Country Walk of Lake Ridge in Manchester Township, NJ: A Guide to This Adult Community

Country Walk of Lake Ridge is an age-restricted community of 304 homes in the Whiting section of Manchester Township, Ocean County. Its homeowners association says it sits on 199 acres next to preservation land, with single-family detached homes and attached Courtyard Homes. 55places lists it as a 55+ community built by the Kokes Organization between 2004 and 2015.

I'm Dennis Mark Interdonato with Keller Williams Realty Ocean Living. This guide covers where the community is, the homes, the clubhouse, the rules and what to check before you make an offer, using the published sources listed with it.

Where Country Walk of Lake Ridge Is

The clubhouse is at 1 Country Walk Boulevard. Whiting is a section of Manchester Township, which is the municipality and sets the property tax rate. The community is not gated, and the association notes an on-site manager. Several separate communities use the Lake Ridge name, so check which one a listing belongs to.

The Homes

The Ocean County Planning Department's list and 55places both count 304 homes. 55places splits them into 188 ranch homes and 116 attached homes, from 986 to 1,868 square feet, with one or two bedrooms. It names nine models:

• Laurel (Courtyard Home): 1 bedroom, 1 bath, 986 sq ft, 1-car garage
• Fairfield (Courtyard Home): 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1,127 sq ft, 1-car garage
• Devon II (Courtyard Home): 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1,262 sq ft, 1-car garage
• Auburn (Courtyard Home): 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1,355 sq ft, 1-car garage
• Auburn II (Courtyard Home): 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1,355 sq ft, 2-car garage
• Exton (Courtyard Home): 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1,377 sq ft, 1-car garage
• Barclay (single-family): 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1,561 sq ft, 2-car garage
• Grenville (single-family): 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1,789 sq ft, 2-car garage
• Cadbury (single-family): 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1,868 sq ft, 2-car garage

Clubhouse and Amenities

55places lists a 7,600-square-foot clubhouse with:

• A ballroom, a library and a card room
• Billiards and an arts and crafts studio
• A fitness center and an outdoor pool
• Tennis, bocce, shuffleboard and horseshoes
• Walking trails and a pond

Fees and Rules

The association charges a monthly fee. Fees vary by section and home type, and they change every year when the association adopts its budget, so a number printed in an old listing or on a directory site can already be out of date. Ask me for the current fees at Country Walk of Lake Ridge and I will get the figure for the specific home you are considering, along with what it covers.

The association describes the community as age-restricted and 55places lists it as 55+. Ask for the governing documents to see the exact wording of the age rule and the rules that apply to Courtyard Homes versus detached homes.

Shopping, Medical Care and Getting Around

• Groceries: Stop & Shop, 400 Lacey Road in Whiting, is about 3.6 miles away in a straight line and appears in the chain's current store directory.
• Hospital: Community Medical Center (RWJBarnabas Health), 99 Route 37 West in Toms River, is about 5.5 miles away in a straight line.
• Bus service: Ocean County's Ocean Ride runs fixed bus routes, including OC 1A Whiting Express, which runs from Whiting to Lakehurst, Seacourt Pavilion and the Ocean County Mall, and its Reserve-A-Ride service offers door-to-door trips for county residents 60 and older or disabled residents 18 and older. The county page does not list a stop inside the community.
• Township rides: Manchester Township Senior Services offers medical and non-medical transportation for residents 60 and older.

Before You Buy: Questions for Any Age-Restricted Community

I walk every buyer through the same short list when we look at a community like Country Walk of Lake Ridge. This is general guidance, not legal advice, and your attorney will review the association documents with you.

• The age requirement. Ask exactly how the documents word it, and how they treat a younger spouse or partner, a live-in caregiver and overnight guests.
• The budget and reserves. Ask for the current fee, what it includes, the size of the reserve fund and whether any special assessment is planned.
• Association charges at closing. Ask whether a capital contribution, transfer fee or resale certificate fee applies to buyers.
• Who maintains what. Ask who is responsible for the roof, siding, driveway, lawn and snow removal at the home you are considering.
• Everyday rules. Ask about pets, renting your home out, exterior changes, and parking for a second car, a boat or an RV.
• Detached or attached. Ask how maintenance responsibilities differ between a Courtyard Home and a single-family home.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many homes are in Country Walk of Lake Ridge?

304, a figure that 55places and the Ocean County Planning Department's list agree on.

What is a Courtyard Home?

It is the association's name for its attached homes. 55places lists six Courtyard models from 986 to 1,377 square feet.

Is Country Walk of Lake Ridge gated?

No.

Who built it?

The Kokes Organization, between 2004 and 2015, according to 55places.

Is it in Whiting or Manchester Township?

Both. Whiting is a section of Manchester Township, which is the municipality.

Thinking About Country Walk of Lake Ridge? Let's Talk

I'm Dennis Mark Interdonato, a REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty Ocean Living, and I help buyers and sellers in Whiting and Manchester Township and across Monmouth and Ocean County. If you would like to see what is for sale in Country Walk of Lake Ridge, get the current fees, compare it with other adult communities nearby, or find out what your current home could sell for before you move, call or text me at (732) 598-2672 or send me a message. You can also browse the other communities in my Adult Communities guide.