88 homes by Moceri Companies — Oakland County's boutique alternative to Del Webb. What you get (and sacrifice) when you choose a smaller builder, higher finishes, and a tighter community in the $500K–$700K range.
The Moceri Companies is a Southeast Michigan regional builder with a long track record in Oakland County luxury development. Villa Montclair, at 3999 Ashton Drive in Auburn Hills, is their 55+ active adult flagship — 88 detached single-family homes on a boutique scale that Del Webb doesn't offer. Construction began in 2020 and the community is nearing full buildout.
The pitch here is finish quality and community size. Moceri builds to a higher specification than typical production-builder Del Webb: the clubhouse features high-end finishes including a two-way fireplace, the kitchen and community spaces have hotel-grade appointments, and homes are designed with 55+ ergonomics throughout. At 88 homes total, this is a small community by industry standards — you'll know most neighbors by name within six months.
With 88 homes, Villa Montclair offers community cohesion that a 600-home Kensington Ridge or 631-home Bridgewater can't match. The activities calendar is resident-driven, the HOA board is accessible, and the sense of knowing your neighbors is genuine. The tradeoff: fewer amenities than resort-scale communities, less clubhouse programming, and a smaller social pool for finding people who share niche interests (pickleball leagues, specific card games, etc.).
The clubhouse anchors the community with a fitness center, lounge area with flat-screen TV, and a full kitchen for events. Outdoors: a pool and spa with substantial patio and seating areas, a community garden, and a grand boulevard design with sidewalks for walking and jogging. Walking trails weave through the natural green spaces within the development. Home prices include HOA dues that cover lawn maintenance, snow removal, and common area upkeep at approximately $295/month.
Villa Montclair sits in Auburn Hills, which carries higher city millage than Milford Township where Kensington Ridge is located. For new construction buyers, the taxable value starts fresh at SEV — there's no Proposal A benefit from prior owner cap suppression, but there's also no uncapping surprise. Your first tax bill will reflect the purchase price accurately.
Despite Oakland County's lower average effective rate, Auburn Hills' city-level millage is meaningfully higher than Milford Township's. A $600,000 home in Auburn Hills will generate annual property taxes that are roughly comparable to a similarly priced home at Kensington Ridge in Milford — the county average doesn't tell this story accurately. Always verify the specific city/township millage using the Michigan Treasury Property Tax Estimator for the exact parcel address before closing on any SE Michigan home.
Michigan's 2026 full retirement income exemption (Social Security: never taxed; pensions and 401k: fully deductible up to ~$130,000 joint) is the same for every SE Michigan community. A couple spending $4,500/month at Villa Montclair with $100,000 in pension and Social Security income owes essentially $0 Michigan income tax. This is a significant advantage over comparable boutique communities in states like Ohio or Wisconsin.
A local specialist familiar with Moceri's contract structure and Auburn Hills tax rates can help you compare total costs accurately against Del Webb alternatives.
Talk to a Michigan 55+ Specialist