Sarah Ingles, REALTOR® SRES® CPCU® · Iowa License #S73007000 · Brokered by Fathom Realty
Most of the people landing on this page are 45–62, reading on behalf of a parent. There are 30+ age-restricted communities across the Des Moines metro: co-ops, villas, lock-and-leave townhomes, life-plan continuums. This page gives you the metro overview and the area-by-area starting points. Two things stay clear throughout: the community handles their own waitlist and tour booking, and I handle selling the existing home so the equity is ready when the unit is.
Understanding your housing options is part of every right-sizing conversation I have with seniors and their families. This page is an informational overview of 55+ and senior living options in the Des Moines metro. My role is the real estate transaction — selling your current home and, if you're staying in the metro, helping you buy your next one. For senior living placement and community selection, I refer clients to trusted, independent senior move managers in the Des Moines area.
The community books the apartment. I sell the house that funds it.
List, prep, and sell the existing home on the timeline that lines up with the community's deposit, waitlist, and move-in date.
Run a CPCU®-grade insurance gap review on the listing — vacancy exclusion at day 30 or 60, water-backup, service-line — so a vacated home doesn't lose coverage during the sale.
Keep adult children on a single brief, weekly, in writing. No repeating the same context to multiple people.
Tours, waitlist, deposit, lease or purchase contract, floor plan selection, dining and amenities walkthroughs, move-in scheduling.
Each community has its own sales team. Book directly with them — going through a realtor on the community side adds a step without adding value.
For named communities I've covered in depth, see Connect55+ Ankeny, Wesley on Grand, and Grand Living at Tower Place.
A 55+ community is an age-restricted neighborhood designed for active, independent adults. These aren't nursing homes or assisted living facilities—they're regular homes (townhomes, villas, condos, or co-ops) in neighborhoods where at least one resident in each home must be 55 or older.
The appeal? Less maintenance, neighbors in a similar life stage, and amenities designed for how you actually want to live now—not how you lived when you were raising kids.
Not sure if 55+ independent living is the right fit, or wondering how it compares to assisted living or continuing care communities? My Senior Housing Options overview breaks down all the levels so you can make an informed choice.
Quality housing, practical amenities, and a lifestyle that makes sense
Central Iowa offers something that's getting harder to find: quality 55+ housing at prices that don't require draining your retirement savings. The Des Moines metro has seen steady growth in active adult communities over the past decade, giving you real options—not just one or two developments to choose from.
Beyond affordability, you get practical access to healthcare, shopping, grandkids, and the kind of low-key Midwestern lifestyle that doesn't demand constant activity but always offers it when you want it.
MercyOne, UnityPoint, and the Iowa Clinic provide comprehensive care across the metro.
Jordan Creek, Prairie Trail, and downtown West Des Moines offer shopping and dining without traffic.
Many 55+ communities include lawn care, snow removal, and exterior maintenance in HOA fees.
The metro's connected trail system makes staying active easy and scenic year-round.
Your housing dollar goes further here, leaving more for travel, hobbies, and family.
Yes, there's winter—but communities handle the snow so you don't have to.
When you're ready to tour, I can pull neighborhood- and ZIP-specific market data so you know exactly what you're looking at in terms of pricing, HOA costs, and resale trends.
Each community has its own personality and 55+ options
Urban convenience with established neighborhoods. Best for those who want to stay close to downtown amenities, cultural events, and medical facilities without suburban sprawl. Notable options include Wesley on Grand and Grand Living at Tower Place.
The most developed 55+ market in the metro. Excellent for buyers who want walkable shopping at Jordan Creek, top-tier medical access, and a wide range of community styles—from co-ops to luxury villas. Village Cooperative West Des Moines is one popular option worth exploring.
Iowa's fastest-growing city with newer 55+ developments and the walkable Prairie Trail district. Great for active adults who want modern construction, trails, and easy access to both Des Moines and Ames.
Learn more about 55+ communities in AnkenyNewer construction and a family-friendly vibe. Best for grandparents who want to be near younger families, with easy access to West Des Moines amenities and top-rated schools for visiting grandkids.
Quiet, established, and centrally located. Ideal for those who want a low-key neighborhood feel with quick access to anywhere in the metro. Good mix of townhomes and villa-style options.
Small-town atmosphere with metro convenience. A solid choice if you value community events, local parks, and being close to Saylorville Lake for walking and wildlife.
