One of my favorite websites for “real” information about retirees and their preferences is TopRetirements.com. Recently, the site’s editor John Brady published a group of comments by readers about their searches for homes. I thought some of those comments were worthy of elaboration and response. (I have done some light editing on the questions.)
This is my favorite piece of advice because failure to have “The Talk” before your search commences is the root cause of all failed searches. A move to a community that turns out to be the wrong one for you and/or your partner is an even worse failure than not finding one at all, given the tumult and expense of moving. In the book I wrote a few years ago, Glorious Back Nine: How to Find Your Dream Golf Home, I envisioned the following kitchen table discussion:
Her: “Hon, let’s get serious about selling the house and moving to the Carolinas. We’ve talked about it long enough.
Him: “You’re right. Where do you want to move to?”
Her: “Hmm, good question.”
At the very least, you must nail down the type of area you both agree on – mountains, near ocean and beach, on a lake or some other topography. If you don’t agree on the type of location, your search could be endless and expensive. (It’s a big country out there!) Because of each spouse’s personal preferences or hobbies, you will have some modest disagreements about a final location. In that case your marriage will be tested mightily, in the same way couples describe what it is like to hang wallpaper together. If, for example, he likes golfing and she likes gardening, find a community with a good golf course and a home with a backyard or community plot for gardening – and some local restaurants and entertainment venues you can enjoy together.
You shouldn’t have to travel to find out the distance from your community of interest to a shopping mall; you can do that online with Google Maps or any other map program. But when you do visit a community, insist on a meet-up with local residents; the best communities offer access to “Ambassadors,” typically a couple that will have dinner with you, give you a personal tour of the community and answer all your questions. My experience is that Ambassadors are not shills for the community; they tend to answer even tough questions directly and honestly…as long as the questions aren’t subjective, such as “Are people friendly here?” (Answer: People are friendly everywhere, if you are.) And if you are serious about the community, insist on copies of the HOA documents, such as by-laws and master deed. (See below.)
Amen to that! Many HOAs have the richly deserved reputations typically reserved for state and federal bureaucracies. They are often run by people who think their retirements should be filled with making decisions on behalf of others. Most state laws give HOAs way more power than they deserve. Read the HOA documents closely for the community you are considering and pay particular attention to definitions of things like “common elements,” which are the responsibility of all members of the association to pay to maintain. Our own neighborhood HOA decided that all residents should pay for damages incurred to our neighbors’ “limited common elements” (second-floor porches); that resulted in a $14,000 assessment for each household but a benefit only for those with the problem. Fighting the unfairness of that was a losing battle because the state law gave the HOA the power to impose the assessment on everyone and, surprise, the board members all had damaged porches.
If that were true, most people would stay where they have lived for decades and gotten used to the hot days and bugs. There are plenty of warm climate locations that are free of mosquitoes and other bugs. As for hot and sticky days, air conditioners help.
Excellent advice, doc. Not everyone can rent for a month or two but at least they should spend a long weekend courtesy of a reasonably priced Discovery Package offered by many communities. (Discovery Packages are designed to treat you like a resident/club member and make sure you leave with a good understanding of what you are in for – or a firm resolve to look elsewhere.)
These comments remind me of the couple I worked with years ago whose specific guidelines were “two-bedroom home and a hotel nearby.” When I asked why, they responded that, “We love our children and grandchildren, and we want them to visit often. But we don’t want them staying under our roof. Retirement is for relaxation and not a lot of noise.” In other words, move for yourself, not your kids. You earned it. When our own children were pre-school, we spent many summer weeks on the Carolinas coasts. When it came time to consider a second home, we chose a condo in a golf community that appealed to my son and me for the golf but was just six minutes away from an Atlantic Ocean beach, a strong incentive for my wife and daughter. (Note: We are perfectly content these days to have our kids and their kids stay with us, but when it gets noisy, I do understand the need for some privacy.)
Sorry, but state income taxes can be a fool’s gold. Florida charges no income tax, but its overall cost of living is slightly above the national average because of high property taxes and homeowner and flood insurance rates. Focus on total cost of living, which comprises property and sales taxes, the price of gasoline and other goods and services, and whether senior citizens receive a financial break from the state and local governments. You also can and should put a price on convenience – such as distance to supermarkets and other necessities – and on your health today and in the future (proximity to hospitals and doctors who specialize in whatever ails you -- or might ail you in your retirement years).
Many couples believe that the hard work they have done in their careers and family-raising requires a move to a new location and better climate. But the town/area they have lived in for decades should be a top contender for their retirement years, especially if they have friends, family, trusted doctors and other services in the area; those are as fundamental to their health and happiness moving forward as 70 degrees in January. Vindicate the hard work you have done by at least considering remaining in place and traveling the world. As Bob Dylan once wrote/sang, “Don’t go mistaking paradise for that home across the road.”
Thanks for reading,
Larry Gavrich
Founder & Editor
Home On The Course, LLC
