I noticed a unique difference between new active adult community homeowners and buyers in traditional communities. When checking in to say hi, my active adult community buyers spend the most time telling me how much they love their community, with little mention of their home.
When choosing a home for your next chapter, always consider the lifestyle, sense of community, and amenities essential to you. The house can come second.
Thankfully, living in the Las Vegas Valley offers many unique choices for 55 and over communities.
This post details the four 55 and over communities in Summerlin—and one 50 and over—focusing on the lifestyle each provides. By the end, you’ll know which neighborhoods you like—and dislike—so you can take the next step and start your home search.
How do active-retirement communities compare to traditional communities?
Since active adult communities are designed purposefully for their residents, they provide amenities and activities tailored to seniors’ interests and needs, such as fitness centers, swimming pools, and clubhouses.
They also provide a community.
The best benefit of living in an active adult community is the opportunity to socialize and make new friends with people in a similar stage of life. These neighborhoods often have a strong sense of community and provide a wide range of social and recreational activities that allow residents to connect with one another.
Active adult communities also provide convenience not found in typical neighborhoods. Amenities like transportation, on-site medical facilities, and maintenance services make life easier and more convenient for residents.
In addition, active adult communities often offer various housing options, like single-story townhomes and single-family homes. Having options makes it easier for seniors to downsize while finding a living arrangement that suits their needs and budget.
Overall, living in an active adult community can provide seniors with a sense of community, socialization, convenience, and security, making it an attractive option for many people as they transition into retirement.
What are the benefits of living in an active-adult community?
The warm, dry climate of Las Vegas has drawn retirees from around the United States. And, for over 70 years, the Valley has provided communities for them.
According to the United Van Lines annual study, 29% of retirees moved to Nevada in 2021.
The reasons retirees move to Las Vegas include:
- Warm climate: Las Vegas has a warm and dry climate that appeals to retirees who want to escape cold winters.
- Entertainment options: Las Vegas is known for its casinos, shows, and other forms of entertainment, which can provide retirees with plenty of things to do.
- Affordable cost of living: Las Vegas has a relatively low cost of living compared to other major cities, making it an affordable option for retirees on a fixed income.
- Active lifestyle: Las Vegas has many golf courses, parks, and other outdoor amenities, which can appeal to retirees who want to maintain an active lifestyle.
- Proximity to other attractions: Las Vegas is located near other popular tourist destinations in the western United States, such as the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam, which can provide retirees with opportunities to travel and explore new areas.
Today, the Las Vegas Valley is home to dozens of age-restricted communities, large and small. And the popularity is still growing.
Dell Webb, the developer of Anthem and Sun City Summerlin, built their first active-adult community in over a decade in Lake Las Vegas. In Summerlin, three communities are in development, Heritage by Lennar, Trilogy by Shea Homes, and Regency by Toll Brothers.
If your drawn by the offerings of the award-winning 22,500-acre master-planned community of Summerlin, these are the five active adult communities that call Summerlin home:
1. Sun City Summerlin
Sun City Summerlin is the largest active adult community in Nevada and, with 7,779 homes across 2,530 acres, the ninth largest in the U.S.
Developed in 1998 by the Del Webb Corporation, Sun City Summerlin is still managed by Del Webb today. Although many incorrectly believe it’s part of the Summerlin master association.
Sun City Summerlin is best known for its three 18-hole, semi-private golf courses. The three courses are:
- Highland Falls: A 6,512-yard par-72 with breathtaking views of The Strip.
- Palm Valley: A 6,824-yard par-72 and the most challenging course at Sun City.
- Eagle Crest: A 4,067-yard par-60 offers various course ranges to test players of all levels.
The homes and floor plans available at Sun City Summerlin
The homes in Sun City Summerlin are single-story and a mix of townhomes and single-family homes. Homes in Sun City Summerlin average 1,674 square feet with two bedrooms with two baths. But larger models over 3,000 square feet with three or four bedrooms are available.
As of January 2023, the median price for a home in Sun City Summerlin was $430,000, with larger golf-course models selling for over $1 million.
The amenities and activities at Sun City Summerlin
Across Sun City Summerlin’s four Community Centers, you’ll find almost every activity imaginable. The community truly has something for everyone, from a ballroom to a library and horseshoe pits to Pickleball courts.
