Leisure World Seal Beach

Some of these reviews are so individual and should not be reflective of the entire community. The one from the African American lady is sad. I live in what was my Mom’s unit and have always had a great relationship with the African Americans two doors down and their wonderful family. They are good people and always see the good in other people or bring it out of them if it’s not so obvious at first blush. I know other African Americans in the community and see them as the people they are and watch them take part in and enjoy the many activities and facilities available to them here in Leisure World.
As a responsible child I made sure that when my Mom passed there were no questions or mysteries as to what she wanted to do with her property. There was no need for the community to knoblock the unit to prevent other relatives, that may have been given access by my Mom, from coming in and taking things that should not have been taken by them. Since the Property Management had on record what was to be done — it was my responsibility to change the locks or whatever I chose.
There are rules and much like any where in or out of Leisure World — African American — Caucasian — Asian — European — Middle Eastern or ??? — some people do not follow the rules and are not courteous. It is not a reflection on the community but on the individuals involved — don’t hold someone’s lack of planning, shortness of patience and understanding or interpretation of others actions based on their personal biases make up your mind.
Come see Leisure World for yourself — I have found it to be a great place to live. It has a great Security Department, fine management, excellent maitanence and superb clubs, entertainment and activities and an excellent Health Care Center and transportation. If you can’t find a way to live a happy active peaceful life here — you won’t find it anywhere — someone is ALWAYS going to be picking on you, your race, your religion, your size, or your personal handicaps.

Leisure World is quite a fun place! I’ve been lucky enough to work with some great people there from a consultative standpoint. I highly recommend this clean and beautiful facility to any family or future tenant!

I moved my mom here because I was working at Boeing down the street on Bolsa Avenue. My family is African American and we moved mom here so I could be close to her while I was employed. She had demensia after living 1.5 years here. I moved into mom’s place to pay her rent to towards her now monthly assisted living bill (I was age 60 then and am now retired). I moved mom to The Villa Rosa Assisted Living in Costa, Mesa (great place/​about $ 3,000 a month). Another great place is Sunrise in Huntington Beach, or even Sunrise across the road in Seal Beach which is about $ 400 more because of the location.
One incident, once I settled in here, was taking 5 – 6 African American friends to show them the swimming pool area. As we approached, all the occupants stopped swimming and looked at us as though we were aliens. One Caucasian woman jumped out of the pool and grabbed her purse from the chair near the pool. We shook our heads and laughed. I’ve had three women allow their dogs to urinate on my gravity chair on the grass. There’s a HUGE green belt in front of my unit and they walked the dogs from the sidewalks directly to my gravity chair. People here continually ask if I’m a care giver or do I clean houses (it’s a Black-​stereotype thing). I get on the shuttle buses and the elderly Caucasian women clutch their purses as if I’m going to knock them in the head for their social security checks (sigh). I travel extensively since retiring and have been asked how I can afford it, how I can afford to fix up my mom’s house, and if my mother left me an inheritance (mom passed in April) and so many other intrusive questions.
I retired quite comfortable and cannot wait to leave this complex. If you are a minority — — run away from Orange County… life is too short!!! I’m packing up and moving to the Caribbean and will leave the madness to those most deserving.
On the up side, the complex is well run, well planned out to satisfy so many needs. The clubs are numerous and productive. I’ve planned many picnics on the greenbelt and outings with Good Times
with my neighbors. The shuttles can transport you to the beach, shopping centers, medical locations and much more. Meals on Wheels offers delicious meals delivered and there are food trucks servicing other needs. There is a car wash, credit union, library, medical center, golf course, amphitheatre, post office, self contained maintenance for the unit and exterior and much more. This place is good for a vacation spot to land.
Happy New Year; good health, and many fond memories are wished to you and yours for the upcoming years.
Born2Travel
Mutual 1

great location, good value, nice people, wonderful activities.
If you want to enter the campus, be aware the security access rules are not friendly.
I felt like we was entering a unfriendly foreign country. Real bummer.

I moved in BOM July … The one thing I have to complain is my mosquito infestion need to find the source, seems to be ignored still waiting for a solution! They should b pro-​active rather than reactive!

