NOTE: In general, maintenance-free is paying a fee for exterior maintenance to be taken care of for the resident.
Empty Nesters Find Home In Maintenance-Free communities SARATOGA SPRINGS – The maintenance-free housing market has been popping up in areas around Saratoga County most notably in the last, approximately, 15 years, keeping pace with the number of individuals joining their target demographic – baby boomers becoming empty nesters.
Almost 90 percent of the people that contact Layne Zagorski, an agent at Beacon Hill Condominiums, come from larger homes and families, and they are looking for the opportunity to be free to travel for a couple of months without worrying about the house.
“They don’t need the big house anymore,” she said. “They want the freedom of not being tied down to the house.”
Jim Murphy is a new resident at Beacon Hill Condominiums and turned 60 today. He doesn’t think that the term “maintenance free” encompasses his reason for making the move because for Murphy it was more about valuing time and enjoying it in ways that were not possible before.
“Maintenance free doesn’t even say it because it really doesn’t express the real reason why someone would want to live in Beacon Hills,” he said. “You have other things you would like to do than mow the lawn and shovel snow.” “Next to money your most valuable commodity is time,” Murphy said. “And living in a place that is maintenance-free really means living in a place that can give you time. And you begin to think about it (time) more as you get older, and that it could be more valuable than money.”
Beacon Hill Condominiums photos provided. Beacon Hill Beacon Hill Condominiums offers maintenance-fee living in Ballston Spa with two- and three- room condominiums.
Beacon Hill Condominiums accommodates residents with one-car attached garages and full basements. They have a large living room with adjoining dining room, galley kitchen, two baths, and laundry and rear patio deck. Second floor units have a third bedroom with skylights and all units have nine-foot ceilings and air conditioning too. Their maintenance-free fee is $224 per month and includes cutting the lawn, watering it, hedge work, gardening, resurfacing of driveways and streets, doors, windows as well as homeowners insurance. The company will break ground in the spring for their phase three in development.
“It’s the best location on the site,” Zagorski said. Condominiums start at $228,900. For more information, contact Layne Zagorski at 518-878-7468 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Lakeview Landing Subdivision, developed by Malta Development, is a new community that offers maintenance-free services optionally under its exterior maintenance program. This service includes mowing, mulching, weeding, fertilization, spring and fall cleanup and snow removal. Lakeview Landing is located in the town of Malta minutes from GlobalFoundries and downtown Saratoga Springs.
The neighborhood has three collections featuring the Carriage Collection with single-story living, the Modern Classics Collection of family-sized homes with first and second floor master bedroom suites, and the company also builds custom homes with lake views.
Lakeview also sports three community walking trails. Maintenance-free services are $154 per month. For more information, contact Beth Smith with Beth Smith Realty, Ltd. at 518-928-3057 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Shelly Park
Just as maintenance free keeps you from being busy with your lawn, it is not to say that residents won’t be busy with the features located near the neighborhood.
Like others, Shelly Park is has amenities to give residents the opportunity to spend time outdoors including front porches and back patios, sidewalks and a community center. It is also located next to the Airway Meadows Golf Course and Wilton shopping. Shelly Park located in Saratoga Springs is a neighborhood designated for individuals at least 55 years of age.
The community fee is $493 per month for homes with a one or one and a half car garage, and $518 per month for a home with a two car garage. The fee covers taxes, water/septic maintenance, lawn care, snow removal, trash removal and common areas. For more information, contact Tammy Kalker with McNeary Realty at 518-588-2811.
Glen Meadows
Located in the heart of Halfmoon, less than 20 miles to anywhere in the Capital Region, the care-free lifestyle that you desire is taken care of by the community’s Homeowners Association, and the exteriors of the homes are classic in design, and virtually maintenance-free.
The community features 129 single family & twin homes with a choice of single level or two story floor plans, and the homes’ interiors feature open floor plans with generous standard features.
The amenities will include walking trails, extensive landscaping in open space areas and at the community entrance, a private park with a pavilion and lighting, all within a peaceful country setting.
Glen Meadows has two professionally decorated models. Open daily (except Tuesday & Wednesday). We are always available by appointment. For sales inquiries, please contact Realty USA/The Rubinger Group at 518-373-2122 or Ferdinando Bruno (mobile) 518-225-3538, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.."
Arlington Heights, The Mill at Smith Bridge
Belmonte Builders of Saratoga Springs offers maintenance-free accommodations at two locations, soon to be three, at $150-160 per month and includes all lawn care and snow removal.
The housing selection generally consists of ranches, or homes with first-floor master bedrooms. In Clifton Park, the maintenance-free community is Arlington Heights located between exits 9 and 10. The price for homes starts in the low 300’s featuring sidewalks, curbs and street lamps throughout the neighborhood. The Mill at Smith Bridge is Belmont’s new facility located in Wilton and also features single family homes.
While both Arlington Heights and The Mill at Smith Bridge target empty nesters, Belmonte’s newest development on Division Street in Saratoga Springs will feature attached road houses and are aimed at all demographics. For more information, contact Sharon Byrne at 518-527-4914 or at her email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
