100 Best Places to Retire for 2013

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I hear you, Ginger. The kind of house I wind up in is much less important than the other things you mention - environment, health care, location ...
STILL & ALL -- I know I have to be at least somewhat concerned with the construction of the building (especially since in my case too my budget won't go very far). I plan to be spending many years in the place I choose, and I need a solid structure that will last. Shoddy materials and poor design just mean a lot of money going down the drain in the coming years -- money that I don't & probably will never have. So I need a living space that will last.
I would much rather spend the next few decades making art instead of making repairs!

I've been lookiing around PA, and like the Harrisburg area. On the other hand, I live in Western PA (Pittsburgh area) and love the low cost of living, friendliness for seniors, and all of the amenities. Of course, it's 4th season can get very cold, but its Falls are gorgeous (go Steelers). My biggest negative about staying here is the fact that there is a lack of suitable homes for retirees outside the county limits (to take advantage of lower real estate taxes) in the $200,000-$300,000 range. Developers here aren't really going after this market demographic, which is silly in view of Allegheny County's older population.

I've discovered that the developers who advertise condos or houses "starting at ...$" can't be trusted to mean that the actual prices are anything close to that price. Two weeks ago a saleswoman told me with a straight face that their typical buyer adds $100,000 in upgrades.

Just my opinion, of course, but I've been casually hunting for a retirement home for quite a while now. I'm disappointed by the lack of reasonably priced elder housing here.

Being previously from the Lancaster Pa area we investigated moving back to that great area - only one thing wrong and that is they still get Seniors on the School tax and the house prices really have not taken a beating like some other parts of the country,

Bottom line - as "Seasoned citizens" we cannot afford to move back to that area on our limited budget.

Reading some of these comments it's interesting how many Seniors seem to have great amounts of money to retire on - I am jealous. Not of them but the fact that I don't have those funds. More power to them - guess they were smarter than I/LOL

Robert

It sounds as though Janis may have relocated to somewhere near the Pocono Mountains in PA, hence the 'Wild West' description! It was once a lovely rural area with beautiful mountains, clean streams and friendly neighbors. Then, ironically, in an attempt to seek a better life and education for their kids, folks from NY and NJ moved here. A strange faction followed them bringing crime and drugs, especially in the gated communities in which these newcomers felt most safe. School taxes skyrocketed due to the influx of kids - mine went up 400% in 20 years! And yes there are no local police departments in many areas - that would require MORE taxes - and the fire departments are all volunteer. Then the housing crash occurred and sheriff's sales and foreclosures are through the roof. Once full schools are getting empty so community school buildings stand empty and are for sale, but the taxes don't go down. And yes, gun-shooting is a cheap form of entertainment that is perfectly legal! Moral of this story: talk to residents before you move and do a month's (or more) trial run first. I could never in good conscience recommend this area any longer while once it seemed like paradise. We've bought in Asheville, NC.

Just a note for those folks who are thinking about moving to PA. I just returned from a road trip that included a lovely drive through the wildlands of this magnificent state -- and discovered that fracking seems to be over-running even these wilderness areas.
In other words, make sure you investigate environmental issues (and potential hazards) before you fall in love with an area.
http://wilderness.org/blog/fracking-dangers-7-ugly-reasons-why-wilderness-lovers-should-be-worried?gclid=CN-LxqSnjLgCFYef4AodUh8AYA

THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP AND COMMENTS BOBBIE, THIS IS JANIS SOMMERS AND THANKS FOR THE INFO. SORRY, I FORGOT TO MENTION WHERE I LIVE IN PA. IT'S PIKE COUNTY RIGHT BY MILFORD PA. WE MOVED FROM RANDOLPH NJ AND LOVED IT BUT COULDN'T REITIRE AND PAY THE TAXES IN NJ. WE NEVER THOUGHT WE WOULD HAVE TO CHECK INTO THE LAWS OF SHOOTING GUNS AND FIREWORKS. THERE ARE FIREWORKS AND TOBACCO SHOPS ALL OVER THE PLACE UP HERE BUT NOT A DECENT FOOD STORE, I HAVE TO TRAVEL 45 MIN TO JERSEY TO GO THE SHOP RITE. JUST BE CAREFUL IF YOU ARE LOOKING INTO PA. CHECK INTO THE LAWS AND ALSO HOW FAR EVERYTHING IS. THERE ALSO ISN'T A DECENT HOSPITAL UP HERE. WE ARE MAKING A TRIP TO DELAWARE NEXT WEEK TO CHECK IT OUT AND WE JUST PUT OUR HOUSE ON THE MARKET. AND WE ARE ALSO CONSIDERING FLORIDA JUST NOT SURE IF WE WOULD MISS THE CHANGE OF SEASONS. I WILL CONTINUE TO LISTEN TO ALL INPUT ON THIS WEBSITE THANKS AGAIN JANIS

Florida - for those of you thinking of new construction in Florida, prices have gone up over 8% and when you add in the increase in lot prices as well as the reduction of incentive money it works out to well over 10%. The home we purchased in December 2012, which we will be closing on, on July 12th, would cost us an additional $48K to duplicate a little more than 12%. The sad part, our development was not supposed to be sold out until mid 2015, but as per my last conversation with my sales agent was sold out the last week of June 2013.

Additionally, if you add in the rise in interest rates, we might have been priced out of the new constuction market completely!!!

This is not a hurry up and buy comment, but just what I have seen happening in several of the area's that my wife and I considered buying in.

I'm looking at 55+ communities as well as several "family" developments in Northampton County, PA (also known as the Lehigh Valley). Anyone have any experience with HOAs in this area; or experience "living" in this area? I'll be looking at homes later this month (July).

Art, thanks for a reminder about city- data as well as the other information. It was actually Spokane's difference in weather than was appealing to me. I will probably stick to my interest in the east coast, but always looking for a new place to explore.

Has anyone done any research into Greenville SC. Housing prices seem reasonable and taxes are affordable. Any thoughts.

read todays blogs always seem to pick up a tip and thank 'one and all'..now just a quick reply to first Russ..who stated his mome price rose 48k in 6 months..well good luck that means the house to rise 48k was a price of 480k at your purchase..and sonds like some castle in florida ..
and second Janis nice comments to let others know the situation and where to look and what when on our searc..so Delaware next we just spent 2 weeks there and visited many nice communities but it seems like because the tax is so low (property) they take advantage of the home price and almost anywhere we looked with just a small addittion of flooring etc then the site could add 20k and was just around 300k as a full price..my point being that a similiar home in SO COROLINA was 240k and many more recreation amenities ie indoor/outdoor pools ..then in Florida..the cost was the same but Delaware taxes inc=me not Florida..so do the math before buying..and finally ,, in Florida we were having major stumbling blocks to find insuance companies that will issue a policy in Fl even on new homes that meet new hurricane codes..we always check anywhere we look with insurers for quotes..SC had no problem ..good luck

To Robbie

Not that rich..our price soup to nuts was less than $400K...in April 2012 the list price of our home was $362K, in June 2013 it was $399K, lot prices went up 10K to 20K or more, incentive money dropped from $25K to $10K and the option prices: ie: tile, granite, carpet, etc..went up as well...and as the development started selling out there was a bidding war on the remaining lots and houses...

And yes...insurance was a hugh decision on where, what and type of home we were going to buy. We actually priced insurance 1st before we started looking at homes and that's when we ruled out a resale that was more than 10 years old. Our insurance costs will be less than $2K a year which includes hurricane, flood, hazard, etc... The vehicle insurance is were they get you, for that is about $1,000 more than here in NY.

We looked in the carolina's but ruled it out after downloading and filling out the state's tax returns based upon what our retirement income was going to be. Also, My wife only wants to see snow on the TV or on vacation again.

Additionally, my daughter, son-in-law and grand child live on Long Island, NY and they can easily catch a flight at McCarther(?)Airport and land in Palm Beach Airport within 4 hours of leaving their house. About the same amount of time it takes to drive from LI to where we currently live in NY. Another decision in why we chose Florida.

But thanks for you comment and enjoy the Carolina's..

Robbie thanks for breaking it all down for us. Taxes and Insurance rates are so important they can make or break a decision. Live a long life in your new home!

Housing costs and taxes are critical aspects in retirement decisions. But the most important factor is finding a place where you and your spouse or partner are truly comfortable. The lowest costs mean nothing if you are unhappy in your chosen community. I urge all clients to do several things in the selection process, including actually spending real time in places under consideration, and researching the history, culture, and society of each place. There is no perfect place for retirement, but local ways and long-standing histories can make or break your enjoyment.

Hi Everyone, My husband and I are both retired in our mid 50's. We have been looking at and researching communities in states like Virginia, Delaware and Pennsylvania. What we are looking for is a community that is walkable, in other words, having medical, shopping, restaurants, entertainment etc. in the same community with townhomes and single family homes. We have found one of these in New Town, Williamsburg,Virginia but are there any others?? Thank you!

Has anyone here ever checked out Mississippi? Specifically the Oxford Mississippi area or the gulf area around Biloxi?

Hi Ira. I live close to Biloxi, Ms. I know a lot about that area. There is much to do if you like fishing and gambling and eating. Unfortunately, it is hurricane central. The Cat islands cause the funky water to stay close to shore there. To see the beautiful gulf waters you need to go to the other side of the islands or drive to Pensacola, Fl., which is only an hour away. I have friends looking at Oxford, Ms. They are going to visit there soon. I'll let you know what they have to say. I am looking to leave the heat and humidity and hurricanes. But, many people love it there.

Russ - That was a great idea about getting the state tax returns! I'll definitely try doing that for each of the states that I'm currently considering. Florida is back on my list. I met someone this weekend who has retired to Florida, who said that the high Homeowner Assn fees that I heard about were quarterly fees, as opposed to the monthly fees quoted to me in Pennsylvania. Duh. I hadn't thought about that possibility!

Ira -- I've been giving some thought to Oxford MS too, specifically because of its small town atmosphere mixed with academia (U of Mississippi). There's also the Faulkner connection, & a lot of scholarly conferences. Probably one of the best educated small towns in the south.
It's on some of the "best small towns" lists. Medical facilities readily available. Affordable.
But SOOOO hot.

Thanks for the replies about Mississippi. I live in Texas, so I know about hot, but I don't like the idea of hurricanes. That's why I have been thinking about Oxford. When I retire, we'll probably stay in the south 9 months of the year and head to Wisconsin in the summer.

This comment came via email from Dena:
I am a 62 single female looking for an adult rental community that has other singles. I would also like to be able to see some type of water, either lake, river or ocean, ocean being my first choice. I have always dreamed of living where I can hear the waves and look at the ocean. Is there anywhere like this?

RoniC: Media PA would fit your requirements. Also has public transportation that goes in to Philadelphia. Swarthmore and West Chester PA may also suit your needs, though Swarthmore is pretty pricy. Fabulous free concerts from Swarthmore College Jazz Band though!

Has anyone looked at Durango, Co.? We plan to visit sometime later this summer. It sounds nice, but have any of you been there?

We looked at Branson, Mo. because there is so much to do there and it is a lovely drive up to Eureka Springs, Arkansas. That is one of my favorite areas to visit in the early spring. However, we have taken it off the list because of the ice storms in winter and an abundance of ticks in the areas where we would be hiking. Bummer!

I lived in Colorado for 15 years. Durango is lovely. lovely and very expensive. Caution: A friend of mine owns a condo there. Apparently several builders built condos and they are not to code.

There was a request in the "Wanted: Your Member Input" forum for eclectic, walkable towns. I can't think of anywhere better than Northampton, MA, for sheer walkability. Just the right size to spend the afternoon checking out galleries, shops, street musicians, all kinds of one-of-a-kind places. So far the Big Box stores have failed to kill downtown Northampton. It even still has a record store (as in vinyl!) for us boomer types. Lots of pedestrian crosswalks which the drivers actually pay attention to. (Yes, drivers are POLITE in Noho.)
Also, for those who have trouble with all that walking, there are LOTS of wheelchair-accessible places. In fact, when I first moved to Western MA (I live just a few miles away from Northampton) I thought to myself that I'd never ever seen so many wheelchairs cruising down the sidewalks as they do in this terrific little town.
If I could afford to, I would definitely summer right here in Western MA & go South only for the winter. But the one downside of the area is that the winters can be very cold and snowy.

My wife and I reside in Las Cruces, NM and are anxious to leave. Have researched and visited Tupelo, MS. Any comments or info we missed would be great

Sam, may I ask why you are anxious to leave Las Cruces, NM? I'm afraid I know little about Tupelo.

Krystyna, Thanks for the headsup about the condo's in Durango, Co. We will be very cognizant of that when we look.

This may sound like a strange question, but it is important to me. Are there Italian American communities in Colorado or Washington State? I was raised in New Orleans where we are plentiful. We are all up the Northeast Coast, but I prefer the Northwest's climate. It would be nice to grow older around folks that I can culturally relate to. I love baking Italian pastries and sharing them.

The wife and I have been looking around on line trying to find a place we want to live in. We live in Madison Indiana in a great small town on the Ohio river. There are great things here and we would probably stay here but the wife has some allergy problems because of the river. I would love to move to FL or TX but we have the standard grand children issue. Does anyone live in the Murray KY area or Parris TN and have some idea how much allergy(mold) problems they have in the area.

Jony.
There are lots of folks of Italian descent throughout Colorado. However, the Italian communities are mainly in the larger front-range cities--Denver, Colorado Springs, and Pueblo. There is an Italian community newspaper in Denver http://www.andiamocolorado.com/aboutus.html. There are several Sons of Italy chapters in Colorado http://www.osia.org/about/chapters/colorado.php

Jony, that is a very good question and I look forward to the answers you get. I am also an Italian American and my husband and I are looking in the Oregon or Washington State areas for retirement places. We are not looking for age restricted communities just a nice place to retire out of California.

I did a Google search (I am a research librarian) Apparently yes in Colorado. There is a newsletter Benevenuto http://www.italianamericanheritage.org
and this list of Italian American Organizations in Colorado in the left hand column of the newsletter.

Seattle "city of neighborhoods" and Tacoma have them. Info. from Wikipedia.org. There are 29 communities in Clarksburg, Fairmont and Morgantown.

God bless you, Krystyna. That was so kind of you to find out all that information for me. I will take advantage of it all.

Krystyna, I'm also a librarian, a school librarian, and I also love to do research. We are truly a special breed.

Clarksburg, Fairmont, and Morgantown are in West Virginia.

Has anyone looked at Ocala, FL (particularly Top of the World)? I'm intrigued by the classes and activities at their community center, and have sent for information. Trying to figure out whether it's worth the time and expense of a trip from Pennsylvania.

Hi Sharon we believe the trip would be worth it 'sort of a little vacation ' at the same time ..what was nice a few of the largerst retirement communities in Florida are in one area around Ocala..each one is somewhat unique in its own way..the Villages was a fun trip although was not for us..but it was fun watching all the activity and golf carts galore all on their own roads (no autos) so people can travel safely that way..did not check out medical but the sales pitch says they are the best..but we always do our own checking..
we have a friend who goes there and rents a villa for weeks at a time and they are furnished and usually have a golf cart to use included..we do have a web site about renting if interested..what we found not in our desires was the proximity to beaches ..at least an hour plus..but was an interesting trip ..we did not stay on location as we have a travel trailer..
and by the way we are also going to look in Pa for homes..and mostly what we know so far ..fair treatment for retiree pensions..and prives looked pretty good..property tax ate up some dollars but will check it out ..we are not familiar with all Pa but we ran across a website for 'Landmark Homes'..in Lancaster County so will start there..any advice you could provide would be greatly appreciated..thanks
and Del Webb has a nice community in Ocala area..

Hi Robbie: Can u pls share that website for villa rentals in the Ocala area?

Hello Robbie: Would you be kind enough to submit the website for renting in The Villages in FL. Thanks

Sharon,
We did a stay and play at Terra Vista which is about 25 minutes from Ocala. The community is very resort like, gorgeous with lovely amenities and interesting home plans. Not your typical run of the mill. We received a tour of the surrounding areas. It is very rural, with rolling hills and rivers. Scenic. We went to the beach, about 8 miles away. It was very small, dirty, not at all scenic. Ocala would not suit my needs. When we asked what is there we kept being told about the inexpensive chain restaurants and the new Wal Mart. Everyone loved that addition. It was a tedious drive to Ocala. The people we talked to in the development raved about the community and were very friendly. They said they never leave, but are content with all the activities within. I wanted to like it as it was gorgeous and roomy, without congestion. But, we will be youngish retires (60), and we love exploring, culture, the art, etc.. It is not there for us. As soon as we hit Sarasota again ( for the 4th time in two years) we knew we were home with all the activities and unique restaurants and all the gorgeous beaches and so much more. We have since purchased a lot and are in the midst of designing our home. Now obviously the Ocala area appeals to a lot of people, but first I think you need to know what sort of lifestyle you want to lead. That will determine whether or not it is right for you..

To anyone interested in moving to areas where fracking is happening or on the horizon - be sure to ask about water quality and check it yourself. Better to know to look for this before buying in an area where there are problems emerging.

Rita: I started off as a certified K-12 librarian, moved on to being a law librarian, and now work in civil engineering. If anyone wants my job, I will be retiring at Thanksgiving. Nice big office with two windows in Albuquerque.

Hi Barbara..the we site was given to me by a friend who uses it frequently..I did look at it and seems very good..I was told this site eliminates going through realtors who get a commission etc..
the rental includes (most times) a home /villa with all furnishing except bed linen which most prefer their own..also , a golf cart and acess to all ameneties ie cllubhouse pools and golf..the site has pictures /availabile dates/pictures of home and rent etc..
hope you find it helpful..
TheVillages4Rent.com
let me know ..also, some homes allow small pets..good luck

Kristi - Thanks for the info. Also found out that Top of the World is a leasehold (99 yr leases), which doesn't work for me. It doesn't sound like Ocala would work after all. I'm trying to do as much research as possible without visiting yet, since I have a boss who as a panic attack if I say the "V" word (vacation). I'm in my early 60s so I have a little time, unless I become one of the many people who get laid off at this age. If that happens, I think I'll be ok with a reduced retirement income in exchange for the trade-off in stress levels. I did take a trip over to the Eastern part of PA to look at two communities, and found the one near Mechanicsburg to be very appealing. I didn't care for the one near Lancaster, since it felt too rural. I have been spoiled by the number of hospitals, doctors, and amenities in the Pittsburgh area. I would probably stay here within the 10-15 mile range outside Allegheny County/Pittsburgh in order to get reduced property taxes, but there isn't much suitable housing in that $200,000-$300,000. price range. By the time you add necessary "options" to the base prices, you're going over $300,000 (so far every condo that I've looked at has had HOA fees between $165 and $200 per month).

