The Best Places to Retire for Spring Training

With the Superbowl successfully behind us, anxious sports fans are ready for the next season to get started. For baseball fans, spring training will start next week. Spring training is one of the great joys and advantages of a snowbird retirement. Your favorite team is once again in your home town, tickets are affordable and plentiful, and the parks are so close together that you can even travel to road games. Baseball’s owners are no dummies either, they have picked some of the best places to host their spring training camps; most of these towns make the best places to retire lists for lots of other reasons too.

Spring training is thought to have started out in 1870 when the Chicago Whitestockings and the Cincinnati Redstockings ventured down to New Orleans to prepare for the season. Other historians credit the Washington Capitals as having started the spring training movement in 1888, when they organized a 4 day baseball camp in Jacksonville. Whichever version is correct, by the beginning of the 1900’s spring training had become institutionalized in both Florida and Arizona cities.

There are 2 spring training leagues - the Grapefruit League in Florida, and the Cactus League in Arizona (each has 15 teams). In general the east coast teams tend to be in the Grapefruit League and midwestern and western teams are usually, but not always, in the Cactus League. The leagues are split among National and American League teams, which adds to the stew. Teams move around, often because of a better stadium offer. In 2010, for example, the Orioles are moving from Ft. Lauderdale to Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota. The Orioles will replace the Cincinnati Reds, who moved to Goodyear, Arizona for 2010.

In 2010 the first players will report to camp next week (the week of Feb 15). Games begin on March 4 and go through April 4. If you like baseball and are a looking for your retirement town, what better excuse than to tie the 2 activities together in one great scouting trip. Here is a list of where all the teams play, with links to reviews of their host towns where we have them:

Cactus League Mar 3 - Apr 4

Chicago Cubs play at Hohokam Park in Mesa, AZ. There is a referendum for a new $84 million spring facility, the Cubbies plan to stay on if the referendum passes.
Arizona Diamondbacks play at Tucson Electric Park in Tucson. This will be their last year here. They will move to northeast Phoenix in 2011.
The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago White Sox enjoy spring training at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, AZ (northwest suburb of Phoenix). The two teams enjoy a state-of-the-art training facility with an open concourse, and plenty of premium seating.
Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians enjoy the 1 year old Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear, AZ. The Reds moved from Sarasota in 2010.
Colorado Rockies play their spring schedule at Hi Corbett Field in Tucson, a stadium that’s been around since the 1930’s. It’s their last season in Tucson, next year they moving up the Interstate to Phoenix.
The Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals have their games hosted at Surprise Stadium in Surprise, AZ. This stadium opened up in 2003.
LA Angels of Anaheim play in Tempe at the venerable Tempe Diablo Stadium. The Diablo in Tempe was built in 1969 and renovated 2006.
The Milwaukee Brewers will be found at Maryvale Baseball Park in Phoenix.
Oakland Athletics are also Phoenix based, their winter home is the Phoenix Municipal Stadium, which dates to 1965.
Another twin bill is found in Peoria, AZ, where the San Diego Padres and the Seattle Mariners share Peoria Stadium, a 12,000 seat facility.
The San Francison Giants are crosstown from their west coast neighbors; they play at the Scottsdale Stadium built in 1992.

The Grapefruit League

Atlanta Braves enjoy their games at Champion Stadium Capacity in Lake Buena Vista, near Orlando.
The Baltimore Orioles moved to Sarasota’s Ed Smith Stadium (Capacity 7,500 and built in 1989). The Orioles were in Ft Lauderdale in 2009.
Boston Red Sox have their games at the City of Palms Park in Ft. Myers.
Detroit’s Tigers enjoy Lakeland as their home. Their games are played at Joker Marchant Stadium, one of the smaller venues with 8,000 seats. It was renovated in 2003.
The Florida Marlins share Roger Dean Stadium with the St. Louis Cardinals> This east coast stadium is in the very nice town of Jupiter.
Houston Astros are in Kissimmee (near Orlando). They play at the Osceola County Stadium, which opened in 1984 with a capacity.
Another team with Ft. Myers spring training is the Minnesota Twins. Their games are at Hammond Stadium.
Those amazin’ NY Mets get ready for the season at Port St. Lucie’s Tradition Field, where they have been since 1988. Port St. Lucie is a new town and one of the fastest growing anywhere.
The New York Yankees are across the Sunshine State in Tampa. Interestingly, they play at Steinbrenner Field, a venue dating from 1996.
The Philadelphia Phillies are nearby in Clearwater, where they play at Bright House Networks Field (2004).
Pittsburgh Pirates conduct spring training in Bradenton’s McKechnie Field.
The Tampa Bay Rays head south about 100 miles to Port Charlotte and the Charlotte County Sports Park, which has a capacity of 7,000 and was renovated in 2008-2009.
The Toronto Blue Jays are in the little town of Dunedin. Their games are played at FL Dunedin Stadium.
Finally, the Washington Nationals enjoy an east coast spring training in Melbourne. Their spring venue is the Space Coast Stadium.

