Second thread on retirement

SamSpade

SamSpade

Well-Known Member
PREMO Member
We know we will move - it’s Maryland so we can’t afford it but this ancient house keeps hatching new ways to drain our money. We want to move into something relatively new - or just new.

We know we will - shop - for new places. Visit before we commit. Wife is against Florida - or anything too far south - and I am against anyplace snowy. FWIW, Maryland, Virginia, Delaware - acceptable as far as snow goes. Just not upstate New York or western PA. That sort of thing.

Leaning towards NC or eastern Tennessee.

But I keep hearing people tell me from all over why they love this or that place for retirement.

I am seeing really good places along the SE NC coast. Good or bad, and why? A good friend of mine is in Myrtle Beach - probably too hot and humid for the wife.

I think I just want to live near a decent sized city, a conservative area, and quiet living.

What do you like? Where do you want to retire?
 
vraiblonde

vraiblonde

Board Mommy
PREMO Member
Patron
I have friends all over the US who like where they are.

The first thing to think of is do you want to live in a big city, or a rural area, or a suburb, or a small town, etc. What amenities and services do you need to be happy? Then, do you want mountains or beach or somewhere between both? That's the nice thing about that region, you can have the best of both worlds within a short drive.

I don't think you can go wrong in TN unless you choose, like, Memphis. Nashville is crazy and the traffic gets old fast, but there are towns on the outskirts that couldn't be any more charming. Asheville area is very cool. Knoxville is a pretty good mid-size city. If it were me I'd go for Sevierville, but I love small towns and don't need a lot of stuff. YMMV.

Living in a place not ruled by Democrats is important to me, may or may not be important to you.

Usually what people do is visit a place - vacation or relatives or whatever - and never want to leave, and that place goes on the retirement short list. If you're just throwing a dart at a map the choices are endless and overwhelming.
 
RoseRed

RoseRed

American Beauty
PREMO Member
I know people who have settled in TN and are very happy. My BFF of almost 40 years from CA has settled in Conway, SC. I may head there because I want to be near the beach. My other alternative is Western North Carolina where my cousin is. I can't retire yet, so I still have some time.
 
C

Czar

Well-Known Member
RoseRed said:
I know people who have settled in TN and are very happy. My BFF of almost 40 years from CA has settled in Conway, SC. I may head there because I want to be near the beach. My other alternative is Western North Carolina where my cousin is. I can't retire yet, so I still have some time.
Click to expand...
Drive a short distance from Conway and it's the hood.

It's all about demographics. You might pay more to retire to some areas but it's worth it.
 
RoseRed

RoseRed

American Beauty
PREMO Member
Czar said:
Drive a short distance from Conway and it's the hood.

It's all about demographics. You might pay more to retire to some areas but it's worth it.
Click to expand...
She's in the unincorporated part.Not down town by the river.
 
Grumpy

Grumpy

Well-Known Member
Myrtle Beach area has exploded with development, from North Myrtle Beach to Murrells Inlet, its gotten crazy. I do go down there 3 or 4 times a year and have watched it become more and more crowded. I have friends all through there, including Conway and they all say development is out of control but they all say, "at least its not Maryland".
 
Monello

Monello

Smarter than the average bear
PREMO Member
Depending on how deep your pockets are, you may only get 1 shot at getting it right when relocating. Best visit a few times at different seasons to determine the best fit.

I like places with stuff to do. On the road trip, those were the more desirable locations to spend a few weeks. Places like Gatlinburg, Myrtle Beach, PCB, Branson & New Braunfels. New Braunfels isn't the tourist magnet like the other places on the list. But it's a great area. Close to Austin & San Antonio. Right in the middle of Texas hill country. So the spots like Georgetown, Bastrop & Fredericksburg are a short drive.

The greater Rapid City area is a great 3 season spot. I don't think I'd like that place in the middle of the winter though. Yet tons of tourists flock there the other 3 seasons.

It appears you will find your bulls eye in either North or South Carolina.
 