Shelia, please see my response to Barbara ref:to villages..did not see you comment til after I sent that..Good Luck

hi everybody . there is a small town near st peter florida on the water the name is gulfport. any coments or info espesial for a condo 55+ (town shore condos)thank you

I guess I spend too much time on Facebook, since I often find myself starting to click "like" on some of this board's messages. :shock:
If there were a "like" function, I would definitely click on Karen V's post. Fracking is a real issue. Water is our most important resource, and some very nice communities are getting screwed.
Here's a website with some useful information:
http://www.fracfocusdata.org/DisclosureSearch/MapSearch.aspx

This is an even more graphic representation of fracking across the US, including “fraccidents.”
http://earthjustice.org/features/campaigns/fracking-across-the-united-states

Editor's note: Karen makes a good point you should consider all types of issues, including fracking, when considering a retirement location. And thanks to Judith for more resources. But now that we have covered it, let's get back to the topic of best places to retire. Thanks

After seeing mention of "Solivita" in central FL we checked it out and found that the tax picture can be on the high side if the home is in a Community Development District (CDD) of which they have two there. The non-valorem tax can be as much as the valorem tax in some cases.
Question #1 - Has anyone had experience to share regarding CDD's since I believe there are numerous ones all around the country.
Question #2 - Does anyone familiar with Solivita know if the proposed incorporation of Poinciana has occurred and does it include Solivita?
It would be great if someone familiar with Solivita would be willing to address other questions outside the forum.

Hello Robbie,

Your information was extremely helpful and much appreciated. We have just sold our house and thought this might be the best way to find out if The Villages is for us. Thanks so much.

Kathi M., I was reading your blog. It sounds like me when I was in Orlando. I wanted to visit Ocala, and some of the retirement communities there. The drive was so boring I never made to the communities. I did visit Solvita. It was nice. But I hear about crime outside of the community. Now Sarasoda does sounds nice. Did you purchase your lot in a retirement community? I hear a lot about home owners insurance is very high in Florida. Did you research insurance in Sarsasoda? I'm looking for a retirement community in Florida. Not sure where.Just my thoughts.

thanks Robbie. Got it! :smile:

Vincent,
We researched Sarasota thoroughly, and, it being a smallish city, it doesn't have a lot of retirement communities. One there that we did like was Esplanade. Nice floor plans, good amenities with an activities director. It is in Lakewood Ranch. And they are just starting another one about 2 miles from Siesta Key. The thing I didn't like was that there were a defined number of floor plans, so the housing looked repetitious, and the houses were pretty close together. They also had smaller villas. Also, my husband and I feel that our lives would be more interesting with people of all ages around us. So we didn't feel an age restricted community was necessary. The community we purchased in was in a new section of Rosedale that just opened. It is a gated community. The timing was perfect for us as we were able to grab a lot on one of their large "ponds". One of the great things about Rosedale is that there are no CDD's. There is a pool, fitness center, golf course with a restaurant(mandatory spending amount), and activities director. We are not in a flood plain. I will be honest and say that we did not research insurance because it wouldn't have made a difference. We have fallen in love with this town. It is exciting. There is so much to do that you don't need a retirement community. Now you may hear people also talk about the crime in the area. I live in metro Chicago and we hear about its crime in the news all the time. But, outside of the odd occurrence, the crime is in a few pockets. Sarasota also has its pockets, as I think most cities do. I have never felt any degree of danger there. The people are so friendly. Hope this helps.

For those of you considering PA, be aware that property taxes can vary greatly, even within the same neighborhood. Spot reassessment is illegal in PA, so there has to be an area wide reassessment, something that is very expensive, or an event that can trigger tax reassessment like putting in an addition. This means that older homes tend to be much lower in taxes than new construction, often times even if they have been updated.

We live in PA currently, and have checked it out for retirement, but have decided to move further south. Yes, environmentals were an issue, fracking plus water and air quality. We checked out Pittsburgh, which is very interesting in terms of reasonably priced, great medical and lots to do. Also very much liked the Hershey, PA area, which also has good medical, activities, and reasonable prices, and there are many nice towns in the Philly burbs if your budget is higher. The state is well worth checking out...carefully.

Ahhh -- Does the town of Hershey still smell of chocolate?
That would be one very good enticement, right there!

Pennsylvania???? you better check out the township, borough, county, and city taxes for each area. Each town supports ALOT of government. I worked there for many years but refused to move to a state where water hydrants are taxed if near your home, fireplaces, pools, etc

Sue, you are absolutely right that you need to do your due diligence for each place you consider in PA, and even each house, as taxes can vary greatly. However the biggest local tax issue for PA is earned income, which should not be all that big a deal for retirees. PA is very big on give backs to the elderly. I believe in fact that it is the only state where lottery proceeds go to that demographic rather than the schools, and one of the few that does not tax private pensions or indeed any kind of retirement income. Also watch out for transfer taxes on homes. Ask your Realtor or Google the question as they can range from 2% basic to 5% in Reading, a cost which is typically split between buyer and seller.

Judith, there are times when Hershey still smells of chocolate. There have been layoffs at the plants in recent years, and housing is still recovering. There are some good deals to be had, and of course, plenty to entertain the grands.

Kathi M. Thanks for the information. Good luck to you.

Hi, We relocated to SW FL 34 years ago. As our retirement approaches, we really want to get out of here. After some research and a short list of needs and wants, we are considering the research triangle of NC. Although camping, backpacking, and birding our on our list of wants, our needs include great healthcare options and excellent public transportation. We have been gathering info about the Durham area. Does anyone have a comment that might prove helpful? Thanks.

Kathy B Williamson, our very dear friends live in Chapel Hill, NC in an area called Governor's Club. It is beautiful, I mean beyond beautiful ; however, a bit pricey for us. While visiting the area we saw many places that were very nice and also reasonable. I hear both Raleigh as well as Durham are nice and reasonable, but if you're concerned about property taxes, they vary from county to county and the counties kind of interweave the Research Triangle area-so ask! We would have moved into the area, but allergies are quite bad and I don't want to deal with that level of allergies any more.

BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT PA. STAY AWAY FROM THE POCONOS AND PIKE COUNTY.

Kathy - check out NC real good before locating. Taxes are high especially compared to N.E. TN. Granted a beautiful area around the Smokeys. We were considering NC & and then we journeyed across the mountains and found NE TN!

Good Luck

Robert

Robert,

Where in NE TN are you? Just curious as my husband and I are thinking about looking there.

Thanks,

Fionna

Kathy B. Williamson, we are retiring to NC, we have been looking at Fuquay Varina, Willow Springs, Holly Springs, Apex, Cary, which are all reasonlably close to Raleigh. We find these areas to be better than Durham or Raleigh.

Good choices Monica buy Cary is more expensive than the others.

Cary is a little more but lately we have been finding single homes available, rentals are easy but I do find the 55+ higher. We are looking for a single home without the hassle of subdivisions (though they are very nice, they are a little too close for us). We will rent for a few months while we are looking for our perfect spot.

to Fionna - unfortunately we are still in God's waiting room - Daytona beach Florida. Will sell our modular home in the fall (better selling time for all the people who want to move to Fl.

We plan soon to move to the N.E. section of TN - Dandridge, Cosby, Jefferson city area. Much more affordable than NC AND a tax fiendly state for "seasoned citizens" as I like to call myself

My first comment on this site. Certainly found many interesting and informative comments from the users. Should be retired - in my early 70's - but don't feel it yet - other than 1 bum knee. Currently in western NJ on small (now inactive) horse farm & have been talking about leaving for years. Now in a crunch - no more farm taxes & this state is all about money - they want every penny you have. Have 6 grown children - all over the country. Single for years & have hiked, camped & travelled in most states mentioned. Have ruled out FL (best friend lives in Naples - love visiting but simply too HOT). Seashore not my cup of tea - great for vacation. SO - have zeroed in on mid-southeastern area - VA, NC & SC - western parts closest to mtns. w/4 seasons which are milder than NE (originally from Buffalo, NY - land of ice & snow - still visit for friends & reunions). Although I have seriously covered SW SC - Clemson,Anderson area - still think heat & humidity a big issue. Asheville, NC is beautiful town but agree that hippie atmosphere has started to be a problem (they do call it the Princeton of the South)& costs of living & homes are higher. Have zeroed in on SW VA area near Roanoke. Looking primarily between Smith Mtn. Lake & Roanoke. Lots of little towns and simple single family homes on 1 or 2 acres with reasonable prices and taxes. Really do not want a retirement community - but my own little plot for a veggie garden & old barn cats to enjoy. Maybe a new puppy too. Has anyone investigated that area of VA at all?

And a litle note to Robert about NE Tenn. Received a brochure from Jefferson County - it looked inviting so good luck to you & your wife.:razz:

Hoofprint, check out PA. It's closer, cooler and state tax friendlier. Watch the realestate and school taxes though. Good luck.

Hoofprint, I hear very good things about Boone NC

Boone, NC is an adorable little college town but if you're looking to escape the winter, Boone still gets snow and cold. Asheville is rather hippie in nature but it's other nickname is the Paris of the South! I think the hippie image is softened by the artsy overtones. We just bought a lot there within a 10 minute walk of downtown, the UNC campus and 2 farmer's markets yet the neighborhood is tree-lined with a suburban feel.
Re: PA taxation. Yes, the lottery money goes to the elderly but that is because the elderly suffer the greatest by the heavy property/school tax burden that increases yearly. There is currently yet another tax reform bill moving through the legislature but tax reform has been a hot button issue since I moved here 23 years ago and nothing has happened yet.

My wife and I are recently retired, living in an expensive suburb in northern N.J. Have looked into many of the places mentioned here for both weather and tax reasons. Have come to the conclusion that renting for the winter months in Longboat Key, Fl., rather than buying and going for a whole lot of money at this point in our lives( 66 and 62) is a better way to go. Almost made the mistake of buying at the top of the Fl. market about six years ago and thank God we did not.

My point is,and just an opinion, but be careful of buying right now in these areas. From experience, things are looking a lot like they did six years ago, ie. low interest rates,flipping condos, etc. Look into renting before buying. It makes more sense now than it has in awhile.

Hoofprints: "Have zeroed in on SW VA area near Roanoke. Looking primarily between Smith Mtn. Lake & Roanoke."

We have picked up a small place about 45 min west of Roanoke and can not wait to move there full time. Coming from PA, which has it's own pluses and minuses, we are thrilled at the low housing prices and low property taxes. Yes, you pay an annual fee for your vehicles, and income taxes are higher, but the savings in property taxes more than offset that for us, even for a house here in PA comparable to the one we will be downsizing to, rather than the too big one we have now.

Best of all, the air is so clean it almost hurts your lungs. We have been welcomed into the area strongly and can not get enough of the beauty that surrounds us. Probably will travel in the winter months, which can still be quite cold, though not as bad as here in the Philly area. I feel more at home there in VA after only 18 months of ownership and spotty residence than I feel here in PA after a couple of decades of residence.

It is a great time to buy out there. The market has not yet rebounded, though it is heading that way.

Cherie: " Yes, the lottery money goes to the elderly but that is because the elderly suffer the greatest by the heavy property/school tax burden that increases yearly."

Again, taxes will vary greatly depending on where you are located in PA. In the decade we have lived in our current house in the Philly burbs, our property taxes/school taxes have risen very little...less than inflation. It is important to look for a school district that is stable, not growing. Even if you do not have kids in school, look at the school district to see if there is need for new schools, or if schools need a lot of work. Any sort of infrastructure needs for your area will cost you in taxes.

IMO every resident benefits from a good school district, particularly those that own rather than rent. A good school district will keep your property values strong, make it easier for you to sell when you chose to do so. You also tend to be interacting with a populace that respects education, and will be less tolerant of mischief. We still consider the schools in our buying decisions, even though our kids will not be using them.

There are bad tax choices one can make here in PA, and there are wiser choices. Without the restriction of needing to be near work, there is no reason not to make a good choice. I wouldn't move here only for the taxes, nor is it the primary reason we will leave here, but property taxes are surprisingly under your influence of choice here in PA.

A while back Fairfield Glade TN was mentioned and now I am serious about investigating that area, Any comments from folks that live there or have visited? Brenda

Hoofprint
Words of warning about Pennsylvania, bad roads, high taxes (especially the hidden ones) and they LOVE layers and layers of local government.

I lived in Saint Petersburg/Clearwater area for seven years before relocating to Tn.-Nashville. Florida continues to increase taxes, etc. Homeowners fees also never go down, they only increase. Also, you'll find that too many of the condo developments have too many people clustered together in a very small space which is not a good thing.I loved the area but, the humidity is unbearable in the summer, no season change either, and the cost of living is on the rise.

Another nice area in Saint Petersburg is South Pasadena. It's close to Gulfport but, you can walk to a few restaurants, grocery stores, a small park, a hospital, and you're even closer to Saint Pete. Beach. You really don't even need to use your car much. Gulfport is very nice but, not as many housing choices. It's kinda' small, artsy. Nice place, though.

Brenda
I have a time share at Fairfield Glade, so I have been there several times .. also have visited many other 'active adult' communities.
GOOD: cost of living can not be beat anywhere, quality of golf and price is terrific without having to join anything!! .. very friendly, nice indoor pool, indoor pickleball
Less Good: a little sleepy, about an hour to decent shopping(Nashville or Knoxville), also an hour+ to an airport, winters are pretty cold for 'the south' ... fitness center is run by local hospital and is very dated and not good(people are friendly)

FFG was built as a retirement community 40 years ago and does have an old feeling to it ... it is not age restricted and has potential for a great community ...

We are driving down to Soith Carolina tomorrow and plan to look at Tellico Village, TN on the way down. We hear that it is a very nice area. Anyone have any thoughts on this area just outside Knoxville? We looked at Fairfield Glade last year. It seemed nice, kind of spread out and somewhat remote.

Bill
We just returned from SC and loved it. However, we are not comfortable with the HOA's. You have no control over them going up. It's like an additional tax. You still pay the same amount in city and county taxes, even though your roads, sidewalks, and grounds in a community will not be maintained by the city or county, plus there is this additional "tax" called an HOA.

Hi Chuck - I'm interested in your experience having lived in FLA but now in TN. I have a daughter in Brentwood/Franklin area and am considering relocating there but other daughter is telling me to look at Florida. I don't especially enjoy the HOT summers in TN and am therefore leery about FLA. Also, do you find the cost of living less? I do know there are traffic issues in Nashville area; are they worse than you had in FLA? Thanks much, Fred Drews

Marilyn,
We were looking at villas in s city hilton head sc and found the hoa and regime fees to be too expensive. This does not include special assessment fee if one is needed. Even if you paid cash for the l villa, the fees would average over $500 to $600 a month some of the stucco villas have mold issues. These facts were brought to our attention by two different Realtors. I love the area but not the community.

Hey Fred-If you think it's hot in Tn., wait till you live through a summer in Florida! You do adjust, somewhat, after a few years but, it is very humid-to say the least during the summer. Tn. is humid in the summer but, not as much as Florida-and you have season changes. In the area that I lived{Saint Petersburg} there was never any season change-which I missed. My parents live in Florida{Ft. Myers Beach} during the winter but, they can't take the humidity during the summer months. And my money goes a longer distance in Tn. than Florida. Traffic is worse in Nashville than Atlanta, or Florida-one of the few drawbacks. Your daughter lives in one of the nicest areas of Nashville. I live almost into Wilson county, on the fringe of Nashville to avoid the traffic in the city. But, there are a lot of nice areas to choose from. A lot of people like Murfreesboro but, it's growing by leaps and bounds. If I stay in this area, I plan on looking at one of the outlying areas-Coffee county{Manchester or Tullahoma-real estate and taxes are much more reasonable than Nashville} or Wilson county{Lebanon}. I also like Franklin but, as you know, it can be very expensive. I also am considering Maury county{Columbia}. I transferred here because the cost of living was getting out of control in Florida. I'm still considering a move back to Florida{I love the beach} but, the cost of living might cause me to stay put even when I retire.Or I might just spend a few months in Florida during the winter months and stay here the rest of the year. Hope this helps.

Fred-another idea might be to take a few weeks in Florida during the summer months, if you've never been there during that time of the year, and see what you think. I'm thinking about going that route before I commit to retiring there, even though I've lived there before. Also, the cost of living, which appears to be on the rise, concerns me. It's a beautiful state but, as you know, every area has it's good and bad points to consider. I plan on my next move being my last.

Regarding HOAs and special assessments: Your home insurance can cover special assessments. Not all of them will, and it might be a special rider you have to pay more for, but someone I know saved about $45,000 this way when it was determined that the front of his high rise condo building was compromised, sliding off, and needed replacement. I can't remember who the company was...perhaps Travelers? Given the storm damage you could face in the south, I would encourage your looking into it.

As a single woman about to retire, I am interested in Wilmington, NC, Leland, NC and specifically Brunswick Forest. But as a single don't know if I can afford a house and HOAs at the same time. Can there be a limit on how often HOAs are raised?

Thinking about retiring to Arkansas. Any good areas - Bad areas. Taxes?

I finished perusing this long list of comments and there are virtually no comments on the Western half of this country. In researching possible places to which my husband and I can escape California, I have eliminated Oregon (least tax friendly for retirement), Washington (western state - gloomy). My husband just returned from checking out the Del Webb Sierra Canyon community in the Reno Nevada area and was totally impressed. It is located in the foothills between Verdi and Reno so it is far enough away from the downtown Reno area but close enough to access good shopping (Trader Joe's and Costco). Plenty of good eating and entertainment if one chooses for out of town visitors. It is not hot and humid and no bugs big enough to ride. No income tax and a reasonable cost of living (most any place outside of California is), We will continue to research other possibilities and will re-visit Sierra Canyon.
My main concern is socialization and that is my main reason for seeking an active adult community. Very important for those of us "maturing" (I am not aging). Looking for additional comments.