Amenities at Sun City Summerlin include:
- Aerobics & Dance Studio
- Aerobics Room
- Arts & Crafts Studio
- Ballroom
- Basketball Courts
- Bocce Ball Courts
- Card Rooms
- Ceramics Studio
- Chipping Green
- Clubhouse
- Computer Lab
- Community Center
- Driving Range
- Exercise Room
- 18-Hole Golf Course (3)
- Fitness Center
- Grand Ballroom
- Hobby & Game Room
- Horseshoe Pits
- Human Resources Office
- Indoor Spa
- Information Technology Office
- Library
- Link Magazine Office
- Massage Room
- Meeting Rooms
- Mini Golf Course
- Multi-Purpose Room
- Music Room
- Outdoor Lap Pool
- Outdoor Patio
- Outdoor Pool & Spa
- Outdoor Walking Trail
- Outdoor Track
- Olympic-Sized Indoor Pool & Spa
- Picnic Areas
- Photography
- Pickleball Courts (10)
- Scenic Lakes and Ponds
- 312-Seat Starbright Theatre
- Shuffleboard Courts
- Softball Field
- Snack Bar
- Sewing Room
- Table Tennis
- The Summit Restaurant
- Tennis Courts (4)
- Woodworking Shop
The location and accessibility of Sun City Summerlin
Sun City Summerlin is massive. Spanning along Lake Mead Boulevard in Summerlin North, it has four entrances, three on Lake Mead and one on Rampart. The development borders Cheyenne to the North but only has one walkable exit.
Since Sun City Summerlin conveniently borders the 215 beltway to the West, residents have quick freeway access.
A Smiths grocery store and shopping center sit at the far Southeast corner of Sun City. The shopping center has various food outlets, a Starbucks inside Smiths, multiple banks, nails, and hair stylists.
For quick trips, the North Del Webb Blvd and Lake Mead Blvd entrance has Dollar Tree and Walgreens, along with restaurants, fast food, a Veterinarian, and more.
How does Sun City Summerlin compare to other communities?
If golf, amenities, and activities are essential to you, Sun City Summerlin tops them all. Sun City Summerlin is more comparable to a small golf-cart town than a neighborhood.
Summerlin offers smaller, more secluded guard-gated neighborhoods if activities and amenities aren’t your first choice.
Photos of Sun City Summerlin
The cost of living at Sun City Summerlin
Sun City Summerlin has a $165 per month homeowners association fee. Annual golf memberships for Sun City Summerlin residents range from $400, which gets you a reduced daily fee of $39, up to $4,000 for unlimited golf.
Homes for sale in Sun City Summerlin
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2. Heritage Summerlin
Heritage is a small active adult community in the Stonebridge Village of Summerlin West. Construction on Heritage began in August 2021, with an expected closeout in 2023.
Developed by Lennar, the gated Heritage community will have roughly 420 single-family homes once completed.
Stonebridge Park, a 12-acre village park developed by Summerlin, sits down the road from Heritage. The park made it to our list of the Top 5 Summerlin Parks.
The homes and floor plans available at Heritage Summerlin
Lennar is building three collections, Elizabeth, Ethan, and Carson, which offer nine floorplans collectively. The floorplans start in size from 1,232 square feet to 2,873 and range in price from the mid-$400,000s to low $900,000.
One unique feature I love about Heritage is the option to add an RV garage to select models.
The amenities and activities at Heritage
The 8,000-square-foot Clubhouse at Heritage offers the community a place to relax, entertain, and exercise. Heritage Clubhouse features include a:
- Outdoor lap pool
- Outdoor pool and spa
- Fitness center
- Bocce courts
- Pickleball courts
- Firepit
- Picnic area
- Walking trails
The location and accessibility of Heritage
Heritage is Summerlin’s most westward community and the closest to Red Rock Canyon. In fact, if you miss your turn on Sky Vista Drive, your next stop is our iconic red mountains.
Although weekends can see miles of bike riders and nature enthusiasts heading up the pass, Charleston is an easy-to-travel road, and an Albertson’s shopping center is less than two miles away.
The 215 beltway is just two and a half miles from Heritage, where a Costco and Red Rock Casino sit on the opposite side.
How does Heritage compare to other communities?
Heritage is best for those who want a smaller, more subdued neighborhood.
Although Summerlin will be developing further West, Heritage today offers incredible mountain views and a natural desert landscape with all the amenities of living in the middle of the city.
For RV owners, the optional RV garage is a fantastic feature and saves money from storage fees.
Photos of Heritage
The cost of living at Heritage
Residents of Heritage have two homeowners association dues. Heritage has a monthly Homeowners Association fee of $300, while Summerlin West’s association fee is $55.
Since it’s a new community, Heritage has a special assessment fee (commonly known as SID/LIDS) of $752.73 bi-annually.
Homes for sale in Heritage
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3. Trilogy by Shea Homes Summerlin
Trilogy in Summerlin is an actively developing modern community of three unique single-level townhome collections.
The 54-acre guard-gated community will feature 354 attached residents once completed.
The homes and floor plans available at Trilogy by Shea Homes
- The Resort Collection offers 2 to 3 bedrooms across four detached floor plans. Home sizes range from 1,538 to 2,538 square feet.
