How to find a retirement spot

[deskpilot]

I'd like to retire somewhere in the US with a reasonable cost of living, where the houses are far enough apart that I don't need to see my neighbors if I choose not to, and where it's not too hot and not too cold. I'd also love to see mountains out my window - but that's just dreaming.

How do/did folks find places to retire?

 

[REWahoo]

I'd like to retire somewhere in the US with a reasonable cost of living, where the houses are far enough apart that I don't need to see my neighbors if I choose not to, and where it's not too hot and not too cold. I'd also love to see mountains out my window - but that's just dreaming.

Not a dream if you have enough $$,$$$,$$$.

 

[Bamaman]

North Georgia mountains, Middle and East Tennessee, Western North Carolina, Northwest South Carolina, Southwest Virginia.

Cost of living's the lowest in Tennessee with no state income taxes for most.

Lake Guntersville, Alabama is another great place--SE of Huntsville on Tennessee River.

 

[Senator]

I am planning on using a 5th wheel to try out several places each year. MN is great in the summer, really between mid-April and Mid October. FL is great the other months. I will be checking out TN, AZ, TX, FL, SC, and a few others.

No matter where you go, it will not be perfect.

 

[deskpilot]

North Georgia mountains, Middle and East Tennessee, Western North Carolina, Northwest South Carolina, Southwest Virginia.

Appalachia, from the Carolinas on south is definitely going to be on my list of places to explore.

I live in central NJ - crowded, traffic, snow, so I want to get away from that.
I will eventually inherit a house in FL that is in an area that is not unlike NJ, except there is no snow and a lot more bugs and lizards. I plan to sell it.

 

[38Chevy454]

Your basic requirements mean in the middle of the US, away from the coasts or gulf. Where are you now? No location in profile.

Any place you live will have a 2-3 months of less than desirable weather. Up north it means cold winters, down south it means hot summer. Do you want low humidity? Do you want lakes or rivers? What is your definition of low COL?

As to how to find the location, just talk to people, spend some vacation time there in places that you are interested in. Especially vacation in off-season to see normal conditions and the crappy weather months.

 

[Sunset]

Prison.
It's really cheap with included room & board and medical coverage.
They keep the temp pretty constant, and no window cells are available so you won't be bothered by the lack of mountains.

 

[EastWest Gal]

I'd like to retire somewhere in the US with a reasonable cost of living, where the houses are far enough apart that I don't need to see my neighbors if I choose not to, and where it's not too hot and not too cold. I'd also love to see mountains out my window - but that's just dreaming.



How do/did folks find places to retire?

If you're looking for seeing the mountains with great weather, consider inland areas of Northern California, Oregon, or Washington. My sister moved to Washington in 1982. Mt. Rainier looms large over her house. There is a little snow most winters, but not much and it doesn't stick around. The farther south you go, the warmer it gets.

I have a cousin in a city in California farm country making ends meet on nearly poverty wages, who owns his own house. He has a grapevine and a blood orange tree in his backyard. He rides the back roads of No. Calif. on his Harley whenever he can, which is year round.

My main point is once you get away from the coast, the cost of living drops significantly in that property is not as expensive. Mountain views are much cheaper than ocean views! And those states have plenty of mountains but don't get ridiculously cold unless you choose the high Sierras or Cascades. The topography allows you to see the mountains without being in the mountains.

Washington is quite good for retirees from a tax standpoint. California has lower property taxes, but sky high income tax. For a retiree that works out ok.

The weather is excellent with perfect humidity in most places in the three states. I moved East and hate the humidity of the summers. But I like the cultural aspects of living where I do, so here I am.


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[RAE]

No matter what place you consider, the weather will not be ideal for all 12 months of the year. That is why we live in the Upper Midwest from spring through fall, when it's beautiful here, and then spend most of the winter along the Gulf Coast. Also, in many small towns in the Upper Midwest, the cost of living is quite reasonable, and you can easily find a house without nearby neighbors, if that is what you prefer.

 

[golftrek]

I'd like to retire somewhere in the US with a reasonable cost of living, where the houses are far enough apart that I don't need to see my neighbors if I choose not to, and where it's not too hot and not too cold. I'd also love to see mountains out my window - but that's just dreaming.

How do/did folks find places to retire?

Deskpilot, look in the northern North Carolina mountains, around Boone. Low cost of living. You could find some mountain acerage fairly cheap with a fixer up cabin or build your own cabin. Nice weather Spring, Summer (nice and cool) and Fall. Cold in the winter( but not a cold as further north) , with some snow. During the winter you could take your camper and head south.

Jo Ann

 

[Capwest28]

We will be residents of Texas and travel to Steamboat Springs for winter and summer. Family is in NE Texas so will move from Spring to around Tyler in a few years.


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[zinger1457]

Some of the higher (~5K ft) elevation areas of Arizona will give you a more moderate year round temperature without the extreme heat of Phoenix.