Skip and Marilyn, where are you getting these HOA fees from...A realator...the fees are 160 per month Sun City...they have not went up in 3 years and then 5.00. Have you looked at all you get there...I spoke to a woman there who has lived there 10 years and have never gotten an assessment..There are places such as Hilton Head Plantation or Windmill Harbor Moss Creek that do charge that kind of HOA but most are in the neighborhood of 200 or less..Hilton Head Lakes is also a GREAT place to look and thier HOA is 100 per month..

I agree with Katherine that the comments miss the western half of the U.S. And there must be many people that do not want to deal with flying bugs the size of a rat.

I have lived in Southern California most of my life. It is very much a mixed bag. The area has incredible weather and a great mix of scenery. However, the state of California has extensive financial woes, and no real solution in sight.

The cost of living is extremely high. For the state to generate much needed revenue, taxes must go even higher. The older I get, the more I realize how crazy it is here. California is just way too crowded, and that is a negative regarding quality of life.

Politically the state has moved way too far to the left. As a moderate Republican, I find that hard to accept. We are a welfare state with uncontrollable spending and a widening debt structure. This is the opinion I now have on California. I do not believe California is a good place to retire. My opinion. I know many older Californian's will disagree.

I would like to see Top Retirements give more focus to the Western United States. There has to be a wide range of people that just prefer the dryness of the West, and the fact that there are a lot less bugs.

RubyTuesday - I just moved from Delaware after 45+ years there (because it is not pedestrian friendly and I wanted a car-free existence). Dover should not be your retirement destination. Lower Delaware ("slower" Delaware to upstate residents) beckons in Sussex County near the beaches in or near to Lewes, Rehoboth or Bethany. Traffic can be a nightmare when summer visitors and residents descend on the area on busy weekends and be aware that hurricanes and other natural events may leave you wishing that your home was on stilts on the other side of the flooded main highway. However, there are no perfect areas, every choice is a trade off, and my family travels from DC and even the west coast to enjoy the pleasures of the Delaware shore.

VocaRezun- Where did you move to from Delaware? As I would like to leave expensive overtaxed Maryland to Delaware, nine years from now. I can see actually living in the middle of the Delaware like Milton to be away from the seasonal beach traffic. I did work in the DC area at one time and am used to tourist. But I do not want to be sorry that I moved to a flooded road area.

Paul, I received the hoa and regime fees from 2 Realtors in the area. These fees are for the attached villa in the older section of sun city Hilton southern area. If you buy a non attached home then yes the hoa fee is cheaper and there is no regime fee. The realtor also warned me that there are attached villas that have mold issues due to the stucco being applied incorrectly! At least there are some honest Realtors out there!

Paul
There are 2 sides to Sun City, in 2 different counties. The newer side has an HOA of $229. per month. I don't know the HOA on the other side which is the older development. We have this in writing from them, if you have different numbers for sun city in Jasper County, that really surprises me. I agree that there are many amenities for that HOA, including full lawn maintenance.

Paul
I just pulled my letter from Sun City to double check the figures, it's $222. per month (I was mistaken at 229.)in Sun City on the newer side in Jasper Co. This is from the person in Sun City that took us around and showed us the models, spent the morning with us going over the materials for the house etc.

Katherine, my friend retired to Reno and loves it. And I agree...where are the western states?

Marilyn and Skip,
Below is information that will be helpful...On the older side Beaufort county taxes are lower and HOA fees are lower by about 50.00 per month...Taxes in Jasper county are higher but negotions are under way to lower those taxes and as more homes are built and business relocate the property taxes will come back in line with Beaufort county..

The benefits of our Homeowners Association
One of the best things about living in Sun City Hilton Head is you can relax knowing your community will keep on looking as beautiful as the day you first saw it. That's because your Homeowners Association (HOA) dues help pay for maintaining all of your community's common areas and amenities. Not only does that help protect your property values, it ensures you'll always be proud to call Sun City Hilton Head your home.

Items covered by the HOA

•Resident lawn care maintenance
•2 Resident Activity Cards
•24/7 Security•Roaming patrol
•Community Association administration buildings and employees
•Roadway maintenance
•Maintenance of fitness centers and equipment
•Maintenance of buildings that house other amenities
•Insurance on those buildings
•Maintenance of 4 swimming pools
•Maintenance of several hot spas
•Maintenance of tennis courts, bocce courts, etc.
•Maintenance of various Nature Trails
•Maintenance of all Riverbend amenities, e.g., clubhouse, pool, dock, etc.
•Periodic maintenance and support for all other amenities

HOA Dues
•$2,730/year with dues billed on a quarterly basis (This is for the new section in which we are presently selling)

Common Questions

How is the governing board structured?
A 7 member Board of Directors, 4 of whom are Pulte appointees and 3 of whom are resident board members who are elected by the members of the association for staggered terms. The board sets the policy and the management team (Wentworth Management) carries it out.

What committees contribute to the governing board?
Board Appointed Committees:
Covenants, Finance, Fitness Advisory, Golf Advisory, Government & Business Affairs, Leadership Development, Modifications, Nominating, Property & Grounds, Public Safety and Strategic Planning.

Other groups who assist:
Neighborhood Representative Council, Safety & Service Committee, Chartered Club Council

Who operates the Golf Courses?
In house – Wentworth Property Management

Are all the community activities included in the fees?
Golf and health & wellness classes cost additional as well as certain Lifestyle events, concerts, and shows.

Does the HOA survey residents to find out about new interests?
An annual survey is conducted, both through the website and distributed via SunSations magazine. A variety of questions are posed to the residents.

Does the HOA have a reserve fund?
Yes. Reserve funds are maintained for future repair and replacement of assets that the HOA has long-term responsibility for, and are essential to a successful community. Reserves do not fund everyday expenses or more routine needs; the operating fund serves that.

How often are HOA fees increased?
The budget is reviewed yearly and the assessment may be raised as needed. There has been one assessment increase in the last three budget years.

Does the HOA maintain all the amentities?
Yes.

Does the HOA have a community newsletter or internet site for residents?
Website, SunSations monthly publication, E-News, e-mails, and SunScoop

Is there a process in place to get a new club chartered?
Yes

Hope this helps...any other questions please ask I will give you the correct info...There are reasons why realtors say the things they do...Not all but some...A realtor who represents you and you buy a home in Sun City in the new section is not paid the same % of commission as if he represented you in a private transaction somewhere else on the island...

Skip, As far as Mold issues that is not good however being and Insurance Executive I will tell you all homeowners policies cover Mold issues...

Bob P I soooo agree with you about California, I got so sick of the congestion, high taxes, and all the other BS! I lived in Northern and Southern Calif at different times, and I moved away 2-1/2 years ago. My daughter lives in Palm Desert, Palm Springs area, and I visit often, but no regrets about saying bye bye California!! Happy fun life now!!

Just a comment concerning real estate fees, we bought our condo in Boca Raton, Fl 2 years ago. The buyer does not pay any commission to the agent since we used the sellers agent.
Our community is just perfect if you are on a limited budget and we have the only community sponsored bus service. You don't need a car to live here making it safe for those who choose not to drive and a savings for those who want to give up the expense of a car.

Does anyone know of any 55+ communities on Cape Cod. I've been there and love it but don't know how expensive it is to live there. Thanks to anyone who has an answer.

Paul: I recommend that people check whether their insurance policies cover mold. A few years ago when there were an increasing number of mold cases, many insurance companies added riders excluding mold coverage (as an attorney who worked in the environmental remediation industry). Thanks for all the info about Sun City, since I've been researching it too.

paul schmidt: "Skip, As far as Mold issues that is not good however being and Insurance Executive I will tell you all homeowners policies cover Mold issues…"

Maybe they do, but the deductible is often higher. My policy does cover mold issues, but with a $10,000 deductible. The fine print in these many paged policies, which put you to sleep as you read them, is what will kill you. It is a very bad idea to assume your insurance covers things. Make sure it is spelled out in the policy.

Joan
what community is that with the ability to not drive everywhere?
sounds good

Paul thank you for your recent response.. I was looking at the older section of sun city Hilton Head due to resale villas being in our price range of $130,000. The difference between the two communities is the newest community has a hoa fee and the resales are out of my price range. The older section resale villas charged both hoa and regime fees that adds to double for the home owners in the older section. The other concern the developers refuse to totally turn the hoa over completely to the home owners. Once the developers do the hoa fee will increase. All this information can be found by doing research on the Internet including information about pulte the builder and unhappy villas owners.

To Paul, I'm a little confused. I thought ALL homeowners policies specifically excuded mold.

Back to the point that the western states are rarely mentioned...I am including a link to the national dew point map, which pretty much says it all about why someone might consider western states.

http://www.ktul.com/category/105143/national-dewpoint-contour

Sharon, Julie and Mark..Thank you for your responses...It is my opinion that most policies cover Mold but have a limit such as 50K or so...I suppose each state reguardles of the company can cover different coverage's differently..you should always ask your agent about your concerns..In my 30+ years never seen 10K deductible as if that is the case I would find another company...Independent agents offer the best policies usually at a lower cost...If your policy excludes Mold find another company...

To Voca ref: Delaware
Thanks for the comments..we liked Del quite a bit..the homes were in the so of Dover area and timed our trips several times as we camped in our trailer there..and on a good day it was 45 minutes and on a bad sometimes (due to heavy traffic) was 90 min so beaches are not as close as some might think..the other thing we found was even though the property tax was low..the state tax on income would cost money each year..
as after exclusions the tax fell in place..and Del even has a state tax on military pensions added in to overall amt..
and because of the boom in seniors the prices on homes have gone up quite a bit in last few years..
and thats just from our point of view..Thanks for all the 'blogs' they sure help

Any ideas on finding a small college/artsy walkable town with affordable housing? Ha,ha,ha.....ask for the moon why don't you? Right? I live in MD and I know there are a few here, but this state is so expensive for retirees and besides thought the change at this point might be nice. Not a big fan of REALLY hot weather either. I'm really not as picky as I sound....I don't think! Thanks so much for any thoughts/suggestions.......

Karen, you could check out Bellingham, WA. Western Washington University and Whatcom Community College are located there. Area is about 10% higher than the average cost of living. DeLand (FL) also has a cute walkable college (Stetson)town, but you did say no REALLY hot weather, so that one probably wouldn't work for you. BTW, I grew up in Maryland - go Terps!

Jan Cullinane, The Single Woman's Guide to Retirement

Thanks Stephen on the info on Fairfield Glade TN as the info was very helpful. Sounds like what I am looking for in my next phase of life. Next I've planned a visit in the fall.
To Karen M looking for a small artsy town I would like to suggest Port Townsend WA. It's a wo

Karen M: Northampton, MA. In-town housing is getting pricy, but the outskirts are still quite affordable. Likewise Amherst, MA. Greenfield, MA is close to both, is adorable & getting artsier by the minute & hasn't seen in-town prices go up very much, if at all.
Also: Iowa City would be great if you're artsy AND literary - it's the home of the famous University of Iowa Writing Workshop -- you may see famous writers lurking about (as well as some soon-to-be- famous ones).
I've always loved Madison, WI, but haven't been there for a while. Worth checking out, anyway.
And believe it or not, Las Vegas has a VERY good university. Las Vegas wants to be cultural as well as glitzy -- like Rodney Dangerfield, it just wants more respect! The area surrounding LV is surprisingly affordable as long as you don't have a gambling problem. Puts "walkable" in a whole new light, too!

My wife and I are trying to decide between Las Cruces, New Mexico, and Fort Collins, Colorado, for our next home. Both of these seem like great places to live. Based on our comparisons so far it seems that we can get comparable housing for about $30 - 40 thousand less in Las Cruces. That's a big difference but we really enjoyed what Fort Collins had to offer in our short visit there this summer. We're conflicted -- save some real money in Las Cruces or pay more for what Fort Collins has to offer. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

I lived in Florida for over seven years. I owned two condos. The HOA fees were monthly, not quarterly. But, it depends on the development as to how they are paid.....I would avoid "On Top Of The World". As I've stated before, too many people in too small of an area which can make living in that type of development miserable. Most of those people seem to have too much time on their hands which can become one big headache........About living in Orlando, it was listed as the most dangerous place to live in the country. High crime, too much traffic, too many tourists-especially during the winter-as does most of the state. Florida is not nearly as friendly to retired folks as you may think. Insurance is high, humidity is miserable during many months of the year, no season change, and you really can't enjoy the beaches during the summer because of the heat. The upside is the warm weather year round.

Dave: I lived in Ft. Collins for 15 years. Loved it. Since then it has grown, more traffic congestion. cost of living is higher than Las Cruces. We left FTC because my husband lost his job and there were fewer opportunities. Both are university towns, but Ft. Collins is much more fun. New Mexico has lower taxes and if you earn $34,000 or less you can freeze your property taxes. Colorado only allows $25,000 for a discount. Weatherwise, FTC is somewhat more humid being next to the beautiful mountainss. It's more green. Once you have seen Mesilla there isn't much to see in the town. I live in Rio Rancho, NM. We are in a drought. My recommendation if you can afford it is Ft. Collins.

Dave: I meant to say once you have seen Mesilla in Las Cruces there isn't much to see in the town.

I live at On Top of the World, in Clearwater, and I love it!
VERY affordable- the units are very reasonably priced, the HOA is maybe around $300 per month, but that covers pools, golf course, clubs, etc, as well as a van than will take you to shopping if you want to go without a car. Plus, the cost to insure your unit is low, possibly as low as $400 a year, because the Association insures the outside. And property taxes are super low if you declare Homestead, possibly about $300 per year.
I have found it very friendly and peaceful, with lots of fun clubs to join, and some building sponsored activities, so no need to be lonely at all.
It's true a couple people here got into a bizarre grudge incident, but I think that could happen anywhere. There are almost 5000 units here..
You need to enjoy the hot weather- I go for walks and bike rides all year long- in the summer I just go early, try to get out before 8am. The complex is big, lots of green space and great for walking, and the Clearwater bike trails are fabulous.

Jeb, regarding 55+ communities on Cape Cod - there aren't too many. Southport is in Mashpee but for us, it's too expensive. Last time I checked, which was about 3 years ago, the HOA fees were $499.00/month plus the real estate taxes. The single family home prices began in the mid 300s. You can buy a house not in a 55+ community for a lot less than the ones in Southport and hire someone to do your lawn. It's beautiful on the Cape and there is many active senior centers.

Oops, sorry, meant to say there ARE many active senior centers.

I'm recently retired in Massacusetts and would to escape the taxes and liberal politicians here. I am thinking of Nevada, but my wife doesn't like the desert heat in southern Nevada, and I'm told property is very is very expensive around Lake Tahoe. Any suggestions for reasonably priced areas of Nevada that are not too hot would be appreciated. Also, any negatives about Nevada??

Look into the Carson Valley (Northern Nevada). Just over the mountain from Lake Tahoe and just south of areno. More conservative and more affordable than Las Vegas area. Receives some snow, but tolerable.

You really missed a good one tucked away just north of Tampa, Fl. Timber Pines, in Spring Hill is far better than The Villages. The board of directors positions are voted on by the residents. We have 3 golf courses plus a 9 hole Pitch and Putt course, a Country Club,a Performing Arts Center, a Lodge and two Olympic size pools plus tennis courts and the usual Bocchiand Quates. A Free bus service is available once a week to take to residents to the nearby mall or grocery store We have all the amenities and entertainment anyone could want. We too have villages and beautiful trees.

Does any have any info on the Florida Keys for a winter retirement spot. I'm looking for a small place with two bedrooms and have the option to rent it out during the time we don't use it. Also are there any retirement communities in the Keys? Any info would be very appreciated.
Patricia

Just a suggestion: How about having two Topretirements sites; one for eastern U.S. and one for western U.S. I do not know where one would draw
the line. I would find it helpful in reading these very informative daily emails to be able to delete part of a daily email and save others. After
reading this site for a year, for instance, and talking to people, I have narrowed my search from international to western North/South Carolina and eastern Tennessee.

Moving South,

I would argue against two websites. It would work nicely for those who have decided where to live, but be a negative for those of us who have not.

Elaine
Is hurricane insurance high there? Also, is the HOA reasonable?
thanks

I hear Henderson, Nevada is fairly inexpensive and I don't think there is any income tax

Elaine how far are you to the beach? How much are the resales going for? How much for the hoa fees? Is there good medical close by? Thanks for your input!

Let's not over-complicate things. Besides, directional distinctions can get kinda blurry around the edges.

Julie,
Thank you for feedback on SW VA near Roanoke. You must be located w of 81. At the moment I am concentrating within 25-30 miles south & east of Roanoke. Agree housing costs are reasonable - taxes for most under $1000 for 1500-1800 sq ft. home. Better than 12000+ in NJ & climbing. Glad to know that people are welcoming as I consider myself outgoing & will want to be active in new community.Am stepping up the search.

We are looking to retire in the Denver area. Does anyone have any suggestions or thoughts about this area? Thanks so much.

We scratched Colorado off our list cause they tax S/S benefits http://www.retirementliving.com/taxes-alabama-iowa#COLORADO/

My own concern about taxes on social security would entirely depend on what amount is excluded before the tax is applied. Colorado, for example, excludes up to $24,000. In other words, you are taxed only on what you receive over & above that amount. For me, who won't be receiving all that much in social security, this wouldn't amount to very much.
I'm more concerned about property taxes, which is why, wherever I wind up, I will not be looking for a house that 1) is assessed as having a high value; and/or carries with it a burdensome property tax amount.

Janet ... I have a friend who just purchased a condo in Windsor Gardens, Denver's oldest 55 plus community. From looking at the website, home prices there seem very reasonable for a large metro area and there a quite a few amenities. It's next to a canal which has a lovely hiking path alongside. And it's pet friendly.