For further information:
Spring Training Online
The history of spring training

What do you think? Do you have a favorite spring training town? One that might make a best place to retire? Let us know in the comments section below.

2010 Predictions - What Baby Boomers Want in Retirement

Our good sport this time of year is to go out on a limb with predictions about the hot baby boomer retirement trends for the coming year. Surely we will be wrong on some, but hope that in general we can be useful in predicting what factors will be most important in 2010. A recent CNBC article on Homebuilders and Baby Boomers provided some great research on the topic. Most of this year’s predictions are based on a common thread - the continued nervousness of baby boomers about their financial futures. Here we go with our baby boomer retirement trends for 2010:

- In 2010 retiring boomers will continue to be preoccupied with budget. Although Topretirements has many affluent members and visitors, the majority are baby boomers who know they have finite assets and want to get the most retirement out of them. A Met Life study just reported that younger baby boomers do not feel they have saved enough for retirement; they are very concerned about outliving their savings. This brings a quest for value and for lower cost alternatives, which smart marketers of 55+ communities will try to capitalize on. Some of the ways they will do that is by reducing home sizes, cutting some luxury amenities, and building in energy and maintenance efficiencies.

- Boomers will seek out bargains. Good deals are available in the resale and the new market because of high inventories and foreclosures. But buyers have to be prepared for the precarious finances of some existing communities in the sunbelt, many of which have high percentages of non-dues paying residents. Short sales and foreclosures have their own risks, of course.

- Taxes and cost of living are very important factors. Although climate is still important in determining where today’s baby boomers retire, it is not the sole driver anymore. States and communities that want to attract new baby boomer retirees should focus on advertising their competitive economic advantages vs. the northeast or midwest. Older states seeking to hold on to their existing retiree residents and their contribution to the local economy, should work on creating tax incentives (such as partial tax freezes on property taxes) for retirees, who can easily vote with their feet.

- Health concerns are more important for the baby boomer group, particularly its oldest cohort. . Indications from a Del Webb and a Met Life study indicate that fitness and being close to quality health care are increasingly important concerns. For these boomers, amenities like fitness centers and classes might be more important than a fancy golf course.

- More boomers will be retiring later, if at all. The Del Webb study found that 75% of boomers plan on staying in the workforce to some extent, up from 68% in a previous study. The working longer trend brings with it other desires - the ability to live in a place where work is available, home offices instead of extra bedrooms, and ready access to good transportation. Having good maintenance services available is very important to boomers, who are both tired of raking the yard and might not have the time for it either (since they will be working)!

- More baby boomers will be willing to move than ever before. Economic factors might be the trigger for a lot of people. Climate will be another. But boomers have moved before in their careers, and they will do it again for a better lifestyle. Del Webb found that of those who are willing to move in retirement, 50% might move out of state.

- Geographic preferences are getting more complicated. Florida and Arizona were always the most popular retirement destinations. Then the Carolinas, Texas, Nevada, and Tennessee joined the beauty contest - and Florida started losing share. But the tremendous swings in real estate values in 2008-9 have upset the apple cart - now real estate is so inexpensive in parts of Arizona, Florida, and Nevada that the Carolinas and Tennessee have lost some of their competitive advantage.

- Do not, under any circumstances, try to label or categorize baby boomer retirees. They’re all different. That’s good news for builders who can come up with creative new features, amenities, and communities. Bad news for those who want to market to “seniors” with cookie cutter communities.