 

[Bamaman]

Deskpilot, look in the northern North Carolina mountains, around Boone. Low cost of living. You could find some mountain acerage fairly cheap with a fixer up cabin or build your own cabin. Nice weather Spring, Summer (nice and cool) and Fall. Cold in the winter( but not a cold as further north) , with some snow. During the winter you could take your camper and head south.

Boone also has Appalachian State University which brings a certain amount of culture with it. The area also has the two highest ski mountains on the East Coast in winter. Abington, VA is close by, and they have a fantastic summer theatrical program.

 

[CaliKid]

The only place in the US with ideal weather year round is So Cal. Unfortunately the cost of living is extremely high, congestion bad, and some other problems. Once you knock So Cal off the list then no place has perfect weather year round. Inland Nor Cal, as suggested above, is pretty nice year round but can be a bit gray/cloudy in the winter but not cold like it back east certainly. Some spots of inland Cali get a bit hot in the summer also; like Sacramento for example. However, it truly is a dry heat and the evenings cool down usually. I think another undervalued place is Reno. Lots of job growth there so economy is booming. Gets a bit cold in the winter and even snows but it's not terrible. Summers are warm but bearable.

 

[deskpilot]

Is it a concern that California may be running out of water?

 

[Ready]

Is it a concern that California may be running out of water?

That is just temporary. It's certainly not anything I'm worried about.


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[timo2]

San Diego or Hawaii.

 

[38Chevy454]

San Diego or Hawaii.

I think you missed this part of the original post:
"I'd like to retire somewhere in the US with a reasonable cost of living, where the houses are far enough apart that I don't need to see my neighbors if I choose not to....."

Those may meet the other part of the request:
"and where it's not too hot and not too cold. I'd also love to see mountains out my window - but that's just dreaming.

I do agree that SD or Hawaii may meet the weather criteria.

Here is an online source that you answer questions and it provides suggestions for locations that meet your answers:
Find Your Spot | Find Your Spot

Another online resource where you can get info about alocation is:
http://www.city-data.com/

 

[aja8888]

Is it a concern that California may be running out of water?

It (southern California) was running out of water when we moved there in 1981. I believe it is fixed now.

 

[papadad111]

I chose to retire to a university/college town. Low cost of living and good real estate investment potential if I decide to build that into my portfolio eventually.

The city gets Revitalized every few years with new students. Money flows in from international and out of state students too. Thriving and fairly recession proof local local economy.

Technologically modern and always being updated. Lots of culture and food and sports/live entertainment - plus a college/university offers a lot in and of itself.

There are many smaller college towns with reasonably priced housing, large lot sizes and low property taxes . If you want privacy simply select a location just outside the "city" limits

No mountains here but nice rolling hills of trees .

For us, it's a whopping 7 minutes drive and 1 stoplight into town/university and I can't see any of my neighbors houses from my 10 acres of wooded land. I dig it.

 

[deskpilot]

From Find Your Spot | Find Your Spot

Hickory, North Carolina
Morganton, North Carolina
Hopkinsville, Kentucky
Fredericksburg, Texas
Paris, Tennessee
Page, Arizona
Walla Walla, Washington
Bisbee, Arizona
Marble Falls, Texas
Wimberley, Texas
Kerrville, Texas
Moab, Utah
Green Valley, Arizona
Paradise, California
Aiken, South Carolina
Cherokee Village, Arkansas
Mountain Home/Bull Shoals, Arkansas
Truth or Consequences, New Mexico
Berea, Kentucky
Guntersville, Alabama
Gainesville, Georgia
Clarksdale, Mississippi
Holiday Island, Arkansas
Heber Springs-Greers Ferry Lake, Arkansas

 

[imoldernu]

Another online resource where you can get info about alocation is:
City-Data.com - Stats about all US cities - real estate, relocation info, crime, house prices, cost of living, races, home value estimator, recent sales, income, photos, schools, maps, weather, neighborhoods, and more

+1
Look up cities that you know first... to get a basis for comparison, then put in any location that may be interesting. The profiles of some retirement locations may differ widely from other nearby locations.

As an example, our retirement home is less than 90 miles away from a totally different socio economic and lifestyle class. Zip 60540 and 61354.

While the availability of hospitals, stores, retaurants, and all general services are virtually the same, the median household income is $106K in the former, and $46K in the latter. Obviously, a major factor for some. In our Florida community, the same kind of differentials apply, within an even closer geographic area.

Time spent in researching the information on that website can help in making a good fit for you, in the place where you may live out your life.

re: the "Find your spot"... maybe not so much... When I put in a low house cost price, the first recommended location was Palo Alto CA., where the home cost was shown as $1.4 Million. Champagne taste on a beer budget.

 

[timo2]

I think you missed this part of the original post:.

you are correct. I only paid attention to my bias on the list. After a more objective consideration I will recommend Grand Junction Colorado.



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[jim584672]

Pittsburgh, PA? No tax on SS, pensions or IRA/401ks. Cheap houses. Good medical.
Would not like the winter there.

 

[DrRoy]

I will be considering this exact question after RE next year. The original criteria in this thread work well for me. I have thought about the area around the Smokeys. College towns have culture and economic stability.