This very interesting comment came in from Scott:

I had planned to retire in Pa after selling my house in New York (high taxes). We bought a place 12 or so years ago. It was a small summer home in a nice gated community in NE Pa. Then we outgrew it, sold it, and got a bigger house on a lake there in the same community. My wife is visiting one of her daughters in San Diego now. We visit there twice a year. I like it but once you leave the ocean and downtown area all the hills are brown and I worry about earthquakes.

My wife now tells me she could see herself living there if we sold our NY home and Pa. She will retire after this coming school year but I might work till I’m 65 since health insurance would be about $14k on her teacher’s plan before 65 but $7,500 or so after Medicare becomes our primary.

Anyway, my reason for emailing you is to say that there might be plenty of people who, when retired, could buy a small condo or beach house a few blocks from the beach north of downtown San Diego, a little south of La Jolla (where her daughter is renting now while negotiating a house). We could live in a small two bedroom and fly everywhere to visit other grandkids (three in Westchester, two in Chicago, two in San Diego) and always come back to a warm place. No fun coming back to a worse place that is cold like Pa (although I could manage).

So, the question is, what kind of breaks does one get living in a bankrupt (or close to it) state when retired:

Any inheritance tax?

Any estate tax?

Cost of car insurance (is it low because there is no winter)?

Cost of power/electric?

Are taxes high or low for over 65?

How are the hospitals?

Cost of food

Cost of clothes (should be a lot less)

Is my wife’s health insurance portable to California (NYS Teacher’s Empire United Healthcare)

I know we’ve all read about each state and what are positives and minuses but I never saw it all together state by state for over 65 yr olds so it could be easy to choose where to live (like an Excel spreadsheet). Expensive and bankrupt states still might be fun to live in as long as you don’t have kids who need a good education or lack of jobs, or any of the other things retire folks don’t care about. Can older folks thrive in California? I thought moving to Pa was a done deal but maybe I should reassess.

Editor's note: For individual tax and other facts about states see our State guides - http://www.topretirements.com/state

For individual cities see our city reviews. We will also work on some of the interesting ideas you have proposed here, including the spread sheet. Thanks!

Thanks so much for the help in our move to Denver. We really appreciate your thoughts as venturing into a retirement move is like finding your way in the dark. Thanks again.

Scott,

One thing we look for in a state to consider for retirement is fiscal health, so that would eliminate CA for us. If a state has financial problems, and don't ignore future obligations like pensions, you can bet they will tax everyone more. State and local governments don't get a pass because they have become fiscally irresponsible. In the worst cases state or federal appointments are made to take over, and hardships are put into place without having to pass a vote. The citizens have no say in the matter. I can't provide a link to an example, but I do recall reading about and watching a news story (perhaps 60 minutes,) on one town in the midwest that was going through this. The citizens were not at all happy.

I would only consider renting in such a place. You want to be able to walk away easily if things get bad.

To Scott,

I lived in Southern California for 13 and 1/2 years and 2 years in Northern California. Be careful, real estate taxes are high especially San Diego, watch out for additional Mello Roos tax. They don't have any money!! I left California a bit over 2 years ago for lovely Arizona. So many people have moved to Arizona to escape Ca! I now pay at least half in real estate taxes on a beautiful new home. Gasoline tax is about 50 cents higher in Calif. Arizona personal income tax is much more beneficial to me than California! Due your homework!! :-)

need to go back to international retirement especially Boquet Panama. I've hear great things about living there and was wondering if anyone had any first hand experience. thanks Brenda

Does anyone have any info on Corpus Christi, Port Aransas or Rock Port?
Thank you

For those asking about Rarity Bay and Tellico Village, I can tell you a littlne about the area since I grew up in Lenoir City and still have family and friends there. My summation is simple: I WANNA GO HOME!!!!! :-(

It's a GREAT place to live with mild winters, great summers, beautiful fall and spring, and the lakes and mountians for entertainment. And with Knoville, Nashville, Chattanooga, and Ashville o more than a couple of hours away

Rick, I have visited both places and agree on the beauty but.... both places are a bit remote. You really need to go to Turkey Creek in Farragut for shopping.

My husband and I retired from Il to Sun City Anthem, Henderson Nv 14 years ago and believe it was the best decision we ever made. 4 recreation centers over 150 clubs and 2 golf courses. Gets hot here in the summer but no big deal, better than snow and tornados. The quality of life in this Del Webb Retirement community is all you could ever want.

This question came in today from a subscriber:

How about retiring to North Myrtle Beach?

Editor's comment: We think Myrtle Beach can be a great retirement spot, particularly if you like the beach, fishing, and to play golf. Winters are mild, not warm. Plenty of places to live. Traffic in season can be very bad. Nice airport. See http://www.topretirements.com/reviews/South_Carolina/Myrtle%20Beach.html

We recently visited Aiken, in particular, Woodside Plantation. The development is lovely and the town of Aiken has so much to offer. We were very impressed and have placed this in our top 5 list. I'm wondering what otheres have thought of Aiken...pros/cons.

I am in the Myrtle Beach area (Pawleys Island) this week and in looking at the real estate listings, it is clear there are still tremendous bargains to be had in real estate, including 2 BR, 2 BA cottages in a beautiful, private, gated golf community for under $200,000. Only spots directly on the ocean seem to have inched up in price since the recession. For a serious golfer who likes variety in terms of golf courses, Myrtle is loaded with value.

njtom
We just added Aiken to our list to visit. What did you think of the homes?
What was the price range of homes and did they give you any HOA info or tax info that you can share?
thanks

:grin: Hi Everyone,
Can anyone tell me if there are any really pretty, clean and beautiful retirement homes or even Mobile Home Estates that would be in a really low budget for retirement. We are both former Military (husband Bob, Retired from AF) and living on retirement and SS. We haven't really connected with a place that is not really junky or demeaning. We like really good furnishings and surroundings. We have tons of stuff to donate or sell before the downsize, but would like some ideas??? That is, if there are any out here.
Thanks so much. I have seen some really nice places in AZ, but we really do not want to move there since my son and wife have moved to San Antonio, TX and that is way to hot and humid for me. We need to look for BUDGET... We did live in NC for 7 years, but unfortunately moved back to NY and left our ocean behind. :roll: NC is my choice so far, maybe near Hendersonville or that area. Later...

This question came in from Patrick. Can anyone help him out?

I am interested in retiring in California. I realize there are many financial disadvantages to living in California, but I would like to talk to those who did retire in California. Thanks.

Aiken...we only visited Woodside Plantation. Let me just state that the community is mixed age. We used the assistance of a local realtor. He stated that 70%-80% were 'retiree' age. As we drove around the community and saw a lot of people, I would agree with his figure.He stated that the yearly real estate tax would be around 3K. However, the property listings show a lesser value. So, I'm not sure if he was including an additional city tax. The HOA is around $800/yr. Why so low...(1) there is no 'clubhouse' as in many 55+ communities, (2) there is no full-time activities director, (3) there is a health club in the Village (located within Woodside) that you can join...different levels of membership and costs and (4) it appears that a lot of activitie are centered around the 2 golf clubs (located within Woodside), which also offer social and/or tennis memberships...each club has a swimming pools. So, if you add in the health club membership and golf club social and/or tennis membership to the HOA fee, you'll get closer to the $200/month level.We loved the development. The houses are beautiful...open floor plans, very spacious. Our opinion is that you'll get much more house for your money than, let's say, in a Del Webb community. We saw lovely houses (2/3 bedrooms +den)in the 250 - 350K range, which were in the 2000 sq. ft size and above. There are also seperate 'villages' in Woodside that are 55+...they have an additional fee that covers lawn maintenance. It was clear to us that a lot of the recreational activities were going to be in Aiken, outside of the community...some people may not like this. Finally, location...it's not near a major city...Atlanta and Charlotte are 2 1/2 hours away, however, Augusta, GA is a 25 minute drive.

Hi, Patrick.

I'm living in an active adult community (Heritage Park) in Sacramento. Warmer than average in the summer, foggier than average in the winter but pretty comfortable year round. Real estate market is coming back (has been miserable for about 6 years) but you can still get a good deal in many neighborhoods--especially the suburbs. There are more than 10 55+ communities in the immediate area but only 3 have golf courses. Most areas are very walkable. Real estate taxes average 1.15% of assessed valuation. State income taxes are high but SS is not taxed. Sales tax varies by area, but average 9%. Very liberal politics and getting moreso but/and the state's economy is improving with rising property values and voter-approved increased sales taxes. Sacramento is ideally situated between the SF Bay area and the Sierras (Lake Tahoe) but it is a great deal more affordable than either. Decent airport. Air quality is variable based on proximity to foothills (worst in eastern foothills). Sacramento County is reportedly the most ethnically-diverse in the entire country. Bottom line...if you can afford to live here and you can tolerate the politics, come on over!

Betsy.....the weather in AZ is nothing at all like weather in San Antonio. Couldn't be more different. Have you ever been to AZ? U should try it before u dismiss it. If u are looking for nice mobile home communities AZ is the perfect place. If u like cooler weather look in the Prescott or Sedona areas. Or, if u don't mind actual cold winters, try Flagstaff.

There is no humidity in AZ, no flys and mosquitoes....way different than TX

Betsy in NY,
Don't know if you are interested in Florida or not but there is a large community that connects to the North side of The Villages where you can easily get a nice house with a nice yard for $125,000 to $90,000. The community, Spruce Creek South in Summerfield, Fl. is a 55+ gated community with golf, huge club house, swimming pool, with lots of clubs and activities. My sister and Mother-In-Law live there so I know the people are friendly and caring. You get to take advantage of alot of The Village's ammenities without the huge HOA and Bond that they pay. HOA's are around $130 mo. There is shopping right outside the gate, plenty of choices for eating, with lots of medical care in the area. We have decided that Spruce Creek Sout is where we are going to retire.

RE: Myrtle Beach and surrounding areas. We had been looking at this area for almost three years before buying; we would up in Murrells Inlet-just a bit north of Pawley's Island. We searched North Myrtle Beach, which is just lovely, as well as Little River-liked that too, we looked in Myrtle Beach-specifically the Carolina Forest area and of course Murrells and Pawleys. It was tough to make a decision quite honestly. We saw houses, townhouses and condos! Sure, the townhomes and condos had HOA fees, but you get a lot for that. Actually, the one house we were serious about had a small HOA as well-but, once again, included a lot of amenities. It is all about what you want as far as that goes. We looked at brand new homes in Conway as well-no HOA's at all, but about three-four months out to completion. We settled on a condo-no yard work, beautiful setting, about four miles to the beach and great, central location. It is in an area called The International Club in Murrells Inlet. If it wasn't for the horrible experience with our movers, we would be truly loving everything-but we just need to get over the amount of breakage and enjoy our new home-we will soon enough, still unpacking :roll: Anyway, such a great area; it is lovely/

Has anyone bought a home in Sun City Shadow Hills in Indio, California?

:grin:...Hi Again,
Thanks Ginger, and I am totally pleased to hear that there are no flies or mosquitos in AZ. That was my place of choice before my son and his wife moved to San Antonio, TX. They like it there but after living in Florida Merritt Island, I decided I do not care for the heat and the HUMIDITY! It is definitely not for me and I hear that San Antonio is very much the same or worse. I have checked out several places in Sedona, and now going to check out Flagstaff, AZ. Being from upstate NY, we are well acclimated to the cold winters, however I would like a break from the snow, ice and all that jazz.
Thanks for your input. It is most appreciated.
If you think of any more, buzz me.
Thanks, Betsy~

:grin: Hi Again Gang,
Thanks, Barb, and we have looked around Florida, and I will check out the Summerfield, FL Spruce Creek you mentioned. I never rule anything out, but it is the RH Factor that really gets to me. I like being outside and the RH is way to high in FL.
Also, Diane, I have been thinking about Murrell's Inlet. I love that place and Myrtle Beach. We used to own a condo in N Myrtle Beach and it was so great. That might be a good decision for us since we don't care for any more yard work, although I love my beautiful trees, plants and flowers. Mowing and trimming and the gardening can be a bit much at times. Our place needs a full time gardener and it is "ME."
I am going to check out The International Club also. I have even thought of Henderson,NV and will give that a check also.
Maybe Cottonwood, AZ although I know Sedona would be better or us. My son and wife lived in Fountain Hills, and sold their gorgeous home and purchased a new one in San Antonio. I do not ever want to live in Texas.

Well, everyone have a great week and keep looking!
Later...Betsy~

I also like to know if anyone can shed some light on Sun City Shadow Hills, Indio, CA.

Diana thank you for your reply. Have you spent any time in the area during the winter months? I never trust the on line weather stats as they never seem accurate. We spent a week in Murrells Inlet the last week of July and found the weather tolerable compared to our home in the Dallas Texas area are you located in a flood zone and if so is it expensive? :neutral:

Skip-No, I have not spent any time here in the winter.We do not trust on-line weather sites; I tried doing that before moving to Texas...I learned my lesson. What we have done is ask people who live here. People here generally are from the Northeast, but we have met people from all over the country to be honest. They all say the same thing-winter is mild, snow dusting sometimes ( 2X in the last seven years)and it is cooler at night, but about 50-60 degrees during the day. We will see. One couple told us that last winter they did not put the heat on once, but of course that is personal taste. We are not in a flood zone, we were shown charts, and our insurance is around $500 a year. Now, keep in mind, since we live in a condo, our HOA pays all kinds of insurances for the outside of the buildings. If we lived in a private home, it may cost more. I paid a lot more in Texas-and do not know why. We lived in the Austin-San Antonio area, so not "Tornado Alley". However, we shopped for a good price-just like in Texas, the rates vary a lot for the same coverage. Our automobile insurance is a lot lower here as well. I hope this helps.

Diana,
did you look at Seasons at Prince Creek West in Murrells inlet and if so what was your impression? Thanks

Dianef, what are your yearly taxes for the condo, how close are you to the ocean, and other places? Thank you

Patrick,
My husband and I are retired school teachers who were both born and raised in California. After 30 years in rural northern CA, we put our house up for sale and bought a place in an over 55 manufactured home community in Morgan Hill, just south of San Jose. Winters are mild and while summers can range from 70s to upper 90s, we are fine with the climate. Our area has a rural feel, but close to shopping, health care, and entertainment. We have an RV and travel quite a bit while we can. Kids and grandkids are nearby, one of the reasons for the location, but we are not wealthy and found a good deal last year. Prices are rising, however. Yes, California has financial issues, but we love being an hour away from Santa Cruz and the coast, and this state is our home. I can't imagine living anywhere else. So far we can afford what we've chosen, and if I want to earn extra $, I can substitute teach or tutor. :smile:

DianaF thank you again for the valuable information. We too live in the Dallas area and can't wait to relocate to an area that offers outdoor activities and where the summer is less hot! It sounds like the winter months are very similar to our area. We lived in Florida and loved it, but insurance, housing, taxes are much higher than South Carolina and Texas. The only drawback with South Carolina is the state income tax. I hope you continue to use this site as we are interested in hearing first hand on your take on the winter months.

Linda- no, we did not look at Prince Creek, but is beautiful from what I can tell. I don't know why our realtor did not take us there. I guess when she first took us to The International Club, we loved it. So she concentrated on it. CB when we first bought our condo I had not retired yet, so it was considered a "second home" and our real estate taxes were 1465 a year, when we moved here permanently we did the paperwork to become full-time residents. Our estimated tax dropped to 377 per year. In January 2015 we will be able to take a Homestead tax break; you must be a resident one year to take this break, but it does not become effective until the beginning of the next calendar year. To be able to take this break one person in the household must be 65. This should cut our taxes another 25 to 30 dollars. Hope this helps!

Betsy...I lived 5 years in Las Vegas and want to tell you it is an awesome place to retire. Condo prices are very low since the crash and they have many really nice communities. Again no humidity or bugs. Hot in summer...that's when you stay in more. Rest of the year is awesome. And so many things to do! The lv strip not just about gambling...awesome restaurants, museums, shopping, shows. You might want to consider. And no state tax.

Skip
Just an fyi for all, South Carolina doesn't tax social security income.

I like to know if anyone has any experience or lived in Sun City (55+ community) Menifee, California. No one has ever written about this place. I will appreciate any information about this place. Thank you.

Raman - We lived in Sun City right next to Menifee; we left six years ago before it became a part of Menifee. It houses all ages and as I understand it Del Webb's first Sun City community. Doctors are close; everything is close and we went to Oceanside for a day trip to the beach and Laguna whenever we could... Temecula and Murrieta were close; I liked that. I have heard there have been big changes in the area - new malls, restaurants etc. we liked living there a lot, but moved to Texas in search of I don't even remember any more. I have close friends and wonderful memories of Menifee.

Marilyn, thank you for the information. Are you from South Carolina? If so what is your take on the Myrtle Beach area and the winter?

Marilyn - SC also gives an exemption for a portion of pension retirement income, but does fully tax 401k income, I believe. I guess the best way that my husband and I found is to consider the sources of retirement income and find a good fit. For us, that did turn out to be SC since the smallest piece of the pie, for us, will be annual 401k withdrawals! We have purchased property in Beaufort SC and will be moving there upon my husband's retirement here in Maine!

Skip,
No I'm not from SC but have done extensive research in many states as we are ready to move as soon as we decide on location. Been to Myrtle 6 times and found it inexpensive however it is crowded during tourist season. Medical care in this area may not be at the level you want, depending on your needs.

Sandra from the SC Dept of Revenue tax guide it states the following, "all residents at age 65 are eligible for deduction of up to $15,000. from income, regardless of the source. (This means you can draw $15,000./year from your 401K tax free). Before you are 65 you can take $3000./year from qualified retirement plan such as IRA's, pensions, etc. EACH SPOUSE is entitled to receive this." SC does not tax soc sec or railroad retirement. There is also a homestead exemption for 65 or older, of $50,000. Hope this information is helpful.

Editor's note: Marilyn, thanks for this helpful information. One clarification, however. The sources we are seeing in SC say that although residents 65 and over can deduct up to $15,000 from income, however they can only "deduct up to $10,000 of such
retirement income annually at age 65 and thereafter". This was on the SC tax site as of 12/31/13. Do you know of some recent info that changed this?

