# Investment Homes for 55+ Ownership at the Watermere Upscale Retirement Community By Michael Plishka | Published 2009-12-03 | Life-Stages Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/upscale-retirement-communities References: [dallasnews](http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/120209dnbuswatermere.3d019bf.html) & [watermere-at-southlake](http://www.watermere-at-southlake.com/Home/tabid/36/Default.aspx) Want to retire in a carefree fashion and still own your own home or condo? If you retire anytime after age 55, check out the upscale Watermere retirement community in Southlake, Texas. This luxury, gated retirement community seems to have more in common with an ocean cruise than the typical retirement community: spas, pools, restaurants, golf courses, but best of all, you aren’t renting space, you actually [own the house you live in](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mark-vi-vic). Another perk is that you don’t have to maintain the property and many of the utilities are included in a monthly service fee. For those with declining health, there are also [assisted living facilities](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/yutjuwala-djwarr) on the premises. In one way it’s a great idea, but in another, it reinforces the notion that elderly folks should be pushed to the fringes of society. What are your thoughts? ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.0/10 - Popularity: 53% | Activity: 30% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Life-Stages](https://www.trendhunter.com/life-stages) > [Seniors](https://www.trendhunter.com/seniors) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Luxury Retirement Communities:** The retirement communities are becoming more upscale and aimed at luxury living, presenting opportunities for luxury home-building companies. - **Assisted Living in Private Homes:** With assisted living facilities provided within the Watermere development, a trend of assisted living options in private homes could start taking shape. - **Ownership Over Renting:** Many elderly citizens prefer to own over renting because it provides greater autonomy and investment opportunities, indicating potential growth for the senior housing market ### Sectors Adopting This - **Real Estate Development:** Real estate developers may capitalize on the trend for luxury retirement communities to build high-end communities for the 55+ population. - **Elderly Care:** Assisted living facilities on retirement community sites present opportunities for companies that focus on elderly care, such as medical technology or in-home senior care providers. - **Senior Housing Market:** As more senior citizens want to own rather than rent their retirement home, companies in the senior housing market may want to focus on purchasing existing rental homes and converting them into low-cost retirement homes for ownership. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [50+ Living Communities](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gemlife.md) - [Early Retirement Communities](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-cantinas.md) - [Neighborhood-Like Retirement Complexes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cobham-bowers.md) - [Retiree Influencer Houses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/retirement-house.md) - [Senior Rental Services](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rent-elderly-people.md) - [Low-Impact Garden Dwellings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-senior-shelter.md) - [Youth Retirement Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gopeng-sanctuary.md) - [Senior Living Farmhouse Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pioneer-senior-living.md) - [Senior-Targeted Website Builders](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/senior-communities.md)