r2i forum

It has been a loooong time since I sought any valuable opinion from the expert members of our R2I forum.

Here is the background of the story:

My cousin and his wife (in the age group of 55+) plan to retire in a year or two. They have just one son doing PHD and financially independent. My cousin's wife never worked in her life and a very good wife and mother being a homemaker. They are in the US for the past 12 yrs and just got GC last year when they had just planned to wind up and go back to India for retirement. But the arrival of GC screwed up their plans to a great extent. As always, the man (cousin) never want to live anywhere but US and so happy here with his GC and american life. But the wife was looking forward to some good social life in India atleast after their return..but obviously thats not meant to be now.

They are seriously searching for a good place to retire in US and their income until the social security (pension kicks in at the age of 65) is only around $36k annually ($3k per month). With this income, they have to take care of rent, food, medical, car insurance and everything to live independently , as their son may not be able to help them financially. Currently they live in the bay area, CA, as the husband still works and earns good money, and when he retires, all they they have left is just the interest income of roughly 36 to 38k annually. Though the couple are in mid 50s, they r very modern minded, not very religious but very spiritual and lead a simple and healthy life. The wife is very healthy with no health complications, but the husband has glucoma and prone to allergies on and off. Other than that no major medical issues.
They want to live in a place thats economically, climatically, culturally comfortable with good, safe neighbours, closer to all basic amenities. They are already googling for the rent, and other factors of various places such as Atlanta, Florida, Texas etc.,

Pls pour ideas about the best place to choose for their retirement to live within their means.
Hopefully this info would help many others in the same boat.

Thanx and look forward to your suggestion,
GPriya.

Phoenix AZ - Very close to Texas atleast in most aspects and a loovely place !!

Fresno, CA. Not too expensive. Not too far from Bay Area, relatively big city, huge desi population (at least Punjabi population), access to fresh, locally grown vegetables and fruits, proximity to yosemite, sierra forest and Kings Canyon...

I welcome them to Florida.

there are a bunch of 55+ communities where they can buy a condo and lead a leisure life with that money

FL is built that way - entertainment,living,food - all factored in and built for retirees
they would love it here..they can visit and look at some condos and decide
though its close to Cuba,its still the US of A

stup123;384206I welcome them to Florida.

there are a bunch of 55+ communities where they can buy a condo and lead a leisure life with that money

FL is built that way - entertainment,living,food - all factored in and built for retirees
they would love it here..they can visit and look at some condos and decide
though its close to Cuba,its still the US of A

+1 For Florida

Which part of Florida has good amount of desi population and affordable housing? Florida and Atlanta are the two most favoured destination by the couple for retirement. Florida for its climate and Atlanta for its cheaper cost of living, as far as the research goes.

CA is ruled out bcos of high cost of housing and State income tax and general cost of living.

Phoenix not very particular as the housing rentals are high when compared to other cheaper places.

Any other suggestion????

Skip Phoenix - not a good place to retire with bleak desert all around. FL is good except the hurricane. How do old people evacuate and run everytime a big one strikes? In a year the state receives at least 5-6 major storms. Boca can run, so he enjoys FL.

FL isnt loaded with desis ala NJ/DC/CA
Typically they tend to be around a very few cities that have jobs- Tampa,Jacksonville,Miami -metro areas
That being said,with retirees and a big healthcare industry,there would be enough mallus around.

I am not an expert on the whole,but I have lived in the United States of Cuba(South Florida) for enough time and I can give pointers on that

Fl condos typically have a condo association fee..which can go upto $300 per month.This would be recurring cost after you have bought the condo.that being said,there are lots and lots of 55+ community housings where ppl under 55 cant buy in.they tend to be even cheaper.Of course,a few of them are turning to entry for all to get out of the housing slump.The market right now might be a good time to buy a condo.

To give you some pointers- since I am not known to be coherent in my replies
I live in a condo and my neighbors to the one wing are all retirees in their 80's and the one on the other side are all young families or never married/living together college students.
A typical condo would
-Have a condo association and all new renters/owners are screened
-Would have their private country club and golf course(need to pay for golf cart)
-Restaurants and board games at the country club
-events all year round
-Buses operated for grocery store,mall,casino visits
-Driver+car for doctor appointments(very reasonable,my neighbor pays $8 per visit - round trip)
-Lot of retirees
-Pool n lake view
-Walking trail

Desis might be missing but give a couple of bad winters like this year,they would too flock to FL
PM me,if you need further details.I am not a realtor

Old-Spice2;384340Skip Phoenix - not a good place to retire with bleak desert all around. FL is good except the hurricane. How do old people evacuate and run everytime a big one strikes? In a year the state receives at least 5-6 major storms. Boca can run, so he enjoys FL.

I have been in South FL,5th year running..never an evacuation(touch wood).even though there is no industry here to cater to job creation,its urban jungle out here.Not an empty spot left,all built up.Ppl are moving
Generally houses are built to withstand hurricanes and if its big,they would be evacuated..You are never far from those evacuation centers

if you are thinking AZ then look for something north of Phoenix. Phoenix is too hot for most part of the year for outside activities.