Paul,
What county is Hilton Head Lakes in?
thanks

please tell me more about fort collins,co.

widows without children and still healthy and active..where have you retired? looking for a small university town with good medical facilities out west and the pacific northwest. thanks

Marilyn...Jasper county thought this article may enlighten you more...visit the website...beautiful place..

This month, Behind the Gates ventures outside the confines of Hilton Head Island and Bluffton for the first time. Our first stop as we cross over into Jasper County is Hardeeville’s Hilton Head Lakes, which is kind of like making two stops, because Hilton Head Lakes is actually two separate and distinct communities operating as one.

Traveling approximately 15 miles west on Highway 278 from the bridge to Hilton Head Island, you’ll come upon the familiar towers standing at the entrance to Hilton Head Lakes North on your right, and the serene waterfall entrance to Hilton Head Lakes South on your left. The waterfall drops a subtle hint to the community’s signature feature, a 155-acre private, navigable freshwater lake that serves as the heart of Hilton Head Lakes’ amenity offerings. “Lake Living” is what differentiates Hilton Head Lakes from other area private communities according to broker-in-charge Matt Peebles.

“It does,” Peebles said. “In 1999, our company started this “boatable” lake concept in Myrtle Beach, and it was really the first community in the area that wasn’t revolved around golf. That in itself makes our community very different than most of them.” The same is true of Hilton Head Lakes in the Lowcountry. “We think that this is the wave of the future.”

(this article was reduced to keep it a reasonable length)

Very helpful information about taxes on 401K withdrawals - thank you! Does NC tax 401K withdrawals? Can anyone give any information about Charlotte, NC? I have an opportunity to be relocated there. Since I'm close enough to retirement to view my next move as possibly my last move, I have to weigh the possibility of retiring in that area quickly. Sometimes the stress just piles on...

Found the answer on NC, that it does tax 401K withdrawals with a $2K deduction ($4K for certain retirement). Not great news for my planning, but I'll have to also see if there's any real impact when taking lower NC real estate taxes into account.

Marilyn and Editor,
Thanks for the updated tax information on SC. Still confused about the differing statements about 10,000 or 15,000 but, I think the wording " up to" is important. We cannot assume that we qualify for the full amount, whatever it is, which means we will probably land somewhere in the middle-as usual!

It is interesting to note the difference in the availability of medical offices, hospitals and specialists between Murrells Inlet and apparently Myrtle Beach; there is so much availability of the above in MI. That was important to us. So, we are content. My husband has an appointment with a glaucoma specialist on Oct 4; I will report as to how that goes. Today, a doctor, so they say, will be coming to our home to give my husband a physical. It is free and provided by his new health insurance company. I will also report how that goes. As for the move; we are just about unpacked and settled in; all, at this point, is coming together nicely.

Marilyn /Editor, thank you both for the valuable information. My wife and I are both confused as well on the 15,000 deductible. Not sure if they worded it incorrectly or if it's based on total gross income. Marilyn regarding your comment on traffic, we are from DFW and did not find the traffic to be that bad in July. We were staying a block from the beach in Surfside Beach and did all the sightseeing in the area. DianaF can tell us more about the traffic since she now lives in Murrells Inlet. I love this site!

Editor/Marilyn info you should know...
Homestead Tax Exemption – first $50,000 of the fair market value of a house or mobile home owned by a state resident of at least one year is exempt from municipal, county, school, and special assessment real property taxes.

Income Tax - South Carolina will allow a $15,000 deduction from taxable income for taxpayers 65 years of age and older. Taxpayers under age 65 may exclude from taxes $3,000 of their qualified retirement income annually (SC Code 12-6-1140). At age 65, the deduction may be applied to any income up to $15,000. Once taxpayers reach age 65, they may exclude $15,000 of income from any source, including qualified retirement plans, IRAs, government pension plans, Keogh plans and private sector pensions. Total deductions cannot exceed $15,000.
(The $15,000 total deduction may also be claimed on any source of income, not just retirement income.)

Vehicle Discount - biennial registration fee for private passenger-carrying vehicles discounted to $20

Sales Tax

6% (prescription drugs and unprepared food items exempt Seniors 85 and older pay 5%, provided they request it and show proof of age at the time of the purchase.

There is no intangibles tax in South Carolina.

You do not pay a capital gains tax in this state on property sold in another state. Federal rules governing the exclusion of capital gains realized on the sale of a personal residence also apply in South Carolina.

A deduction is allowed for net capital gains held for two years or longer. The deduction is 44%, making the effective tax rate 3.9% as compared to the top rate of 7% on all other income.

Disability income for a permanent and total disability is deductible.

Social Security benefits are not taxed in South Carolina

Hope this helps...

Paul
I see that Hilton Head Lakes used to be Traditions Hilton Head. The North side is the older side (2007) and the South side is the newer with these new partners developing it around the trees. The previous developers cleared the trees on the South side and Peebles is planting trees there now to make it look more like the newer side. At this time they have no plans to connect the 2 sides with a bridge over the highway, is the clubhouse/pool on the South or North side? They have turned over the main entrance road to the county, so will the roads/entrance etc. be maintained by the county and not the HOA?
We are visiting this area in October.

Marilyn..you are correct the North side was the old Traditions where there were about 6 or 7 homes built..It went bankrupt and this group came in a bought the property they are Debt Free...The clubhouse is on the Southside..The beautiful Fazio golf course is on the North side as is the water reclmation and the new firehouse will be built on that side also...Homes on North are 250 up to 400K and on the South side homes range 350 up to millions...They have some very nice plans for the property call or see Matt Peebles @ 843-784-5253..By the way there are plenty of trees on the North side but you have a golf course which takes out a lot of trees other wise there are plenty of trees..When are you there in October..We will be there again the 1st week of October....It is a beautiful place..

Paul-we made arrangements for mid October. We've been all through this area but haven't seen HHL, anxious to check it out.

Betsy, take a look at www.voyagerrv.com, a community in Tucson, AZ for very affordable options in a lovely community. There are also nice mobile home communities in Prescott and cottonwood areas of AZ

Ginger, do you live in the voyagerry? Do you know if they allow fences. I have a dog that I like to exercise in a yard...dog is never left in yard alone.

Watching the morning news, and hoping all who have retired to CO including Ft. Collins are safe.

Paul - are the income deductions you wrote about available for each person, husband and wife? even if filing jointly? Thanks for all of your helpful info!

Marilyn...Great I think you will love what they have..Be sure to see Matt as I will tell him you will be there mid October...They are really great people with no pressure...We are going to move to the south side where the larger lake is only because we want a lake lot where I can fish and boat...Be sure to ask to see the plans of the property, I think you will be impressed..Being in HHL you are close to I95 which can get you to Savannah within 20 minutes or Charleston within 40 minutes..Have nice hospitals close by and the area of Bluffton is really exploding in growth...So much to like in that area..Close to HHI about 20 minutes...Beaufort a beautiful tow

Beaufort is a beautiful town just 20 minutes away also...So much to like in that area...If you have any questions email me at paul.schmidt@twc.com

Elaine, no I don't live there but have visited there. They have two dog parks/runs for exercising dogs, and some of the units have small fenced yards.

Ginger, Thanks for the info...very helpful.

Hi Ginger,
I checked out the VoyagerRV place and it looks interesting and quite a lot of things to do. The majority of the home for sale are quite small. I did see some that were lovely and furnished as well. I have heard that the climate there is not as hot as the Phoenix, Apache Junction area. Is this true. I haven't checked out the climate yet.
Thanks for all your information. I can't get my DH interested in anything thee days. As a Military Retiree, he probably has traveled enough, but not me. I wasn't married to him when he did all the traveling. :roll:
I have seen the places in Sedona, and Cottonwood, and just this year they all had tons of rain but did seem to have the lower humidity, which I need.
I am sort of looking on my own for now because my husband hasn't been feeling very well. I am going to change that soon. He has some upcoming appointments. Love your name, Ginger, and I love the spice, Ginger too. ;)

Betsy....yes some of the homes are small, but also cheap. Prices go from about 15k up. And yes, Tucson averages about 10 degrees cooler than Phoenix. And the community has a lot of amenities and is very clean. And Tucson has a lot to recommend it. A university with a teaching hospital, lots of cultural opportunities, affordable, nice airport.

Sandra Z...yes the deductions are per person...

Following up - can anyone offer any insight into retirement in Charlotte, NC (besides the fact that it has good medical care)? Would you suggest communities to the north, south, east or west of the city? Are there any communities that are elder-friendly? I have the opportunity to be relocated there for my job, but retirement is coming up quickly too.

Ted
Carolina Lakes is on the Charlotte city border. It is a 55+ community and is actually in SC, so taxes are lower. It is just minutes from Charlotte and they also have a local train/shuttle into Charlotte.

Thanks Marilyn. I'll go and check it out as soon as possible.

Has anyone have any opinions or visited the areas near Raleigh NC called Carolina Preserve or Carolina Arbors? These are 2 55+ areas that look good on paper to hubby and me. Thanks for any info

Ted
If you look it up, it is in Fort Mill,SC. We went there and it is literally within minutes of Charlotte. It is Sun City Carolina Lakes.
Marilyn

To Linda from another Linda: I have visited Carolina Preserve several times because I have family in Raleigh. I liked the location. Thought the prices were high for what they were offering in the detached townhomes. Haven't been there recently. If you're interested in the Raleigh area, I would definitely check it out.

You have a great blog here! Do you write professionally for a company or is this just a hobby?

Do the Dell Webb communities have rentals or only homes for sale?
I am looking for a community with social contacts and recreation, but
do not want to buy. Thanks for all the great info on thie site.

My husband & I have visited Carolina Preserve in Cary, NC, Carolina Lakes, SC & Sun City located in Bluffton, SC. All 3 are Del Webb communities. They are all beautiful & the residents seem friendly & happy. If you are on a budget, however, they are pricey. It's not just the purchase price, it's the monthly cost. Be sure to ask them about the HOA fee, property taxes & if you are looking at the attached villas, the "regime" fee. Also, the Bluffton location was having mold problems with some stucco homes which they are correcting. These Del Webb communities are really lovely if you can afford them.

Moving south, the answer to your question is yes regarding rentals. Your best resource would be a local Realtor in that area. Just a FYI the rent will be more than the actual mortgage in most cases. Hope this helps.

Having been a former resident of St. Petersburg, FL, I am quite happy to have seen it ranked in the top ten of this list. Over the next few years, I would not be too surprised to see it jump up a few more places as well. Downtown St. Petersburg has been getting nicer and nicer, and there seems to be a lot more to look forward to. Additionally, I have been visiting an area in North Carolina very close to Asheville since I was a baby. This place really is gorgeous and I am not at all surprised to see that it made no. 1.

Wow, I am so surprised that not one city in New Jersey made the list. NJ has hundreds of adult communities to choose from.

I don't know where you are getting your information from, but I can tell you that most of Florida is VERY expensive to live in. I live in Florida now and UNLESS you move to the sticks or have at least $3,000 or more is retirement a month, it will be VERY hard to make ends meet here! Go overseas, get out of the US while you still can!

Editor's note: Rob, thanks for contributing your thoughts. We couldn't disagree more with your conclusion, however. Much of Florida, particularly the Central region, is one of the cheapest places in the entire U.S. to live. Anyone else care to share some data on this discussion.

How about an article by people who have ALREADY retired to a community? Although I enjoy reading comments and ideas from those considering different places to retire, it would probably be very valuable to hear from those who are already retired to an area.

:cool: I live in Florida & I know, first-hand, that it's less expensive to live in Florida if you own a smaller home or have made any kind of money at all while you were/are still working. Granted, you're not going to live by the ocean or in Orlando, Miami, etc. We have/had no problem getting home insurance & it's no more expensive than 'up Nort' ... We have homesteaders property deduction amounts & even more if you're a poor senior. I am speaking from a homeowner's point of view - not a renter. We found a small, but caring active living center that we can live on with our social security - alone - as once my husband can no longer work that is all we'll have. Low-side wages earned from youth to now plus 2 cancers for us leaves us with no savings - nope not even a piggy bank - never had 401K's, etc - didn't earn enough and/or worked in businesses who didn't offer it or couldn't pay for it if it were. In other words, while we live comfortably, we cannot afford to live in an expensive area. We live north of Orlando & south of Gainesville, west of the ocean & east of the bay. The older homes are block so when 3 different hurricanes (been here over 20 years - that was it for the 'canes') passed over our area there was little damage to our home & most damage to other homes was caused by falling trees & telephone poles. I don't like it here because of the humidity & heat - I've lived in dry areas with extreme heat but that didn't bother me. Let's face it, I'm a dyed-in-the-wool northern girl who never got over moving away from there but I couldn't afford to go back now!!! One thing I would advise if you decide to move here & buy - take the precautionary step of finding out if sink holes were or could be in the area you've chosen.

Can anyone who is living at Lakeside Crossing in Conway, SC give their viewpoint on living there? Any information would be greatly appreciated.

I'd have to strongly disagree on the low cost of living in Fl. I, too, lived there for over seven years. Everything was more expensive, and not by a little, than it is in Tn. I am working with two realtors now but, due to the expected increase in insurance, I don't think it'll ever be feasible to move back, and they can't guarantee your rates. It's a beautuiful state but, I think many people are going to find their idea of paradise is about to come to an end.

Jeanne C., I agree with your suggestion, would be good to hear from people who speak from experience. However, that being said, are people who have already settled and found their permanent destination looking at this website?

I think cost of living is definitely relative. I live in NYC. According to calculators I've seen, I would only need a bit more than half of what I make now to live at the same level in FL. That's a major difference.

I don't see the cost of living savings in Florida. We checked ins rates for the same size house we have in Oregon. Orlando was 4 TIMES !! what we are paying here!! The insurance that is available I would guess have a high deductible and low limit. If you move to the interior the rates are more favorable, but then there are gators and snakes and bugs and stifling heat and humidity. OH ya and then there are the sinkholes. We were there in June and swore we would never go back. I read the book "why you shouldn't move to Florida" that reinforced my decision. But then again it is all in getting acclimated to an area. It is not for me tho. Likely headed to the southwest.

Hi Valerie L.
I to have visited several times and may move to this area in a year or two. The cost of these homes are from $90K to $165K , and there is a HOA fee that is around $100.00/month if the house is not near the lake front and could be as high as $400/month on the lake. For this, they have a beautiful clubhouse and enclosed pool and workout area. You should take a look at this place it maybe well worth your time.:wink:

Hi WayneB, Thank you very much for your reply. However,my husband and I have already visited Lakeside Crossing and have seen firsthand how lovely it is, so we are aware of their beautiful clubhouse, as well as their other amenities. But what we are actually looking for here is some feedback from those people who are already living at Lakeside Crossing (or who have lived at Lakeeside Crossing). So I repeat my question, can anyone who is residing at Lakeside Crossing please give their viewpoint on living in that particular community? Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

I think that it is too simplistic to talk about retirement (pros or cons) cost-of-living at a State level, other than perhaps the issues of State taxes on Social Security, Disability pay and pensions, or lack-thereof. We live in the Tampa Bay area. Just by way of our experience. We moved from Maryland where State and local taxes were quite high and real estate prices were through the roof, at least in the area around DC. But in Florida, our sales tax, insurance premiums and fees to register cars are much higher. I think that condo fees are higher in Florida than up north, and for whatever reason, food also seems to cost more. In the long run, cost-of-living likely varies a good deal between and within States (think home prices in Manhattan versus upstate NY). Cost-of-living needs to be calculated using many inputs, though.

Noticed no one mentions the high cost of insurance in coastal areas of FL.

Thinking about Athens Georgia to retire too. I am retired military (enlisted) with small disability. My wife and I are active (love to jog and bike) and play golf (I am a 7 handicap). What are home rentals like in the Athens area and what parts are the best and safest?

Thus far condos were not included in the increases in flood insurance in Florida. All insurance premiums seem to be higher in Florida, though

Lynn
I noticed you said you were originally from Md. and moved to Fl. We are from around the same area, and I was wondering how you think it has been beneficial to you financially, and also medically to make that move? We are planning to make the same move within the year.

Joan,

It is hard to compare our experience in MD versus Florida in ways other than the ones I mentioned above. Real Estate in Florida is quite a bit cheaper than where we came from, but the area surrounding DC is a good deal more expensive than the rest of Maryland. I love the weather in Florida. I find it unpleasant only about three months out of the year (hot) as opposed to six months out of the year in Maryland (both hot and cold). My husband doesn't agree. I think the nice thing about Florida is that there a huge number of volunteer activities here. Retirees have a lot of opportunities to do very important work. I can't comment on the differences in medical care at this point, other than to say that we found our circle of new friends very useful in identifying new physicians. Maryland is clearly a Blue State and Florida seems to have a political system unlike any other....very much dominated by folks bent on paving over anything that has yet to be paved over.

My husband and I are planning to relocate to Aiken, SC, from Murrieta, California (souther California ) around the end of 2014. We purchased 2 acres in Bridle Creek a few years ago but decided not to build on it. In July 2013 we took the dogs and fifth wheel and drove back again. We purchased 4 acres in Barrington Farms and are working with a builder and are in the process of designing a house. A big plus for me is that if you live in Barrington Farms, you can still join one of three "country clubs" (for lack of a better word) - Houndslake, Woodside or Cedar Creek. That help in meeting new people. We looked for weeks for an existing home and saw some lovely homes at great prices. Since I do dog agility with my Border Collies, though, we were looking for something with enough space for jumps and other equipment. We loved Woodside Plantation but just couldn't find the right house on the right lot Other wonderful neighborhoods are Three Runs Plantation and Cedar Creek. Three Runs is equestion oriented. Cedar Creek is a neighborhood of lovely brick homes on half acre lots (give or take) and, although not age restricted, tends to be full of 55+. Coming from California, it will save us a ton of money in property tax and utiities. One of the factors in our choosing Aiken is the fact that there are so many transplants. We felt that we wouldn't feel like fish out of water in a town where so many people were from different locales. We find that most of the people were from Florida or the Northeast. I hate leaving our friends and my training in California, but hopefully we'll make new ones quickly. Would love to hear from others who have visited, live or are planning to move to Aiken.