What Boomers Should be Looking for
Those are our few predictions for 2010 baby boomer retirement trends. But we can’t leave without providing a short list of what baby boomers should be looking for in a retirement community:

- Universal design. New retirees tend to be short sighted, refusing to think ahead 20 years. Don’t buy a home without a 1st floor bedroom (or an elevator). Make sure interior steps are at a minimum, halls are wide, and fixtures/counters at a convenient height. Make universal design part of your lexicon.

- Financial stability. Check out your new community carefully. Find out default rates on community dues and the number of foreclosed homes. Go with safety.

- Think about the next move. Just as staying too long in your suburban home is usually a colossal mistake for retirees (think taxes, maintenance, driving, energy, and social isolation), picking a retirement community that doesn’t have ready access to some kind of eldercare resource is a mistake. That’s because you might find yourself having to move to a completely new community very late in life, which can be very traumatic. If you are lucky enough, you will go through all of life’s phases, so it’s best to think about that now.

For further reference:
Top 10 Active Adult Trends for 2009
Our previous Baby Boomer Retirement predictions - 2008
Met Life Mature Market Institute Study
CNBC - Homebuilders Target Baby Boomers with New Amenities and Activities

What do you think? Please post your opinions in our Comments section below.

Home Owners Associations Struggle with Delinquencies

The growing problem of delinquencies is a very serious problem that is starting to affect almost every Home Owners Association (HOA) in the country. And unfortunately, the problem gets worse every day.

At the Kensington of Royal Palm Beach condominiums on Florida’s east coast, 70 percent of the owners are in arrears on their association fees. Many other associations have delinquencies in the 40-50% range. These fees typically pay for insurance, maintenance, landscaping, some taxes, staff, and energy. Clearly when not everyone pays their dues, which represent an equitable sharing of costs among all the owners, financial problems will ensue. Usually that means the remaining owners in the community association have to pay more to keep the ship afloat, a serious hardship. Many other problems spiral out from that.

Delinquencies can come in many forms. Owners who are in default on their mortgages typically stop paying everything, since they have nothing to lose. Banks often stall foreclosures, possibly to avoid having to pay the HOA fees once they retake title. In some cases banks don’t have to, or refuse to pay all of the arrears. Owners who are in financial trouble simply stop paying, since the HOA Board has limited recourse. And in yet another scenario, owners rent out their condos/homes to collect the rental income, but refuse to pay the HOA dues. In all of these situations the result is dire for the community association. Money becomes short, and the increased or advanced payments made by the remaining members can drive them into default or non-payment. Meanwhile employees, services, and amenities have to be cut to remain solvent. The spiral continues as homes become difficult to sell and prices plummet.

Some states are working on remedies to help these associations. One court in Florida awarded a blanket rule that allowed the association to collect dues directly from renters, thus bypassing the owners. Other legislation might impose more restrictions on banks to collect more money. The ultimate delinquent assessment collection tool is foreclosure, but this is a radical step with many complications (chief of which is many delinquent owners are already underwater; there is no equity left over for a second tier creditor like an HOA).

References
Condo Associations turn to Receiverships to Collect Rent
Seeking Solutions to Condo Delinquencies
Lenders Should Pay Up
The Great Foreclosure Debate
Community Associations Network (whose excellent newsletter provided all of these references)

Discover and Stay Is the Way - to Retire

You, and perhaps your significant other, might be obsessing about how to find your best place to retire, and what you might do once you get to the state of retirement. The process is fun for many folks, but an intimidating hassle for others. Wherever you come out on this spectrum, this article, in which we will discuss Fly and Stay packages, will be a help.

Fly and Stay packages (also called Discover and Stay, Play and Stay, Weekend Getaway, etc.) are the fun and low risk way to check out various best places to retire. You can usually purchase them at low cost from active adult communities, or you can make up your own for the towns you might be considering. The offers are so attractive that you just shouldn’t pass them up (but hurry, the high season is starting in the Sunbelt).

Active Adult Communities
Many good marketers often make it a point to offer Stay and Play packages. The theory being that if the community is really that good, nothing will sell it better than a fun-filled visit of a few days. Indeed if you ever visit the Visitor Center at a community like The Villages in Florida, your head will spin with how many people come in and pick up their keys and orientation packets. Some of our friends take advantage of these subsidized stays over and over again they are so much fun. Often, but not always, they end up buying in the communities they sample. One problem is that smaller communities usually don’t have the resources to offer these packages, so they are harder to sample.

