Rightsizing For Lifestyle

WORDS: Ocean Road Magazine PHOTOGRAPHY GemLife Artist Impression and Supplied

When you’re ready to downsize, but not yet ready for a retirement village… GemLife’s over-50’s resorts might bridge the gap.

What do you do when you’re ready to downsize, but too young for a retirement village?

For Jeff Raftery, the idea of leaving a large five-bedroom family home on acreage in northern New South Wales for apartment living was not at all appealing.

“What was most important to me was a sense of community,” said the valuation analyst. “I didn’t like the idea of apartment living and I’d heard about lifestyle resorts, but I was pretty sure they weren’t for me.”

After visiting a few, Jeff had just about made up his mind to rethink his downsizing plans when the subject came up for discussion.

“I was camping with a friend who told me that she hardly ever sees her friends who live in one of these resorts because they are always so busy,” he said. “Hearing that really resonated with me, so that’s when I thought I’d get serious about checking them out.”

Jeff was methodical in his research. He visited several different places in Southeast Queensland and GemLife Gold Coast came out head and shoulders above the rest.

“I was blown away by the quality of the build, I thought they were outstanding,” he said. “At my previous home, I had solar and a Tesla battery, so to know my home at GemLife will have ready access to solar and its connected battery system was impressive.”

But it was the little details that really tipped the balance.

“The homes were bigger than others I looked at,” said Jeff. “Then there was zoned ducted air conditioning instead of split systems, the garages had epoxy flooring instead of bare concrete, the kitchen had a walk-in pantry and stacks of drawers.”

The father of three says that while the homes themselves were a big drawcard, it’s the lifestyle he was most looking forward to.

“I’m 60, so I have at least another five years of working life before I consider retirement and my job means I’m fortunate enough to work from home – so the quality of the facilities mattered to me as well.”

The three-storey GemLife Country Club, currently under construction and due for completion in 2025, is one of the things that Jeff has his eye on.

“I’ve seen the design with the roof top pool and bar,” he said. “I’m also looking forward to working out at the gym, trying the ten-pin bowling and the golf simulator.”

Jeff says he recommends those who are looking to downsize, without compromising community and lifestyle, take a closer look at GemLife over-50s lifestyle resorts.

“Land lease communities are a great way to free up your equity from your family home without having to concern yourself with exit fees or deferred management fees,” he said. “Look behind your preconceptions that these places are like retirement villages because that’s far from the case. Lifestyle resorts are a great base – especially if you travel a lot. Having that security and peace of mind are important.”

The GemLife Gold Coast over-50s lifestyle resort will ultimately comprise of 365 homes, including exclusive split-level luxury homes with city skyline views. Stage One and Two are currently under development as is the three-storey Country Club with a roof-top infinite edge pool, grand ballroom, dance floor, library, gym and yoga facilities, cinema and fully equipped gym.

The GemLife Gold Coast Experience Centre at Gemstone Drive (accessible via McCabe Avenue), in Pimpama, is open from 9am to 5pm on weekdays and 10am to 4pm on Saturdays. Call 1800 325 229 or visit https://www.gemlife.com.au/gemlife-gold-coast-resort/ for details.