Kbiggs,

I am jealous (about the dog agility). I want to get back into it, but will need to do more of the one jump training at home and use a facility for the rest. But dog sports are a consideration in my location.

Hi Elaine
Where are you? So Cal can really spoil you with trials every weekend.

This talks about dog "stuff", but I would recommend that someone that has hobbies that are less typical retirement, think about a more metropolitan area in their search for many of those interests. This is especially true if it is part of your social life as well as a hobby.

Summary chapel hill NC good; wilmington, NC not so good; Fredericksburg, VA ok, but you would disappointed coming from southern CA. Parts of VA and MD are quite good.

When i started dog agility, I lived in Chapel Hill, NC that was about 20 years ago and the triangle area of NC was a decent area for agility. I moved to Wilmington, NC and not much in training. I trained in my back yard (less than 1/4 acre with teeter the only contact equipment). My new dog had never been on any other contact, but we still managed to quality in novice and open (all with placements!)...before moving. I do not recommend that area since it was a long stem to training or trials. When I moved to Virginia, I wasn't here that long and my two dogs died one month apart, my old retired girl and my young competition dog that I trained in the back yard...depends on where but VA and MD have areas that have a lot of trials. I want to get another dog...right now I have the daughter of my boy, but she is a rehome and is not the solid temperament of her dad...agility is not in the cards for her.

I would not move somewhere just for agility, things have changed, but dogs have been important part of my social life so need something in retirement. I Will dabble in agility, nosework and "whatever" when I move.

Atlanta was quite good for agility (and hopefully still is) and you may be close enough to enjoy that. Asheville, NC was decent back then...not sure how that is today. But it has been six years since I have completed or trained in dog sports.

Thanks for your thoughts, Elaine. Like you said, we don't want to move someplace just to accommodate my "passion". But I want to be able to have access to trials, which I think I'll have in Aiken. Our thoughts in selecting Aiken were (1) mild weather (i.e., no or little snow), (2) no hurricanes, earthquakes or tornadoes. Did look at Hendersonville, NC, which at first we really liked but the second time we were there, there was as much traffic as we have in So Cal, so that made us think twice. Also looked at Hickory, NC. I kind of liked it but my husband, not so much. Went through Chapel Hill but did not really spend a lot of time there. Understand that's much hotter in summer than the Asheville/Hendersonville area. Was kind of hoping that we could get a small place in Western NC for the summer months. I know there is a lot of UKI agility in Charlotte, NC, which is doable from Aiken. We have a fifth wheel so can always camp near the dog trials. We liked Aiken also because it's a town, not a series of strip malls like where we are.

My wife and I are ready to retire as early as next year. We are targeting South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. So far we have only visited The Landings in Savannah and Sarasota. We are looking for a gated community. Can anyone recommend other communities to visit?

Marty ... what was your impression of the Landings and Sarasota ?? My wife and I have looked extensively in the same areas you are targeting ... we are visiting The Landings in March and we love Sarasota area but have not found a great gated community that has everything we want.

Sarasota area comment: I don't know if this is improper soliciting or not, but for anyone looking for a place in the Srasota area, I have a great buyer/broker that I can recommend . Her name is Renee Mathews. She found a full view bayside condo for my wife and myself on longboat key, but she serves the entire Sarasota area. I believe her website is called exclusively buyers. Am sure you can locate her. She is just the best.
Steve K.

Re: Sarasota-I have written before, so I will be brief this time. After an extensive two year search, we decided on a gated community, slightly north of Sarasota by Lakewood Ranch. It is the new section of Rosedale called the Links of Rosedale. It is a gated community and you would have access to all of Rosedale's amenities - golf course, restaurant, swimming pool, fitness, etc. It is off Hwy 70, one exit north of University Parkway. There are NO CDD fees. There are many models to go through with four approved builders. We chose John Cannon, a builder we had liked elsewhere who had access to these new lots. He builds an upscale home. Our realtor that I would highly recommend is John Brink. His website is We Sell Sarasota. He is the best we've ever experienced in our myriad of real estate transactions. When we were totally overwhelmed, he took us to his waterfront condo and, analytically, helped us sort through our many options, and come to a conclusion. He has become our true fiend.

Don't know if Fl is the best retirement place with all of the sinkhole problems. Saw a program that said that FL is"groung zero" for sinkholes. If this is true, can't imagine what home insurance will jump to. Love Fl and hope this won't happen . Where is the next Fl.? TX is too hot and buggy. Any thoughts!

This is a good site to learn more about sinkholes, and has a map showing the areas of the US with the kinds of conditions that can create sink holes.

http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/sinkholes.html

SteveB, we really liked The Landings, especially the fact that the trees are mature and beautiful. It didn't hurt that we know some people who live there. I assume you are using the Discovery Package?

What other places have you visited in the SC, GA and FL area that you would recommend?
Thanks, Marty

:cool: Regarding Florida sink-hole areas, just be sure to check if there have been or will likely be in the area you wish to purchase in. Start by asking the realtor or local government. People keep talking about the high cost of home insurance without mentioning how much higher it is on the coast vs inland. We have a small, 1200 sq' home, inland ( not in Orlando) & just paid $1000 for 12 months coverage. We are approx. 45 min away from the ocean. An easy drive. Hope this helps.

Jeanne: Do you have sinkhole coverage too? When you say you just paid $1000 for 12 months coverage, that seems like a lot to me. I pay $800/yr for low-deductible homeowners coverage for a 3,000+ sq' home with an acre and an inground pool in a surburban area in Western PA. (Of course, I also pay too much in real estate taxes, but my utility bills are surprisingly low.) Figuring out the net cost of living in a each area is a major project. I'm still working, and finding it hard to find the time to collect accurate information. I'm actually thinking about hiring an unemployed college kid to do the research for me this summer LOL! This could be a great business for someone. I will identify a home value and square footage for tax and utility estimates, would want to know about retirement income taxes, sales taxes and other hidden taxes on personal property, investments, etc., availability of doctors and hospitals per capita within a region, census information (voter registrations, ages, percentage of college graduates), numbers of building permits and trends, crime, information on housing (trends up-down-stagnant; condos vs. houses); and more. I know I'm probably overthinking this. My spouse had loved a particular part of the country, and I know we would have headed there in retirement in a heartbeat. I'm not in love with any particular area, which makes finding the perfect retirement location much harder.

Jeanne: interesting that you're considering paying someone to do research for you! and you say it would be a great business for someone. Does sound intriguing as a business angle. BUT -- how much would someone readily pay for such research? what would YOU be willing to pay and for what? (I'm not volunteering to do the research, just wondering if this might be a feasible side business...) And don't expect too much from a college student -- some are great, but many I'm encountering these days (I work at a college) don't really know how to do research. They'll do maybe one google search and when they don't find what they want tend to quit. Very little tenacity or have the ability to "drill down" to find solid info.

To Jeanne C. Yes insurance is lower priced inland but my question is: are the deductibles higher and are there limits? I know in Hawaii if you are in lava zones 1 or 2 on the Big Island the rates are higher and there may be a limits. And some companies won't touch a place right on the coast.

"Where to Retire" magazine is a great resource for people on the cusp of retirement. They frequently run a chart listing some of the top retirement cities with percentages for cost of living adjustments. You could drive yourself crazy over analyzing everything and still miss something. The magazine is wonderful and I would recommend it to all on this list.

Good morning, just a comment on Florida and Sink Holes we have lived here a bit over a year and just talked with our Insurance Company. In Florida they have catastrophe ground coverage included in your home insurance with a $ 1000.00 deducable and your home is covered for a proven sink hole, that is a visible ground depression, or open hole and is causing home damage.
This is for all of Florida and is new coverage I'm told. There use to be a separate sink hole coverage but this is new. Remember any were you may live there is a chance of settling and or ground shifting or earth quakes! We were from the west coast of the U.S. And did have these problems. Earth quake insurance is expensive and has a large deductible usually $10,000.00 yes. ( $10,000.00 ). Find an area you like and enjoy life don't live with fear of the what if's. Life is too short! Brad

Paula: I'd have to pull together the specification, but perhaps $200 per city or town. It seems like once the student found resources, plugging information into a spreadsheet could go quickly. I keep thinking of more things that I want to have in retirement, such as access to a decent daily newspaper. If my list gets much longer, I'll have to add $ to my estimate!

Truthfully, I'm not enjoying this process as much as I should after
40 years of work in a stressful profession, my spouse's long degenerative illness and raising our family on my own. I'm wrongly focusing on having a higher net income from a lower net cost of living instead of focusing on what I plan to actually do with retirement. I'm a new widow, our last kids are graduating and launching professional careers this year (all going in different directions) and my job responsibilities changed in 2013, so I'm having a perfect storm of life changes just as I get closer to retirement.

:cool: @ Sharon: Yes, we have sink hole coverage for property being condemned & uninhabitable; otherwise not. And includes half hurricane premium with a separate deductible for hurricane losses plus half non-hurricane premium plus other requirements (fees) by the State of Florida. Also interesting to note (I'm not aware of the new homes & that might even depend on who the builder is) but for our 1960's era home (block), it went through 3 hurricanes, all within 2 months of each other with the only loss being our metal car port. The car port stood but the top blew off in pieces. We have trees by our home which also did not topple over. If you're building a new home be sure to get a qualified landscaper who can tell you which trees withstand wind & those that won't take a direct hit. Hope this helps.

My wife and I would like a gated community in Florida, Georgia or South Carolina. We would like someplace where there is public transportation in the event one day we are no longer able to drive. We would also like a place where there is access to to assisted living in the event one day we need this. Can anyone recommend an area that has all of this?

Marty, we have purchased property to build our retirement home in a gated community in Beaufort SC. We chose Dataw Island after looking extensively in Florida and SC. Living on the coast was our first priority although we know that higher insurance will be a factor. There are several assisted living facilities nearby, but not sure about public transportation, although I suspect there is a FISH program in Beaufort. Fish programs are in most small towns, where volunteers provide transportation and other wonderful services. Good luck with your search - and I agree with others that determining the total cost of one area vs. another is very difficult. Would be a great investigative spreadsheet project for this website. I suspect the costs are hard to pin down. Also, I second the recommendation for the magazine "Where to Retire" - we started with that a few years ago and began requesting brochures and scheduling visits. The low cost experience visits are a great way to really get to know the community - most include visits with residents who are happy to discuss the plus and minuses, as well as costs for things like insurance, utilities etc. Good luck - you will know which one is "the one" and then the fun begins as you plan the next chapter of your lives!

The Villages in olando florida is a good place to retire as well as fort collins, colorado or the loveland area is good also.

Any comments regarding retiring in coastal Alabama or coastal Mississippi?

Why the interest in gated communities? What is everyone afraid of?

Gated communities interest.... Personal and property protection. Police in my community do not have the resources to investigate or recover property thefts. Home security systems with cameras & lo-jacked vehicles are the norm. Posting the videos on Facebook and taking cops to the vehicles before they are chopped seem to be the only recourse. Tired of being on guard.

We are choosing a gated community for the 24 hour security as well. We live in Maine where you don't have to lock doors or worry about safety at all, with exception of running into a deer or moose with your car! However we are moving south in retirement, and have read the daily newspaper online in our future town. More crime, mostly theft incidences than we are used to...as we age we will have no need to worry in a gated, secure community.

I live in a gated community because I travel for stretches of time and can simply lock up and go knowing that it is less likely that my home will be targeted for a break-in. The good thing is you get to really know many of your neighbors. The bad thing is you get to really know many of your neighbors.

A lot of you are interested in gated communities but they seem to be expensive to buy homes there and then the HOA's that suck the money out of you too. Don't get me wrong, the gated communities are wonderful but for hose of us that have limited funds it is a little above our means.

Have any of you considered Mobile Homes? They have come a long way since 'trailers'. They come double wide with really nice features. I have seen some with islands in the kitchen 'garden tubs' and much more. The great thing about a MH is that you don't pay taxes like you do on a home. I believe they have a 'blue book' value like a car and you basically pay taxes that are much lower. I don't know how this works in other states but in CT they are taxed as vehicles. If you should put a concrete foundation under it then it become a house and you get taxed as a house. My girlfriend lives in Michigan and she bought a used one in a MH park. She has to pay about $550 a month and it includes plowing of the roads (not her parking place), garbage pick up, mowing of the common areas (not her postage stamp piece of property) and not much more. That is costing her $6,600 a year for the privilege of renting a tiny lot. This is way more than the taxes on my moderate raised ranch in very expensive CT. So this brings to mind to buy a small piece of property and putting a MH on it. Once you pay the land off you'd pay tax on the property which would be low and tax on the MH which would be low. Now the problem is where to buy the lot and if the community allows a MH to be placed on it. Many communities frown on this and claim it brings the home values down. I do agree and some people just don't take care of their homes. But people also don't take care of regular homes either and you see it all the time with houses falling apart. I'd like to know if anyone has experience with this issue and if you know of any nice places where people have placed the MH's on property rather than a MH park. When my HUB and I were married over 40 years ago we started in a single wide trailer! It was really the best thing we ever did. We bought it used and paid it off in no time. We lived on HUB's paycheck and banked mine. We saved a LOT of money and bought a piece of property and build our home in 1975 and have lived here ever since. I like my house but CT is out of control with taxes and we want to move. Our objective would be to sell the house and if we bought a MH we'd try to get a new one. We might even have one built that is customized. If we spent between $75-$100K we'd most likely get a really nice model. Then the rest of the money from the sale of the house could be used to finance our retirement! This would make an affordable retirement for us. I would LOVE to hear from people that might have done this or know people who did.

Louise....there are very few places that allow mobile homes on private lots. However....more and more mobile home communities are selling the land with the mobile home. The ones where you pay rent on the space are called 'land-lease' parks. But more and more parks are not land-lease. In that case you get it all; a nice community to live in, very cheap or no space rent, and a good deal on taxes.

Is it just me, or do others find that this site has become extremely slow?
When I click on a topic, I can go bake a cake before it comes on.

Moving South, thanks for the comment: Topretirements has received a few complaints in last few weeks that the site is very, very slow. We are very sorry that anyone has experienced this.

This is what we know:
- The overall site is working quite well and working fast. Most people have no trouble accessing it, but a few have had difficulty

This is what we think:
- Either some ISP has taken upon itself to ban access to Topretirements, or... more likely:
- There are some relay points in the Internet that are malfunctioning to our server

Most of the complaints are coming from the Midwest or the South.

If you experience site slownness please be kind enough to email us your location (city/state) as well as who your Internet carrier (AOL, Comcast, att. etc) so we can try to identify the problem. Is Topretirements the only site you have difficulty loading? If you give us your ISP that would be even more helpful. Find out yours with this link: http://ifconfig.me/all
(your ip address will be on the first line)

Thanks for your support and patience!
Topretirements

Do you think that the site slowness could be a result of the lifting of the net neutrality?

I am experiencing slowness in Forked River,N.J. on Verizon and in Hamilton,N.J. with Comcast.

Took MUCH longer to access this page (from NH)

No problems in upstate NY

No problems thus so far here in Pittsburgh either.

Agree with Valerie - no problems in Pittsburgh! Although I just traveled to Houston on business, and ran into a problem last week with site pages that took forever to load.

No prob in Honduras.

No problem in Colorado

No problem in Chicago with AT&T.

Extremely SLOW in Maryland with Metrocast

No problems in NYS, about 100 miles north of NYC.

All is speedy in Portland Maine on TWC, despite snow, snow and more SNOW!

Fine with Bright House in Florida

I too, have experienced very slow speeds. It has been going on for a while. Doesnt matter if I am at home, on Comcast, or at work, or on my iphone.

Believe it or not I have no difficulties here in Shanghai, China. China telecom is the internet site. Have loved reading everyones comments. My husband & I hope to return to the USA next year. Retirement here we come on Whidbey Island, Washington state.

No problems with speed in northern IL using Comcast.

Getting back on track re: best places to retire.......recent survey confirmed that 47,000 households in The Villages have a net worth of over 1 million dollars EXCLUDING their home values ! Definitely not a great spot for you average "Joe the Plumber".....other than the political views. Don't get me wrong, we stayed there and liked it other than the fact that you get nickled and dimed for all the extras !

Typically I run into problems reading the blogs. I can get through maybe 4 or 5 comments and then it just stops bringing up the comments and reverts to the main page. I'm in the greater Detroit area and on the Bright house cable network.

I live in Wyoming (at the very end of the Interwebs) and have no problems with this site 99% of the time.

--- topretirements.com ping statistics ---
10 packets transmitted, 10 received, 0% packet loss, time 9012ms
rtt min/avg/max/mdev = 77.791/84.366/90.214/3.367 ms

No problem here in beautiful South Florida!

No problem here in Dallas, Texas.

SandyZ, thanks for your comments on Jan 22. What other communities did you visit before deciding on Dataw? My wife and I visited the Landings in Savannah and were impressed. Did you visit there?

Marty - we did receive the brochure from the Landings and followed up with a salesperson via telephone conversation. We really were searching for a smaller and mostly 55+ community with a charming small town nearby. We visited Woodside in Aiken -we liked it very much, but too far inland for us. Several more around Jacksonville, Cascades and DW Ponte Vedra. Then on to Port st. Lucie and Stuart FL. Stuart is a fabulous small town but did not find a good community match.
We visited Dataw Island in Beaufort on their 3day Experience Dataw package and knew it was the perfect match for us! Pat Judd was our realtor and she has been professional, so knowledgeable, and not pushy at all. Hope this helps, Marty!

Has anyone retired to Colorado Springs, CO or have any thoughts on it. I am pretty sure this year we are going to make the move out of Connecticut. Like a lot of people we are looking at SC or FL but I hate humidity. I am also concerned about the cost of Flood Insurance and sink holes in FL.

