New studies show that no matter how old they get, couples will do anything to keep from giving up their single-family house, though retirement places have low maintenance and better recreation. “We never lived in an apartment and would never want to,” Gene Fischer says…while admitting that he and wife Lutie looked at retirement areas all over town as their home in Centennial aged.

Gene and Lutie Fischer enjoy continental breakfast in their clubhouse at The Cottages at Dayton Place, a few doors from their home. Dayton Place’s Jennifer Davidson (left) and sales associate Bonnie Baker meet visitors to the project.

You can come see what they ended up doing…and get a Starbucks card and refreshments today, as well. The Fischers were the first residents to move into The Cottages at Dayton Place, a Southeast Denver enclave that has the advantages of a retirement community, but looks and feels like single-family homes…even down to the 2-car garage. more »

At Anthem Ranch, Del Webb’s all-ranch lifestyle community on a view-swept hillside north of Broomfield, it’s not that hard to get a buyer to pack up and move from Phoenix or even New Jersey. It’s a little tougher, says Del Webb’s Melanie Dube, to get somebody that lives in Highlands Ranch to do it…but it’s still happening.

Elaine and George Hager (left), from New Jersey, visit a super-affordable ‘Powderhorn’ ranch. Del Webb’s Melanie Dube had sold them their New Jersey home, as well.

“Highlands Ranch is 30 miles from here, and buyers who visit from there sometimes worry they’ll have a hard time making a new circle of friends,” says Dube, who has ten ranch models to show. “Some come back a dozen times; but once they talk to our residents, they’re sold.” more »

Older buyers planning their retirement moves are getting a much-needed break from the stock market this week… but they’ll also find a break waiting at a 55-and-older community wrapped by an 18-hole Arthur Hills golf course, where you can see a 2,500-foot ranch today–basement and 3-car garage included–at a cost-per-foot of $144.

Lennar’s Mike DeNuzzi shows a large, single-family ranch with 3-car garage. Heritage at Todd Creek’s streets are private…covenant-controlled, with golf cart traffic allowed.

With ranches priced from the low $300s and some 2-bedroom “duos” from $269,900, Heritage at Todd Creek in Thornton has gone through five sales in the past month, during a year when you may imagine it hard to put together a retirement purchase. more »