Some of the packages we have encountered cost $199 for 3 nights, others charge more or less. Some stays are for longer or more flexible periods. The Villages charges $179/night. Most of these packages are a genuine bargain because they typically include bonuses like free golf, tennis, access to all recreational facilities, use of a golf cart, some free meals, even discounts at shops. The attraction for the community is that by making you feel like a resident, you get to sample the lifestyle, and you might just decide to purchase. For you, the package offers an inexpensive vacation and a very low risk way to try out a new lifestyle and location.

Here are some of the active adult 55+ communities we were able to identify that offer Stay and Play packages, but there are many, many more out there:
(Important: It doesn’t hurt to ask! If you are interested in a particular community call them up and ask if they offer a Discover and Play package -they might just make one up for you! Just be aware that these packages typically will not be available once the community is fully developed and the sales office closes up shop).
- Southern Dunes, Haines City FL. Play 10 Orlando golf courses.
- Mariner Sands,Stuart FL. Available Jan 20 - April 20.
- SunRiver, St. George UT. Packages starting at $99.
- The Villages. $175 per night Jan 1 - March 31.
- Pebble Creek, Goodyear, AZ. Most if not all Robson Ranch properties offer a peak season, 3 night package for $199.
- Talking Rock, Prescott AZ. Package available for $450.
- Wild Wing Plantation, Myrtle Beach SC. Choose from 3 different packages from $99 to $249.
- Golden Ocala, near Ocala FL. Live like a resident. Play like a member.
- The Settlement at Powhatan Creek, Williamsburg VA. Choose from $99 or $149 packages.
- Hot Springs Village, Hot Springs AR. Weekend Getaway packages.
- Porters Neck, Wilmington NC. Weekend Getaway Package.
- Hampton Lake, Bluffton SC. Their “Sneak a Peek” program even offers a $1500 travel rebate

Touring Retirement Towns (not 55+ developments)
You say you are not interested in a 55+ or active adult community? Well go ahead and make your own stay and play package to sample the retirement towns you have been considering. If you are flying, pick out a few towns in a manageable area. If you are driving, select some retirement towns a day’s travel apart and visit them. Stay in B & B’s or motels (use TripAdvisor.com to find the best ones). Make a date with a realtor and tour a few homes - you will learn a lot. Use the National Directory of towns and active communities at Topretirements to identify the towns and active adult communities you want to pursue further.

Bottom Line
Fly and Stay packages are too good a deal to pass up. They are cheap, fun, and educational. You will at some point during your visit meet with a sales representative, but you can also view that as part of your learning process about the community. The New York Times just ran an article, “Like a College Visit, Minus the Kegs“, in which they profile several successful “Fly and Stayers” and their journeys to a host of more communities offering these visits. Most important of all - a Stay and Play package can save you from making a terrible and expensive mistake. If a community isn’t for you, a short stay like this will probably help you find that out…before you make a big purchase and difficult move.

Have you been on a Stay and Play visit? Share your experiences in the Comments section below.

For further reference:
25 Best Active Adult Communities of 2009

January Real Estate Dribs and Drabs

As 2010 begins most experts predict that record numbers of foreclosures will continue. That being the case, home prices will probably go nowhere until that distressed inventory is cleaned out.

Rentals are the way to go. The Wall Street Journal reports that apartment vacancies hit a 30 year high late last year, and landlords are scrambling to fill them. Reis, Inc., a research firm, said that rents fell 3% last year, led by declines in west coast cities. Conclusion - you might be better off renting than buying. Particularly in a lot of active adult communities, there are plenty of places to rent.

Miami Dade County just went online with foreclosure auctions. In a somewhat amazing step, Miami-Dade county has started online auctions as a way to clear out a mountain of foreclosed properties. Auctions are risky, but they can offer bargains. The County is hoping to attract better prices as more people have access to information about these homes.

Walkability is better according the NY Times article “Street Corners vs. Cul-de-Sacs“. The Walk Score from C.E.O.’s for Cities, rates the number of destinations that are within walking distance of a home. 100 points is perfect (The White House on Pennsylvania Ave is a 97), 50 is average, most homes in the suburbs get low scores. The study concludes that homes with better Walk Scores lower crime, improves quality of life, and raises property values. Makes sense to us. Rate your home at Walkscore.com.

