If you’re thinking of moving into a retirement village, there are lots of things to weigh up and money is one of the biggest considerations.
You’ll likely have lots of questions, not just about how much it will cost to move in but how much it will cost on an ongoing basis, and when it comes time to leave.
We understand you need certainty about your financial future, and that you might feel concerned about affordability and hidden costs. Let’s walk through each step of the process so you know exactly what to expect.
Payments – how much, when, and will they change over time?
In RetireAustralia’s three freehold (strata title) villages in Sydney, you own your home plus a portion of the community facilities and pay stamp duty and ongoing strata fees.
To increase financial certainty, we’ve made our contracts as clear and transparent as possible. We specify, upfront, which costs you’ll need to pay, and what they cover. Here’s a quick breakdown of the fees you’ll need to pay over the duration of your stay in one of our strata title villages in Sydney.
* Please note, the costs are a little different for our licence and leasehold villages in South Australia and Queensland. It is also a little different for our community The Verge at Burleigh on the Gold Coast.
Entry payment
Your entry payment gives you the right to reside in your new home. The good news is that this is typically 70-80% of the local median housing price, making your move into a village more affordable and allowing you to maintain a healthy cash flow after the sale of your home.
Service fees
By law, operators can’t profit from recurrent charges which cover the costs of operating village services like the emergency call system, restaurant and activities. Fees generally increase annually with inflation.
Strata levies
A quarterly strata levy covers the exterior maintenance of your unit, building insurance, and the maintenance of common areas such as gardens and swimming pools. This is subject to inflation and is at the discretion of the body corporate.
Deferred Management Fee (DMF)
What is the DMF?
The deferred management fee (DMF) or departure fee, is payable when you leave the village and allows us to keep our entry prices as competitive as possible, leaving you with more cash in your pocket to enjoy life in the village after you move in.
The DMF covers RetireAustralia’s initial investment in the village and helps to ensure that all residents have access to quality facilities and amenities while they’re living in the village.
How is the DMF calculated?
When it comes time to leave one of our freehold villages in Sydney, you’ll receive an exit entitlement, which is the resale price minus the DMF. This fee is capped at 37.5% of your resale price and is stepped during your first five years in a village. There are no further increases after this period, no matter how long you stay.
You will pay the DMF when you leave the village. This is charged and deducted from the gross sale proceeds. This way, it’s easy to calculate exactly how much money you’ll receive after you leave.
DMF example
To calculate your exit entitlement when leaving the village one would have to use the resale price less the exit fee.*
*This is an example only. Additional charges may also be payable for any legal, registration or other applicable fees. In this example real estate growth averages 2% per annum. However, this is dependent on the performance of the property market an various other factors which might impact property prices at the time of sale.
Capital gains
When you leave the village, you’re entitled to keep any capital gains your unit has accrued. So, if you purchase a unit for $500,000 and sell it for $650,000, there is a capital gain entitlement of $150,000. You will have to share up to 37.5% of the capital gains received with the operator as part of the departure fee but you keep the rest. What’s more, you won’t need to pay capital gains tax on it either, given your home has been your main residence.
* Please note, the DMF structure is a little different for our licence and leasehold villages. It is also a little different for our community The Verge at Burleigh on the Gold Coast.
What do I get for my money?
Our residents tell us that choosing to move into a retirement village is about far more than bricks and mortar. In reality, it’s an investment in you. You’ll be moving into a friendly community filled with people at the same stage of life, and you’ll have access to a range of amenities.
These vary depending on the village you choose but can include things like:
- Swimming pool
- Gymnasium
- Tennis court
- Bowling green
- Hair salon
- Community centre
- BBQ areas
- Residents’ bar
- Billiards room
- Library
You can also get involved in a range of interest groups, social activities and events from happy hour to mini-golf and more – it’s really up to you and the community.
What’s more, when you don’t need to worry about maintaining your house and garden, you’ll actually have time to explore new interests!
These intangible benefits are an important consideration, and should be weighed up alongside the financials. Moving into a retirement village is about so much more than the property. Residents tell us that the lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits enhance their quality of life immeasurably.
What if my care needs change?
If your needs change, you can rest easy knowing you can access care and support if you need it. In RetireAustralia villages, you have a range of care and support services to choose from, whether that means ongoing daily support in a care apartment (available in many of our villages in New South Wales, South Australia and our new communities), or flexible care and support delivered in your home by our Home Care team or a provider of your choice. Care is tailored to your individual needs and funded privately or through access to an approved government funded Home Care Package (HCP).
How can I compare the cost of living in a retirement village with other options?
A true cost of living comparison can only be obtained by spending time with a sales consultant in a village, talking through your circumstances and needs, and understanding the fees and inclusions in your chosen village. You also need to do your own homework and make sure you have an accurate picture of your current living expenses to make the comparison valid.
In a general sense, retirement villages offer great cost of living value but trying to put a specific dollar figure to this comparison can easily become misleading. Your own cost of living and those applicable to villages can vary substantially, so it’s best to check with your village of choice directly.
On top of the hard costs listed above which village fees cover, the costs associated with living in a retirement village also provide residents with a sense of community and belonging, support from friends and staff, and numerous opportunities to lead a happy, active and healthy life.
Placing a value on these intangible benefits is very personal to each individual. To get more of an insight into what it is like to live in one of our retirement villages, take a look at our Good News Hub. Or read up on global research about the health benefits of retirement living.
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