Making a move to a 55+ community—especially one as unique and competitive as Ocean Hills Country Club—is something best approached with clarity, confidence, and a solid plan.

The good news? When you give yourself time to prepare, the entire process becomes dramatically easier, calmer, and more enjoyable.

Many of our buyers begin working with us six months to a full year before they’re ready to make an offer. It gives them space to learn, explore, and understand the nuances of this community long before the right home appears.

If you’re hoping 2026 will be your year, here’s a simple month-by-month guide to help you feel prepared and excited as you move toward this next chapter. And, if you need to speed up your timeline, let us know. We can help matchup each of these to your timeline.

Month 12: Dream, Imagine, and Explore

This is the “possibility” stage—the time to let yourself picture what life could look like inside a 55+ community.

Start by asking yourself:

What lifestyle do I want in this next season?
What activities matter most to me?
What kind of home layout fits the way I want to live now?

Spend time exploring communities (online or in person), reading resident reviews, and learning about amenities, clubs, and culture. Most of our buyers report that OHCC stands out early in their research—something about the lifestyle just feels right.

Let that curiosity guide you.

Month 11: Begin Learning the Floor Plans

Ocean Hills has a variety of floor plans—each with its own personality, strengths, and lifestyle fit.

This is the perfect month to:

Look at different floor plans
Identify what layouts you’re drawn to
Notice what you like about each style
Start visualizing how you’d use the space

Buyers who understand floor plans early feel dramatically more confident when homes start appearing on the market.

Month 10: Define Your Budget and Preferences

This is your “foundation” month. Get clear on:

Your ideal price range
Must-haves vs. nice-to-haves
Preferred part of the community (near the clubhouse, back gate, golf course?)
Move-in-ready vs. remodel-friendly
Storage, parking, number of bedrooms, etc.

The clearer you are, the easier it is for us to help you spot the right home quickly.

Month 9: Connect With a Local Agent (That’s Us 😊)

This is where the magic happens. When we begin working with buyers early, we’re able to:

Learn your preferences deeply
Track homes that might be a fit
Hear about potential listings before they hit the market
Watch remodels in progress
Take videos of properties that could be coming soon

Early partnership gives you a true insider advantage—the kind that simply isn’t available from agents who live outside the gates.

Month 8: Get Familiar With the Community From the Inside Out

If you’re local, visit the community. If you’re out of the area, plan a visit:

Tour different homes & streets
Attend a neighborhood event
“Vibe checks” at different times around the community

This helps you build a sense of belonging before you arrive.

Month 7: Start Following the Market Quietly

You don’t need to check listings every day—but this is the time to:

Review new listings we send
Notice pricing trends
Pay attention to days on market
Observe how quickly homes sell
Learn why some homes move (and others don’t)

This light market awareness gives you a feel for timing, competition, and opportunity.

Month 6: Begin Your Decluttering + Downsizing Strategy

You don’t need to start packing—but you can start preparing. This is the perfect time to:

Purge closets
Simplify storage
Donate items you don’t use
Begin imagining the home you want to create next

The emotional and mental clarity that comes from early decluttering cannot be overstated. It makes your transition smoother, calmer, and much more intentional.

Month 5: Explore Financing Options (If Applicable)

Not everyone uses financing at this stage in life, but if you will, this is the right moment to:

Talk with a lender
Understand your buying power
Get pre-approval options
Explore HELOC or bridge solutions if you’re selling a current home

Early clarity removes stress later.

Month 4: Narrow Your Floor Plans + Neighborhood Preferences

By now, you’ll have strong opinions—and that’s good.

This month, you begin to say things like:
“I know I want a Palma.”
“I love the end-unit on Tilos.”
“I want to live on the street closest to the clubhouse.”
“I prefer lots of natural light.”

This is where your search becomes focused and strategic.

Month 3: Begin Actively Watching New Listings (With Our Help)

We send our clients on-market and off-market options that match their preferences. At this point, you’ll start to:

See what resonates
Eliminate what doesn’t
Deepen your sense of what “the one” looks like

And here’s the magic: When you get this far ahead, the right home never feels rushed. It feels aligned.

Month 2: Get Timeline Clarity for Selling (If You Need to Sell First)

You do not need to list your home yet. But this is the month to understand:

When your home should go on the market
Whether to list before or after your OHCC purchase
How to line up closing dates
How to avoid “in-between” stress

This is one of the areas where our buyers feel the most supported—we help you craft a timeline that feels safe and doable.

Month 1: Prepare for Action (Calmly, Confidently)

If the right home pops up, you’re ready. If not, you’re prepared for when it does.

During this month:

You understand the community
You know your floor plans
You trust your preferences
You’re prepped logistically
We have an active eye on potential listings

You’re no longer hoping for the right home. You’re ready for it.

A Prepared Buyer Is a Confident Buyer

When you give yourself time to understand the community, clarify your goals, and work closely with local agents who live inside the gates, the buying process becomes joyful—not overwhelming.

Whether you’re six months out or a full year away from your move, now is the perfect time to begin.

And if 2026 is your year, we’d love to walk this journey with you.

Make sure you add yourself to our monthly INSIDER newsletter so you get the inside scoop hot off the press. You can schedule a virtual or in-person tour or check out current listings using these links.