Most Under-Rated Places to Retire

Picking towns for “best places to retire” lists can get to be a lot like selecting prom dates - the bright lights overshadow the deserving candidates who don’t get asked to the big party. All too often the result is best places to retire myopia - too many lists that share the same old towns and cities - Asheville, Athens, Austin, Beaufort, etc.

This week we set out to identify 20 best retirement towns that aren’t on that many lists. We looked for towns that we know are terrific, but don’t seem to have the press that their more famous brethren do. Some will be familiar and some will not. Our apologies to all of the other great places to retire whose lights are still hiding under the basket; please give us your nominations in the Comments section below.

Bisbee, Arizona. Bisbee is an historic mining town in south central Arizona, almost at the Mexican border. If you are looking for an interesting, off-beat place to retire, Bisbee might be the place.

Flagstaff, Arizona. At an altitude of 6910 feet the climate is dry and much cooler in the summer than anywhere else in Arizona. Cecil B. DeMille tried but failed to make Flagstaff into an earlier version of Hollywood because of its great scenery, which includes the Grand Canyon and the San Francisco Peaks .

Eureka, California. Eureka’s northern isolation means that it missed much of the post-war redevelopment. As result Eureka is filled with examples of 19th and early 20th century architecture and historic districts. It’s been likened to a west coast Williamsburg, Virginia.

Jackson, California. Jackson is a small town (4,000 people) in the historic gold mining country of California. Jackson is nestled at the 1200 foot level in the Sierra Nevada foothills in Amador County.

Klamath Falls, Oregon. Klamath Falls is a beautiful town for retirement in south central Oregon, east of Medford and Ashland. Nearby are 2 very large and beautiful lakes: Upper Klamath Lake is the largest natural lake in the Pacific Northwest, and Crater Lake.

Maryville, Tennessee. Maryville is blessed with Maryville College, a private liberal arts college of about 850 whose campus is in the center of town. Its 400 acre campus has several buildings on the National Register of Historic Places and also has trails and paths for walking and running.

Yakima, Washington. Located in the Yakima Valley midway between Walla Walla and Seattle, this area is one of the best apple growing regions in the world.

Huntsville, Alabama. Huntsville is famous for its NASA Marshall Space Flight Center , the Redstone Arsenal, and as a high-tech center. It is a popular destination for retirees from all over the country, based on availability of desirable housing, beautiful parks, and a vibrant cultural infrastructure.

New Haven, Connecticut. New Haven, long downtrodden, is having a resurgence with young adults and retirees. The downtown is packed with restaurants, Yale students, and top-notch theater and music.

Merritt Island, Florida. In Florida the competition for best place to retire is pretty stiff. Melbourne has the beaches and nature, it just doesn’t toot its horn as much.

Warner Robins, Georgia. Warner Robins is a growing town of 61,000 about 15 miles south of Macon, Georgia. Robins Air Force Base, one of the largest employers in the State of Florida, helps make this a more diversified and cosmopolitan town than others of its size in Georgia.

Valdosta, Georgia. A college town, Valdosta has everything from Valdosta State University to the revitalized downtown venues for dining, shopping and cultural activities.

Columbus Indiana. Columbus has the distinction of being one of America’s top cities for architecture; in fact it is a showcase of modern architecture. Six buildings are designated as National Historic Landmarks. There are 60 other distinguished buildings from the world’s best architects.

St. Francisville, Louisiana. St. Francisville, Louisiana is one of the prettiest and most charming small towns along the Gulf Coast. It is a quaint town on the Mississippi and very popular with both tourists and people in retirement.

Brunswick, Maine. Brunswick is a beautiful small town near the southern coast of Maine. It is home to the elite Bowdoin College as well as the Bowdoin College Museum of Art. There are many homes and places on the list of historic places thanks to Brunswick’s early history and its prosperous sea captains.

Salisbury, Maryland. Salisbury is an interesting town and seaport on the Wicomico River on the Delmarva Peninsula. Its population was about 28,000 in 2008.

Plymouth, Massachusetts. Like the original Pilgrims, active adults are choosing to move to Plymouth. These modern day 55+ pilgrims come for its location on the ocean and quieter lifestyle. There are many waterfront homes in the area as well as charming old homes within the town. Outside of the town there are a large number of active adult communities.

