Why Retirees Aren’t Just Looking for Lower Taxes Any More

The last wave of Baby Boomers begins retiring this year, bringing a new set of home-buyer demands

As the last of the Baby Boomers become eligible for Social Security this year, housing industry insiders say that the expectations for retirement living have changed dramatically, bringing a new set of home-buyer demands. 

While Americans of retirement age used to prioritize living in low-tax states with warm weather, more are now seeking areas with stronger social connections and access to arts and culture, a trend that accelerated sharply during the coronavirus pandemic.

“We all witnessed the effects of social isolation firsthand during the pandemic, and many older Americans decided they want to stay more connected with their families and communities,” said Jason King, general manager for Shea Homes® in Virginia, who specializes in creating award-winning 55+ communities and has been instrumental in expanding the Shea Homes footprint in the Mid-Atlantic. “There’s now a higher demand for places to live that offer access to arts, culture, and community. It’s not just about warm weather and low taxes anymore.”

A nationally recognized developer and builder, Shea Homes is currently building an active-adult community in Culpeper, Northern Virginia, a historic small town with boutique shopping, art galleries, and dining options, including award-winning breweries and wineries.

ThreeOaks™, a new 55+ Trilogy® Boutique Community®, is designed to meet the demands of active adults who want to make new friends, prioritize wellness, get together over great food and drinks, and Live Happier®. The development will include a ~4,000-square-foot Open Wellness + Social Club™ that includes plans for a restaurant and bar, a movement studio offering fitness classes, and a community gathering area. 

There are also plans for a seasonal outdoor pool, pickleball courts, and a lawn that will host outdoor concerts, barbecues, and dances.

As Virginia’s first Trilogy boutique offering, the project is slated to open its model homes in late spring 2026.

“Residents of ThreeOaks aren’t just living in the community, they are living a happier, more connected life,” added King. “On a typical day, you’ll be able to take a Pilates class in the morning, play pickleball in the afternoon, and sample award-winning Virginia wines with friends in the evening.”

For an unprecedented 14th straight year, Trilogy by Shea Homes was named America’s Most Trusted® Active Adult Resort Builder by Lifestory Research for 2026.

Click here to learn more about ThreeOaks.

About Trilogy® by Shea Homes®
The Shea Homes® Active Lifestyle Communities division currently offers 55+ and resort lifestyle communities in Arizona, California, Florida, Idaho, Nevada, North Carolina, Virginia, and Washington, and has been attracting discerning homebuyers across the country since 1999. Both Trilogy® large-scale Resort Communities and smaller-scale Trilogy Boutique Communities™ are designed to create an enriched lifestyle through exploring new interests and activities, overall wellness, and connecting to a vibrant social life. Homeowners experience a true resort-caliber lifestyle managed by a hospitality-trained staff. Each Trilogy brand community is designed to embrace its natural surroundings and offer a variety of experiences, including signature restaurants, pickleball, movement and fitness studios, day spas, pools, culinary classes, hiking trails, exclusive lifestyle programs, and more. Trilogy by Shea Homes has broken all records and received the highest numerical score in the proprietary Lifestory Research America’s Most Trusted® Active Adult Resort Builder Study each year since 2013. Study results are based on the experiences and perceptions of people surveyed. Your experiences may vary. Visit www.lifestoryresearch.com. For more information about Trilogy communities, visit Sheahomes.com/Trilogy




 

Legal: Seller: SH AA WMV, LLC.  Construction:  SHALC GC, INC. (#2705152813).  Homes at ThreeOaks—a Trilogy® Boutique Community® are intended for occupancy by at least one person 55 years or older, with certain exceptions for younger persons as provided by law and the governing covenants, conditions and restrictions. This is not an offer of real estate for sale, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, to residents of any state or province in which registration and other legal requirements have not been fulfilled. Trademarks are property of their respective owners. Equal Housing Opportunity.