10 Affordable Places to Retire on the Water

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Where the heck do they get these cities? Lake Jackson TX is close to Galveston on the Gulf. That means hurricanes, and the air pollution is awful. It is the home of a GINORMOUS Dow Chemical refinery. While I love Houston and Galveston dearly, the air is not good. Often, it reeks and is nauseating. Other than that, Houston itself is cheap to live in, and is a really fun town with awesome shopping, culture, nightlife, dining, and cheap fares to Mexico. But once again, what keeps Houston from being perfect (other than the traffic and sprawl, but hey) is the noxious, awful, stinky air. It is a huge shame.

bambambam of TX 5:36AM December 24, 2011

Check out Holiday Island if you want to live on a big lake with plenty of room to boat and a variety of fishing including trout and walleye toward the Dam of Beaver lake and bass and crappie the other direction. We have scenic mountains surrounding Holiday Island and our own marina. You put 27 holes of golf, two swimming pools and plenty of recreation including kayaking rivers close by, it is a water paradise, Low cost, low crime, low traffic, low property taxes, and entertainment and great dining near by at Eureka Springs and Branson, it is truly the Natural Destination for those retiring or those just vacationing. I have retired and have lived here five years and found it to be the best place in the country to live. check out holidayisland.org

Vernon Anderson of AR 1:04PM August 06, 2010

Your property should be next to a National Forest or State Park.
Then look at access to Health Care & Town Amenities.
The opportunities will soar way above only 10.
Include Snowbirding, and choices multiply even more.
I SnowBird between Florida and Utah.

FuzzyThinker of FL 5:57PM July 13, 2010

As promised smithlakeretirement.com is online. Also view smithlakereitrement.net for
even more information. All that can be said to all of you who love our placid life style on the lake is, "what took you so long?"Enjoy We're in the foothills of the mountain
chain that offers serene living at affordable prices.

George Curley of AL 2:09PM February 26, 2010

Watch for www.smithlakeretirement.com your new retirement information site. Designed for you by someone who has survived retirement on a budget in this pristine setting. Site should be updated prior to Thanksgiving 09 and continue with new videos
every few weeks.

George of Winston of AL 9:31PM November 17, 2009

If you want to live on water..then I recommend Newport Beach, California, on the peninsula there, that was once called "Balboa".
This is a small community composed largely of professional people. John Wayne is buried there and had a home there for many years. Red Skelton had a home there, and loved it. Shirley Temple had a summer home there, and many, many more. Desi and Lucy loved it, and had a home there. It is reachable for anyone who wants to enjoy that sort of life. You will never get closer to Heaven on Earth than in Newport Beach..!
Boating of all sorts is available. Swimming and fishing of all kinds. There is a small amusement park on the bay. You can purchase or rent a home or apartment of any size. Lawn care is minimal, hired help is easily available. There are many GREAT eating places on both the peninsula and the island.The weather is pretty nice year round..a little cooler in winter..warmer in summer, but always comfortable. There are shops and botiques, featuring many unique items. Spending a day there is a delight.
There is ferry transportation between the island and the peninsula, which is fun..and does not take long. So get your "Balboa Blues" there and put them on ..and go to the beach and buy yourself a "Balboa Bar"..and look it over.
If you can live with perfection, that is where it is available. It might take a little time to find and purchase a home that you want there..but it's all available, ocean front, bay front, and plenty of in-between..! All beautiful...all easy care..and closeby are Lido Isle, Little Isle..Cagney Isle (home of James Cagney)..
Really..
Perfection at it's beat..!

Mia Inez Archer of NE 2:59PM November 10, 2009

In the hills of northern Alabama is a pristine lake with 500 miles of shoreline [Smith Lake]. If you plan to retire you might want to check it out. A boat ride would be recommended to see the beauty and rock bluff shoreline.
See you on the lake.....
Eddie Hand
Publisher
Smith Lake Living Magazine
www.smithlakeliving.com

Eddie Hand of AL 8:05AM November 08, 2009

Do better research than the author before you buy. It is Hanford Reach National Monument, not Hanford Beach

tom of ND 7:39AM November 06, 2009

Once again my area is on a top ten list for either affordability or quality of life issues! Year in and year out the Tri Cities of Washington (Richland, Pasco & Kennewick) make a list for top places- top for new business, top for quality of life issues, and especially for affordabilty. We just had another quarter of being the best ACCRA cost of living index metro area in Washington State! Our housing values have been stable, our housing demand is high, our rental occupancy is always above 95%, and the cost of living here is cheap. With all the new jobs created, and all the existing retained, we've managed to survive, relatively unscathed, the downturn of the economy the rest of the country has suffered.
And no, I don't work for the Chamber of Commerce or an economic development agency! I've just lived here my whole life, and having lived in other markets, I keep coming back here for all of the above reasons.

Aaron Johnson of WA 12:28PM October 28, 2009