Places to Live | Boomer 55+ Places to Live and Retire

Boomers Seek Affordable Retirement Cities and Towns

The times are ones of austerity and tight budgets. Looking at the costs of retirement is a necessity. If you are a Boomer looking for a lower cost of living in retirement, then finding affordable housing without reducing your quality of life would help. Housing is one of the largest retirement expenses. So where can one find places for affordable retirement in towns and cities that boomers want to live in.

By now you have heard Boomers are turning 65 starting now. There is much talk of delayed retirements because of the bad economy and because of the financial conditions that have wrecked havoc on our retirement savings. However time marches on and as we Boomers enter the mid 60s, our retirements will be happening at increasing rates, no matter what.

Affordable retirement communities are listed in this article. By communities they are talking affordable towns and cities, not specific retirement communities, but the article gives some mid size towns and cities like Asheville NC, Bellingham WA, Charleston SC, Fayetteville AR, Gainesville FL to name a few.

As far as actual affordable retirement communities, being a specific property rather than a town or city, here are 194 Affordable retirement community listings in the database of 55CommunityGuide.com.

Boomers looking for affordable retirement homes should consider moving to a small town to find reduced living costs as well as Cheaper retirement homes available in small towns.

In this article a Realtor lays out the case that you may get a better price on your retirement home purchase using a Buyer Agent.

The AARP just cames out with their list of Affordable Cities for Retirement. Three cities from Texas: San Antonio, Houston and Austin are in their top 10 Most Affordable Cities for Retirement list. This AARP study included cities of at least 100,000 and compared cost of living, job market, and expenses like average cost of groceries, health care and transportation. It also looked at housing costs as a portion of income. Other affordable cities from their top ten are: Oklahoma City, Pittsburgh PA, Buffalo NY, Rochester NY, Nashville TN, Louisville KY, Birmingham Alabama.

Best Cities for Boomers (CityRetirement.com) points out many of today’s retiring seniors are opting for city sidewalks over country roads, thanks to an ever-growing list of amenities. Plus, many people find that the pace of city life helps them think younger and maintain their interest in life as they age.

College towns are also very popular Boomer towns and offer a great value with lots of amenities. Boomers have a lot of reasons to retire to a college town.

Retiring overseas is also know to be among the most affordable retirements.

So these are some of the resources Boomers may use to locate affordable places, communities, towns and cities for their retirement homes.

Additional tips:

Buying home resales are normally cheaper than buying new homes from the builder.
Tips for Buying a Home in a 55 Plus Community
Buying on the outskirts of the metro area is cheaper than the closer in communities
The government has many perfectly nice independent living communities that are income qualified.

Originally posted 2013-11-08 15:41:18.

Why Boomers are Retiring Overseas

The baby boomer generation is changing the conversation about retirement, with many choosing different models of retirement living – from co-housing communities, to working throughout retirement, to retiring overseas. In this age of information, ease of travel, and global awareness, an overseas retirement is not only appealing, but is also entirely feasible for many boomers.

Benefits of Retiring Abroad

Of course, the appeal of overseas living in the second half of life varies from person to person. Some baby boomers are seeking the excitement and exotic locales they may have missed while working their way up the corporate ladder and raising the kids in safe suburban communities. Some are looking for cheaper real estate, while others may want a peaceful environment and warm or mild climate. Whatever the impetus for exploring overseas options, expat retirees can reap many benefits:

Re-imagining your life – Often, baby boomers have spent the majority of their lives pursuing the normal “American dream,” including a 9-to-5 job, spouse and kids, a family home, and all of the normal joys – and stressors – that go along with these things. Upon retirement, some boomers are realizing that they have an opportunity to do something completely new, and to live an entirely different lifestyle in exciting, novel surroundings.
A lifestyle upgrade – Many retirees who move to foreign destinations – such as Ecuador, Costa Rica, or Nicaragua – find that they can live a much more “posh” lifestyle on less money than they could in the U.S. The cost of housekeeping and gardening help is low, often international medical insurance is significantly less expensive, and in many areas there are activities and recreation destinations available that can make a resident feel like they are on constant vacation.
Lower living expenses – Whether retiring to a European destination or a more exotic locale such as Thailand, many expat boomers find daily living expenses to be much more reasonable. Health coverage, rent, meals, and entertainment can be much cheaper than the same expenses “back home.”
Great benefits for retirees – Many countries offer incredible special benefits and discounts to all retired persons, and some offer even more to entice foreigners to spend their retirement years within their borders. Breaks on public transportation, public services, and utilities are available to seniors in many places. Panama, for example, has the “pensionado” – a program for seniors (open to foreign retirees) that gives between 15% and 50% off of such things as transportation, fine dining, theatre and sporting event tickets, medical care, and even domestic airfare.
Real estate bargains – Although there are some very pricey foreign retirement locales, a number of places offer real estate at amazingly low cost. Some boomers have even found it possible to own more than one home – such as a quiet rural home with land and a “downtown” condominium – because real estate is so much more affordable in places such as Panama, Ecuador, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

