Why Are New Retirees Moving To Florida?

There’s a reason why they call it the Sunshine State. Despite the May-October rainy season, residents of Florida can expect to see the sun about 230 days a year. But that’s just one reason why new retirees choose Florida. Another is the cost of housing. A Florida community retirement home sale is often moderately priced.

Florida has long been a mecca for retirees. By this year, the state’s population was expected to grow to 21.5 million people, and 4.5 million were age 65 or older.

In Florida, everything seems to be geared towards older people, from early-bird specials at restaurants and the commercials on TV to special tax advantages for people over the age of 65.

So here are 12 reasons why new retirees are moving to Florida:

1. The weather. In addition to those 230 sunny days, the weather in Florida is almost always comfortable for outdoor activities. The average high temperature is 81 degrees. The average low temperature is 60 degrees.

2. Florida’s tax-friendly. There’s no income tax in Florida and no tax on retirement benefits or Social Security. There are also no estate or inheritance taxes.

3. The cost of living is low. In most Florida towns, the cost of living is lower than it is in many other places in the US. The exceptions are Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Palm Beach, where limited retirement dollars won’t go nearly as far.

4. Housing choices abound. From elegant high-rise condos to manufactured homes, new retirees will find many options for Florida community retirement homes for sale.

5. White sand beaches. Florida has almost 700 miles of sandy beaches for walking, sunbathing, and building sandcastles with grandchildren.

6. Water, water everywhere. Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico water temperatures are usually in the 80s, so the water’s never too cold for swimmers. For boaters, there are lakes, rivers and the Intracoastal

Waterway.

7. Outdoor activities. Florida has more than 1,000 golf courses. There are also hiking, biking, and running trails through regional and national parks and chances to get up close and personal with nature on Everglades swamp tours. The national parks also have campsites. People from all over the US and Canada camp there, sometimes for an entire winter, in their RVs.

8. Active adult communities at many price points. Retirees seeking an active adult community with such onsite amenities as golfing, swimming, and a clubhouse, will find many choices, and one with Florida community retirement homes for sale is sure to fit their budget.

9. Easy travel. Florida is home to 13 international airports, including Miami, Palm Beach, Tampa, Jacksonville, Orlando Sanford, and Pensacola International Airports. For vacationers, cruises depart from Cape Canaveral, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, and Miami.

10. Exceptional health care. Some of the best gerontologists in the world make Florida home because of its large population of retirees. There’s a Cleveland Clinic in Weston and a Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville. Highly ranked hospitals include Florida Hospital in Orlando, Tampa General Hospital and Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Shands Jacksonville Medical Center, Sarasota Memorial Hospital, and University of Miami-Jackson Memorial Medical Center.

11. The arts of many cultures. Because Florida is a melting pot, residents can experience the arts of many cultures. And every major city has museums, art galleries, theater groups, and a symphony orchestra, opera company, or both.

12. Orlando. Even retirees who aren’t interested in the theme parks will enjoy a weekend of great food and shopping in Orlando.

Paul Petersen