of age or older. No person in permanentresidence under the age of 19 is permitted.

CREATIVE R ETIREMENT HAPPENS HERE

520-647-7777

1-877-647-017113701 E. Old Spanish Trail

www.theacademyvillage.com

Ask about ourPreferred Guest Program



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ball League franchise and minor-league baseball.

The purchase of a home includes an“associate” golf membership (30rounds per year) valued at $10,000.The homeowner can spend an addi-tional $5,000 for a full golf member-

ship that allows daily play. There alsoare four lighted tennis courts. TheOsprey Cove River Club offers a fit-ness center and a tiki bar. Many clubshave been organized to suit a variety of interests, from bunco to investing,

yoga, bridge, gardening, books andmore.

Visitation program: The Stay & Play package is $99 per night with accom-modations in one of four Club Suitesoverlooking the 18th hole of the golf

course. Guests have access to clubamenities, including a junior Olympic

pool, hot tub and fitness center. A cou-ple can enjoy a round of golf at theMark McCumber course. Or, if a visitoropts out of golf, there’s an alternativeexcursion to Cumberland Island,

which is home to mansions and wildhorses.

Community size: Osprey Cove, aLandMar Group development onabout 1,100 acres, eventually will haveabout 1,000 homes. Roughly 20 devel-oper home sites currently are on themarket. Residents can choose one of six builders.

Information: Osprey Cove, 123Osprey Drive, St. Marys, GA 31558,(888) 871-9555 or www.ospreycove.com.

For information on Stay & Play pack-

ages at other LandMar communities, visit www.landmargroup.com.

Resort-Orlando.com

©2008 Park Square Homes. Prices, options, plans and availability aresubject to change without notice. Oral representations cannot be relied

upon as correctly stating representations of the developer. Not an offerwhere prohibited including NY and NJ. CBC1256275

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L A N D M A R

G R O U P P H O T O S

On overnight visits, guests can tour the entire community and its facilities.

At Osprey Cove, homes may overlook the golf course or have lake, marsh

or preserve views. The Osprey Cove River Club (above) houses a fitness

center and tiki bar and hosts groups interested in everything

from bunco to yoga.


Documents

Osprey Cove; WH Gross Construction Where to Retire Magazine November 2008