Boomers are definitely retiring overseas in increasing numbers as evidenced by the growing number of social section checks being sent to overseas addresses. If you choose to join them and retire overseas yourself, you may find you can live the life you’ve always wanted for much less than you have ever dreamed you could. Check out some listings of overseas destinations, and begin to imagine your own retirement adventure!

Originally posted 2014-01-01 15:12:43.

Where Will The Baby Boomers Live?

An update on where will the baby boomer live in retirement. This is being answered everyday right now. Here is our take.

So where will be baby boomers live as they retire? That is the question that is being answered right now as 10,000 boomers a day turn age 65 like I did this year.

I spend a lot of time reading everything I can about the very same thing. Plus I am living this myself and see my friends moving for retirement. Here is my take.

Where Will The Boomers Live in Retirement?

The options are several but let’s just consider these:

1. move to an active adult community in another state
2. move to an active adult community in your own state
3. move to suitable home in another state
4. move to a suitable home in your state
5. stay where you are living now

From the way it looks now, the majority will stay in their own homes for many reasons, not the least of which is affordability. They make make some changing to their homes to make them more liveable as they ended up aging in place. This is option 5 above.

The next sizable tier, those who can afford it, may just move in a more suitable home in their own state. This is option 4. They may move from a large home to a ranch with a basement or a townhouse with master on the main and same level living areas. This may be to a location right in their current neighborhood because they like living there but just want a more suitable home for their retirement living. They may move a little closer to their children (grandchildren) and I see this happening quite a bit.

Some but a smaller group will elect to move to one of the 55+ places in their current neighborhood or one of the active adult communities on the edge of their metro area. This is option 2. I am seeing more of these 55+ communities being build in the suburbs where people are living now and I think this will become more popular as time goes on. These boomer communities will be smaller because of the land acquisition cost than those large Del Webb type active adult communities on the outer edges of metros.

A very few will move retire to the exciting city living and even fewer currently are moving to a true small town for retirement unless it is in one of the active adult communities.

Some will relocate to other states especially Florida, Arizona, Nevada, North Carolina, Georgia, South Carolina and Texas and other 55+ places.

Very few will move overseas for affordable retirement living, places like Costa Rica or South America. Some will move into their second homes which may be vacation or seasonal homes, but not many.

So as I see it this is what is happening right now answering the question where will the baby boomers live in retirement.

Originally posted 2013-10-23 22:41:58.

Baby Boomer’s Housing Trends

We have observed these 10 Baby Boomer housing trends. Boomers are not doing as some expected in regards to their housing. Links in the items listed go to more details.

1. Many Baby Boomers love seasonal homes in resort locations. Living in a seasonal home for two to six months then returning to their primary home. Some seasonal homes are owned but many are short term rentals. Most seasonal homes are in warmer locations. Most are in resort locations including active adult communities.

2. One level living is a must because of potential mobility issues and safety concerns. This style is referred to as “ranch style” homes. Continue reading “Baby Boomer’s Housing Trends”

Originally posted 2018-10-01 13:41:51.

Four Most Affordable Retirement Cities For Boomers

If you are one of the many baby boomers who plan to move when you retire, but you don’t have the hefty nest-egg needed to live in some of the most popular retirement destinations, no worries. There are plenty of affordable retirement cities that still have great health care, good weather, and the “wow factor” of regional recreation and cultural activities to fill the days of even the most active and adventurous retirees.

The best and most affordable places to live for aging Boomers offer such benefits as mild or warm climates, low property taxes, lower housing costs, special income-tax rates and breaks for senior citizens, quality healthcare, good public transportation, senior job opportunities, and low crime rates. With a little research, you can find such appealing retirement spots in almost any region of the country. Here are four of our favorites:

· Louisville, Kentucky – With a median price of only $128,000 for a single family residence, affordable Louisville offers southern hospitality, a pleasantly mild climate, and exciting recreation options such as the famed Louisville Slugger Museum and the Kentucky Derby.

· Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – “Pitt,” as it is fondly called by locals, is a college town (U of Pittsburgh and Carnegie-Mellon) with many friendly neighborhoods and an inexpensive lifestyle. The median price of homes in and around Pittsburgh is in the low $120s, and the state of Pennsylvania offers senior-friendly tax breaks.

· South Bend, Indiana – Another college town, with a serene local campus, South Bend is also just south of Notre Dame, so it appeals to longtime fans of Fighting Irish football. Home prices are remarkably affordable, averaging just over $82,000. Retirees with a penchant for golf will enjoy the numerous courses in the area.

· Tyler, Texas – With its Rose Festival, the beautiful Azalea Trail, and the bustling University of Texas–Tyler within the city limits, this community is a draw for active baby boomers. While housing prices are a bit higher here with a median price of around $140,000, the state of Texas does have a very senior-friendly tax structure.

In today’s struggling economy, finding an affordable retirement city is more important than ever. The Administration on Aging reports that the median income of men 65 and over is $27,707 – and is only $15,362 for women in that age group. Many baby boomers are facing this money crunch. Although retirement may have reduced your income somewhat, that doesn’t mean you have to suffer a reduced standard of living. If you relocate to the right city in the right state, your retirement dollars can go further.

Originally posted 2014-03-20 18:37:15.

Top 5 “Best Places For Boomers to Retire” Lists

We are not going to create our own list of the top places to which boomers retire; we are just going to give you links and descriptions to find the list(s) that you may view as most helpful. We have done the searching for you

Search engines seem to love “Top 10” and “Best of” articles. There are so many lists of “best places to retire” out on the internet these days, how can you know which are trustworthy, or what basis they use for selecting “the best”? Here, we are doing something different: We are not going to create our own list of the top places to which boomers retire; we are just going to give you links and descriptions to find the list(s) that you may view as most helpful. We have done the searching for you, and read through many of the sites claiming to know the best places to spend your golden years. Here are five of the most current and well thought out of all we reviewed.

1) Best Places to Retire – US News (http://money.usnews.com/money/retirement/best-places-to-retire): This “best places” site is actually a collection of lists. Do you want to know the 10 sunniest places in the US? Or perhaps the 10 Best Places for Wealthy Retirees? You can find a wealth of information no matter what specifics you are using to narrow down your search.

2) The 25 Best Places to Retire in 2013 – Forbes (http://www.forbes.com/pictures/mjf45glmi/time-for-a-move): We really like this site for a couple of reasons. First, it is absolutely current. Second, Forbes did their homework. They crunched data on more than 400 cities from every state in the nation. They used a formula including costs of living, tax structures, crime rates, availability of doctors, and recreational activities (good biking and walking trails, high levels of community volunteering). They also took into account the Milken Institute’s “Best Cities for Successful Aging” report, which even looks at such details as local investments in public and senior transportation. If you are someone who likes a lot of information and wants to know just where it comes from, this is a great “best of” list for you, in a convenient slideshow format.

3) 10 Surprisingly Best States for Retirement – Bankrate.com (http://www.bankrate.com/finance/retirement/best-states-for-retirement.aspx#slide=1): This list – also a collection of slides – is for those who may want something different from the obvious Sunbelt retirement areas. Bankrate does not assume that when boomers retire, they all want warm climates and typical retirement communities. This list is 10 of the “unexpectedly best” states for retirement, arrived at by crunching a variety of data on cost of living, access to health care, inspiring landscapes, climate, cost of living, and post-retirement employment opportunities.

4) 10 Most Relaxing Cities to Enjoy Your Golden Years – Huffington Post Lifestyle (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/02/best-places-to-retire-10-cities_n_2957794.html: The title says it all: Huffington Post has collected a list of relaxing retirement destinations. They combed through some of the nation’s best small towns and cities to find those in which retirees can kick back and enjoy a stress-free retirement. If you are most interested in peace and quiet in your golden years, with lots of opportunity for cultural activities or outdoor recreation, check out this list.

5) 10 Great Places to Retire for the City Life – AARP (http://www.aarp.org/home-garden/livable-communities/info-02-2012/10-Great-Cities-to-Retire-AARP.html): Perhaps relaxation is not what you are looking for, and you are more interested in spending your retirement years experiencing nightlife, culture, and a lively social scene. One of AARP’s many lists of “best places to retire,” this one is for those who sincerely appreciate urban city living, and seek energy, excitement, and character-rich neighborhoods. Here they list cities with senior-friendly neighborhoods, and discuss the top restaurants, nightlife, and cultural attractions that may appeal to energetic retirees.

More 55+ Places for Boomer Retirement

Happy hunting!

Originally posted 2013-05-27 16:04:33.