Best Places for Retirement in US

[WinniWoman]

When we finally retire- if we ever get to before we die- we will only move once- meaning we have to choose based on our age at 80 or 90- not 67 -70.

 

[geist1223]

This December 31 will mark 5 years of retirement for both of us. We are currently 63.5 years of age. We have stayed in the same town and house - Salem Oregon. Depending on traffic we are an hour from the Beach, 2 hours from Bend, and an hour from Portland and the Airport. The only way we would move is if we win the Lottery and could afford a house on the water on Kauai. We travel all over the world from this location with ease. Two cautionary tales from real estate agents. One on Kauai and 1 on Maui from attending Open Houses. On Maui it was a 2 Bedroom condo on the Beach with gorgeous views. The asking price was less than the most recent sale of a similar Condo in the same complex and the agent was begging for a reasonable offer. Turned out the owners had bought the Condo 2 years earlier upon retirement and moving to their dream location. They discovered that they hatred being so far from family and grandkids. They had packed up and moved back to the Mainland with directions to the Real Estate Agentc to sale quickly. The second was in the Poipu area. The folks had retired several years earlier and bought the house, gutted it, and had done a beautiful remodel. They were still traveling a lot. They found they were going to Honolulu a lot to start their trips. They got tired of paying for hotel rooms on Ohau at the start and finish of their trips. So they bought a studio condo and would do a few days in Honolulu at the start and end of their trips. This also grew old. So they were selling their beautiful house on Kauai and their small Condo on Ohau so they could get a large permanent Condo on Ohau.

So you really need to examine your wants, needs, future plans, etc before making a major move upon retirement.

 

[easyrider]

I'm thinking the best scenario for me would be to have a couple of condos and a dozen timeshares. A large condo where I now live, a two bedroom condo somewhere warm that I can drive to in a couple of days that rents well and about 12 weeks of timeshare resorts. That should do it.

Bill

 

[am1]

When we bought our retirement home we had not explored the area. We based it on research (one of the top places to retire, crime, income etc...), looked at pretty MLS pictures, called up the realtor that we were interested in his listings, took a Wed AM flight out, flew back on Thu late PM. He cleared his calendar, met us on Wed noon and Thu AM. Put a deposit on the home and there we have it... and not one moment of regret. It gets better each day.

You may be a mark or got lucky or was smart.

 

[MuranoJo]

No moving for us. I'm pretty sure we're in our retirement home now--the one we built over 24 years ago--one floor, quiet neighborhood,
nice neighbors. Plus we have the 4 seasons, the fishing, the camping, scenery, infrastructure of hospitals, fine dining, entertainment, etc.

But they're building up all around us. We're protected from the encroachment with a small acreage; growth around here is crazy and it's impacting quality of life.

 

[klpca]

No moving for us. I'm pretty sure we're in our retirement home now--the one we built over 24 years ago--one floor, quiet neighborhood,
nice neighbors. Plus we have the 4 seasons, the fishing, the camping, scenery, infrastructure of hospitals, fine dining, entertainment, etc.

But they're building up all around us. We're protected from the encroachment with a small acreage; growth around here is crazy and it's impacting quality of life.

We have honestly considered building a casita next to our current home to live in when we can't do stairs anymore. Then we would just rent out the main house.

So, what that says is that we are all over the place and have no idea what we will do in the future. It will be easier to decide once the kids decide if they are staying in San Diego or moving.

 

[isisdave]

Our list to investigate was "In the West, with university, maybe 50-200k people, 'reasonable' weather." So, more or less north to south,
Bellingham, Spokane, Boise, Reno or environs, Boulder City if we had someplace else to go for summer
Eugene, Ashland, Chico, San Luis Obispo (can't afford that one), and San Diego county somewhere
St George, Cedar City, Santa Fe, Las Cruces, Silver City

We've spent time in only half of these and at least visited the rest, except the NM ones. So I guess we can't retire yet.

 

[Sugarcubesea]

In my case, we moved away from my only child - he refused to move. I would have preferred not to move but my husband hates California and just wanted out of there. The move helps my son be more independent, which is the best thing to happpen to him. With my husband being a few years older than me, my son expects me to move into his home if my husband passes away before I do. My hope is that my son will be willing to move in with me instead, as where we now live is really a much better place - little traffic, lovely scenery... just plain peaceful resort living. Not paying state income tax has become a less important factor, and it feels more like a bonus.

What state did you retire to, I find that I will need to be at least a snowbird as I can not handle the harsh winters of the midwest any longer...

 

[Elan]

I'm thinking the best scenario for me would be to have a couple of condos and a dozen timeshares.

Bill

That's kind of my thought as well -- two small condos. One in a suburb of Vegas or Phoenix or similar, and one in McCall or Whitefish or similar.

For a full time locale, it's hard to beat northern CA and/or southern OR for year round weather. Can't do the rain west of the Cascades.

 

[lizap]

That's kind of my thought as well -- two small condos. One in a suburb of Vegas or Phoenix or similar, and one in McCall or Whitefish or similar.

For a full time locale, it's hard to beat northern CA and/or southern OR for year round weather. Can't do the rain west of the Cascades.

Love Ashland but too touristy, and it's next to Medford. Now if I could afford to live in the wine country out from Ashland/Medford (some of the most beautiful scenery in America, IMO).

 

[VacationForever]

What state did you retire to, I find that I will need to be at least a snowbird as I can not handle the harsh winters of the midwest any longer...

Henderson, NV, in an area with resort-like community - golf courses, with beautiful Mediterranean landscape - Mediterranean looking homes built on the many shades of mountains, with a huge man-made lake. Sunset is the best - many different colors of the mountains all at once - pink, purple, light brown, dark brown, orange...