Several relatives have lived in Leisure World in Seal Beach, and all liked it. My gramma was the first and she liked it so much that later her sister moved there. And later their brother and his wife. That was several years ago. My mom is now getting on in age and in looking at her options, she decided LW was still a great place. She sold her house and bought a place in LW and all of us are glad she did. When we went looking with a realtor we saw a wide variety of places. We waited until we found one with a good location and floor plan. I think that makes a big difference. We looked for a place with that had an OK view (not looking into a carport for example), no street noise, and a patio. Her neighbors are friendly.
I have noticed my mom seems much happier since the move! She is around people going through the same stage of life. The community has doctors knowledgable about geriatrics. The local stores, banks, etc are used to seniors. It may not be perfect, but if you have a good attitude, think the place looks pretty good.

On my fifth year at Leisure World and even with the warts I know know aboujt, I am amazed at how well run this place is. It is like a small town though where neighbors know a lot about you and your in a fishbowl if you keep your blinds open as there are many walkers and runners around during the daytime or early evening. Small town gossip and griping as many seniors can be but most of the people we meet here are very friendly and open. Our immediate neighbors are great and helpful to each other.
The activities here can meet any taste or preference from hobbies to many exercise alternatives. They have medical care on site and their own transportation bus line in the community that runs on a regular schedule and «dial a ride» from the City of Seal Beach. So you dont need a car since the bus goes to the two shopping areas near by, downtown Seal Beach which is an aswesome beach town ambience or a shopping center with a Kohls, grocery Ralphs, CVS, Rite Aid, Ross, and other discount stores. Great for seniors. Many restaurants give discounts for dining for LW members. Long Beach asnd Orange County run bus lines from the front of LW for transportation to other areas nearby in Los Alamitos or Long Beach which has a lot of amenties
I have been active in my HOA since I have been here and they are run very well with assistance from the main administration. The administratiion is a little slow to use technology or even accept credit or debit cards for convenience to the menbers. they only take checks or money orders. There is a credit union on site for banking and the excellent library and club houses are well equipped and well used as well.
The library has current DVD movies for lending for free for two days but charge a dollar a day if they are late. Time Warner Cable has a deal for Leisure world for some free equipment which is a lower cost than outside of LW. the gardeners do all the work and keep your garden tilled and weeded and mulched if you want it. All of this is included in the HOA fee which is low for what you get. Mine is about $ 322 and $ 450 with the property taxes. It includes the gardening and lawn and tree maintenance and the infrastrucure maintenance of the properties. It is a co-​op type of property rather than a condo which is different. There are lots of rules and dos and don’ts so dont move here if you like to do whatever you want to your unit. They wont let you.
I talked about the upsides. Now the downsides:
1. Only can have one dog here.
2. Many people dont want to get involved in the HOA admin but are quick to «bitch» if they dont like the decisioins that are made for them and the community.
3. If you like individuality in the outside appearance in your home, you are very limited in what you can do and it varies a lot by mutual and the inconsistencies can be concerning between mutuals (HOAs).
i dont agree with some of the negative reviews which are just unfair to LW.
Even with these issues, i highly recommend it if you are an active senior or near senior or especially a bachelor or bachelorette or widow or widower (over 55). Great for singles of that age or couples. It is a very active community as you need to be ambulatory to even get in here although if your health goes south, there are many alternative care givers to choose from and amenties for shut ins who cant get around.

The new postal worker in Leisure World is not a very happy person. We miss the former postal worker who was always helpful and in a pleasant mood.

