Choosing a Home in Ocean Hills Country Club Starts With the Life You Want
TK has a line he likes to use that always makes me laugh:
“We don’t sell houses. We sell a lifestyle—and a place to put your stuff.”
Obviously, we sell houses.
But the longer we live in Ocean Hills Country Club—and the more people we help move here—the more I think he’s onto something. Because when people first start looking at homes in Ocean Hills, understandably, they tend to focus on the house.
- Which floor plan?
- One story or two?
- How many bedrooms?
- Golf course, greenbelt or interior location?
- Updated or original?
- Which direction does the backyard face?
- How much outdoor space?
Those things matter. In fact, we spend a tremendous amount of time helping our buyers understand the 17 different floor plans, tour different locations, compare homes and figure out which features matter most to them.
But eventually, we like to ask a different question:
What are you hoping your life will look like once you get here?
Start with the life, then find the house
This may be one of the most important things to figure out when you’re considering a move to a 55+ community. Because people rarely decide to move simply because they want a different kitchen.
There’s usually something bigger behind it.
- Maybe you want to live closer to your children and grandchildren.
- Maybe you’re ready to trade a large house and all that maintenance for something easier.
- Maybe you’d love to have friends right down the street.
- Maybe you want to golf more, learn pickleball, ride your bike, walk every morning or spend more of the year outside.
- Maybe you want activities available when you feel like participating—but also the freedom to do absolutely nothing when you don’t.
- Maybe you’re simply ready for life to feel a little more fun.
Those are the things we really want to understand when we’re helping someone look for a home here. Because the right house should support the life you’re trying to create.
It’s easy to get distracted by the wish list
This is where home shopping can get interesting. The more homes you see, the more specific your wish list can become.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing. We actually encourage our buyers to see lots of homes and floor plans because it’s one of the best ways to learn what matters to you. But eventually, it’s possible to become so focused on finding the perfect house that you lose sight of why you wanted to move in the first place.
We’ve written about this recently because we see it happen. Someone decides they really want a particular floor plan. Then it has to be on the golf course. Then it needs the right view. Then the backyard needs to face a certain direction. And pretty soon there may be only a handful of homes in all of Ocean Hills Country Club that meet the criteria.
Meanwhile, the bigger question can get lost: Would I be happy living my life here?
The house matters. But so does Tuesday afternoon.
One of the things that’s difficult to understand until you spend some time inside Ocean Hills is that the community becomes an extension of your home. Your “living space” isn’t just what’s inside your walls.
It’s the golf course and clubhouse. The pickleball and tennis courts. The pool and fitness center. The walking paths. The places where you meet friends. It’s hopping in the golf cart just to ride around and see who you bump into.
It’s discovering that a regular Tuesday can somehow include pickleball in the morning, tacos on the lanai for lunch, an art class, a walk on the beach and something happening at the clubhouse that evening.
Other times, it’s sitting on your own patio enjoying a quiet afternoon.
That’s why we think choosing a home in Ocean Hills is about more than square footage and finishes.
You’re choosing what you want an ordinary day to look like.
Sometimes your priorities change after you get here
There’s another reason we encourage buyers to think beyond the house itself:
You don’t completely know how you’ll live here until you’re here.
You may think you’ll use one amenity constantly and discover something entirely different. You may think you need a larger house for visiting family and realize you’d rather have less to maintain. You may arrive convinced that a particular view or location is essential and eventually discover there are other things you value more.
And yes, sometimes people move again.
My own parents moved to Ocean Hills in 1998 and have owned three different homes here over the years. We’ve known plenty of other residents who have moved within the community when their needs changed or a home they loved became available.
The first house doesn’t necessarily have to anticipate every version of your life for the next 30 years. It needs to be a good fit for the life you want to start living now.
What are you really moving for?
If you’re considering Ocean Hills Country Club—or any 55+ community—we think this is a worthwhile question to ask yourself before you get too deep into the house hunt.
What are you really hoping will be different about your life after you move?
Write that list before you write the house list.
Maybe it’s:
- More time with family.
- More friendships.
- More activity.
- Less home maintenance.
- Better weather.
- More time outside.
- More opportunities to try things.
- A stronger sense of community.
- More freedom to travel.
- Or simply more fun in your everyday life.
Then, as you look at homes, ask whether each one gets you closer to that.
Because eventually the escrow closes. The boxes get unpacked. The pictures go on the walls. And then you’re left with the thing you were really choosing all along: Your everyday life.
So yes, technically, we sell houses. But maybe TK has it right.
The lifestyle is the important part.
The house is just a really nice place to put your stuff.
Wondering what everyday life in Ocean Hills Country Club is really like?
Our free Life in OHCC Neighborhood Guide is a great place to start. Get an insider’s look at the homes, amenities, activities and everyday details that make this community unique. Get your free guide → Life in OHCC Neighborhood Guide.
