Rental communities feature the same homes and amenities as other communities, but offer short-term, seasonal, and annual rentals as well. Many opportunities abound not only retirement living but investment rental opportunities for retirement living year round.

Michigan is a Midwestern state located in the east north central portion of the country. Bounded by four of the five Great Lakes, plus Lake Saint Clair, Michigan has the longest freshwater shoreline in the United States, the ninth longest total shoreline (including island shorelines), and in 2005 had more registered recreational boats than any state except California and Florida.

Though the state is nowhere near an ocean, residents are never more than six miles from a body of water, giving the illusion of a seaside retirement. Filled with sandy, dune-lined beaches and a number of small towns with quaint downtown areas, the Great Lakes lakefront is nicknamed the "Riviera of the Midwest". Between boating, fishing, hiking the shoreline, and shopping in the quaint lakefront towns, there is plenty for retirees to do.

Central Michigan is also a popular spot with retirees who golf. The state holds 850 public golf courses including the Forest Dunes Golf Club in Roscommon, a 7,141-yard Tom Weiskopf designed course, that last year was selected by Golf Digest as one of America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses. Michigan has the largest state forest system in the nation and is a hot spot for snowmobiling and hunting.

Michigan does have some extremely cold and snow-filled winters. A nice change from the heat of the summer, the cold weather can be enjoyed sitting by a warm fire with a cup of hot cocoa.