Red Wing, Minnesota. Red Wing had an early heyday as a stop for steamboats on the river as well as for its rich farm land. Blessed with a beautiful downtown, it also has an impressive economic base with several recognizable manufacturers.

Vicksburg, Mississippi. It has old southern charm with squares, tree-lined streets, riverfront casinos, and the Vicksburg National Military Park. The park commemorates General U.S. Grant’s successful siege of Vicksburg in 1863, one of the Civil War’s most decisive battle.

Bartlesville, Oklahoma. One of the world’s top Mozart Festivals, Frank Lloyd Wright’s only skyscraper, an Arts Center, a stunning Community Center, plus 2 college campuses – these are just some of the surprising treasures in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.

Comments or suggestions for your favorite under-appreciated best place to retire? Use the Comments section below.

For further reference
25 Most Popular Places to Retire

How to Retire in Style and on a Budget

Let’s just say that Plan A for your retirement didn’t quite work out the way it was supposed to do. Whatever the reasons, the fact is you are a 60-something baby boomer looking to retire on a lot less money than you thought you would have. Luckily for gritty you, sulking is not an option. Here are 10 of our best ideas on what you can do to retire in style - and on a budget.

1. Move, now. Most people about to retire are living in a lot more house than they really need. So downsizing, the sooner the better, is the smart move. You’ll end up paying less in taxes, utilities, and maintenance right away. But you say the market for your home is terrible? It is, but this works two ways - you’ll get less for your current house than at the peak but you’ll be able to replace it with a steal. By selling your suburban home in the northeast or rust belt you might be getting out when the getting is good, while setting yourself up for possible sun belt real estate appreciation.

2. Look for low cost housing areas. Up until a year ago we would caution anyone to move away from the coasts to get a good deal in real estate. In Tennessee, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Alabama, Texas, and Mississippi you can usually pick out a very nice home or condo in a desirable area for less than $100,000. While it is still almost always true that real estate more than 50 miles away from a coast is less expensive, the real estate melt down has created opportunity in south Florida, the southeast, and Arizona. There are some really nice homes in the Fort Myers and Miami areas going for unbelievable prices (the median was $92,000 in October, 2009). For recommendations on low cost housing towns at Topretirements use our free Retirement Ranger (just specify lower than average cost of living when you take the quiz).

3. Look for a short sale or foreclosure. While not for the faint of heart, short sales and foreclosures offer the potential for huge savings (the National Association of Realtors says they typically sell for 15 to 20% less). They are the big reason why real estate prices are so low - other types of sellers just can’t compete with these sales. To succeed you need to be smart and energetic. You need to have a good real estate agent with expertise in short sales and foreclosures. You also have to use common sense. To find good deals spend time cultivating banks, checking out neighborhoods, and talking with residents (See NY Times article about the Cape Coral, FL real estate market, where over one fourth of the homes have been foreclosed). Many experts advise individuals from buying at auction because of the risks, which can include faulty title. In south Florida you can even go on foreclosure tours as a way to find properties. Just be careful, you are usually buying a home “as-is” with no recourse. (see foreclosure resources at bottom).

4. Look for a resale. Many marketers of new 55+ communities have a lot of unwelcome competition in their own projects - previous buyers who want to sell their units. You can almost always pick up a unit for less than a brand new one. You might not get to specify all of your personal touches, but you will probably get many custom features at no or low cost, with the bugs worked out.

5. Consider moving abroad. This plan is not for everyone. But if you like learning foreign languages and customs, don’t need to frequently visit friends or family, and are up for adventure, an expatriate retirement might be for you. Mexico, Guatamala, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, and Nicaragua all have very desirable and safe towns where the almighty dollar actually still has some purchasing power (see our Directory of Active Adult Communities).

6. Go with a manufactured home. Prices are generally much lower in communities of manufactured homes. You won’t live in fancy architecture, but you will generally get a well-built, comfortable home for fewer dollars.

7. Look for a cooperative community. Florida, California, and Arizona are filled with cooperatively owned active adult communities. These are places where the developer long ago sold all of the lots and built all possible homes. Now the community is owned and run by the residents, who generally try to keep expenses (dues/HOA fees) low and services efficient. With the housing market down, resales are almost always available at a good price.

