Age-Restricted Housing in New Jersey

As the baby boomer generation reaches retirement more and more real estate buyers are searching for new homes in adult communities.  New Jersey builders have answered this demand with 55+ communities popping up everywhere. These desirable communities have begun to draw the interest of younger buyers and the communities are seeking help in enforcing the age restrictions.

In an article in the Home News Tribune on the 29th they wrote  about decrying underage residents living in adult communities, a Berkeley Township Council candidate testified in Trenton in support of legislation to end the practice.

Judy Noonan, a Republican council-at-large candidate, testified May 10 before the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee.

Judy Noonan said "There have been problems with underage people trying to purchase or rent in the senior communities," said Noonan, who has served as president of the Holiday City-Silver Ridge Coalition in Berkeley, Ocean County, for the past two years.

 In the article they talked about the bill, S-2274, sponsored by state Sen. Leonard T. Connors Jr., R-Ocean, would require the purchaser or grantee of a property in an age-restricted community to certify that the person occupying the residence meets the age requirements of the community.

Under federal law, in communities organized by a developer to restrict occupancy to persons 62 or older, 100 percent of occupants must meet the age requirements, she said. In communities meant for residents age 55 or older, at least 80 percent of residents living in the community must be at least 55 and one person in each household must also be at least 55.

"Understandably, residents who meet the age requirements and community associations are upset and frustrated with this total disregard of their regulations and want something done," Connors said in a prepared statement. "We feel our bill directly addresses these legitimate concerns by creating a method to help senior communities enforce their age restrictions and meet the quotas set by federal law for age-appropriate persons occupying properties."