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Winter retirement destinations/options

ISUATC

ISUATC

Well-Known Member
Feb 1, 2007
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Just turned 50 and looking at retirement. I don't want to live my winters in Iowa. What have you or your parents done? Affordable, fun, tax savings, etc. recommendations.. Would you retire somewhere (condo, town home, house, mobile home) or travel the US in an RV? RV's depreciate quickly, but you have the opportunity to see the country. Permanent residence, your're there for 5-6 months and can establish relationships and call it a second home/family. TIA
 
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Well Florida and Arizona are the typical Iowa spots to go, but not until this crap is over with.
 
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My parents winter in Chandler, AZ. Phoenix area. They live in a Del Web retirement community, nice small 2 bedroom home. All the amenities you could want. Pool, clubhouse, pickle ball, tennis, boche ball, movies, games, rock room. More activities than they can handle. Plus Jan thru April in Phoenix is pretty nice most of the time.
 
Grandparents spent the winter in a fifth wheel in south Texas. They were definitely not wealthy and lived comfortably. They sold their belongings and lived out of the camper into their late years. Summers in national parks and in near family. Grandpa was handy with a wrench and would get 1/2 millions miles out of his pick-up
 
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cyfan92 said:
Grandparents spent the winter in a fifth wheel in south Texas. They were definitely not wealthy and lived comfortably. They sold their belongings and lived out of the camper into their late years. Summers in national parks and in near family. Grandpa was handy with a wrench and would get 1/2 millions miles out of his pick-up
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My parents sold their house when they retired, and lived in a 5th wheel for 4 years. They now have a house in a retirement community in south Texas. Houses very cheap down there, almost no property tax, and no state income tax. They spend winters down there, then take long, winding treks across the US during the summer.
 
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BryceC said:
My parents sold their house when they retired, and lived in a 5th wheel for 4 years. They now have a house in a retirement community in south Texas. Houses very cheap down there, almost no property tax, and no state income tax. They spend winters down there, then take long, winding treks across the US during the summer.
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I'd go the house route if it was me. But it's hard to spend August in Yellowstone without a camper. Mrs. cyfan isn't cut out for RV life
 
My parents have a home in AZ & IA. They do the “6 months and a day” to claim residency in AZ for tax purposes. They come back to Iowa in the summers so they can catch up with their friends and then they allow friends/family to crash at their place in AZ for a week or two during the summers, which helps make sure that house is being kept up. They don’t rent it out.

Allegiant has a direct flight from DSM to Mesa which is super convenient - I saw Brock Purdy's parents on our last flight.
 
Not sure I'm gonna retire. I would suck at it. I have no productive hobbies. I enjoy a round of golf, but don't think I could spend every day chasing a little white ball. I also like knowing that I can help my kids a little bit financially when they really need it as they're starting their own careers and families.
 
Random comments for you (70 year old Iowa farmer. No hobbies): Started exit strategy at 60-bought into a points based Resort system with access to 4,000+ locations @ 61- made 12 one week winter trips to Mexico & Caribbean - Done that and now taking winter trips to warm spots in US (Mexico has safety issues) @ 67 - purchased 2nd home at Lake of Ozark @ 63 - where ever you go in the winter that is warm and on water there will be lots of folks & lots of Canadians - Texas & Phoenix is dry & very crowded, secluding with lots of old people in a "park" is for lack of a better word, depressing - we like seeing different locations, never go to the same place twice, have found that two weeks at one place and I have seen everything I need to see and do & we even really love Lake of the Ozarks - our only "hobby" is eating at nice restaurants and we love fresh seafood - the Carolina's have great seafood ( try the Calabash style shrimp if you are around Myrtle Beach) - Southern cooking is outstanding - little inside secret, if you want to know where the good food is ask the folks who clean the rooms/maintenance at the resort, throw the brochure away
 
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Love my home and location where I live in small town Iowa. Cost is cheap and I have everything I want. Before Covid19 we would travel 2 or 3 times for extended vacations in the winter. No ownership of timeshares or vacation homes. Like staying at hotels or resorts on the beaches of Mexico. Reasonable prices and known costs with no maintenance or taxes or upkeep. And during a pandemic, we can just stay home and isolate with no costs or worries. No problem. Probably stay home this winter. Will travel again when things are safer and more certain.

Have friends that own vacation properties in Texas and Arizona. Visited. Okay. But not for me. In-laws did the Motorhome thing in winter. But not up my alley. Lots of work and upkeep goes along with owning a motor home. And more cost than one thinks. And 3 weeks to a month and I am ready to go home for a couple weeks and then venture to a different location. Important thing is to do what you want.
 
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Why do people choose Arizona so much? Florida I understand because of the beaches. I'd choose Nevada near Vegas over Arizona. If you're gonna be in the desert, there's more to do in Vegas I would think. And yes I do mean outside of the strip.

I'd choose the Caribbean if I went the winter home route.
 
Pope said:
Not sure I'm gonna retire. I would suck at it. I have no productive hobbies. I enjoy a round of golf, but don't think I could spend every day chasing a little white ball. I also like knowing that I can help my kids a little bit financially when they really need it as they're starting their own careers and families.
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Just ordered this. Will let you know if it is any good.

What Will I Do All Day? Wisdom to Get You Over Retirement and on With Living!: Patrice Jenkins: 9780692002131: Amazon.com: Books

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I'm nearly 50 and I've been thinking about the same things. Most places I'd want to live full time are too expensive (San Diego). Whenever we go on vacation we talk about whether any of the places would be good to retire. We just spent a week in and around Yellowstone and one town that surprised me was Bozeman. Some of the positives of a college town with some of the negatives not present. I have to say that certain parts of Mexico seem like a great option. The only parts of Florida that I'd live are not that cheap. As I get closer, we may try doing an Airbnb for a couple of months in assorted places to see what it's like.
 
ISUATC said:
Just turned 50 and looking at retirement. I don't want to live my winters in Iowa. What have you or your parents done? Affordable, fun, tax savings, etc. recommendations.. Would you retire somewhere (condo, town home, house, mobile home) or travel the US in an RV? RV's depreciate quickly, but you have the opportunity to see the country. Permanent residence, your're there for 5-6 months and can establish relationships and call it a second home/family. TIA
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Mom and Dad did the Ft. Myers on a golf course thing. They also looked at Ozarks, Sequim, WA, and the Pinehurst area in NC.

Dad's biggest lesson to me is find a place where YOU fit. They spent a lot of time looking for the right fit, the right people, the right attitudes.

Not sure if I've reminded the board in a while, but I'm retiring in about a month and we moved to CoSprings for our first stage of retirement festivities. We checked out Austin, Santa Fe, central OR (Bend area - Sunriver...) but settled on a place where we fit, where we can afford, and a place that has all the infrastructure (Denver Intl Airport) out our backdoor.
 
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