The Best Places to Retire in Florida · 1.The best places to retire in Florida have a few things in common. Financially speaking, Florida has no state income taxes, no inheritance taxes, no taxes on Social Security income, or taxes on pensions, individual retirement accounts (IRAs) or 401 (k) income. In addition, the climate is generally pleasant (except in the scorching summer months). Next, we'll look at the six best places to retire in Florida on a budget.
One of the fastest-growing places in the United States, The Villages, began as a mail-order real estate business in the 1960s. Its modern history dates back to 1992, when the developer changed the name of the complex to The Villages. Located between Ocala and Orlando (Florida), it has gone from having 8,000 inhabitants in 1992 to more than 80,000 inhabitants, largely because its regulations require that at least one person in a household be 55 years of age or older to live in the planned community in a planned manner. In addition to having at least 56 golf courses, The Villages operates 100 recreational centers, performing arts centers, a polo field and more than 2,700 social clubs.
Golf carts are one of the most common forms of transportation, making the area safer than many Florida roads. Located roughly halfway between Gainesville and Orlando, Florida, Ocala is one of the least expensive options for retiring in Florida. Therefore, retirees with fixed incomes can increase their retirement money a little more. Because it's not a major metropolitan area, Ocala has a small-town atmosphere and is relatively affordable and is a reasonably short drive from the larger (and more expensive) cities of Gainesville, Orlando and Tampa.
The city is especially attractive for horse lovers, with more than 600 horse farms and training facilities. Lakeland is another Central Florida city earning praise for its affordable healthcare, housing and grocery costs. About halfway between Tampa and Orlando, the city of approximately 115,000 people is known for its lakes, wait. Best known for its entertainment options, Orlando is the fourth largest city in Florida, behind only Jacksonville, Miami and Tampa.
Because it's such a large metropolitan area, Orlando is generally more affordable than many other major U.S. cities. It has several retirement communities in the United States. As a large metropolitan area, Orlando has a relatively strong healthcare industry and there is no shortage of entertainment options for people of all ages, more so than in many smaller cities in Florida.
It is also located in the center of the state, protected from the worst storms that hit its coast. As a Gulf Coast community, Sarasota isn't immune to high home insurance rates and rapidly rising home prices, but its property taxes remain reasonable. It has more theaters, gardens, senior centers and golf options than any other retirement destination in Florida. Like other Floridians, Pensacola residents pay no state income taxes and enjoy several additional tax benefits for seniors.
However, even older residents are not immune to a 7.5% sales tax. And while Pensacola has a recognized hospital, some older people may need to travel for very specialized care. Have you been shoveling snow for 40 years and are you dreaming of a place in Florida where you can relax, live on Social Security and your savings, and enjoy the sun all year round? It's a beautiful fantasy, and it can turn into a beautiful reality if you're careful where you're going to stop. That depends on what you want.
Looking for a major metro station? Probably Orlando. Friends and other retirees? The villages. Close to a major subway station, but not too close? Lakeland is a good place. Beaches? Pensacola and Sarasota have them. Get expert advice delivered straight to your inbox inbound.
The only “job” you have to do now is to choose the retirement destination of your dreams. And if you're reading this, you've probably already chosen the Sunshine State as your retirement paradise. But where exactly in Florida is the best place to retire? But before you begin, know that ultimately, the best way to get information about any of these places is to talk to a real estate agent who actually lives in Florida. The Florida agents we trust are local experts and can guide you in making your best retirement housing decisions. While Tampa is great, its coastal suburbs in Pinellas County are what really attract retirees.
They offer another front-row seat to those beautiful Gulf Coast shores. Visit places like Palm Harbor, Belleair, and Indian Rocks Beach. While each of these beach areas is mostly uncrowded, choose Belleair if you want a more private community environment. Wherever you live in Pinellas County, you'll find plenty of opportunities for boating, fishing, swimming, and exploring.
In addition, you can take your grandchildren to visit the Suncoast Primate Sanctuary Foundation in Palm Harbor to see more than 130 chimpanzees, monkeys, orangutans, tropical birds and reptiles. 29 Cocoa Beach is a beautiful place to retire located right on the Space Coast. The Space Coast is located in east-central Florida and is named for housing the Kennedy Space Center and the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. There you can observe how NASA and SpaceX launch rockets into the sky.
Cocoa Beach is surrounded by water. You have the Atlantic Ocean on the east side and the Banana River on the west side, so you can enjoy dipping your toes in the sand one day and floating in the river the next. Another interesting thing about Cocoa Beach is that there are a ton of unique local restaurants that serve a wide variety of food, such as island cuisine, Thai food, barbecues, tacos, and pizza. Boca Raton means “rat mouth” in Spanish.
The truth is, Boca Raton is an incredible place to retire. It's just an hour north of Miami, so you can enjoy all the fun of a big city without having to get stuck with its high prices or loud, crazy lifestyle. Boca Raton itself has eight kilometers of Atlantic coastline and 47 parks with green natural trails to explore. 55 The city is also a fashionable place for shopping with its luxury malls, specialty stores and department stores, so you'll have no problem building your heavenly wardrobe.
Do you want to explore even more cities in the Sunshine State? Check out the best places to live in Florida. If you want to be financially prepared to spend your golden years in the Sunshine State, the best way to do that is to work with a financial advisor, someone who can help you keep your retirement investment on track and plan expenses you may never have thought about. Obviously, your best option is to pay for your Florida home with 100% cash. To do this, save as much money as you can after selling your current home for use in your Florida home. Now is most likely a good time to downsize, so the money you make with your current (larger) home should be enough to cover your next (smaller) home.
If you know the Florida city where you want to retire, the next step on your Florida moving checklist is to find a real estate agent. To quickly and easily find the best agents in Florida, try our RamseyTrusted program. We carefully select the leading agents in their markets and regularly advise them to provide you with excellent service. This is how they earned the right to be called RamseyTrusted.
Are you moving to Florida? Find all the information about relocation and checklists you need for a successful move, including the pros and cons of Florida, the cost of living, schools, jobs, places to live, and things to do. This city in the Florida Panhandle, located near the border with Alabama on the Gulf Coast, manages to avoid most of the storms that hit the south and west coasts. The state is experiencing an overall boom right now, with four Florida cities among the ten fastest-growing cities in the country. The northwestern fringe of Florida is known as the Panhandle because the farther south you go, the more you feel like you're in a frying pan (mockery).).
A recent study by the Tax Foundation found that Florida ranked 11th in the nation in terms of low taxes, with a total state and local tax burden of only 9.1%. Florida's healthcare system isn't well-liked (it's ranked 40th out of 50 states in a recent study), but healthcare is definitely affordable for most Medicare beneficiaries. One of the reasons this is a great place to spend your golden years is that it's one of the safest places for retirees in Florida. If you didn't know, Florida's beaches along the Gulf of Mexico have sugar-white sand and emerald-green waters, desirable qualities that make them stand out among the beaches on the east coast of Florida.
The average PTI in Florida is 6.9, so the average Florida resident would have to work nearly seven years to afford housing. While home values here have risen quite a bit in recent years, the sharp peaks of other Florida cities haven't been recorded.