8. Get creative. There are lots of ways to lead the good life without paying top dollar. Buy a 2nd hand mobile home (or boat) and move south in the summer. If you live in a desirable place, swap or rent your home during the season and go on vacation. Swap your handyman skills for lower rent. Talk with everybody you know, read, and look online for different ideas.

9. Keep working. If you have a good job and you can save some money, consider working a few years longer to give yourself more options. Or, cut down your hours and semi-retire. Other options are looking for part-time work or starting a home based business. Is there a way you can make money with your hobby? If you want part time work, be careful about where you retire. Make sure there is industry nearby that matches your skills, or a vibrant tourist trade where part-timers are always in demand.

10. Be positive. Maybe everything hasn’t worked out the way you dreamed it would. Keep looking for the silver lining, and don’t waste your time complaining. You’ll be happier, and so will your friends and family.

Foreclosure/Short Sale Resources:
Redfin.com, Foreclosures.com, Foreclosure.com, Realtytrac.com, Zillow.com

Most Affordable Places to Retire
Most Affordable College Towns
Most Important Criteria for Best Place to Retire

What Are Your Ideas?
Please post your ideas for great retirement living on a budget in the Comments section below.

New Concepts Aplenty for “Green” Retirement Houses

Baby boomers looking to retire in a very “green” way often end up being frustrated. The main reason is that most active adult communities are anything but environmentally friendly - they are located far from community centers so they require lots of driving, they don’t always use the most energy-efficient materials and systems, and they usually ignore alternative energy sources and low carbon footprints. The alternative for those truly dedicated to the movement is to strike out on their own, which though might be fun, can also be expensive and prone to trial and error.

The Wall Street Journal published an eye-opening article earlier this year on the “Green House of the Future“. The Journal asked 4 leading architects to come up with a home design that was environmentally friendly - and possible. The results were amazing:
- A house like a tree. The “bark” of the building contained photosynthetic layer that captures sunlight. The home had a lot of other cool features as well.
- So why not a house like a lizard. Cook + Fox came up with a home that turns “dark in the bright sun to insulate the house”, and clearer on dark days to help warm the house.
- The Incredible Edible House. The concept from Rios Clementi Hale Studios featured a home with edible crops like chickpeas on the outside. The food being grown not only helps feed the occupants, it provides insulation. Windmills and water capture are other features of the home.
- A “breeze chimney“. The home from Mouzon Design has many typical energy generating features such as solar panels, but it also has an old architectural tool, the breeze chimney to help heat and cool the home.

Recycled Green Homes in Phoenix
Green Street Development in Phoenix is winning kudos for their LEEDS certified remodelings in downtown Phoenix. The concept is sound, why not turn former tract homes either in town or near public transportation lines into zero energy consuming homes. While the firm is pitching the project towards young urban professionals, in our opinion they are missing half of the boat - retiring baby boomers who not only want to downsize but be near the urban action too. Listen in to the PBS podcast, it’s most interesting.

What are the Best States for Retirement?

If there was ever a subjective question, “what is the best state for retirement” must certainly rank right up there. After all it is a very personal question, almost as personal as your preference in mates or sports teams. To try to avoid too much controversy we shall answer the question in terms of what you, our Topretirements visitors, seem to prefer when it comes to retirement states.

For most people the best state to retire question is easy - some 80% or more retire in the state where they live now. But for those folks who are thinking about moving on down the road in later life, the reasons why some states are better for retirement than others generally boil down to:

- Climate. If you are looking to escape the cold winters of the northeast or Midwest, the Sunbelt might be appealing
- Cost of living. The coasts of the U.S. tend to be a lot more costly than the inland states. You can usually sell your expensive house in the Boston suburbs, move to a nicer one in the Carolinas or Tennessee, and still end up with money in the bank
- Tax-friendly. Although this shouldn’t be your only reason for moving to a new state for retirement, there are cost savings in states with low property taxes and no income or sales taxes. In addition, many states treat retiree income such as pensions and social security payments more favorably than other states (see links at end of article for more on these tax-friendly states)

- Lifestyle opportunities. Different states provide different lifestyle opportunities. From exciting cities to college towns to better and different recreational opportunities, some states can offer a superior lifestyle than the one you might have. For example, if hiking or skiing is your thing, moving to a western mountain state might be your personal answer to the question.

