My elderly mother is considering buying a waterfront condo in Chesapeake Beach. At first she was considering Annapolis but the prices seemed too high. Any opinions as to how nice it is there, especially for the elderly? Is there much crime or related issues? Any advice/suggestions would be much appreciated. TIA.
How's Chesapeake Beach For Retirees?
- Thread starter jaksprat
- Start date
cattitude
My Sweetest Boy
I like Chesapeake Beach (in general). Of course, it's not Annapolis and it is much smaller. They have a senior center that has a lot of activities. There's a nice senior apartment complex as well.
How "elderly" is she? Why would she buy a waterfront home? Just curious.
It depends what your mom is looking for. There's not much in the way of shops, etc. but it's less congested than Annapolis.
How "elderly" is she? Why would she buy a waterfront home? Just curious.
It depends what your mom is looking for. There's not much in the way of shops, etc. but it's less congested than Annapolis.
aps45819
24/7 Single Dad
Tell her to get out of Maryland
Welcome to the real world, where property taxes can make homeownership the biggest burden of all in your golden years. Add to that sales tax, which you pay as you go about your daily errands, and you'll start thinking about the tax bogeyman in a whole new light
Welcome to the real world, where property taxes can make homeownership the biggest burden of all in your golden years. Add to that sales tax, which you pay as you go about your daily errands, and you'll start thinking about the tax bogeyman in a whole new light
She'll be 80 in May but is in great shape for her age. She's real careful about eating right and does yoga every day. She'll probably outlive me!
As to why she wants waterfront, she's had a waterfront house for over 40 years and likes the view. She has a pier but never uses it and is tired of maintaining the big house, the yard and the pier.She wants a place that's near my brother and me. He's in College Park and I'm in Lusby. Otherwise she'd probably move to Florida or someplace warmer. She wants a place where she can socialize some ... play cards, etc., go out to dine once in a while. She's not big on shopping so that's no problem.
cattitude
My Sweetest Boy
She'll be 80 in May but is in great shape for her age. She's real careful about eating right and does yoga every day. She'll probably outlive me!
She wants a place that's near my brother and me. He's in College Park and I'm in Lusby. Otherwise she'd probably move to Florida or someplace warmer. She wants a place where she can socialize some ... play cards, etc., go out to dine once in a while. She's not big on shopping so that's no problem.
Take her there for a visit so she can see the town. Let her see/visit the Senior Center. They have bus trips, etc. too for the seniors.
Aerogal
USMC 1983-1995
She'll be 80 in May but is in great shape for her age. She's real careful about eating right and does yoga every day. She'll probably outlive me!
She wants a place that's near my brother and me. He's in College Park and I'm in Lusby. Otherwise she'd probably move to Florida or someplace warmer. She wants a place where she can socialize some ... play cards, etc., go out to dine once in a while. She's not big on shopping so that's no problem.
Why not buy a condo in Fl (Naples is on sale - you can get 1-2 bedroom condo on the waterway for 50-60K). Establish her residence there and spend summers with you & bro. BTW if she stays with you for 6 months you can claim her on your taxes as long as her taxable income is below (I think) 26K.
The 3 of us are planning on going there this week when the weather gets better. Where's the Senior Center?
We've talked about it a few times. We may just do that someday. We all have real estate ties here in Md (including rentals) so leaving would take some time. Personally I like the Chesapeake Bay and would find that hard to leave -- love to fish, crab, etc.
cattitude
My Sweetest Boy
It's actually in North Beach but not far from Chesapeake Beach...both beaches run together. North Beach has a delightful boardalk on the Bay.
Senior Centers
Your comment about property taxes is a good point but I'm leery of nixing Md just cause of the tax. There's cheaper places to live within Md, like southern Md versus Annapolis (esp. waterfront) and renting versus owning is an option. I'm a little leery of those retiree guides about best places to live. My biggest concern is finding a place I *like* first, then decide whether I can afford it. Usually there's a lot ways to save money no matter where you go.
The beaches are too crowded now, traffic is getting bad
Worse than Annapolis? I can't imagine that.
Thanks for the link. The place looks pretty neat, especially the boardwalk. I guess they got hammered when Isabel passed through. Hopefully they rebuilt places stronger and better to handle storm surges. That's one concern I have.