Emerging market with newer construction and competitive pricing. Best for buyers who want more home for their money and don't mind a slightly longer drive to the western suburbs.
A starting directory of active-adult, independent-living, and continuing-care communities by area and type. Confirm current pricing, fees, availability, and age rules directly with each community.
| Community | Area | Type | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maplewood Village | Ankeny | 55+ condominiums (own) | Established 173-unit community; clubhouse, indoor pool, fitness center |
| Villas at Stonewater | Ankeny | 55+ villas & single-family (own) | Small enclave; attached and single-family homes, roughly 1,519–2,769 sq ft |
| The Vineyard at Prairie Trail | Ankeny | 55+ ranch homes (own) | Custom maintenance-free ranch homes; clubhouse, pickleball, trails |
| Connect55+ Ankeny | Ankeny | 55+ apartments (rent) | Active-adult leasing; maintenance-free |
| Attivo Trail | Waukee & Ankeny | 55+ apartments (rent) | Resort-style amenities; indoor pool |
| The Courtyards at King's Landing | Waukee | 55+ ranch homes (own) | Epcon-built low-maintenance courtyard ranch homes |
| The Courtyards at Shadow Creek | Clive | 55+ ranch homes (own) | Epcon-built low-maintenance ranch homes |
| Village Cooperative of West Des Moines | West Des Moines | 55+ cooperative (co-op) | Equity-building co-op model; maintenance-free living |
| Glen Meadows Retirement | West Des Moines | Independent living (rent) | All-inclusive; 128 resort-style apartments, no buy-in |
| Elite Lodge of Ashworth | West Des Moines | 55+ independent living (rent) | Independent living with dining and amenities |
| Grand Living at Tower Place | West Des Moines | Senior living (rent) | Luxury senior living community |
| Wesley on Grand | Des Moines | Continuing care (CCRC) | Full continuum with an entry-fee model |
| Kennybrook Village | Grimes | Continuing care (CCRC) | Independent living through skilled nursing on one campus |
These are independent research profiles — Smart Move Des Moines is not affiliated with or compensated by any community listed. Details change often; verify specifics with each community before deciding.
Four broad models, each with different costs, commitments, and exits. Match the model to how you want to live — and to whether care needs may grow.
Condos, villas, and single-family ranch homes you buy and own. You build equity and control the home, and an HOA typically covers lawn care, snow, and shared amenities for a monthly fee. Best if you want to own and don't expect to need on-site care.
Apartments or homes you lease in an active-adult community. There's no down payment and no resale to manage, and the monthly cost is predictable — an easier entry and exit if you value flexibility over building equity.
One campus offering independent living now, with assisted living, memory care, or skilled nursing available later — often through an entry-fee model. The trade-off is a larger upfront commitment in exchange for not having to move again as needs change.
Active-adult means you run your own household with community amenities on the side. Independent living is usually a rental that bundles services like dining, housekeeping, and transportation. Neither provides medical or personal care — that's assisted living, a separate level.
If you're the adult child sorting through 55+ options for a parent, start by matching the community type to their needs, not just their budget: active-adult ownership if they're fully independent, a 55+ rental for flexibility, or continuing care if health needs may grow. Narrow to two or three, then tour with a consistent list of questions so you can compare them fairly.
On a tour, ask what the all-in monthly cost includes and what it doesn't — dining minimums, entry fees, and fee refundability are what catch families off guard — what happens if your parent's care needs change, and how the waitlist and deposit timeline actually works. Get age rules and fees in writing, and verify them directly with the community, since policies vary by HOA and change often.
When you live in another state, this is where a local SRES® agent earns their keep — on the home you need to sell, not the community you're choosing. Book the community tours directly with their teams; my job is the existing home — video walkthroughs, coordinating repairs, cleanouts, and showings, and timing the listing and closing around the community's deposit and move-in dates so the equity is ready when it's needed. You choose the community; I run the home sale on the ground here in Des Moines.
There's a lot to consider when evaluating 55+ communities: purchase price, monthly HOA fees, what's included (and what's not), location trade-offs, and timing the sale of your current home. It can feel overwhelming—but it doesn't have to be.
I've built tools specifically to help you cut through the noise and make clear, confident decisions.
A comprehensive overview of 55+ living options across the Des Moines metro—community types, what to expect, and how to evaluate your choices. Start here if you're still in research mode.
