Retirement. The mere mention of the word might bring a smile to the face of seniors as they envision relaxed days free from work and filled with pure enjoyment.
If retirement is on the horizon for you, now is an excellent time to consider precisely when you should retire and where you might want to call home once you do. This article offers you some helpful pointers to consider for those planning a move following retirement.
Picking a Perfect Spot
When thinking of a new retirement home base, your mind might immediately jump to a tropical beach, and many retirees do tend to head to warmer climates. There’s more to making an informed decision, however, when it comes to picking that new retirement locale. Specifically, you should be mindful of:
Financing Your Plan
When it comes to retiring, it’s important to make sure that you’ve saved enough money and that all of that savings will be put to good use. It is essential that you have a good understanding of your retirement savings, build a budget that is realistic, and stick to it so that you won’t outlive your money.
It is also important that you factor in all potential income, like social security, as well as healthcare costs including any private insurance such as supplemental plans, so you are not blindsided by big bills. If this proves too complicated to navigate alone, you can always call in the aid of a financial planner.
If one of your goals during retirement is to cut back on the cost of home repairs or associated chores, you might be able to save some money by renting a property, particularly if the rental market is strong where you plan to live.
You might also want to consider a retirement community, where condominium-style living brings many perks but less maintenance. If you plan to keep a property you own in your former location, you can use rental income or convert your home equity into a steady flow of income with a reverse mortgage.
Population
While retirees don’t typically flock to city centers when they give up their desk jobs, it is recommended that you seek out a town or city with a population of at least 10,000.
Too few people might mean less access to essential public and human services, such as a medical center, which is a resource that can only become more valuable as you age.
Once you have a location in mind, it probably goes without saying but pay it a visit a few times before you finally commit. You may fall in love with a place during the peak summer season, for example, but how active is the town in the dead of winter?
Really knowing your new home will help you feel more confident in your plan. Alternately, you might discover that you don’t even need to leave home to follow your retirement dream.
Cost of Living
There is no fun in moving to your dream retirement city only to discover that you will blow through your retirement savings too quickly with an elevated cost of living.
Assess the economic impacts of your desired location and ensure that you can meet expenses, particularly if you happen to have any changes to your finances over time.
You might also want to consider the tax implications of the state in which you choose to relocate, as this can influence your savings as well.
Mental Preparation
If you are ready to retire, your savings agree, and you’ve done your research to find your ideal retirement location, your only remaining task is to get yourself in a retirement mindset.
The change of pace following retirement – even if you have plans to start a new pet project or part-time job – can be a shock to the system, so it is important that you allow yourself to adjust and embrace your new retirement lifestyle. This transition will be all the easier knowing that your finances for retirement are in order.
Author Bio: Christian Worstell is a health and lifestyle writer living in Raleigh, NC.
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