 

[Elan]

We would retire in Coeur 'd Alene in a heartbeat if the winters weren't so severe. One of the prettiest places we've been in the U.S. Can understand why Barbara Walters liked it so much..

A bunch of us used to do an annual golf trip to the resort in CDA. We'd go around Father's Day, so mid June. Typically ran into at least one day of rain and/or wind and/or cold (out of 3 days). There just aren't enough good weather days when one gets that far north.

 

[Elan]

For my tastes, Chico, CA has nearly ideal weather. Hot in the summer, but not excessively. Not too cold in the winter. Around 20" of precip annually. And, less than 2 hours to Sacramento.

 

[Passepartout]

For my tastes, Chico, CA has nearly ideal weather. Hot in the summer, but not excessively. Not too cold in the winter. Around 20" of precip annually. And, less than 2 hours to Sacramento.

And a couple of darn good breweries.

 

[Passepartout]

As one who faced this in earlier decades, in early retirement, the proximity to airports and one's portfolio of timeshares is far more important than in later retirement when access to healthcare becomes more important. Hardly anyone goes directly from being active, traveling, visiting family etc, to the funeral home. For most people, there is an extended period of declining health with chronic conditions that will take precedent over fun and games.

Jim

 

[Elan]

And a couple of darn good breweries.

SNPA - still one of my all time faves.

 

[lizap]

A bunch of us used to do an annual golf trip to the resort in CDA. We'd go around Father's Day, so mid June. Typically ran into at least one day of rain and/or wind and/or cold (out of 3 days). There just aren't enough good weather days when one gets that far north.

The summers in CDA are fantastic (some of the best anywhere); relatively little rain. It's the winters that are the problem.

 

[lizap]

This December 31 will mark 5 years of retirement for both of us. We are currently 63.5 years of age. We have stayed in the same town and house - Salem Oregon. Depending on traffic we are an hour from the Beach, 2 hours from Bend, and an hour from Portland and the Airport. The only way we would move is if we win the Lottery and could afford a house on the water on Kauai. We travel all over the world from this location with ease. Two cautionary tales from real estate agents. One on Kauai and 1 on Maui from attending Open Houses. On Maui it was a 2 Bedroom condo on the Beach with gorgeous views. The asking price was less than the most recent sale of a similar Condo in the same complex and the agent was begging for a reasonable offer. Turned out the owners had bought the Condo 2 years earlier upon retirement and moving to their dream location. They discovered that they hatred being so far from family and grandkids. They had packed up and moved back to the Mainland with directions to the Real Estate Agentc to sale quickly. The second was in the Poipu area. The folks had retired several years earlier and bought the house, gutted it, and had done a beautiful remodel. They were still traveling a lot. They found they were going to Honolulu a lot to start their trips. They got tired of paying for hotel rooms on Ohau at the start and finish of their trips. So they bought a studio condo and would do a few days in Honolulu at the start and end of their trips. This also grew old. So they were selling their beautiful house on Kauai and their small Condo on Ohau so they could get a large permanent Condo on Ohau.

So you really need to examine your wants, needs, future plans, etc before making a major move upon retirement.

Southern Oregon would be a possibility were it not for the high state income taxes (some of the highest in nation).

 

[Elan]

The summers in CDA are fantastic (some of the best anywhere); relatively little rain. It's the winters that are the problem.

Sure, but the summer often doesn't start until nearly July, which was my point. You get about 3 months of fairly dependable outdoor weather -- and that's the problem (for me). Personally, I don't mind severe winters as much as I mind long winters. The severity of winter where I live now is quite tolerable. I just don't like not being able to be readily outdoors from Dec through Mar (best case).

West of the Cascades has fantastic summers also. But then you get 9 months of rain. Been there, done that.

 

[lizap]

Sure, but the summer often doesn't start until nearly July, which was my point. You get about 3 months of fairly dependable outdoor weather -- and that's the problem (for me). Personally, I don't mind severe winters as much as I mind long winters. The severity of winter where I live now is quite tolerable. I just don't like not being able to be readily outdoors from Dec through Mar (best case).

West of the Cascades has fantastic summers also. But then you get 9 months of rain. Been there, done that.

May through October is usually quite nice in CDA. Highs average 65 in May to 58 in Oct. with 2 inches of rain per month and even less in the summer (source: Wilkepedia).

 

[Sugarcubesea]

Henderson, NV, in an area with resort-like community - golf courses, with beautiful Mediterranean landscape - Mediterranean looking homes built on the many shades of mountains, with a huge man-made lake. Sunset is the best - many different colors of the mountains all at once - pink, purple, light brown, dark brown, orange...

Oh wow that sounds nice. I remember Fern fondly speaking of how much she liked living in Henderson. Another place to add to my vacation spots to check out for retirement

 

[VacationForever]

Oh wow that sounds nice. I remember Fern fondly speaking of how much she liked living in Henderson. Another place to add to my vacation spots to check out for retirement

Make sure you check out the community of Lake Las Vegas.

 

[lizap]

Make sure you check out the community of Lake Las Vegas.

We prefer a less dry climate and to see some "green".

 

[VacationForever]

We prefer a less dry climate and to see some "green".

I assure you there are lots of green here (Palm trees, golf courses) and waterfall but not Portland,Washington or foilage of New England.

 

[lizap]

I assure you there are lots of green here (Palm trees, golf courses) and waterfall but not Portland,Washington or foilage of New England.

Referring to 'naturally occuring green" that requires adequate rainfall and moderate temperature..