Some Thoughts on Rossmoor

One of the most obvious housing options for older people in the Bay Area is Rossmoor.  Many people in Berkeley, Oakland or other parts of the East Bay do not like the suburban feel of Rossmoor, but others really like it. The setting is lovely, there are lots of different types of housing at different prices. There are coop apartments, condominiums, duplexes, triplexes and congregate living at the Waterford. The nearby Rossmoor shopping center has all of the stores, banks, restaurants that you would need. Prior to the passage of Proposition 19, homeowners were not allowed to transfer their current tax basis to Contra Costa County. Effective, April 1, 2021, homeowners over the age of 55 will be able to do that, making Rossmoor a more attractive option.

One bedroom one bathroom coop apartments start in the $200,000s. Two bedroom units start at about $400,000 and those with two bathrooms are higher.  The homes in some of the more affluent neighborhoods are over $1,500,000 with lots of choices in between.  In the past year, I have been working with several clients thinking about Rossmoor and I have a new appreciation for it.  The HOA fees are steep, but you get a lot for them. For some of the lower priced coop apartments, the HOA fees are over $900 per month.

There are lots of amenities:  several pools, the golf course, fitness center, library, theatre, every club you can think of, crafts rooms for every imaginable craft, and transportation around Rossmoor and into Walnut Creek. It is a very active community.  Every time I go out there I see lots of people walking. There is a weekly newspaper, classes, movies .  Many of the facilities are closed now because of the Pandemic, but they should open up again before too long. When someone moves out of their unit, Rossmoor requires that they restore it to the condition that it was in when they moved in or better.  So the units are well-maintained and the grounds are also well cared for.

Another good reason to move to Rossmoor is the security. Lots of women working in the Bay Area move to Rossmoor as soon as they reach the age of 55 because they feel safer there.