Retiring in the Country
You’ve finally made it. Retirement is right around the corner. No more long days or busy commutes. So, what’s next? Retirement can mean different things for different people, but for many Americans, it means downsizing and opting for a more slow-paced, quieter lifestyle… the country life.
Living in the country has a lot of benefits, especially for those 50 and over. There’s less crime, lower cost of living, more room to add hobbies (think gardening or a hobby farm) and it’s just overall better for your physical and psychological health. Before you decide to buy a country home to enjoy your retirement in, there are some steps to follow to get your ducks in a row.
Define what you’re looking for.
Are you looking to stay in the same area that you currently live in? Are you living in Dallas, but just want to find a home with acreage or small ranch outside city limits? Or do you want to move to another state? Maybe you want to work part-time and own a small B&B or winery. It’s important to clearly define what you want and where you want it.
Develop a financial plan.
After you know what your goal is, it’s time to develop a financial plan and budget. What will you bring home after taxes and insurance? Is your goal obtainable based on your budget with living expenses? Living in the country is cheaper, but a lot of extra hobbies can get expensive if they aren’t income producing.
Prepare for the unexpected.
As everyone should, always have an emergency fund in place for unexpected expenses. The same goes for unexpected health issues. When searching for a home, look for a ranch-style home that one level just in case stairs get difficult, even if they aren’t now. Little precautions like that can make a huge difference in the long run.
Talk to an experienced real estate agent.
Not every real estate agent will know a lot about homes, ranches or small farms in the country. Talk to an agent who has experience in this type of real estate. As an added bonus, some agents will have an SRES (seniors real estate specialist) certification, which gives them extra knowledge and education to better serve retirement aged homeowners.
Want to get started? United Country specializes in lifestyle properties like country homes, farms, ranches and retirement properties nationwide. Visit www.UnitedCountry.com to find an agent near you.
Source:
https://www.aarp.org/work/social-security/info-05-2011/10-steps-to-retire-every-day.html