What he said, Maryland is not a very annuitant friendly state.
I guess if you want to feed from the public trough it's a good place, but if you've provided for your own retirement, then get the hell out of dodge.
NorthBeachPerso
Honorary SMIB
MD taxes many types of pensions/retired pay and in some cases Social Security.
As was mentioned the Senior Center is in North Beach. The area is very car dependent. Grocery store in Chesapeake Beach. The senior apartments are in North Beach, one is market rate at Burnt Oaks the other is low-mod income based near the Senior Center. There is a health center across the street from that one run by Calvert Memorial Hospital.
Chesapeake Beach does have a Section 8 complex near the marina behind the Water Park.
The local Calvert County bus runs between the towns on it's way to Prince Frederick but I have no idea about the schedule.
As was mentioned the Senior Center is in North Beach. The area is very car dependent. Grocery store in Chesapeake Beach. The senior apartments are in North Beach, one is market rate at Burnt Oaks the other is low-mod income based near the Senior Center. There is a health center across the street from that one run by Calvert Memorial Hospital.
Chesapeake Beach does have a Section 8 complex near the marina behind the Water Park.
The local Calvert County bus runs between the towns on it's way to Prince Frederick but I have no idea about the schedule.
Highlander
ONE NATION UNDER GOD
We moved from the Annapolis area in 1991. I wouldn't move back for anything. We don't miss the obnoxious "I'm better than you" people. It's a longer commute to work but it's worth it. This area has a lot to offer. As mentioned before, the beaches, the boardwalk, the restuarants, etc. There's no mall nearby but there is a Wal-Mart 8 miles away plus a few other big grocery stores like Giant and Safeway. I still prefer Roland's, our local store. Their meat prices are usually cheaper and they always have plenty of good sales.
The downside...On the weekends in the summer, the North Beach boardwalk is invaded by the citizens of PG county and DC. It's getting a little worse each year. There is a Chesapeake Beach boardwalk and beach. They just implemented a cost per person of $9, if you don't live in Calvert County. Hopefully that will give us locals a place to enjoy on the summer weekends.
We do enjoy it here but it's funny. We have no intention of living anywhere near Maryland when I retire.
zigg72md
Member
I would like to suggest you reconsider Annapolis. My mom lives in a retirement community called Heritage Harbour. She absolutly LOVES IT. Is it more expensive. Yes. However if you can afford it it is well worth it. They have a huge wonderful community center and a bus that takes you door to door from your house to all of the major shopping centers in the area. There is also a place called Ginger Cove that I have heard is very nice but more expensive.
Thanks for the feedback. I got a question for you folks that want to or suggest to move out of Md. Where would you move to or plan to move to? The survey seems to think Juneau Alaska and Albany NY make sense. What about the cost of heat? And how about digging out of 10 feet of snow? I guess my mom will have to add some weight lifting to her yoga in the morning. Anyway, half those places that are supposed to be so great, you couldn't pay me to live there. But seriously, where would you guys live?
One thing I mentioned to my mom is to consider renting instead of buying. I found a 2br condo in CB for 430k (8501 Bayside Road #603) that costs about 700/mo just for R.E. tax and condo fee. Here's a similar one on craigslist that rents for 1600/mo (WaterFront Condo). Financially it seems like a no-brainer to rent, but she's got it in her head to buy so I'll probably have a hard time convincing her otherwise.
Anyway, half those places that are supposed to be so great, you couldn't pay me to live there. But seriously, where would you guys live?One thing I mentioned to my mom is to consider renting instead of buying. I found a 2br condo in CB for 430k (8501 Bayside Road #603) that costs about 700/mo just for R.E. tax and condo fee. Here's a similar one on craigslist that rents for 1600/mo (WaterFront Condo). Financially it seems like a no-brainer to rent, but she's got it in her head to buy so I'll probably have a hard time convincing her otherwise.
I did mention Heritage Harbour to my mom. I know a few people that live there or have lived there. One of my best friends lived there until he passed away last year. I visited him many times, including when he was at the rehab center there. It seems like a nice place. I think my mom is determined to get a waterfront though and I don't think Heritage Harbour has any waterfront -- or do they?