Aging in Place Home Features Arizona Buyers Look For

The aging-in-place features Arizona 55+ buyers ask about most are a single-level plan, at least one no-step entry, wider doors and halls, a walk-in or curbless shower with grab bar support, lever handles and a low-maintenance yard. A listing's "single story" label is a start; the walk-through confirms the rest.

I am Terry Day, REALTOR®, DeLex Realty. When I tour active adult homes, the conversation is about the house: its layout, its thresholds and its bathrooms. This page lists the features worth checking and where they come from. The measurements below come from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) aging-in-place remodeling checklist and AARP's aging-in-place checklist.

Start with the floor plan

NAHB's checklist starts with "main living on a single story," including a full bath on the main level. In the West Valley that usually means a one-story home, but single story on paper is not the whole story. Check that the primary suite, the kitchen, the laundry and a full bath share one level, and that any loft or bonus room is optional space rather than the only office.

For more on finding one-level plans in Sun City, Sun City West, Sun City Grand and similar communities, see single-level homes in the West Valley.

Entries and thresholds

NAHB recommends at least one covered entry that requires no steps, and AARP lists a no-step entrance at the top of its entry checklist. On a tour, I look at three transitions:

• The front door threshold and any step at the porch
• The step from the garage into the house, which is where many single-story plans still have one
• The lip between the great room and the covered patio

A covered entry also matters in Arizona for a practical reason: shade on the walk to the door. Note which entries have a roof overhang and which are open to the sun.

Doors and halls

NAHB suggests interior doors with 32 inches of clear width, which typically means a 36-inch door, and halls at least 36 inches wide, noting that wider is better. AARP adds swing-clear hinges as a way to gain width at an existing doorway. Bring a tape measure. Bedroom and bathroom doors in older resale homes are the ones most often narrower than the front door.

Bathrooms

The bathroom is where the checklists are most specific. NAHB recommends a curbless stand-up shower at least 36 inches wide, an adjustable handheld shower head with a 6-foot hose, a fold-down seat, and walls braced around the tub, shower and toilet so grab bars can be installed later. AARP's list adds a walk-in shower, grab bars by the shower and toilet, slip-resistant strips, a taller toilet and lever-style faucets.

Some resale homes already have a remodeled walk-in shower. Many still have the original tub and shower combination. Blocking behind drywall is invisible, so ask the seller whether a remodel included it, and look at permits or receipts if they are offered.

Kitchen, laundry and controls

• Counters: NAHB recommends a landing space next to or across from each appliance.
• Cabinets: pull-outs or lazy susans in lower cabinets and upper cabinets set slightly lower than conventional height.
• Switches and outlets: NAHB puts switches no higher than 48 inches and outlets about 15 inches from the floor. AARP lists easy-to-reach switches at room entrances.
• Laundry: NAHB suggests front-loading machines raised 12 to 15 inches. A laundry room near the primary suite saves steps.
• Flooring: AARP recommends no scatter rugs and short carpet pile. NAHB suggests low-density carpet under half an inch with a firm pad.

Yards and outdoor living

A low-maintenance yard is part of the same conversation. In many West Valley 55+ homes that means desert landscaping on drip irrigation and a covered patio with shade. Some communities go further. At Sun City Grand, Courtyard and GardenVilla homes are designated Maintained Property, and the association maintains the front-yard landscaping for an added fee. Ask what the association handles and what stays with the owner.

A private pool is a feature some buyers want and others avoid. Many active adult communities have resort-style recreation center pools, so ask which pools the rec card covers before you decide.

Remodeling after you buy

Interior changes like a shower conversion are usually up to the owner, but anything visible from the outside generally goes through the association. Sun City Grand, for example, charges an Architectural Review Committee fee for applications to change a home. Read the architectural guidelines in the resale package before you plan an addition, a new patio cover or a window change.

If you plan a remodel, NAHB runs an aging-in-place training program for remodelers and designers, known as CAPS. Ask any contractor about their experience with this kind of work.

How I search for these features

1. Filter for one-story homes in the communities you are considering.
2. Read the listing remarks for walk-in shower, roll-in shower or remodeled bath.
3. Study the photos for garage steps and patio thresholds.
4. Shortlist, then measure doors, halls and shower openings in person.
5. Review the association's architectural rules before planning changes.

If you are also downsizing, downsizing to a 55+ community covers the move itself. For community-by-community details, start with the active adult homes guide.

Questions buyers ask

Does every 55+ home have aging-in-place features?

No. Age-restricted communities and accessible floor plans are separate things. Many resale homes have one-story plans with a step at the garage or an original tub, so check each house.

How wide should doorways be?

NAHB's remodeling checklist suggests 32 inches of clear width, which typically means a 36-inch door, and halls at least 36 inches wide.

What makes a shower easier to use long term?

NAHB recommends a curbless shower at least 36 inches wide, a handheld shower head, a fold-down seat and wall bracing for grab bars.

Can I remodel a bathroom after I buy?

Interior work is usually up to the owner, but exterior changes generally need architectural review. Check the community's guidelines first.

Which communities offer front-yard maintenance?

Some do for certain home types. Sun City Grand maintains front yards on its Maintained Property homes, such as Courtyard and GardenVilla. Ask each association.