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We researched for years before we retired and relocated to Florida. We made a list of our must haves and didn't buy a home until we found one that ticked all of our boxes. We're very happy in our new location, but we have been thrown a few curve balls since moving here.
First, we purposely bought a home in an A rated school district, but shortly after we relocated they redistricted, and we are now in a D rated school district, which does not please us. Second, we didn't buy in an age restricted neighborhood because we wanted to live in a normal neighborhood and have found that there just aren't many retirees here. People work during the day and we have the whole community to ourselves, which can be good and bad. Third, is the "people like us to hang out with" thing, which is hard to figure out before you move into a neighborhood. Our neighbors are great, friendly, and helpful, we look out for each other and have parties every month, we celebrate milestones together, but DH is still looking for a male friend to hang with. That's going to take some time. Are any of these deal breakers? No, not really.
We decided in January to look around the area to see if we could do any better, but after eight months of looking nothing was as appealing as what we have here in terms of walkability, affordability, mature trees, space between houses, neighborliness, lack of ridiculous restrictions, convenience to shopping, interstates, medical care, the airport, etc. so we've embarked on a kitchen, master bath, and lanai remodel to make this place exactly the way we want it. There is no perfect place, but if you research, I believe you can find a place that will be wonderful for you. I know I feel very blessed each day.
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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I keep my 'CORE' place in a No Income Tax US State, but I am seldom hanging around one place too long. At the moment usually in Asia (for affordable healthcare and PT work).
I have 3 retirement abodes that will do (all in tax free states). Each will be a "primary" residence as per tax code exclusions if I need to sell them. (which I plan to do 'on contract' in my 70's to get income stream).
I Like my CORE place to be really close to an international airport, just in case...... they want to nab me for a $600 Obamacare fine.
What is a "core place"? I've never heard of such a thing.
Folks are identifying a living place based on medical services, family etc. They stay there as needed not as most of the time. They may travel have other homes/time shares etc. consider the fortunate few coming out of high COLA areas with lots of home equity built up over the years. They can sell and buy multiple lower cost area, vacations etc and have a base for medical, family and FUTURE settling down when older. There are folks buying into continuing care now as a base for future settling in and establishing or maintaining doctor networks. As medical insurance continues to evolve having an established network with accessible coverage becomes important. Great for the holidays and family, friends doctors.
I keep my 'CORE' place in a No Income Tax US State, but I am seldom hanging around one place too long. At the moment usually in Asia (for affordable healthcare and PT work).
I have 3 retirement abodes that will do (all in tax free states). Each will be a "primary" residence as per tax code exclusions if I need to sell them. (which I plan to do 'on contract' in my 70's to get income stream).
I Like my CORE place to be really close to an international airport, just in case...... they want to nab me for a $600 Obamacare fine.
Bada Bing, The fortunate ones are starting to rethink retirement and the various stages of.
In some cases it is location, location, location. In others it is becoming locations, locations, locations.
I suppose my advice about retirement and moving is to be as certain as possible that the reasons you move somewhere, and the location you pick are yours, and not influenced by anyone. We moved somewhere to retire by my daughter, because of her insistence, and build our " forever " home, only to find it had been a mistake on many levels. Without elaborating, her reasons to be near us weren't the same reasons that we had to be near her, and her family. That, coupled with health problems my wife suffered there because of the climate, and the high cost of living there prompted us to find somewhere else to retire.
Like someone mentioned, there is no perfect place to live. Wherever we go there will be the chance of natural calamities, or, on occassion, bad neighbors. But we researched for about a year, or so, before making another move, and we haven't found much of anything that would have been a deal breaker here, where we are now. Other than the usual adjustments with finding medical care, and routes to grocery stores, entertainment, etc... there really hasn't been anything major.
I suppose if I had to list anything about a determining factor in finding a good retirement spot, it would be to find the right location, then build your criteria up from there...housing, medical availability, entertainment, neighbors, etc..... We are happy with the location we chose this time, mainly because it was our choice.
Like the old saying, " Location, location, location."
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
34,694 posts, read 58,004,579 times
Reputation: 46171
Quote:
Originally Posted by TuborgP
Folks are identifying a living place based on medical services, family etc. They stay there as needed not as most of the time. They may travel have other homes/time shares etc. consider the fortunate few coming out of high COLA areas with lots of home equity built up over the years. They can sell and buy multiple lower cost area, vacations etc and have a base for medical, family and FUTURE settling down when older. ....
It is also nice for deductible travel between locations (if the locations are producing active income).
Mine also provide great opportunities for house swapping, and using for my frequent International Guesthome patrons.
On the long-term care side... Each has a separate living space for me or a future caregiver, but honestly, the only desirable place I can find in USA that has decent (very low) LTC costs is Oklahoma. I can get same care for 1/3rd the cost of my current Domicile state. In case I go over-the-edge...I have entrusted my 'decision-makers' to send me to OK for LTC. (I carry coverage), Hopefully in OK, I will have a Dorothy 'OZ' Twister experience and go to my grave via the SKY! (Save someone shoveling)
It is also nice for deductible travel between locations (if the locations are producing active income).
Mine also provide great opportunities for house swapping, and using for my frequent International Guesthome patrons.
On the long-term care side... Each has a separate living space for me or a future caregiver, but honestly, the only desirable place I can find in USA that has decent (very low) LTC costs is Oklahoma. I can get same care for 1/3rd the cost of my current Domicile state. In case I go over-the-edge...I have entrusted my 'decision-makers' to send me to OK for LTC. (I carry coverage), Hopefully in OK, I will have a Dorothy 'OZ' Twister experience and go to my grave via the SKY! (Save someone shoveling)
Congrats, you have a comprehensive plan that accounts for various stages of your retirement. The current Bull Market is helping some to build and expand on their plans. Converting paper profits to tangible assets. I suspect house sharing will become more popular and a rental market will develop for with yearly short term leases of one or more months in key locations. Couple of months a year in Orlando and family can visit etc.
I keep my 'CORE' place in a No Income Tax US State, but I am seldom hanging around one place too long. At the moment usually in Asia (for affordable healthcare and PT work).
I have 3 retirement abodes that will do (all in tax free states). Each will be a "primary" residence as per tax code exclusions if I need to sell them. (which I plan to do 'on contract' in my 70's to get income stream).
I Like my CORE place to be really close to an international airport, just in case...... they want to nab me for a $600 Obamacare fine.
I can see that.
I would not want to pay income taxes on my pension. I did not want to pay income taxes when I was working. Folks who pay income taxes, sometimes pay a lot.
There would have to be some huge benefit, before I would feel comfortable retiring in a state where I had to pay income taxes.
We moved to this area because of the proximity to kids and grands. We had visited for over decade though, and we were sort of familiar with the area in general. We decided to live in WA for several reasons, but tax issues were a big factor. It would be more expensive to live in Portland, OR.
We had a hard time getting our house sold, so we had time to discuss what we would miss in our home town, and I tried to face facts about learning new stores, newspaper, church, places I like to visit. I do miss some of the old "stomping ground." And I don't get around as freely here--there aren't that many places I want to go, for one thing.
I wish we didn't have such a suburban life. I've lived a suburban life all my life. But I think this is fated to be, and so I've had to make peace with it.
But the major thing is that I get to see my family so much more regularly than when I lived 2000 miles away. So for me, it is a good thing. Neither DH nor I regret this move. We've lived here for 1 1/2 years now.
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... they want to nab me for a $600 Obamacare fine.