- The Modern Collection is a unique three-story condominium with a private elevator and balconies. The modern collection offers four-floor plans featuring 2 to 3 bedrooms that span 2,236 to 2,748 square feet.
- The Luxe Collection of attached single and two-story townhomes offer two bedrooms and 1,776 to 2,915 square feet.
Shea Homes floorplans at Trilogy broke the mold of a traditional active adult community home design and built a unique community for the Las Vegas Valley.
Trilogy is open to residents age 50 and older, five years less than traditional active adult communities.
The amenities and activities at Trilogy by Shea Homes
The crown jewel of Trilogy is their 10,000-square-foot community center, Outdoor Club. In April of 2022, I attended a wedding at Outdoor Club, which allowed me to spend time exploring.
I was very impressed.
The beautiful Outdoor Club provides residents of Trilogy with resort-like amenities, including:
- Kitchen
- Sports and media deck
- Pool
- Fitness center
- Dog park
- Zen garden
- Pickleball courts
- Bocce courts
- Meeting & event space
- Grass fields
The location and accessibility of Trilogy by Shea Homes
Trilogy’s location on the corner of Town Center Drive and West Flamingo Road is superb.
Residents of Trilogy have quick access to the 215 beltway or can continue along Town Center, which can take you as far as Summerlin Library beyond the Summerlin Parkway.
Just over a mile down Flamingo is an enormous shopping center with Target, Kohls, and JCPenny, plus several restaurants—including Frank&Fina’s Cocina, my favorite mom-and-pop Mexican restaurant.
Surrounding Trilogy to the West and South are The Summit and The Ridges, two of the most coveted luxury communities in Las Vegas.
How does Trilogy by Shea Homes compare to other communities?
I first toured the Trilogy models in 2019 and continue to be impressed by the uniqueness of the three-story models. Furthermore, Trilogy’s location is tough to beat.
The downside to the community is space. Shea Homes did build these modern homes to open to an indoor-outdoor feel, and some models have a patio space, but there are no backyards.
Photos of Trilogy by Shea Homes
The cost of living at Trilogy by Shea Homes
Since Trilogy is part of the Summerlin South association, residents pay two homeowner association dues. The dues for Trilogy are $467 per month, while Summerlin South is considerably less at $55.
Homes for sale in Trilogy by Shea Homes
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4. Siena
Sunrise Colony broke ground on Siena in 1998 and manages the community today. Siena is an expansive 667-acre guard-gated adult community with 2,001 luxury single-story homes.
Nestled into Summerlin South between South Square and Mesa village, Regency sits directly across from Trilogy by Shea Homes, another new active adult community.
Siena Golf Course, an 18-hole par-72, weaves through the community.
The homes and floor plans available at Siena
Siena is a single-story home community with attached townhouses and detached single-family options.
Square footage within Siena ranges from a 1,034 square-foot one-bedroom townhome to the 3,217 square-foot 8120 model, a detached four-bedroom home. The typical home is 1,700 square feet with two bedrooms and two baths.
Home prices in Siena range from about $400,000 to over $1.3 million for the largest model with a pool on the golf course.
The amenities and activities at Siena
Siena residents have three centers within the guard gates for dining, exercise, and fun.
- The 15,000-square-foot Golf Clubhouse offers Siena Bistro, an award-winning restaurant with breakfast, lunch, and dinner, overlooking Lake Siena and the golf course.
- A 38,000-square-foot Village Community Center includes a:
- Card room
- Meet rooms
- Business center
- Billiards Room
- Music Room
- Sewing Room
- Library
- Computer Room
- Ceramics room
- And the 16,000-square-foot Siena Health and Fitness Center is complete with a:
- Indoor lap pool and spa
- Fitness center
- Aerobics studio
- Massage room
- Locker Room
- Outdoor pool and spa
- Four tennis courts
- Four pickleball courts
- Four horseshoe pits
- Two bocce ball courts
- full-service spa
- Sauna and steam rooms
Aside from the excellent facilities, Siena has many clubs and group activities for residents. Residents can enjoy the following:
- Book Group
- Garden Club
- Bridge
- Progressive Club
- Starters Group (Slow-Paced Walking)
- Ceramics Club
- Cultural Appreciation Club
- Live Music & Performance
- Art Club
- Karaoke
- Striders Group (Fast-Paced Walking)
- Creative Writing Club
- Pilates
- Walking Group (Medium Pace)
- Lunch & Learns
- Sewing Club
- Beginner Yoga
- Line Dancing Class
- Yoga (water, chair, and beginners)
- Mah Jong
- Pub Quizzes
- Ice Cream Socials
- Siena Singles Club
- Motorcycle Group
- Happy Hours
- Gangaji Group
- Military Veterans Club
- Conservative Club
- Poker
- Weekly Classic Movies
- Water Aerobics
- Texas Hold ‘Em
- Players Club (Theater)
- Exercise Ball Class
- Friendship Circle
- Dinner Dances
- Tai Chi
- Technology Club
- Zumba
The location and accessibility of Siena
Conveniently located between Flamingo Road and Tropicana Avenue, Siena provides quick access to the 215 beltway and excellent nearby shopping.
