Where Should We Retire??
 

Although we still have a few more years left to work we are thinking about where we would like to live when we retire. we are in NJ and want to get away from the cold and expensive life of NJ. we are looking for warmer climate with little or no snow, preferably near water, not too expensive of an area to live in.

We have read books on best places to retire but would like to hear some of your suggestions and why you like that place.

Would like to hear from those who have retired and love where they live or anyone that has any good suggestions. We will spend the next few years visiting places so we can make our final decision.

Try this www.findyourspot.com

This depends much more about you than anyone who might answer you. This site might help you narrow it down.

Believe me, almost all places that are recommended on this board are being sought in droves by boomers and most are no longer cheap, IMHO.

Tennessee? Other popular retirement areas such as the Sun City communities in Las Vegas and/or Phoenix? Southern Utah (St. George area)? Dallas Fort Worth area?

I did find your spot, and ended with some spots that I actually have been thinking about in the pacific northwest and southwest. I'm currently in San Jose, CA.

There are so many factors you havn;t listed.

Do you want to be near a city or a major airport?

Do you prefer the country and not care about cultural options?

Lot of places are inexpensive (comparatively - we don;t know what that means to you) but there is generally a reason for it.

You want to get away from the cold - but how do you feel about heat? (Siblings of both my parents moved to FL. One set stayed (Clearwater) - but accepted that you really can;t leave the house/car/mall about 6 months per year. The other set (Ft Lauderdale) lasted 3 years, couldn;t put up with the hell any longer and moved to the Williamsburg VA area - which they still find too hot in the summer - but usually only for about 2 months. They go north to visit family in July and August.)

You say you want to be near water. Anywhere near the ocean is likely to be fairly expensive. Is a lake a possibility? And how near do you have to be ?

What will your main activities/hobbies be - and what do you need nearby to enjoy them?

I have a friend that retired very early - 48 - and has so far tried and given up on FL, TX, AZ, southern CA and Mexico. She's still living in NYC and traveling a lot - hoping to find the place she'll be happy. (So far every place has been either too hot or not enough to do or both.)

Sorry - never mind the red state/blue state issue. If you're careful you can find some areas in almost any state that are at least a little less conservtive and more diverse - but she hasn't felt comfortable politically anyplace other than NYC so far.

Well, I retired here in the central Mountains (of Mexico): San Miguel de Allende is a very great but now expensive place.
Should I do it over, I would seriously consider Guanajuato and Patzcuaro, Michoacan.
M

Rent a place in either Bemidji or International Falls, Minnesota for a couple of winters or even maybe 3. After buying groceries and paying to heat your house for that long, New Jersey will look nice and warm and quite inexpensive.

Someone mentioned the Pacific Northwest, but the original poster mentioned "warmer climate" so I'm not sure that exactly fits.

Hi Suze-
I actually mentioned the Pacific Northwest (and the warmer Southwest too!) for me, when I did the findyourspot.com website. I suggest they do the quiz on that website also, it was very helpful.

Hi, LindafromNJ!

You and your husband could also consider one of the age 55+ condo communities in South Florida.

That area would certainly get you away from the cold and expensive life of New Jersey, as you mentioned.

Prescott AZ is just about the #1 retirement city in the US. My parents are going to check it out next month. It is a short drive to everything, low crime, 3 museums, about 450 nature trails, history and 4 seasons. I know a large amount of Americans go to Guadalajara which I have heard has as many Americans in a lot of areas as native Mexicans. Lots of things to do and warm with a good cost of living.

Linda, search on this board for "Hot Springs Village" and/or "Happytourist"
Hot Springs Village has much of what you describe--warmer weather, little or no snow. lot of water(lakes), not wexpensive by East Coasst standards. I hope you can "hook up" here with Happytourist--she's delightful and interesting, and will describe in detail the great features of her community, Hot Springs Village. The closest large airport is the one in Little Rock, AR.

