[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.amorusolaw.com\/blog\/how-to-find-the-perfect-retirement-location-white-plains-ny-greenwich-ct\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.amorusolaw.com\/blog\/how-to-find-the-perfect-retirement-location-white-plains-ny-greenwich-ct\/","headline":"How to Find the Perfect Retirement Location","name":"How to Find the Perfect Retirement Location","description":"Decide where you want to locate and then study the opportunities and drawbacks. So, you are retiring. Where do you want to live? What\u2019s the attraction? What is the cost of living? Taxes? Medical facilities? The list is long but there are some factors to look into that can be helpful in the decision making, […]","datePublished":"2018-11-14","dateModified":"2023-07-30","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.amorusolaw.com\/blog\/author\/amorusolaw\/#Person","name":"Amoruso & Amoruso LLP","url":"https:\/\/www.amorusolaw.com\/blog\/author\/amorusolaw\/","identifier":5,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/12de032c04195e9c39a06a6d6eea182f7b4fa655c20e245f8094a244b5cdd0cb?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/12de032c04195e9c39a06a6d6eea182f7b4fa655c20e245f8094a244b5cdd0cb?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Amoruso & Amoruso LLP","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.amorusolaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/amoruso-logo.svg","url":"https:\/\/www.amorusolaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/amoruso-logo.svg","width":0,"height":0}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.amorusolaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/6a01901dd0a082970b022ad3bf3b77.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.amorusolaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/6a01901dd0a082970b022ad3bf3b77.jpg","height":1024,"width":1024},"url":"https:\/\/www.amorusolaw.com\/blog\/how-to-find-the-perfect-retirement-location-white-plains-ny-greenwich-ct\/","about":["Elder Law","Estate Planning","Retirement Planning"],"wordCount":843,"keywords":["Elder Law","Estate Planning","Retirement Planning"],"articleBody":"Decide where you want to locate and then study the opportunities and drawbacks.So, you are retiring. Where do you want to live? What\u2019s the attraction? What is the cost of living? Taxes? Medical facilities? The list is long but there are some factors to look into that can be helpful in the decision making, according to MoneyWise in “Sun? Low Taxes\u201d The Top Factors When We Pick Where to Retire“.The biggest factors:Politics. Check into the local political scene. Make sure you\u2019re comfortable with the predominant political culture. Don\u2019t neglect a look at how well\u2014or poorly\u2014the local municipality is working. Are state and local governments working well at running the area or is it a disaster? If you are counting on social service agencies, for instance, you\u2019ll want to be sure they are in good shape. Too much local in-fighting can doom even the best agencies. Local newspapers and websites are a good source.What do they do for fun around here? A non-golfer in a golf community is a non-starter. What kind of activities are in the area? For instance, if you move to Colorado, you can count on a lot of hiking trails. If Arizona is your destination, make sure there are indoor fitness centers for when the temperatures become very high. Consider what you\u2019ll do on a regular basis. Will you be able to get into the programs to enjoy them or is there a waiting list?Can you get from here to there? A rural location may be inviting, but what if family and friends want to visit? If travel is a big part of your retirement plan, you don\u2019t want to be too far away from the airport. That will help making traveling to and from your destination easier and will encourage friends and family to visit more often. If you do go for a rural location, having an airport nearby makes it more likely that you\u2019ll be able to receive health care items, electronics and other things that may need to come from far away.What\u2019s the tax rate? You\u2019ve paid enough taxes during your working life. Take a look at the local tax rules. How much, if at all, is retirement income taxed? What about estate or inheritance taxes? Don\u2019t forget the basics: gasoline taxes, property taxes and land transfer taxes. Some people move overseas to stretch their retirement budgets and different countries have different tax laws for expatriate retirees.What\u2019s playing where tonight? Retire to Vegas and you can go to a different show every night of the week. If you are a museum buff, New York City abounds in large and small museums. Living near a college or university, is likely to mean you\u2019ll have access to performances of all kinds and at lower costs.How diverse is your community? Score another point for living near or in a college town. Here\u2019s where you\u2019ll find a richer community life, more social activism and a wider range of different opinions. College towns usually offer retirees the ability to sit in, or audit, courses.Climate counts. Many retirees from the north can\u2019t wait to head south, when they retire. They\u2019re done with shoveling snow, worrying about falling on icy sidewalks and driving in slushy messes. Others prefer the cold, finding it invigorating and don\u2019t want to give up their skis. Consider what temperatures you like now and what might suit you better, as you and your spouse age.How much does it cost? Your lowered income must be matched by a lower cost of living or you won\u2019t be able to afford your own retirement. Consider the costs of transportation, property taxes, groceries and home heating\/cooling in your potential new hometown. It all adds up.Health care matters. Even the healthiest seniors know the value of good quality healthcare. As you age, chances are you\u2019ll need more health care. Moving to a community without a good hospital and lacking qualified specialists puts you at risk.Safety. We don\u2019t often think of safety as we age, but we should. As we age, we become more vulnerable to crime. Look at the crime statistics for any new communities you are considering. What does the economic data look like? Would you be able to use public transportation without worry? What about driving alone in your car at night?Once you narrow down your choices, start by taking extended vacations. Talk to the local people, at the library, in the coffee shop and around town. Attend services of your faith. Read the local newspapers. Get a real feel for the community to find out if it suits you, before you start packing.Decide where you want to relocate and then do your research.Reference: MoneyWise (Oct. 5, 2018) “Sun? Low Taxes\u201d The Top Factors When We Pick Where to Retire”For more information on elder law, asset preservation and estate planning, please visit my estate planning website."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.amorusolaw.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"How to Find the Perfect Retirement Location","item":"https:\/\/www.amorusolaw.com\/blog\/how-to-find-the-perfect-retirement-location-white-plains-ny-greenwich-ct\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]