Quote:
Originally Posted by gregandvicky
Where are some good retirement areas in the U.S.?
Criteria is:
New housing under $175000.
Reasonable weather, never extreme hot or cold.
Reasonable property taxes and cost of living.
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La Junta, Colorado might be a consideration for some folks. We certainly don't have the extreme hot or cold of some, however we do top 100 degrees in the summer...but then cool to the 60's/70's at night.
You can buy new housing for under $175,000, however, there are some great older homes in the 80-100's that are awesome. Cost of living is considerably lower than the national average and property taxes are very reasonable.
We have a great retirement community called Casa Del Sol. Their website can be viewed at:
http://www.casadelsollj.org/
Some other information about our friendly little community.
We are a town of about 8,000 in the Southeastern part of Colorado. We are on historic (3,073 miles long, coast to coast) US Highway 50, have great schools, friendly people and a great place to raise kids. Have been here 38 years, 3 grown daughters, two have come back to live, brought spouses and grandchildren, all but grandchildren (3 yrs and 3 months) have found good jobs!
Just for an outside opinion, it might be worth checking out what used to be the oldest paper in Colorado, (Rocky Mountain News..Denver...no longer printing), ran on Friday, Feb 6 about La Junta.
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2009/feb/06/griego-economys-down-but-la-junta-isnt/
Plenty of open spaces for horses, etc., and just general enjoying the view and being able to see for 100 miles!
We are not surrounded by mountains, but my wife and I have property in the Sangre de Cristo range (Cuchar) about 1 hour and 40 minutes from our house. Great mountain views, etc....AND we don't have to put up with the winter snows.
For more about parades, small town activities, etc., check out
www.lajuntaevents.com and check out this past summer. Also, you might look at
www.musicatthejunction.com (Foghat was here last year)
We just had a business announce that they will be moving most of their operation here in the next two years....
www.liqcrytech.com.
Another major business
www.bonnieplants.com just opened a facility at our 1500 acre industrial park.
Please feel free to check out
www.lajuntaeconomicdevelopment.net and
www.VisitLaJunta.net
We are in the Arkansas River Valley...irrigated farm land and great crops.
We have 2 museums in town, Ben'ts Old Fort Historic Site, dinasaur tracks and historic petroglyphs within 45 minute drive. One of the museums (Koshare Indian Kiva and Museum) is home to a Scout Troop that has more Eagle Scouts than any other troop in US! Plus a multi-million dollar native American Museum.
You can drive to Trinidad, CO(quaint historic coal mining town...1 hour away...pop about 8000) via highway 350 and then take the scenic Highway of Legends (Colorado Highway 12 )through the beautiful southern range of the Sangre De Cristo Mountains....(Cucharas Pass, Cuchara, La Veta).
We don't get as much splash as the touristy areas of Colorado....but we are certainly a much more welcoming area of the State.
Just a thought....would be glad to share more about other areas if you want information from an objective Colorado native.
We are 2.5 hours from Denver....have Bronco tickets...don't miss a tailgate or a game (2.5 hours to Invesco from house). Air Force Football is an easy ticket about 2 hours away.
Plenty of concerts, etc in Pueblo (1 hr), Colorado Springs (2hrs) and Denver (2.5 hrs.).
Have an awesome junior college system in Colorado and Otero Junior College (
www.ojc.edu)
We have a great community theatre and a wide variety of artists in the area.
If I can be of help, please feel free to contact me. Even if if is about another area of Colorado....I am a very objective native of this Great State.