May I suggest Lago Vista and Marble Falls Texas? They are in Central Texas close to Austin. They are both beautiful towns on the lake. I am not sure what you consider expensive, but I would bet they would be less expensive than NJ and we don't have state income tax. If you would consider an age restricted area there is also Sun City Georgetown which has a golf course and is stone's throw from Lake Georgetown.

I also checked out Prescott, but it has real winters, which I'm trying to get away from.

Mexico would be my choice.

You didn't mention whether or not you have children but you might wish to keep in mind that, if you do, as you age, wherever you end up might need to be easily accessible to where they live. It is hard, both emotionally and physically, to try to be available as needed from 6+ hours away.

Where do you retire when you are ready to retire when you live in a retirement area? That's me. I recommend Hot Springs, Arkansas - either the town in the middle of Hot Springs National Park or Hot Springs Village. Both are beautiful, very warm, OK downright hot in the summers, but the winters are mild compared to the north. Lots of green spaces, lakes abound, and a growing community with a horse race track and small town life. Hot Springs is only a 45 to 60 minute from Little Rock. If you choose Hot Springs Village you can go "out the back door" and be in Little Rock quicker. We are 5 hours away from Dallas, 8 hours away from Nashville, and about 10 (?) hours away from St Louis. If healthcare is a concern, we have lots of physicians and two hospitals.
Known for our beautiful lakes, horse racing, "sin" city past, and the National Park, Hot Springs has a reputation for being a retirement area but has had an influx of new families and children. It gives the area a comfortable homey feel without being dusty and old.
Come for a visit, try out the lakes, check out the horses, shopping, friendly people, and decide for yourself.
No place, retirement community or not, can suit you if you don't feel at home there.
Where am I am going to retire? Not sure. I am imagine where ever my daughter goes, I will go too. It maybe be Hot Springs! Good luck!

After I retired, the property taxes (on my house of 25 years) in Dallas were high on the list of items forcing me to relocate.
Now those savings alone pay all of my living expenses here (utilities; housekeeper; gardener; auto/incl ins, and health insurance) except food and travel.
M

My husband and I just did the findyourspot survey separately and compared results - there was only one city in common (Honolulu, to which we are extremely unlikely to move to from Boston). But results were very interesting.

We live in Houston, have looked at Marble Falls (Lake Marble Falls) and Lake Travis (Lago Vista and many more areas). Lake front homes on Lake Marble Falls are $500,000 and up, on Travis for nice water it's at least $800,000, mostly you are talking over a million. For $400,000, you get a dump house with water that is dry anytime the lake is down, which currently is about 35 feet low. It is a beautiful lake. MFalls is MUCH smaller (maybe 2 miles long). The Hill Country, which is where these lakes are, is fantastic. Anything off the water would seem cheap to someone from NJ, but Austin is more expensive than much of the rest of the state. In many places in Texas you can get a very nice home with 3500+ sqft for $300,000. Some places, it's substantially less than that.

Southern Florida is very expensive and will only get worse. Then it seems that a lot of politicians are getting arrested. Taxes , insurance and cost of living are high and getting higher every year.

I've just had an ex-customer of about 55 years of age retire to Costa Rica. Recently divorced and with no kids, its easy for him to do so. It's certainly cheaper to live in Costa Rica and the weather is mild all year long- he retired to the more mountainous interior of Costa Rica rather than either the Pacific or Carribean.

I'm too young to even consider retirement yet but did the findyourspot survey just for fun. My top 3 were Baton Rouge, Honolulu and El Paso, three places in which I'd be highly unlikely to live for various reasons. But, it was still fun to see what the computer came up with!

(To be fair, #4 and #5 were SF and Santa Barbara--those places would be great but are expensive!!)

What happens with your health insurance when you move to Mexico? I understand Medicare coverage is no longer available.
We have an excellent health care plan and could not give that up.

I'm glad Hot Springs was mentioned - there are several towns in Arkansas that are great retirement spots - Bella Vista, Fayetteville, Eureka Springs, Beaver Lake area, Holiday Island (north of Eureka).

I'm trying for a 6-month & 6-month deal. Mexico by winter, Vermont by summer. Hawaii in winter, Seattle in summer. Something like that.