A large shopping center with a Target and Kohls sits adjacent to Siena providing more restaurant options and a closeby Chick-Filet.
Town Center to the West cuts through the heart of Summerlin with turnoffs for Downtown Summerlin, Summerlin Hospital, and ending at the Summerlin Library.
How does Siena compare to other communities?
Siena is a well-liked and respected active-adult community in Las Vegas. The builder, Sunrise Colony, also built many of the luxury homes inside the guard gated community of Red Rock Country Club.
The expansive list of amenities and clubs at Siena closely compares to Sun City Summerlin’s, even with a much larger footprint.
Photos of Siena
The cost of living at Siena
Residents of Siena pay $253 monthly for homeowners association dues. The HOA dues cover the 24-hour security and guard gate, facility maintenance, and Clubhouse.
Annual membership to Siena Golf Club is $7,000 for 7-day access and $6,000 for access Monday through Thursday only. The membership includes 12 guest passes or a $600 food and beverage credit.
Homes for sale in Siena
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5. Regency by Toll Brothers at Summerlin
Toll Brothers, the award-winning luxury home builder, is the developer of Summerlin South’s newest active adult community, Regency at Summerlin.
The neighborhood features more than 450 single-story homes in The Cliffs Village of Summerlin.
The homes and floor plans available at Regency by Toll Brothers
Toll Brothers built two collections at Regency at Summerlin, Summit and Palisades Collection.
- The Summit Collection features three single-story plans from 1,665 square feet to 1,792 square feet. Models have 2 to 3 bedrooms with 2 baths and oversized 2-car garages. Summit Collection starts at $699,995.
- The Palisades Collection offers four single-story plans from 1,803 square feet to the largest model at 2,654 square feet. Homes in the Palisades Collection start at $750,000, with the largest model selling for over $1.2 million. Most models offer 2 bedrooms and 2 baths with a flex option for an office, den, or extra bedroom.
The amenities and activities at Regency by Toll Brothers
The 18,000-square-foot Regency Clubhouse was completed in 2017, providing residents with 4.65 acres of fitness and entertainment.
Features of the Regency Clubhouse include:
- Indoor lap pool and spa
- Outdoor pool and spa
- Two tennis courts
- Six pickleball courts
- Fitness Center
- Bocce Ball
- Social Lounge
- Kitchen
- Common Space
To view more, take a 3D tour of the Clubhouse.
The location and accessibility of Regency by Toll Brothers
Regency at Summerlin sits at the far South end of South Summerlin, at the end of Hualapai Way. The location provides the full amenities of Summerlin to the North and access to the rapidly growing Southwest area.
Notable developments coming to the Southwest and near Regency include:
- Durango Resort: Red Rock Resorts’ newest neighborhood casino.
- The Bend: A retail center with a theatre, restaurants, and Pickleball.
- Uncommons: A mixed-use urban development featuring shops, restaurants, offices, and residential.
Entrance to the 215 is easily accessible from Sunset, and the closest grocery store is Smiths on Durango and Warm Springs.
How does Regency by Toll Brothers compare to other communities?
Regency at Summerlin is most comparable to Heritage by Lennar. The smaller communities provide fantastic amenities with a much more subdued footprint.
If you’re interested in a non-golf community developed by a top luxury home builder, you’ll be happy at Regency at Summerlin.
Photos of Regency by Toll Brothers
The cost of living at Regency by Toll Brothers
As a part of the Summerlin South association, residents of Regency are responsible for two monthly homeowners association dues. For the Regency subdivision, the HOA dues are $405, and Summerlin South master dues are $55.
Like many new developments across Las Vegas, Regency owners are responsible for a sizeable Special Improvement District payment. The special assessments are about $1,600 annually and have a starting balance of around $14,400.
Homes for sale in Regency by Toll Brothers
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Final thoughts
Researching communities helps you narrow choices, but there’s no exception for boots on the ground.
Committing to buying and moving to an active adult community should start with excitement and a spark. Observing residents enjoying the amenities and features is the best way to know if a community is right for you. Making a tour of the Clubhouse and grounds essential.
When you’re ready, know our retirement specialists team is here. We’ve helped folks from every walk of life begin their next life’s chapter, and we look forward to the opportunity to do the same for you.
Which active adult Summerlin community is your top pick? Share this story on Facebook or comment below and let us know.
