Santa's Wish List - The Perfect Retirement Destination

Does Santa have a magic answer? You've worked HARD for 40 years or more, and now the time has finally come to consider retirement. But how to decide where to live out your glorious retirement years???

Do you picture yourself in a cozy mountain cottage or kicking back in a small, low maintenance condo on a sun-drenched beach? Or perhaps moving into a fun-filled retirement community (or does the thought of endless hours playing Bunco with gossiping neighbors give you hesitation).

Santa offers 5 subjects to consider when making such an important decision:

1. Cost of Living: One of the most important considerations, be sure to do your research about where you can realistically afford to live, and move forward from there.

2. Healthcare Concerns: The cost and quality of healthcare varies dramatically from location to location. In your advancing years, you may want to know that top-knotch, yet affordable healthcare is readily available. Do your homework.

3. Climate: We just did a Blog Post on living in sunny locations and how it improves your outlook. One way to be sure you can handle the freezing cold or scortching heat of a location is to actually experience it first hand. That's why it makes sense to visit your dream town in its most severe weather season.

4. Family: There are pros and cos to living just up the street from your children and grandchildren.... including becoming a glorified babysitter during these more flexible years. If your parenting days are behind you, your location choice is an important one. On the other hand, you may want a place with the space to enjoy large family visits. Definitely an important factore in the mix is the location choice proximity to family.

5. Definition Of Paradise: The encouragement is to test the waters in a location you are considering to be sure it is what works for you! Your idea of paradise may be different once you get there.

The PURTEE Team is right there with their interactive website full of information about real estate in the Tampa Bay area on the west coast of Florida. PLUS, find Corporate and Seasonal Rentals to come visit while you consider the area.

Planning Your Retirement? Things To Consider!

Retirement remains a great opportunity to finally enjoy the results of years of hard work. However... without a great deal of thought and planning, this transition may not go as smoothly as you would like. It is important to determine HOW you would like to retire. What is the Grand Plan? What lifestyle makes sense for you? Is traveling a priority... day after day of golf or tennis... daily strolls on the beach???

Once you have determined the lifestyle you aspire to for your retirement, the planning really becomes important! Where you choose to live should reflect that lifestyle. Golf every day? You may want to consider joining a golf club or living by a favorite golf course. Boating a priority? Pros and cons of having your own boatslip right out from your back door. Is weather a priority? Tired of brutal winters that involve slipping on ice or endless shoveling and hovering around the fireplace? You may want to consider a warmer climate. That takes care of the winters, but are you prepared for the hot summers? And owning two residences (in order to live half the year in each) requires a great deal of coordination to maintain both.

Financial Planning is critical! There are a variety of retirement plans that range from IRA's to 401K's to Credit Unions. A good financial planner is a good start. Having the means to support the type of retirement you dream of may take some serious strategic investment and saving. We particularly like this article - Fundamentals Of A Successful Savings Program. Another good one is Determining Your Post-Work Income.

Where to Live? Glenn Curtis in his Five Retirement Questions Everyone Must Answer gives a list of factors to consider when thinking about this question:

• Proximity to family members
• The cost of housing
• Access to health care facilities
• Access to entertainment (such as shows and sporting events)
• Proximity to a major airport
• Year-round weather conditions
• Taxes (state income, property and estate tax)

As I look at the list, I realize once again how much the Tampa Bay area has to offer! It simply makes sense that other retirement-oriented baby boomers will think the same. For a look at what is looming ahead for an aging population, read The PURTEE Team Blog Social & Economic Implications Of An Aging Population.