Mark, I moved from Connecticut to Colorado about 15 years ago, now planning to move to Arizona because I want warm weather all year. Colorado Springs is a great town, growing a lot, with 2 air force, 1 army and a small navy base. I live south of there so when I want to shop or browse that is where I go. It is green because they get rain, which we don't get much of in the prairi, and they have more snow also. But certainly not as much as further north. I love Colorado but need to make a move so it is Arizona. Also no humidity in Colorado, even with 100+, sometimes in the summer, there is usually a nice breeze keeping us cool. If you can afford it there are some nice communities west of Colorado Springs. Living in the town itself might be more like Stamford Ct. A lot of traffic I would never go back to the east coast with that humidity. I lived there for over 50 years and loved the spring and fall.
Good luck with your decision.

Interested in Fiddlers Creek in Naples, FL. Anyone else considered this community? Concerned about the # of homes for sale in Fiddlers.

Fiddlers Creek
Parents had a place in Fiddlers. Initially loved it. Property has been through financial turmoil. It is lovely property

Would recommend Verona Walk. Great amenities. Many floor plans to choose.

Thanks Carol C for your comments. My Aunt is looking for a new home with her own pool. She loves Naples and want to stay near her current zip code 34110, east of 41 and near Vanderbilt Beach. I will check out Verona Walk to see if it its her criteria. Anyone else got any ideas. I hear GL Homes is the best builder in Naples and Florida in general.

Mark, we, too, will make a move from Connecticut when my husband retires. As beautiful as it is here, it has high income, sales, and property taxes that would make it difficult to live in my home state.

Lynne, Those are the same reasons why we want to leave. We love RI and lived there before coming to CT, but the tax situation is worse there. My home state of Massachusetts isn't much better. I paid my property tax bill last month for a six month period, and the amount I paid could probably take care of several years of property taxes down south. I realized I do enjoy the four seasons and not sure I'll be that happy down south.

We live in Asheville, having moved here for jobs 9 years ago. Now we are retired and are trying to decide where to move. We love the 4 seasons and the mountains. However we haven't bonded with Asheville, probably because of all the reasons already stated in this blog previously. The dirty, tattooed, pierced population is becoming overwhelming and makes eating at these great new restaurants, at times, disgusting. The cost of living here is also getting out of control and its time to go! Would like to move where the weather is as nice, but perhaps a bit more balanced demographics. Suggestions?

Have you tried Greenville, SC? They have a nice downtown area that is vibrant and alive. The real estate is much cheaper than Asheville. And the "population" is more straightforward!

Mr. Yoder,

I have been trying for some time now to find someone who can tell me more about the weather in the upland area of SC. Is it less hot and humid in the summer than the other areas of SC? We're looking at one of three areas: Clemson, Salem (Jocassee area), or Travlers Rest. Would greatly appreciate your answer if you can help. Thanks.

It is less hot and humid than areas such as Columbia and the coast. However, it is hot and humid.

Tell me about Athens Georgia PLEASE!

On of the contributors to another blog here, Ladyquixote, has compiled the best research on Greenville that I have seen. You can check it out at http://flip.it/GLYmI

Thanks for referring my research Bill! The Greenville, SC compiled info is actually here: http://flip.it/Ahy39

The link you kindly shared has a lot of great material that may be of use to people who are in beginning stages of their retirement or relocation search and want to read about more than one retirement destination.

Jeff, you may be interested in visiting my flipboard on Athens Ga: http://flip.it/4rqzr

Also have info on:
Fairhope, AL : http://flip.it/nerxo and;
Huntsville: AL: http://flip.it/EW2r9

Greenville SC, has a very high crime rate.

Thank you Vickie.

Just visited Charlotte and Del Webb's Carolina Lakes, and was disappointed with the traffic...traffic jams very reminiscent of Connecticut and New York. Carolina Lakes was ok, but the home designs don't come with storage. (I don't want to have to rent a storage unit and don't like having to pay for a storage closet or storage room as an option). On the other hand, their community center and indoor pool were nice, and people were friendly.

I can't imagine what it will be like when there are 3600 homes there.

The flipboards are so informative! Thank you for what must have been hours of work! Would love to see more of these - Admin? I see a new article on flipboards and how about developing one for each of the top 10?

Jeff, re: Greenville and crime. Did you live there? And what type of crimes did were most prevalent? I only drove through, but felt safe in the downtown area...of course, it was a nice summer day.

Re: Greenville
As with any sizable town, there are good parts and bad. I have lived many other places and would move back to Greenville in a heartbeat. Great healthcare, charming downtown and many housing options. Vibrant community.

I read somewhere that what crime there is in Greenville is more on the west side. Don't know if that's accurate, but it's something you can look into.

Elaine, go to sperlings city data site, type in the city and state and you get crime data as well as cost of living, population mix, voting info, and other useful information. U.S.Gov.org will give accurate crime info as well.

Elaine,

I'm not familiar with the website Jeff mentions; but i do use Sperlings Best Places to get the same information.

Can anyone comment in Sierra Vista AZ? I will retire and am without a family and spouse. Is there sufficient opportunity for senior social life other than the usual bingo and bowling? I will check on Osher Life Long Learning Institute but closest seems to be Tuscon -75 miles away.

I have been searching for a website that compares Cost-of-Living INCLUDING TAXES at no fee to the user. (Found two that require paid subscription.) Sperlings, which i mentioned above, does not include taxes, nor do others i've found. IF anyone knows of such a website, please let me know. Many thanks!

Elaine; sperling gives you the crime rate. When you enter the city and state, you will get general info, above that there are two rows of topics above that. Included is crime, cost of living, climate etc. The U.S. gov sit has more than one topic that will include crime, FBE info, prison populations, types of crime etc.

Ladyquixote thank you for the flipboard for Athens Ga but how do I log in?

I'm also a fan of the Life360 App from the I-Store. When you're visiting a site, you can pull up crimes for that location (in our area of PA, you see the location of registered sex offenders -- it's a real shocker to discover that a convicted rapist lives in a nice house a street away, a condo complex has a resident who was convicted of child porn, or that your kid is moving into an apartment building with one of these offenders....).

You can also simply type the city and state on the internet and go down to the site that says profile, population, maps etc. and it will give you the crime rates, population breakdown, an idea of cost of housing compared to the average for the state etc.

Any information about Beaufort South Carolina? Ladyquixote do you have a flipboard for Beaufort?

Hi Jeff,
You don't need to log-in or register to view any of my flipboards. If you are using an iPad/iphone, make a swipe motion from right-to-left like you are turning a page. There is an arrow symbol on the middle right hand side of the flipboard cover page. If using desktop, laptop, just click on the arrow to turn page. Works the same if you want to go backwards on the flipboard/magazine. There will be an arrow on the left side of the page and arrow on right side of the page. You can also go backwards or forwards by tapping/clicking on the dots on the bottom of the page.

If you want to read an article in its entirety, click/tap and a new window will open that contains the web page the article resides on. Think of the flipboard as a host for collected bookmarks.

Regarding, Beaufort, I haven't made a separate flipboard for this town. But you can find Beaufort articles in my general "Best of" flipboard.

"Best of" general flipboard: http://flip.it/GLYmI
Athens, ga flipboard: http://flip.it/4rqzr
Fairhope, Al flipboard: http://flip.it/nerxo
Greenville, SC flipboard: http://flip.it/Ahy39

Ladyquixote - thank you. Finally figured it out. Senior moment.

Wow Ladyquixote! Your general "Best Of" flipboard is so full of great articles to read! Taking it on an upcoming road trip for hours of perusal! Thank you for such a valuable addition to this website.
Jeff. Gilfoy - my husband and I chose Beaufort after several years of research and community visits. Lovely small version of Charleston, USCB branch for cultural events, excellent choice of water based activities, and a nice choice of communities, some gated. We are still working, but will retire to Dataw Island on St. Helena Island just outside of downtown in a few years. Good luck and def plan a visit!

How do I ask a question on the blog?

My husband and I are retired and living in Maryland. We are interested in moving to the east coast of Florida, but not necessarily a 55 and over community. Does anyone know which city would be the best city on the east coast for us - one that has good hospitals, near synagogues, new single family ranch style homes, cultural events and good living for a couple who are retired but in great health and have lots of energy.

My wife and I live in Naples Florida and cannot wait to leave. My wife has lived here 38 years and is dismayed by the way the town has changed and it continues to build communities and strip malls and LOOSE its uniqueness. Traffic during the "snowbird season" is horrible. If you are rich and self absorbed and want gated communities and high prices and arrogant people this is the place for you. We both work in the service industry and have never been more disrespected. The golf is amazing and the restaurants are plentiful but vastly overpriced.

Jeff, I agree, we've been coming here for the past 5 years (renting snow birds) and we see a big difference also. The traffic and lines to get in restaurants are getting worse. What other parts of Florida can you recommend? I just love the weather herein the southwest. Thanks

My husband and I just sold our home in Maryland and are heading to Venice. We are having a home built in the Plantations Golf and Country Club. It is not an age restricted community and is on the far East side of Venice. It offers many amenities for the residents and we found it to be affordable. Venice does not have too much room for more growth that will make it crazy during snowbird season.

MARILYN don't feel bad I responded to your question on Sunday but I guess the site refused to post my response.

Virginia - We are looking also. As I am retired military (enlisted) we are planning a trip to St Augustine, St Mary's Ga, Athens Ga, and the panhandle Fort Walton Beach to be near military facilities for health insurance reasons as the government is trying to balance the budget on the backs of retired military.

Anyone know of a good realtor in Athens Ga. Pam and I are planning a trip in May to St Augustine FL - Beaufort SC - and Athens before visiting her mom in Atlanta. Would like to start a dialog with someone in the area.

Jeff and Pam...My wife and I just bought a place in the area and we used Robyn Henke 843-816-5527...She is the best realtor I have ever used...Very very helpful and knowledgable of the Beaufort, Bluffton HHI area...She took us and told us about schools, traffic, future expansion, the military and the history of the area etc...She spent a lot of time with us and even took us to dinner a couple of times. Her and her husband are really nice people who care about you and your plans..We are still in touch with her almost daily...Hope this helps...

Paul - thank you. Will contact her before our trip. Still looking for someone in Athens Ga.

Does anyone know anything about the area of or around Florence South Carolina?

We will be retiring in about 3 years. Looking for walkability and 4 seasons that are mild - probably Kentucky or Tennessee. Anyone have any good locations / retirement communities?

Stina,
Kentucky is a nice looking state but they are having financial problems and are considering doing away with their tax breaks on pensions. They also have a lot of little taxes and some big taxes on your vehicle. The eastern part of KY gets pretty cold. There are some nice places around Nashville. Franklin is a nice location and just a short drive from downtown Naahville.

We just moved into Del Webb's Lake Providence development in Mt. Juliet which is just east of Nashville. This place is fabulous. Can't find anything to complain about. Great neighbors and many activities. 15 minutes to the airport and 30 minutes to downtown Music City. Top notch amenities and great selection of clubs, sports activities. We had an extraordinarily cold winter this year (who didn't) but as far as we are concerned this area has four perfect seasons.

Keith, thanks for the great info. Tennessee is looking better for sure and we will look into Franklin. Stina

Hi
Looking to relocate to a small apartment in Nc Any towns come to mine No more than $1000 with AC etc Low crime access to stores Thanks

Apologies if the topic has been discussed and I just don't see it.
We are somewhat concerned about sinkholes in FL. Which areas should we stay away from?

Brenda,
I have a friend who was born, left and returned to Florence, SC. He is looking to sell his home this spring and move to Florida. He said Florence has changed a lot. I visited him about a year ago, and I was not impressed from what I saw. I thought Columbia was a much better place with a lot more to do. If you give me your contact information I will pass it on to my friend in Florence.

Has anyone visited Habersham in Beaufort SC.

Stina...I currently live in Louisville, Ky...I am moving to the Hilton Head Area shortly because I am retired and want to live near the ocean and water. Louisville is a very nice city as is Lexington..You have 4 seasons hear and the cost of living is very low as the average home price in the area is about 145K..The health care is excellent however the schools (public) IMO lack a lot...The private schools are really good however. As Keith says their are many taxes...well on a typical W2 paycheck you may find taxes such as Federal, State, Local, school, and city tax so in that reguard he is correct however the infrastructure is good in Louisville and Lexington..There is much to do in either place as Louisville is more of a big city with many outlining areas...Lexington is more country feel but at the same time a city...Both have race tracks Lexington (Keenland) very beautiful and Louisville (Churchill Downs)...Both have great college sports University of Louisville and University of KY in Lexington...Louis has a beautiful waterfront and many activities along the waterfront...Crime is high in parts of west Louisville, which you would not be living in that part because there is not much there in way of amendities..Again Louisville big city such as Indianapolis, Nashville etc...Lexington more of a country setting with rolling hills and horse farms everywhere and to me much prettier...Hope this helps any questions email me : paul.schmidt@twc.com...

Godsgirl, awhile back someone posted a good website for the USA...a google search should help.

Here is one for Florida, there are many more
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/nationworld/os-florida-sinkholes-map-20130812,0,4062236.htmlpage

Than you Paul for all the info you have given to me and others about SC, and Robyn was wonderful showing us around. We have decided to move to Venice or Longboat Key FL., We felt at home here, with the warm weather, sun, ocean and humidity. We do a lot of Caribbean/Mexico travel and if you ever been to the Mexico jungle in August, that is what we could call humidity. We are leaving in August with our two cats, and will rent till we find our new home. Down sizing have been interesting, now all we want is what would fit into a 4 x 6 trailer to tow. We are ready to start a new chapter of our life. Good luck to everyone you is still looking, all I can say when you see the area you are looking in you will know if it is right for you.

MarkG thanks for the Florence info. We are just staring to look. Our son moved to SC beach area a few months ago so we'll be visiting a lot. This group is giving me so much info on various places. I'm still not sold on Florida for full time, looks like lots of folks are. But I'm listening and will be visiting around.

Thanks for the info Paul and Bill. I also saw an article about Cresswinds at Lake Lanier in Gainesville, GA and am wondering if anyone has any knowledge about it. I have heard that Georgia is retiree friendly so we are widening our search. Stina

CB...I am so glad you guys found a place to call home...I have friends at LongBoat Key and they love it...I am also glad you enjoyed Robyn she said you guys were a pleasure to deal with...I know all about that 4X6 trailer..where did we get all the stuff we accumulated over the years...Best of luck to you in your retirement years...

Does anyone have any info about the Jacksonville , Fl area. Interested b/c of Mayo Clinic and maybe not as hot and humid as farther down the state. Also, what about the New Bern, NC area. Hospitals, good dr.'s, ets. Any info would be appreciated

Retired Militart..
Have read several times in the retirement blogs that individuals who retire from Military ..often try to locate their residence close to Military facilities..
I am retires 29 years service..and when I ent into yhe Charleston SC VA Hospital I was told they would not treat me as I was a medicare patient first and Trivare was second..consequently, I was to be treated by physicians and services that approved Medicare,,
when in New York I visited the West Point VA hospital and they to refused me as a patient for the same reasons..
has anyone had that happen ..specifically, after enrolling in mecicare?...
I did visit a small va clinic in Port Jervis NY and they told me a doctor would allow a visit but only for the veteran not a spouse..
and any info on the matter would be appreciated..

Robbie - I am also retired military and living in SW Florida. They recently took away my Tricare Prime to Tricare Standard and my yearly costs are in the thousands. We too are looking to move closer to a military facility. http://www.military.com/benefits/tricare/retiree/tricare-for-life.html#1 is a site that talks about Tricare for life which is a secondary insurance for Medicare. Here is the important portion. " VA providers cannot bill Medicare and Medicare cannot pay for services received from VA. If you receive care at a VA facility, you may be responsible for 80 percent of the bill. By law, TRICARE can only pay 20 percent of the TRICARE-allowable amount. Wish I had better answers. Things are changing and on the backs of retired military

Robbie,

In order for a veteran to qualify for treatment at a VA facility he/she must have a service-associated disability and, depending on the level of disability, may also have to qualify based on income

Thanks Lynn - I have a 70% disability rating so maybe I qualify? The closest VA facility where I am is over 2 hours away so I do not use it.

Jeff, Thanks for the Tricare for Life Link. My mom passed away in 2007 from cancer. She had medicare and Tricare for Life which was wonderful as far as paying. I think you have to take medicare part B and Tricare for Life but would be covered completely. Am I missing something here. My husband is also retired military and we are counting on Tricare for Life insurance in our later years as well as medicare.

Jeff Gilfoy....Beaufort SC has a large military base there and a Military Hospital...As you have probably seen on here Beaufort is ranked #4 in retirement cities in America...It is a beautiful area 25 miles from Hilton Head Island, about 55 miles to Charleston, SC, and about 35 miles to Savannah, GA. Ask Robyn about the area when you visit her in May as she will research and answer all questions about that beautiful town..Thanks for your service to our country...Best wishes...

Paul Schmidt - Again thank you I talked to her yesterday and will meet with her on May on our trip. Love this web site.

Vickie,

It is worthwhile keeping up with the goings on in Washington as the current budget has military retirees paying a lot more than they currently do. I suspect that this conversation probably belongs somewhere else but for what it is worth here is a good place, http://www.moaa.org/, under Legislative Updates, to see what the current plans are for Tricare for retirees and dependents may look like in the future

Just visited Beaufort SC yesterday. Beautiful town!! Looked at some houses on Dataw Island. Anybody have any info, good or bad on Dataw?
Love the blog!!!!!!

Brenda, people we know in Florida are trying to convince us it is the place to go. But, my research tells me otherwise (reading about living in the state and talking to realtors and insurance agents). Every time we visited I always felt there was something sketchy and I have been several different areas for vacation and business. My gut feeling is that we are going to end up in either the Myrtle Beach area or the Charleston area. I have to be within an hour of the beach.

Mark regarding you comment on South Carolina you w find summer to be less humid in the Myrtle Beach area than Charleston area. The real estate is cheaper in MYRTLE Beach and there is more to do year round.. The winter is a bit warmer down in Charleston. Before buying try renting that way you can explore both areas. Good luck.