Leisure World is a huge, HUGE scam, run by crooks.
This is the WORST group of people I have ever had to deal with, EVER. My father lived in this community and passed away suddenly. You would think a retirement community would be used to handling a tenet’s death, and would be well versed in offering compassion and sympathy to families. ABSOLUTELY NOT. They immediately knob-​locked the door to his home, refusing to let anyone in until we came with legal paperwork as a court– appointed administrator (4 months later). Jodi Hopkins in Stock Transfer is the rudest person I have EVER encountered (and I have encountered many personalities in sorting through my father’s estate), she was so rude and heartless that she actually brought me to tears over the phone.
To say that selling the home was a nightmare is an understatement. The on-​site real estate office is really something else. These people wait until one of the residents dies, then snatch up a 5.5% commission to flip the unit to the next unsuspecting schmuck. Minimal work, maximum payout. They practically force you (or as they say, «strongly suggest») to use one of their realtors, because the «Leisure World policies» are so different from traditional home sales, an outside agent would not be able to do keep up.
What is BETTER, is the «mandatory» pre-​listing inspection they charge you, then proceed to nickel-​and-​dime you — I was charged over $ 150 for them to pull a piece of tape off a fan, and $ 6 for someone to pull the skylight closed on a rainy day (not kidding).
I would never, ever, EVER recommend this community to anyone with loved ones.
P. S. The review by Diann sounds suspiciously like the advertisements they circulate to get you to move into this cult.

Leisure World, established in 1960, is a gated community for seniors (55 years and older). I have been here several times, will come back several times, and when I’m old enough, I will move here. So I doubt I will ‘check in’ every time.
As you get older in life, you will discover that the house you originally purchased is too big (all you kids left) and too much to take care of. Your health, obviously starts to deteriorate as well.
This is not assisted living. Living here means you don’t need to worry about things that at a mature age take up your time, like taking care of the outside of your home. No more. Like cutting your lawn. No more. Like taking care of the bushes. No more. Now you have time to travel, vacation, or take part of many activities inside the world. Your monthly fee includes a health center, a swimming pool, a golf course and nearby medical needs. There is a pharmacy and post office located on the premise. There are hundreds of clubs to join as well. It is a safe community that is gated and has its own security. Each house has an assigned covered carport and many unassigned spots are opened as well. No kids allowed to live here, so the community is quiet as well.
I’m looking forward to moving here.

I agree with Virginia. At Leisure World they live by their own set of rules. follow them or they will make your life miserable. The grounds are beautiful. Feels like its straight out of a 50’s movie. The «Security» are just volunteer residents. It can be a lovely place to live, as long as you live exactly the way they tell you to. Think: Commune. Don’t drink the Kool-​aid!
Also as a side note. They DO NOT replace your appliances every 10 years. And the wash is a quarter the dry is a dime.

I have a VERY different experience of Leisure World than Virginia.
My Mom, Karen, lives here. She LOVES it.
There are so many amenities:
**Swimming Pool: Only for residents
**Post Office: On Site
**Medical Facilities
**Pharmacy
**Movie Theater
**Their Own Newspaper out Every Thursday
**Entertainment: Charro performed @ Leisure World
**Churches: Practically Every Denomination
**An Abundance of Activities: Scrapbooking, Crochet, Learn Japanese, Sewing, etc.
**Transportation: No cost to residents.
**Golf: Par 3 –9 hole golf course
**Full gym
**Amphitheater: Summer Concerts every Thursday
**Many Casinos offer shuttles to/​from Leisure World
** Laundry: .25 cent wash, free dry (At these prices she opted not to have laundry in her home.)
I don’t consider where my Mom lives as an apartment. My Mom has a beautiful home. She had to go through the Homeowners Association to knock out a wall. She was approved. My Mom has always had a decorative touch.
Homeowners Fee includes property taxes and maintenance of Leisure World. The grounds are gorgeous.
My Mom has made several dear friends. They plan dinners, have an occasional party, and are often found playing cards or cribbage.
My Mom’s home is quiet. My Mom’s only complaint is that she hates the bunnies. I love them. She says they destroy the lawns and flowers.
We both love the manned security to enter the premises. You either need to show the pass, renewed annually, or you need to be phoned in. Security patrols the area.
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Yes. There are rules that must be followed.
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Convenient Location. Close to Marinas, beach, great restaurants, shopping, & freeway access (22 & 405)
I love the climate.
*Must be 55.
*Must own your dwelling.
*Every 10 years, Leisure World replaces all of your appliances that were original to the dwelling (dishwashers and microwaves are not original to dwelling).
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So what are you waiting for?
I recommended this place to a few friends. I just called Mom on the phone. She said for me to give Leisure World 5 Stars.
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I submitted business updates to Unilocal.Awaiting response.