| Are you looking for places to retire? | | | | town's name and check out its online message board |
| What's on your mind? Chasing list after list of "best" | | | | where you can have lots of "insider" information |
| places to retire or going for a familiar place? | | | | about the city/town. |
| Whatever you're after, I would say the most | | | | If you want basic demographic statistics, income and |
| important thing is that the place you choose have | | | | business information of your city/town, go to The |
| the exuberant "feel"you want, that conveys to you | | | | Census Bureau's Quick Facts site for a quick update. |
| the sense that you can "jell" with it. That's tops. | | | | 5. Job Opportunities |
| After this, the "nitty gritties" will follow, naturally. | | | | If you want to still work in your retirement or want |
| I'm sharing on what you should look out when go | | | | to embark on a second career, you should opt to go |
| hunting for a place to settle down for your golden | | | | to a place with a thriving economy that offers you |
| years. | | | | good job opportunities. |
| 1. House Price | | | | 6. Weather/Climate |
| The single largest expense (about 30%) you would | | | | What type of weather/climate you like? |
| have to come up with in your retirement is housing | | | | Warm? Sunny? Cool? Temperate? Hot? Rainy? |
| cost. | | | | It's all up to your personal choice and liking. |
| In many places, house price is high. Plus costs of | | | | But check out first the weather/climatic conditions |
| home heating and cooling are rising too. Throw in | | | | from the locals of your desired city/town. |
| maintenance, real estate taxes and insurance, you | | | | 7. Safety |
| could have a hefty bill to pay. | | | | Some places could be breeding grounds for crimes |
| To get a house at affordable price, you could engage | | | | while others for violence. You need to make sure |
| a reliable agent or ask friends and family members | | | | that your desired place is one that's low in crime and |
| who stay in places with affordable housing, to help | | | | violence. |
| you locate one. | | | | To ease your mind, grab a copy of the FBI's Uniform |
| Or you could use the National Association of Home | | | | Crime Reporting program which releases an annual |
| Builders' spreadsheet that shows the relative | | | | tally of violent and property crimes for nearly every |
| affordability of houses in the US, to help you in the | | | | jurisdiction in the US. |
| process. | | | | 8. Continuing Education Opportunities |
| 2. Local Taxes | | | | Retirement provides you with the time to explore |
| OK. You've found a steal of a house, but it would not | | | | new interests or to pursue a new degree. So you |
| be a good bargain if you're paying high taxes in the | | | | may want a place with colleges and universities that |
| likes of income tax, property tax, sales tax, excise | | | | involve in the development of retirement |
| tax, license tax, intangible tax, estate tax or | | | | communities on or near their campuses that offer |
| inheritance tax..... | | | | retirees a stimulating environment for life-long learning |
| Some states don't charge income tax but could slap | | | | and certain campus cultural, entertainment and |
| you with chunky property tax, sales tax and....When | | | | sporting activities. |
| you add them up, the amount's quite staggering. | | | | 9. Recreational Facilities |
| So before you conclude that home sale, check each | | | | If you're active in recreational activities, you should |
| state's taxation system to get a clear picture on | | | | look for a place that offers you with swimming pools, |
| various taxes. | | | | parks, picnic grounds, hiking & biking trails, boat |
| 3. Health Care | | | | ramps,lighted tennis and paddle tennis courts, |
| You'd want to live in a city/town where you can | | | | community centers, golf courses and..... |
| access easily to health care and medical facilities. This | | | | 10. Culture And Entertainment |
| easy access can make a real difference in the quality | | | | You might want to venture into culture and arts |
| of your life. The American Medical Association's site | | | | stuff, now that you've time to appreciate their |
| can help you locate doctors in various locations by | | | | beauty and wonders. |
| physician specialties. | | | | So a place that has facilities like an independent art |
| 4. Know Your Community And Neighborhood | | | | theater or a symphony orchestra or a dance club or |
| The quickest way to get a feel and sense of the | | | | a museum or a community theater, would be best |
| community and neighborhood you'll be living in, is to | | | | for you. |
| read its local newspaper - you can really get to the | | | | Armed with the above, I can say your experience in |
| pulse of a region's spirit this way. | | | | finding places to retire will be different. |
| Another way is to google-search your desired city's | | | | |