An increasing number of seniors are abandoning home ownership for rental properties, and a new community opening in November in San Antonio is looking to capitalize on that trend.

Woodland Cottages Westover Hills (2911 N. Ellison Dr.) is a 78-cottage community designed for 55+ living, including a focus on accessibility for disability, such as zero-threshold showers.

They're also easy to manage. Everything from electricity to property tax to maintenance is included in the rent, which runs from $2,700 to $3,700 a month according to their website. Add in pet-friendly properties, community centers, and an active social calendar, and it could be a grandparent's rental dream.

"Our vision was to create more than just housing; we wanted to build a neighborhood where older adults can thrive, connect, and live life on their own terms," said Ed Garahan, Partner and Chief Executive Officer at developer Carbon Companies. "From the beginning, this project has been about blending the feel of single-family living with the convenience and community of independent living."

Opening in November, Woodland Cottages Westover Hills highlights one of the interesting quirks in the real estate and rental market. In the past 10 years, rentals by San Antonio residents 65 and older have risen 12.8 percent. San Antonio is not the only hot spot. Nationwide, the increase is 24 percent.

It seems counterintuitive. Homes are valuable investments that generally appreciate as they get older. However, more seniors are finding that maintaining a home is too difficult as they age. Even with the recent property tax cuts, Texas still has one of the highest rates in the country. Add in the "babychaser" phenomenon, where grandparents move to be closer to their grandchildren, and renting seems like a better idea.

It doesn't hurt that San Antonio is the second-best place in America to retire to, according to a SmartAsset report last year. Some of the reasons retirees are choosing the Alamo City include the lack of cold winters, San Antonio's low cost of living, and the city's penchant for outdoor recreation.

As the market for senior renters grows, communities like Woodland Cottages Westover Hills are likely to become more common for retirees who prefer writing a rent check to a mortgage.