Preparing For Retirement – Part III

Getting closer to retirement years? A move might be in order. Considering the cost of retirement that we went over in Part II of this series, finding an affordable living situation is definitely a factor.

Here are some other things to consider and is Florida (specifically Tampa Bay) for you:

• Proximity to family members: Is it feasible to live closer to family members or at least be easily accessible to them? As we age, that support system becomes invaluable. Our personal experience was that soon after we moved to the Tampa Bay Beaches, my mother moved here and soon after our daughter. The more you visit, the more you want to call it home.
• Access to healthcare facilities: Let’s face it… if we are planning to live a long and healthy life, being close to good health care facilities is important. (An example of what NOT be the best idea is to find an affordable home in a very remote area of a mountain that access gets impassable in snowstorms.) Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater… with a network spreading throughout the county is a nationally recognized 687-bed facility providing highly technical and specialized care to more than 50,000 patients annually. Working in more than 50 specialty areas, Morton Plant Hospital's board-certified physicians, Magnet-designated nurses and other skilled staff help take research, diagnostics and patient-centered care in bold new directions.
• Access to entertainment (such as shows and sporting events): OK, you plan to stay active. Finding a location with great things to do can lend excitement to later years! Well, Tampa Bay never stops with something to do! From Spring Training baseball that is home to 9 major baseball leagues in the surrounding area (such as the Cardinals, Phillies and Yankees!) to major entertainment such as Busch Gardens (and only 2 hours to Disney, Universal and Epcot in Orlando) … to International Shopping and Outlets, the Annual Grand Prix in St Petersburg and the International Ironman Competition in Clearwater Beach… to the huge variety of Festivals & Shows… every day offers a new opportunity!
• Proximity to a major airport: If you plan to travel, access in and out to a major airport will not only make flight times shorter, but also save on costs. Tampa’s International Airport is ranked #26 among North American airports with an average of 30,000 passengers a day! But wait, there’s more! Tampa also is home to Port of Tampa. Both Carnival Cruise Line and Holland America sail every week from here.
• Year-round weather conditions: Maybe we aren’t as limber as we once were. But slipping and falling are quite intimidating when a broken bone or hip could be the result. For that reason, maybe it was easy to be in snowy conditions in our youth… but later on, not so sensible. Tampa Bay’s weather remains temperate year round and sunshine is a daily event. (The temperature rarely drops below 32 degrees and the last measurable snowfall was on January 19, 1977 with .2 inches.)
• Taxes (state income, property and estate tax): Florida is one of 7 states that have no state income tax.

If you are exploring where to relocate, check out Why Tampa Bay? We think you will discover what we did… The PURTEE Team has four seasoned professional Realtors® ready to help you.