SamSpade

SamSpade

Well-Known Member
PREMO Member
I guess the things I want - and my wife wants - are reasonable proximity to a good sized city (100k or more) - suburban living - conservative area - affordable home - tax advantages - low or lower property taxes - good neighbors (maybe live near old friends) - a good church - -

"Stuff to do" isn't high on our list - we want to travel, cruise and all that, but we don't do a lotta stuff now. We enjoy more, being with friends. Kinda of why I've looked into 55+ communities, but they can be pricey, high HOAs and so forth.

Already looking into what is the most cost effective way to improve the sale of THIS house, so we can buy ENOUGH house to live in and have money to use. Pretty sure my son will likely live with us - but we need to live close enough to a city so a group home is likely and Special Olympics and organizations to help him are available. Wife wants to continue to make friends by crafting, so she wants a crafting space - so with son and crafting, that's a bit more room than retirees usually go for.

I have time, and hopefully we will have time to explore before retirement. MOSTLY, I wouldn't mind warnings of - oh, don't move there - flooding, crime, bad neighborhoods, sprawl. Democrats - that kind of thing. Yeah, I'd prefer a more Republican area so at least I will have choices. Dems have a way of removing them.
 
C

Czar

Well-Known Member
Monello said:
Depending on how deep your pockets are, you may only get 1 shot at getting it right when relocating. Best visit a few times at different seasons to determine the best fit.

I like places with stuff to do. On the road trip, those were the more desirable locations to spend a few weeks. Places like Gatlinburg, Myrtle Beach, PCB, Branson & New Braunfels. New Braunfels isn't the tourist magnet like the other places on the list. But it's a great area. Close to Austin & San Antonio. Right in the middle of Texas hill country. So the spots like Georgetown, Bastrop & Fredericksburg are a short drive.

The greater Rapid City area is a great 3 season spot. I don't think I'd like that place in the middle of the winter though. Yet tons of tourists flock there the other 3 seasons.

It appears you will find your bulls eye in either North or South Carolina.
Click to expand...
Have to factor in snow. TN gets some, SC, not so much.
 
SamSpade

SamSpade

Well-Known Member
PREMO Member
Another thing hard to judge is - crime. As in, don’t want my final home to be in a craphole. And really, if I just based it on how the area LOOKS - say, here in Maryland - I’d certainly get it wrong.
 
vraiblonde

vraiblonde

Board Mommy
PREMO Member
Patron
SamSpade said:
Another thing hard to judge is - crime. As in, don’t want my final home to be in a craphole. And really, if I just based it on how the area LOOKS - say, here in Maryland - I’d certainly get it wrong.
Click to expand...

Most cities/counties have a FB page. Gives you a good idea of the kind of psychos (or not) who'd be your neighbors.
 
black dog

black dog

Free America
SamSpade said:
Another thing hard to judge is - crime. As in, don’t want my final home to be in a craphole. And really, if I just based it on how the area LOOKS - say, here in Maryland - I’d certainly get it wrong.
Click to expand...
I would look at what socioeconomic and demographics have been doing the last 10 years or so where you are thinking about moving.
What I have seen being advertised out here are towns like Gas City, IN advertising for folks to move there with them having over a 10% home value improvement, more acreage has been annexed for more new homes and businesses. And with all that comes more taxes.

With having family and my girl taking a job in Mississippi, I have been watching the conversations with MS and they are talking about getting rid of property taxes, I'm not big on moving to MS but if that happens, I'm heading south. I will say that I didn't pay that much attention with the biden administration but that 20+% inflation was an unexpected cost with my retirement.
 
Gilligan

Gilligan

#*! boat!
PREMO Member
black dog said:
I would look at what socioeconomic and demographics have been doing the last 10 years or so where you are thinking about moving.
What I have seen being advertised out here are towns like Gas City, IN advertising for folks to move there with them having over a 10% home value improvement, more acreage has been annexed for more new homes and businesses. And with all that comes more taxes.

With having family and my girl taking a job in Mississippi, I have been watching the conversations with MS and they are talking about getting rid of property taxes, I'm not big on moving to MS but if that happens, I'm heading south. I will say that I didn't pay that much attention with the biden administration but that 20+% inflation was an unexpected cost with my retirement.
Click to expand...
I like the gulf area ....spent a LOT of time working in shipyards from Amelia, LA to the Florida panhandle. Wife not real keen on the heat and humidity though, and she's a mountain lover with no use for beaches.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top