Once their grown children had moved away from the family home, John Goodman, 65, and his wife, Donna, realized they were ready to move on as well.
"We had an old 1940s, beautiful home, but we just didn't need it anymore, and we didn't need the taxes and the maintenance that went with it," says Goodman, a PR rep.
But Goodman's wife wanted to remain in the New York metro area to stay close to work and family. After spending several years looking for the perfect property, the couple settled on a brand new condo –with the master bedroom located on the first floor, so residents can easily age in place – just a mile away from the home they were leaving. They made the move eight years ago.
(Read more: Grandpapa John's pizza: The senior franchise boom)
