Long time friends Gus Sergio, Nicki Molinaro and Jim Sortino enjoy daily walks together throughout their neighborhood of spacious colonial singles in East Norriton. This fall they expect to continue their exercise regimen when they and their wives move into new carriage homes at The Courtyards at Collegeville, an adult 55+ community by Michael Anthony Homes.

Jim Sortino's friend, John Nave and his wife Catherine, will round out the four couples--friends and acquaintances who have purchased homes at the Courtyards located in Lower Providence Township, western Montgomery County. What's more, the Sergios, Sortinos and Naves will occupy one of the clusters of homes that are set around a picturesque village green.

Gus and Marianne Sergio were one of the first couples to look at the Courtyards and liked what they saw, a small community of only 64 homes in a country setting. The Sergios selected the 1,819 square foot Arbor Model and expanded it with a sunroom.

Gus is retired and Marianne works as a nurse at a local company so she did not want to move too far. "Our new home is only five or six miles away from where we are now," Marianne said. "Collegeville is a nice rural town with many opportunities to see and do things. I like the size of the community, not overwhelmingly big, and my backyard will face trees. I'm also excited to be starting over. We are purchasing new furniture and I realize I don't need half of what I have now."

All couples love the second floor lofts, two-car garages and full basements that are standard features at the Courtyards. Jim Sortino, who retired five years ago, and his wife Theresa, were searching for awhile to find an adult 55+ community that had everything on their list. "We wanted low maintenance, a smaller house to care for, and a location close to our children," he said. Jim, a golfer, plans to play at the nearby courses including Hickory Ridge in Gilbertsville and township-owned George Washington Golf Course.

Another avid golfer and soon to be Courtyard homeowner, Charlotte Molinaro, plays regularly at George Washington Golf Course. She and husband Nicki will be the first of the group to move in October. Also from East Norriton, the Molinaro's have known some of the other couples since high school. "We were actually the first of the group to buy," she explained. "Our home is the Bower model and we added a sunroom, a window in the basement and numerous other upgrades."

Charlotte and Nicki winter in Florida, so the new house will be a comfortable fit for their lifestyle and will also allow them to stay in the parish where they are active. Charlotte is looking forward to meeting new friends and neighbors. "I've already met so many friendly people and another woman who is also a golfer," she said. "It will be great."

Catherine and John Nave, who are moving from a spacious home in West Norriton, selected the Bower Model, an interior unit with 2,024 square feet. They have also added a number of upgrades to their home. One of the standard features they will enjoy is the basement. "My husband plans to put an office and workshop in the basement. One of the things I will like is the closeness and camaraderie of the community."

Everyone agrees that they like the superior quality of Michael Anthony Homes and the Courtyards’ Collegeville location. It has small town ambiance yet is close to everything, including their children. The shopping and business areas of King of Prussia are only 15 minutes away via Route 422.

The clubhouse will also be an added bonus, they say. Scheduled for completion early next year, it will include a great room for parties and socializing and a full service kitchen and fitness center. The community's nominal monthly fee includes use of the clubhouse as well as exterior maintenance of each home and the community grounds. Mowing, snow and leaf removal, gutter cleaning and more are provided.

Priced from the low $200,000's, the luxury homes include two bedrooms, two baths, a luxurious master suite and bath on the first floor, a full basement, and a two-car garage. Kitchens feature a peninsula design, spacious breakfast room, 42" oak cabinets with crown molding and GE appliances. Other standard features are covered porches, nine-foot ceilings, separate laundry rooms with tubs, and ceramic tile floors in the baths. Homes are equipped with high efficiency gas heating and air conditioning and a 50-gallon gas hot water heater. The community is connected to public water and sewer.

Since 1983, award winning builder Michael Anthony Homes is known in the Philadelphia region for quality construction and classic architecture. This is evident in the rich handsome exteriors at the Courtyards, which are accented with cultured stone.

The Sales Center is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday through Wednesday. For more information, call 610-489-3565 or visit www.michaelanthonyhomes.com. Directions: Route 422 West, take Route 29 North to Main Street and turn right. Bear right onto Ridge Pike to Level Road and turn right.