- Friends or family. The opportunity to be near children, grandchildren, and friends often trumps other reasons for moving anywhere. And it’s a good reason!

Our List of the Best States for Retirement
Based on visits to the popular retirement guides at Topretirements.com, these are the most popular states to retire (in order). Follow the links to see the state guides:

1. Florida. Florida is blessed with the warmest winters in the U.S. and no income tax. There is property tax protection as well. Our visitors visit the Florida state retirement guide twice as often as they do #5 California’s.
2. North Carolina. A smart choice for a milder year round climate. Great variety in terrain – from the ocean to the mountains
3. Tennessee. One of the lower cost states for retirement with great mountain scenery
4. South Carolina. Warm winters and wonderful towns like Beaufort, Hilton Head, and Clemson. Generally lower cost than up north. This was our guide to the Low Country.
5. California. People from the east tend to forget how big and varied this state is. From the ocean to the deserts, from the mountains to the Central Valley, there is sure to be something for everyone.
6. Arizona. Warmer winters and less humidity in summer. The state is loaded with active adult and 55+ communities
7. Texas. Lower cost of living in friendly towns. Texas has the most active program of Certified Retirement Communities of any state.
8. Colorado. Features many newer livable cities with expansive public parks and bike trails. The mountains and recreation they provide are a big part of the allure.
9. Oregon. Good year round climate and perfect for outdoors minded people. Our guide to southern Oregon towns.
10. Delaware A low tax state with coastal communities and fast-growing towns and developments on the Delmarva Peninsula.
11. Washington. Live in an exciting big city or a smaller college town. The mountains are always nearby, and there is a very long coastline.
12. Georgia. Lower cost, warmer winters. Great variety with towns on the coast and inland too.
13. New Mexico. One of the most under-rated states for retirement. Most of the state is at altitude so it never gets too hot. Don’t miss the guide we wrote recently on New Mexico retirement towns.
14. Virginia. For people who don’t want to move too far from the northeast Virginia might be a good choice. Pick from a long list of interesting historical towns and others near the water.
15. Kentucky. This growing state has a lot going for it when it comes to retirement. It has some of the lowest costs of living in the U.S. Many college towns, plenty of mountains, friendly people.

Links:
Most tax-friendly States for Retirement
Worst States for Retirement

Last Minute Holiday Gift Ideas for Baby Boomers

Just in case you are as desperate as we often get at this time of year, here are some very different, last-minute gift suggestions that might be “age-appropriate” for the baby boomers on your gift list:

“How Not to Act Old:185 Ways to Pass for Phat, Sick, Hot, Dope, Awesome, or at Least Not Totally Lame“. By Pamela Redmond Satran. This very funny book gets rave reviews at Amazon. (recommended by our friend Linda).

- Roku HD player. You might ask yourself, what the heck is a Roku HD player (and why would I want one)! Trust us on this one, if you subscribe to Netflix or rent movies, you must have this device, which lets you watch online movies and TV shows on your TV (not just your computer). It works a lot more simply than you would guess. The device connects to your internet cable or your wireless system. From there you can play Netflix, Amazon, or other movies on your TV set, using simple on-screen controls. Read the reviews to find out more - we love it!

- The Beatles remastered albums. Everyone is raving about the quality of the remastered albums which use the original British recordings. We include here a link to the boxed set, from there you can order some of the single albums.

- “By Families, For Families: Guide to Assisted Living“. This isn’t your typical holiday gift topic, but it still makes a great present for a friend who is dealing with an aging parent. Assisted living author and expert Ryan Malone shares with you the secrets only revealed by someone who has made assisted living a positive and rewarding experience for his mother and family.

- Pajamagrams. Very amusing and cute pajamas for sale online. The pj’s arrive in a clever carrying case.

- “100 Best Retirement Towns” from Topretirements. Give someone you love the inside story on the 100 best places to retire at Topretirements. Order the print version before 12/20/09 and get Free priority mail shipping!

Here is the link to the Topretirements store at Amazon.com, which has many more ideas.
Happy holidays!

Disclaimer: While we believe all of these gift ideas are very good products, we need to mention that for some of these products Topretirements will receive a commission from any sales.