Freeper Suggestions on Where to Retire

Me | 4 Dec 2001 | Me

[hattend]

I am looking for suggestions from FReepers in lower 48 for city/state recommendations on where to retire.

I have pretty much decided on the western US (excluding the Pacific Coast states) and would lean to the southwestern states. I would stay in Alaska but I am tired of the long winter nights.

Would prefer acreage but you can try to convince me to live in town. :-)

If you know of any on-line newspaper links that have the classified, a URL would be appreciated.

Thanks
Don

[crystalk]

The best place in New Mexico is over the line in Arizona, Cochise area, Sierra Vista etc.

[Brett66]

I've heard lots of good things about Gulf Breeze Florida. Lots of reasonably priced beach front property, A small town atmosphere and you get buzzed by UFO's occasionally just to break up the monotony. :)

[SoDak]

If you need to get the most out of your money, go to Rapid City, SD. Winters are relatively mild due to the chinook effect (I have friends that golf there in February most years), and the cost of living is low. Taxes are the lowest in the country. You're just 10 minutes from the mountains. Crime is very low. Just a suggestion.

[Christian B]

I'd consider New Hampshire. There are parts where they're giving land away. No state income tax. And more freedom-fighters per capita than any other state!

[michaelje]

From my own personal travels across the US, I would recommend Arizona. The state is just simply beautiful.

[billhilly]

Try AOL House and Home on the internet. Select real estate, then go to whatever city you are interested in. Set your parameters for price, etc. and begin your search. A hint. I have checked dozens of them. Have a look at Huntsville, Alabama for the best homes at the most affordable prices.

[JParris]

You would not like SC at all. Mosquitoes are terrible, taxes are rising every year, democrat govenor, both U.S. senators are old geezers, the people drive too slow and talk funny, the land grant college football team can't get a bid to the humanitarian bowl, the schools are always in a heated race with Miss. for the bottom of the pile, and last but not least there are just too many people here all ready.

[bruin66]

You probably don't live in Colorado. We moved to Colorado Springs (near Monument) 12 years ago. The area used to be small-town, rural in nature. But the city and county "planners" have been on the take from developers for the last 8-9 years. There are now literally thousands of cars on roads that were designed when we had a population of 800. Areas that were wide-open treed expanses are now crowded with houses, with no thought to taxing a limited water supply. No, I can no longer recommend Colorado, except for a visit.

[crystalk]

And it is too much like China. They speak a foreign language, they worship their ancestors, they eat a lot of rice...

[OldFriend]

The person is looking for a place to retire.....if he had to commute to work that might be deserving of a different criteria. My daughter moved to Denver last year from lousy ole NJ........she loves it.......everything about it is awe inspiring.....on a bad day you just have to look to the mountains to feel restored. Sorry your experience has been unhappy but the state has many many good things going for it.

[catonsville]

Pick up a copy of The Places Rated Retirement Guide, put out by Rand McNally. My copy is a few years old, The authors rate 107 areas from wonderful to abysmal.

Brevard, North Carolina is number one. Ashville, North Carolina is number two. I agree, A marvelous city. Both of thes choices tell you just how good is North Carolina.

The Clakesville-Mt. Airy,Georgia area is third. I like Georgia too, but stay away from Atlanta.

Worst of all the places rated--Laconia, New Hampshire. I have never been there, so cannot comment.

[GSWarrior]

Colorado may be crowded along the front range, but check out Grand Junction on the western slope, great place to retire. Not crowded, beautiful country....Bush country.

[ThreeYearLurker]

Sequim, Washington. Outside of Seattle, Washington is Bush Country.

[daviddennis]

I'm not going to say the temperatures are exactly Southern Californian, but they are certainly a lot milder than the image - it looks like your weather is significantly milder than Boston, with highs rarely below freezing.

And there are even some surprisingly Californian contemporary style homes, although you'll have to pay surprisingly Californian prices for one :-(. I was surprised to see the most expensive listing break $1,500,000, which is just about average for Malibu. But that was a rare exception; most listings, of course, are way under a million. (Data kindly supplied by realtor.com)

But for those of you who are less extravagent, it looks like you could do pretty well for $100k, even $50k, which certainly is in no way Californian.

For those of you who don't absolutely loathe cold weather(*) as I do, it seems like a good deal, and maybe even some good chance for real estate appreciation.

D

(*) Temperatures under, say, 65degF. Tragically, even Southern California's rigourous winters often go lower. I should move to Miami.

[Orbiter]

Didn't have even one this year. God must've figured we were busy enough after 9/11.

[Goldi-Lox]

Avoid the People's Republic of Maryland at all costs...unless you want to sign over all your money and property to the State and be done with it.

[samuel_adams_us]

That sounds funny coming from a newby. Born in Colorado in 1964, we thought it was getting out of control in the seventies, these days it's a nightmare.

[hattend]

Wow, great newspaper website...thanks!

Would any of you people living in Colorado recommend the western slope? Like Grand Junction, Delta or Fruita?

[hattend]

Hahahah!! Thanks! That was quick! Guess I should re-load before asking questions.