Raanana,

What It Is Like to Retire in Raanana

A bustling and well-planned suburban town about twelve miles north of Tel Aviv, Ra'anana has a population of sbout 80,000, including an increasing number of expat retirees.  Expats are drawn by great urban planning, a lovely extensive park system, good shopping and a high tech industrial park. 

Where to Retire in Raanana and Home Prices

Auburn is the gateway to the Sierra Nevada Gold Country. This is a region of tremendous History and Natural Beauty. This review will capture information on Gold Country Historic Towns of Auburn, Grass Valley & Nevada City. The Historic Hwy 49 corridor is a wealth of natural beauty and culture. We have over 20 recreational lakes and the confluence of 3 major rivers, the American River, the Bear River, and the Yuba River.  The area offers Championship Golf at 9 local golf links communities just 25 minutes from World Class Shopping. Photo of old town courtesy of Wikipedia and Bobak.

Where to Live
You can live in one of the town neighborhoods or an active community. Two of those include Alta Sierra and Lake of the Pines. For more information on living in the area go to:  www.49realty.com

Real Estate Values
The median value of a home in Auburn was about $290,000 in mid 2010.

What Is Special about Raanana

Ra'anana is mostly populated by native-born Israelis but is an English-friendly city, so if you desire to learn Hebrew you can do so comfortably at your own pace. Ra'anana is popular with retirees who would like some work in retirement, mostly with local startups. Additionally, the World Heath Organization designated Ra'anana a Green City in 2005; it is famous for its parks. 

What Is Not Special about Raanana

Like many of Israel's cities, Ra'anana is quite expensive. 

Who Will Like Retirement in Raanana

There is a large English-speaking population as well as a Spanish-speaking population; the amount of French immigrants is also rising.  Ra'anana therefore makes for a vibrant retirement community.

Local Economy Is Driven by

The city is home to the Israeli offices of many leading global companies, including Microsoft, HP and Texas Instruments. 

Climate and Physical Environment

Ra'anana is on a coastal plain; it therefore gets cool, snowless winters and hot, dry summers. There is little to no rainfall in the summer months.

Restaurants & Cultural Scene

The industrial zone is home to the elaborate Renanim shopping mall Ahuza street runs throughout the center of the city and is lined with many popular shops and restaurants.The Ra'anana park is the largest in the nation and has bike paths, a children's zoo, an art gallery and a restaurant. 

Crime

People who are attracted to the Auburn Foothills are just simply put "the salt of the earth". The 4th of July is celebrated each year in grand fashion like Mayberry with Aunt Bee. There are some real characters in them there hills. Music in the Mountians is a full spectrum of "classical music" including pops, jazz, big band and broadway music. www.49realty.com

Medical facilities

There is a Rehabilitation Hospital within the city limits.

Transportation

Winter Park is an historic Florida resort and retirement town in the Orlando and Kissimmee area of Central Florida. It is a planned community built along a group of lakes including Lake Osceola.  Its streets and parks (it claims it has the most parks of any U.S. city) along with its architecture made it a must-visit destination.  Several U.S. Presidents including Chester Arthur, Grover Cleveland, and Franklin D. Roosevelt visited the city.  The city is relatively prosperous and has a very high cultural base.  Many of festivals such as the presigious Winter Park Sidewalk Arts Festival, attracts 350,000 visitors from around the country. Rollins College, Full Sail University, and Valencia Community College make Winter Park a college town as well. Picture of Russell Theatre at Rollins College courtesy of Wikipedia and Ebyabe. The early photo shows the Hotel Alabama, since converted into condominiums. 

Valuable Links

Ra'anana on Wikipedia