Read the 55+ Living GuideGet a personalized estimate of your moving timeline and costs based on your specific situation. Includes sale timing, moving expenses, and first-year budget projections.
Use the CalculatorYou can also browse current 55+ listings on smartmovedsm.com/search or contact Sarah for real-time alerts when new properties hit the market.
Sarah Ingles is the only realtor in the Des Moines metro holding both the SRES® (Seniors Real Estate Specialist) and CPCU® (Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter) credentials. That pairing exists because senior and estate listings always touch insurance — vacancy exclusions, water-backup, service-line — and a credentialed realtor catches what an uncredentialed one doesn't until the buyer's underwriter does.
If you're researching this for a parent, the most useful thing I can do is sequence the home sale around the community's calendar so the equity arrives the week the deposit is due — not the month after.
A 55+ community is an age-restricted neighborhood where at least one resident in each home must be 55 or older, under the federal Housing for Older Persons Act. Unlike a retirement or nursing home, residents live independently in their own condo, villa, or apartment — there's no medical or personal care built in. The appeal is low-maintenance living, single-level layouts, and neighbors in a similar stage of life.
Options span the metro by area and type: in Ankeny, Maplewood Village, Villas at Stonewater, The Vineyard at Prairie Trail, Connect55+, and Attivo Trail; in Waukee, The Courtyards at King's Landing; in Clive, The Courtyards at Shadow Creek; in West Des Moines, Village Cooperative, Glen Meadows, and Elite Lodge of Ashworth; plus Wesley on Grand in Des Moines and Kennybrook Village in Grimes. They range from ownership to rental to continuing care, so confirm details with each community.
Yes, but the two sides move on different clocks, so sequencing matters. The community handles the tour, deposit, and move-in date, while the home sale has to be timed so your equity is liquid when the community needs it. A written timeline that ties the listing and closing to the community's calendar helps you avoid carrying two housing payments or scrambling for a deposit.
Start by matching the community type to your parent's needs — active-adult ownership, a 55+ rental, or continuing care if care needs may grow. Tour two or three, ask about all-in monthly costs and what happens if needs change, and confirm age rules and fees directly with each community. Choosing and booking the community is your call and theirs; where a local SRES® agent helps is selling the current home on a timeline that funds the move — useful especially if you're coordinating from out of state.
55+ homes in the metro generally range from about $250,000 for smaller villas and condos to $500,000+ for larger single-family courtyard homes in Waukee and Clive. Cooperative and rental options can lower monthly costs. Pricing and HOA fees change often, so confirm current numbers directly with each community.
Most 55+ communities require at least one occupant to be 55 or older, though rules vary by HOA. Under federal Housing for Older Persons Act guidelines, some allow a younger spouse or a limited share of under-55 households. Always verify a specific community's age policy with its management before you buy or lease.
For many downsizers, a 55+ community is a strong fit: single-level, low-maintenance homes, built-in social opportunities, and steady resale demand from a growing 55+ population in the metro. The right choice depends on whether you prefer to own, rent, or plan for future care.
Book the community tour directly with their team. When you have a target unit, a deposit deadline, or even just a 6–18 month window, that's when I can do the most for the existing home — pricing, listing, and timing the close so the equity is liquid the week the community needs the deposit.
If you're an adult child working this for a parent, you're welcome on every call, every email, every showing. The more eyes on the timeline the cleaner the handoff.
Not ready to talk yet? Start with the Senior Move Calculator to get a clearer picture of your timeline and costs.
REALTOR® SRES® | Smart Move Des Moines
Brokered by Fathom Realty
🎓 SRES® Senior Specialist Book a 30-Minute CallThe information about 55+ and age‑restricted communities on this website is provided for general informational purposes only and is subject to change without notice. Smart Move Des Moines and Sarah Ingles, REALTOR®, are not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by any of the communities, builders, associations, or management companies mentioned, and no paid partnerships, referral fee arrangements, or other compensation agreements exist with them. We do not represent any specific community or developer; in any transaction we would act as a separate real estate licensee representing our client, not the community. All community rules, fees, amenities, availability, and qualifications (including age restrictions) must be verified directly with the community, homeowners association, or management before buying, selling, or leasing a home. Nothing on this page constitutes legal, tax, or financial advice; please consult appropriate professionals for advice specific to your situation.