DJB, we have traveled to HHI for 20+ years for spring break. Always thought we would retire there, but did due diligence and looked around SC and Florida at other communities. Last spring, we bought a building lot at Dataw Island - we fell in love with Beaufort, Hunting Island, and the people in the low country. We knew when we visited on the Dataw Experience package that it was a perfect fit for us - my husband wanted golf, I wanted the indoor and outdoor pools, and we both enjoy boating and the beach. The fees are in line with other gated communities in Bluffton and HHI area, and we knew we wanted the security of a gated community. Since becoming an
"owner" we have access to the member only website and have learned how active, social, and friendly the residents are. My only concerns are - as we age, there is no public transportation from Dataw into Beaufort, there are some, but not many assisted living or nursing homes in Beaufort so if we are ever in that situation, we may need to relocate again. We had visited inland SC and up to the Myrtle Beach area before buying at Dataw and they were just not a good match for us. We also found Florida gated communities much more affordable, but the insurance and property taxes were substantially higher. It was tough to decide, but We are confident that we will love our final choice and are excited to meet with builders at Dataw Island next month. Now I am researching what a home for retirement should include, hopefully to meet our needs for the next 30 years!

We visited both Dataw Island and Callawassie Island which are both gated and have decided to make Callawassie our new home. We liked the proximity to Hilton Head, Beaufort and Bluffton for shopping, restaurants and activities. In Callawassie we felt close to everthing, but not in the middle of everything. Dataw seemed a little more remote for going out to eat except for Beaufort.

Just curious has to the ages of the writers on this blog. I had a mandatory retirement age of 57. Been retired two years now. Wife and I are looking around, with help from ya'll , and don't think our views on life are much different than others.

Tonyr - I am 63 and my wife is 57. I am retired from the Submarine Service and we presently are living and working in the service industry in Naples Florida and cannot wait to get out. Looking to retire near a military facility within 2-4 hours driving distance of Atlanta where my wife's mother is in a nursing home. That's our story and I am sticking to it. :lol:

My husband and I are very interested I n the Naples area and are very interested, Jeff Gilfoy, as to why you cannot wait to get out?

Hi Tonyr,
I'm not sure how much chronological age will tell you. I'm 64 and was pushed into 'retirement' by the recession in 2011. My husband is 75 and still working. His work is both mental and physical, and no one can believe he is 75. We both love to hike and plan to retire to the mountains. So, age can be only a number. That said, we have purchased Long Term Care Insurance and are aware of certain features of the home we plan to buy (master on first floor, etc.). We are looking around as well. We know that Tennessee is the most reasonable place to retire, but don't know if we will find it as appealing as the mountains of North Carolina. Planning our first trip this May. Wishing you well.

carol- I have only lived here 4 years but my wife has been here 38 years and Naples has changed from a beautiful eclectic town with incredible wealth and wonderful down town (old town and 5th avenue) but still open spaces and affordable living and great beaches to an over developed (and growing) area of gated communities, strip malls, and "snow bird haven". During "season" the traffic is horrendous, waiting lines are horrible for everything, and filled with self absorbed, rude people who think because they have money they are "entitled". On the plus side the golf is amazing and the restaurants are wonderful but vastly over priced. Because my wife and I are in the service industry are view is slanted in how we are treated but we cannot wait to get out.

Carol,
Naples still has many amenities to offer. Arts, over 100 golf courses, great shopping, good restaurants, and plenty of sunshine. It's a great place to visit and vacation. However, if you live here full-time (the locals) you will experience heavy traffic for roughly 6 months of the year, crowded beaches, restaurants, grocery stores, etc....to nearly impossible to get around. I try to plan to when to go to the grocery and don't even venture out to restaurants, etc during the height of season (Jan, Feb and Mar.) I find the dynamics of the people's attitude (coming down) has changed for the worse. People are short tempered, surly and have road rage. I truly am saddened by all the growth, meaning all the beautiful and lush land they have torn down (don't be surprised to find a bear in your backyard) and all the iconic businesses and buildings, old homes, that have been torn down to be replaced by monolithic beastly mansions (that are occupied for a few weeks a year.) And you will be in retirement community. Elderly are everywhere...and that's okay, I'm just saying. It is what it is. So, after 38 years, I am ready to move on. It has changed to the point I don't recognize my home anymore. The area is strong and will remain so. Buy now...prices rising. Rentals are hard to find and expensive. Good luck.

Just returned from the Greenville SC and Asheville NC area. Will not be moving there. Although we hate the cold winters, we've decided to stay in Wisconsin and go south for a couple months each winter. The Carolinas just can't compete with the clean, lush look of Wisconsin in our opinion, but that's just us. It was 77 degrees and walking was HOT (perhaps due to being closer to the equator?) where in Wi at 77 degrees it is comfortable. We love the 70's and low 80's here. The red dirt and scrubby lawns (unless you have irrigation systems) was not appealing. Our little dog would be dirty a lot under those conditions and it would be way too hot for him to exercise by walking with us. I'm sure many others of you will love the conditions and atmosphere but that's what makes life interesting.

Neko, one of the wonderful things about loving where you live and NOT WAITING until you retire to go to that place, is that you don't have to make a move when you are ready to retire. I realize now that that is a big mistake my husband and i made. We don't love where we live, and are now seeking greener pastures as we prepare to retire and move on. Enjoy what you know and love, and then you can go to where it is truly warm for those frigid winter months. Happy for you!

Neko, I can relate. I love the south when I'm suffering through 8 months of winter in Western MD. But now that we can see buds on the forsythia, we are having second thoughts. I am getting news alerts for the area we were considering. The crime is high and they are already experiencing brush fires. We still have damp ground from snow and the lake is not frozen. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Snowbirding may be the best choice for us.

Single retired female looking into the Austin Texas surrounding area. Any input will be greatly appreciated. Presently living near Palm Springs Ca and with the water shortage problem and 120+ degree summer weather, need somewhere less erratic weather.

My wife and I are visiting some places this month to retire near military facilities. We are looking for a good realtor in St Augustine Florida who specializes in rentals. Anyone have a recommendation?

Thanks , I have just been searching for info about this subject for a while and yours is the best I have discovered till now. However, what about the bottom line? Are you positive concerning the supply?

Nice, Adam! Fill me in on how that goes for you; I'm thinking of taking advantage of that at some point in the not-too-distant footure!

IN RESPONSE TO SUSAN'S COMMENT:
Susan says

We live in Asheville, having moved here for jobs 9 years ago. Now we are retired and are trying to decide where to move. We love the 4 seasons and the mountains. However we haven’t bonded with Asheville, probably because of all the reasons already stated in this blog previously. The dirty, tattooed, pierced population is becoming overwhelming and makes eating at these great new restaurants, at times, disgusting. The cost of living here is also getting out of control and its time to go! Would like to move where the weather is as nice, but perhaps a bit more balanced demographics. Suggestions?
____________________________________________________________________________

I've been a resident of Asheville/NC for nearly 15yrs now. It is not what it use to be. Once a small warm and inviting eclectic town, now has become the hub of Hippieville and many other malady's that could cause one to feel an awkward and unnerving overwhelming sense of irritation and intolerance to some of the things seen and heard. There was one parade in front of the court house lawn where Women Protested on Equal Rights and were allowed to parade topless...onlookers of children and families were subjected to this while government including police, took no action whatsoever. Asheville has become a "Little/Big Mirror of High Crime place cities like NY and Cali. Some associate with it as the Little SanFran or NYC and while these places have positives the negatives outweigh them. Downtown Asheville use to be glowing and eclectic but is now a dirty attraction to tattoo's, hippie hub and LGBT groups with it's ongoing active protest and parades making Ash less then desireable and causing hostilities and division within the city. Taxes are outrageous as you have both State and Federal taxes. The city and it's surrounding corridors are becoming congested and grid lock traffic is increasingly becoming intolerable year after year. Rent is crazy outrageous and purchasing a home is not much better..It's become a tourist trap as well, no longer exuding home town flair or feel...The weather is extremely hot and humid in the summer and you barely see snow at all anymore. The streets are poorly developed and Transit is fair but would be extremely improved if Amtrak, Ash Airport, Greyhound and local Transit would get off their butts and improve these medium's of travel for those who might not wish to own a vehicle any-longer due to rising auto and vehicle taxes. A sub train such as the one in Charlotte would do Ash allot of good. I would love to live in a city that offered great transit that would afford me access to the shops and activities downtown, provide a way of exercise for those living with disabilities who would rather not drive but walking would be an advantage to health as well as venturing out. Sad thing tho...Ash is not the once pretty and warm place it once was. It's a terrible place for discrimination, as if you have any health challenge at all in the slightest, your become a number and no longer a name...did not use to be like this. I believe in diversity not prejudices, but there comes a time where one must drew the line on what is fair and good and right and true...Susan, I've lost the bond-ship as you so eloquently stated. I just thought I would add a little detail and description...So why it keeps making the list of number one is beyond me...The nearby communities don't offer that much as the deal breaker is Asheville since that is where you go to do something, if it's worth doing at all...Time to Go! :roll:

I have just found some information on a community in Beaufort South Carolina called Habersham. Does anyone have any information on living there?

hi, it seems everyone here is married. I am a widow, live in NYC and retired. I do NOT have a husband nor at my age (67) likely to get one so I need a place where I can find friends and a community. I want to stay in the northeast because 1st I love winter and 2nd my son/wife live in MA. I've been thinking of a town like Pittsfield in MA (small) or perhaps Philadelphia (bigger). No matter what I like to play tennis, bike, walk tons. I don't necessarily want to live my life in a car (though of course I'll get one when I live NYC). Does anyone have any suggestions in terms of towns or communities for singles 55+ in the northeast

dear Judy,
I don't have an answer to your exact question, but would like to recommend that you check out state taxes (including estate and inheritance) before you make your final decision being that you seem to have some freedom in your choice. Kipplingers is a good website for that. Sperlings also covers best places to live and cost-of-living. I do know that MA is quite expensive, but if you're doing okay in NYC, you'll be fine there. My best to you!

I looked at Habersham. It is very pretty. Something particular you want to know?

Judy,

Keeping a car in NYC is VERY expensive and NYC is one city where you can easily forgo a car purchase. There are many other options.

OOOPs! Judy I just realized you most likely meant leave instead of live in NYC--I misread the post and just realized what you really intended to say--sorry!

Thanks for the info!

Hi, I am 65 and my wife is 60. I am retired from the Submarine Service and we presently are living and working in the service industry in California. Looking to retire near a military facility within 2-4 hours driving distance of Atlanta where my wife’s mother is in a nursing home.

Thanks !
Kalegley

Kalegley, Fort Jackson in Columbia, SC, is 3 hours from Atlanta. There are many excellent real estate options in Columbia, which is a university town and also just 2 1/2 hours from the ocean. I have worked with a fine real estate agent in the area, former Air Force colonel, and I'd be pleased to put you in touch.

Larry what is the "birds" number or info? Robert (10 YRS USAF)

Robert, if you mean his name, it is Mike Wyka. He is with the Russell & Jeffcoat agency in Columbia. Just do a Google search by his name and Columbia and you will get his contact info. Please tell him I mentioned him. Thanks and good luck.

Larry = tks, I will check it out. Actually have a military buddy that lives in Columbia, SC. The state would have to be one that does not tax SS or pension and then Real Estate taxes are always a concern. House is for sale in Pa and still searching different options but so far looks like we may return to Florida = ??

Interesting comparison of what it costs to rent a 2 bedroom apartment in the different states in the USA.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/01/minimum-wage-apartment-hourly-salary-housing-costs_n_7472472.html

I should have said what hourly wages are needed to afford a two bedroom apartment in each state in the USA.

We looked at Habersham two years ago. Great concept; still a work in progress and no real felling that the "downtown" will be completed anytime soon. House are pricey compared to Beaufort.

I need information on the area of Georgia, around Toccoa, Lula, Alto. Taxes, Housing, form of community, ect. NO planned senior community.

Editor's note: Start by looking in the GA Directory. You will find a lot of what you need. http://www.topretirements.com/active_adult_communities/Georgia.html

Robert, good luck. Most states in South are gentle on pension and SS income. Keep your eye on overall cost of living, not taxes. It can be cheaper to live in a state with an income tax (e.g. SC) than in one without (e.g. FL). If you do contact Mike for assistance , please tell him I referred you. Thanks.

Is anyone concerned about a glut of 55+ communities making it difficult or impossible to sell in the future? It seems like thousands of these homes are being built everywhere, particularly in the Southeast and AZ. What happens after the baby boomers start to die off, etc.? I know that a situation can change and bad stuff can happen suddenly, having gone through illnesses and deaths of parents, spouse and friends. We all think we're going to plenty of warning of deteriorating health so we can make plans or changes, but sometimes it just doesn't work that way. I am attracted to the social possibilities in a 55+ community, but am concerned about resale value too. I could need the money if I have to move for some reason, or my kids could be stuck trying to get rid of it in a market with much less interest in 55+ communities.

Hi Kate:

I am very wary of a community of only aging seniors. Too many builders are capitalizing on the concept of isolating seniors away from the rest of society. I know the concept sounds appealing at first, but once these properties age as well as the residents, then what? Being with mixed age groups keeps one current and active.
I have a friend who is 92 walks three miles daily and is as sharp as a tack. She does not drive but she has a good social connection plus public transportation,Uber and cabs if needed is available. There are times, yes, when she gets a bit put out with the few young children in our community, but overall she is very happy here. One community that seems to be getting positive press is the original Sun City in Arizona. I have another friend who has visited many of the over 55+ communities says that they have one common thread.....they are very quiet... I have heard that Dell Webb is using very cheap construction and they are going up really quickly....the cost of these communities is not cheap and once the newness wears off boredom may set in. I fear boredom more than screaming children at the pool.

Jennifer and Kate, you really need to go see some of these places before passing judgement. They look and feel like regular neighborhoods sans young families with children. Boredom is only an option if you are a recluse. Full time activity director where I am going. To be honest, I did get a geriatric feel from pebble creek. It's an older community, so more old and original buyers along with newer. I am told they are building extended care facilities in the area to cover those aging out. But Canta mia brand new with a younger vibe. I went to one in Tampa area by gl homes that also had a mixture. I don't mind some nice older people around as well, don't get me wrong, but I think your worries are groundless as far as resale. It's all market based, any housing glut will cause values to go down, and if you had a good time while you were there, I bet your kids would not mind at all.

By the way, recent issue of where to retire magazine listed top 50 planned communities in the country. Was surprised canta Mia on there and pebble creek was not.as I recall it wasn't only 55 plus places.

Nancy, beware of "best of" lists in magazines like "Where to Retire." You will find a high percentage of their advertisers that make their best of lists. There is little objectivity in their judgments.

Nancy -- I am visiting the communities (have been a dozen+ so far). I have to agree that some feel more geriatric than others, depending on where they are on the aging cycle. In fact living in a community that welcomes geriatric residents can be a plus!

My kids do care - having been through the illness and death of their Dad and as health care and legal professionals, they may understand more than others what is involved in estate problems. Of course you are absolutely right that you can't live as if each year is your last, so resale shouldn't be the only factor. Still, the thousands of 55+ units being added to the housing market for baby boomers does concern me since that bubble will eventually burst.

Forget Florida - 50% of the people who move there move away within five years. The heat, humidity and bugs are some of the reasons but what I discovered is the whole state is flat so it doesn't have any persaonlity - just endless flat roads. It's so hot in the summer that you can even go to the beach. I traveled to Florida, three times just in 2014 from Miami to Jacksonville and many stops in between and have visitied 24 counties from the west coaast of Florida (Sarasota to Tarpon Springs) to the east coast as well as the central areas of Orlando, St. Cloud, etc. And try as I might I could not force myself to live there. And it's not a cheap place to live anymore. Taxes are high, especially Palm Beach County; then you have flood and hurricane insurance. Also forget about The Villages unless you like the feeling that your living in an old age home in the middle of nowhere surrounded by cow pastures. Florida never gave me the feeling of home. It's like you feel like your on vacation and you will leave for your real home sometime.

Editor's Comment: To each his own. But we question some of these comments, especially 50% of the people who move to FL move away. Just not true. Anyway, if you want the counter argument, read this 2 part series: Funky Towns in Florida http://www.topretirements.com/blog/great-towns/10-funky-towns-in-florida-for-retirement.html/

Surfside, yes, to each his/her own, but my goodness, why so negative?
Flat can have its benefits, esp if you like cruise control. And driving from the Villages to i.e. Clermont, it is anything but flat. I would dare you to ride a bike.
You are right, you will find many old(er) people in this part of central Fl, but we are not feeling that we are in an old age home surrounded by cow pastures. Many vibrant young, and young at heart, people live in this area. We do visit the villages almost daily for all they have to offer. Trust me, no one will ever feel bored unless they choose to be. The people around us are an inspiration, and we are having more fun than we ever thought we would. Should the time come when we need a little more assistance, it is available to us. That is something you don't find everywhere.
As for the cow pastures...we love the peace and tranquility, should we choose to visit what nature has to offer.
Our communities take care of the bugs overall, and home owners learn pretty quick how to deal with the rest,
Please don't judge based on a few visits, and please don't paint such an unreal and negative picture unless you have really explored and experiences what central Fl has to offer.
Now, if you don't like alligators, then Fl is not for you. Those we have, and plenty of them. Talk to neighbors and the hoa, they will let you know how to live peacefully alongside them.
And now I am off to join in on one of the many many activities offered around here.

Hi. My wife linda and i moved from the philly pa. area in 2006 and now reside in sun city sc. The average 3 month winter temps here is about 50 degrees. Aside from moving to a tropical paradise,this is one of the next best places to retire. We saw a "couple" snow flakes in the last 9 years. Moreso than sc sun city is best described by it's name. What a lucky choice by us!

Traveled to a lot of these cities for work. They were all terrific. It was Asheville that made me never want to leave.

Surfside...

This is my second summer in Florida (I was a snowbird previously). It's been hotter in Minneapolis than it has been here. And I didn't have a pool and a canal in my back yard there. I haven't seen a gator in person yet. People here are friendly and taxes are considerably lower than they were in Minnesota. I'm very happy here and have no plans to leave.

Editor's Comment: Although there are lots and lots of comments to this 2013 post, we have had many new editions of "Best Places to Retire" since 2013. Here is a link to the 2017 Best Places list (2018 will come out soon)