The 10 Best Places to Retire in 2012

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These are far from the best in the world. So I really don't understand how this article could possibly be written without research, unless the site has something to sell? You differently can not believe everything you read on the internet! First the US is too expensive i.e. everything here is over priced. Several sites rate it 18th best place in the world, but I disagree. I believe about 36th? Do you want to continue to live where anybody can sue you for anything? Do you want to live around people who lost there pensions, jobs, homes etc? You can go into many communities and see abandoned houses due to foreclosure. For me the continental US is too cold including Miami! When you eventually need elder care you need to be somewhere in the world that it is cheap, and easily affordable. Why live somewhere there is double taxation? Many countries have very little or no taxes. I don't know any other country that charges property tax year after year. US is 16th in the world for the health services, but the most expensive! Why not live in a land that respect and honor older people? I believe that the housing bubble is soon to burst concerning 55 and older retirement communities! Think about it the material in most adobes do not really cost $411,000! Ah yes let me retire and die in Michigan! US is one of the worlds most dangerous countries! Even if you stay in the US you should buy Canadian dollars to protect yourself from the government printing press. International Living magazine is on line, and is a good start to escape to paradise. Put your money in a offshore financial bank to protect your money e.g. HCSB, and to make it grow. Just rent, and you will be truly free!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Zigsauered 8:12PM October 21, 2011

Not only is Flagstaff a great place but there is a Golf Club family oriented Community that I live in that is as nice as any you will find. The values are currently an excellent opportunity. Check it out www.pinecanyon.net

warren smith of AZ 5:58PM October 21, 2011

Correct, it already fell apart. Rising prices to the point where they are still off 50% plus, where the US average is 36%. Your unemployment is 11%, the rest of the US is 9%. If you can find a job in FL, Naples included, it will pay less than anywhere else in the US. Yes it is a great place for retirees with a SECURE income or high net worth. After the record hurricane years of 2004 & 2005 home owwners shot through the roof and forced many retirees out of their homes. FL has too many surprises to move there on a shoestring budget. Decreasing inventories? Yes, When you owe $400,000 on a place that will only appraise for $200,000 in one of the foreclosure capitals in the US, why put it on the market? Many agents aren't bothering with short sales anymore, so lower inventory. Have a nice day.

Author Ro Stack of FL 9:01AM October 21, 2011

This comment is directed to Ron Stack...Umm, we are talking about RETIREMENT communities, so dinner at 3PM is fine and retirees aren't concerned with bad wages. I live in SW Florida in Collier Cnty, have a great paying job and a thriving side business and am middle class, not uber rich. I've been able to achieve this in just 2 years since I've lived here. I won't even go into decreasing housing inventory and rising home median prices. Point is, it's not falling apart and you don't need to have high net worth to live in SW Fl.

Nella DeCesare of FL 9:53AM October 20, 2011

Homes for $50,000 in Port Charlotte Florida? I must admit, the place isn't bad, it's safe but most of the town has dinner at 3pm and the town closes at 8pm. Just north of there is Venice which has a historic downtown within walking distance to beautiful beaches. Homes a little more but places under 100k available. Sarasota just north of that is world class, art and culture right on the Gulf. You need secure income or high net worth to move to these places because unemployment and wages are the worst in the US right now.

Author Ron Stack of FL 7:05PM October 19, 2011

If you look up the retirement community of Rossmoor, you'll see that many of the home prices are much lower than $411,000. We live in a two story condo, 1600 sq. ft., 3 BR, 2 1/2 bath, with a beautiful view - two of the units in this building just sold for under $250,00. There are units/homes selling from $70,000 to over $1,000,000, depending on the size. Rossmoor provides bus transportation to Bart, which zips you right into San Francisco. There are over 250 clubs and numerous social buildings.

Partricia J Trapani of CA 6:09PM October 19, 2011

I agree with Marilena, with us baby boomers coming into retirement and the stock market and housing prices the way they are, I wont be able to sell my house for Millions and move to a small town. My house is barely worth what I owe now, my 401K is in the toilet.. So where are they getting these places with homes prices at 500K,, lets do some more research in the south. Up in Snow country you have the trouble of buying Heating oil etc.. the extreme temps in AZ where I live my electric bill is 400 a month in a 83 degree home.
I rarely put much value in any of these articles esp at my age of 51 yo. Government raising taxes, ( 35% now ) gas prices, heating oil, food etc.. I may never see retirement unless it is along the Gulf Coast of Mexico, but they have Cartels.

Richard of AZ 10:46AM October 19, 2011

I live in Traverse City and it has everything you would want. Besides the beaches, beautiful water views, woods, dunes, it has an abundance of wonderfully quaint towns up and down the Lake Michigan coast. It is a diner's delight as there are many high end restaurants and established vinyards. The greater Traverse City area also offers many art gallaries, theatres and quaint shops. The skiing and winter sports in the winter draw many people as well as all that this lake area offers all seasons. The people are gracious and the schools are excellent. It is a great place to live and work!

Susan Beattie of MI 8:14AM October 19, 2011

I live in Ithaca and it is indeed a great place, I absolutely love it. But if hydrofracking (shale gas drilling) comes to this area, all bets are off. And Gov Cuomo seems set to allow it starting in Jan 2012.
Nonstop 24-7 heavy truck traffic will indundate the now-quiet rural roads. Taxes in the city will skyrocket, quality of life will plummet as the rural areas just outside of Ithaca become industrialized drilling zones, drinking water will be contaminated with fracking chemicals (because Gov Cuomo decided to protect watersheds of drinking water for NYC and Syracuse, but not places like Ithaca).
All you have to do is visit Bradford County PA, just 40 miles south of here, to see what a disaster fracking will be for the quality of life in Ithaca and Tompkins County.
So if you're thinking of retiring, don't bet on Ithaca just yet.
Much as I absolutely love this town and area, if Gov. Cuomo doesn't act to stop hydrofracking around here, then this will absolutely not be a very nice place to live or retire to, even with the colleges in town...

Chip of NY 5:47PM October 18, 2011

I live in Traverse City, MI. A few years ago, I traveled through 13 states. The plan was twofold. I was looking for an area to relocate my antique business and of course to find a pleasant, clean, water, housing and more. After the trip, it was decided that Traverse City(TC called by locals) was the only place to be. We had it all. To say the least, I stayed here. I've never looked back. Where can you go to have 100's of lake including beautifull Lake Michigan with it's dunes, parks, hunting options, etc. Where can you live wher crime is low, howsing is reasonable, culture is mixed, feativals are as frequent as the weekends! Arts, crafts, sports, warm summers and winters that fill the desires of any skier. We have rivers that are fantastic for kayaking or canoeing. These rivers are full of Brooks, Browns, Rainbows and Salmon.
There is a church for any faith without competative fallout. TC has a Downtown that flourishes with great shops and a street festival every Friday evening. We have a growing Film Festival, National Cherry Festival, Wineries, Breweries and Vodka Distillers. We have cheese shops, vinegar shops, World Famous Ice Cream shops. So much more to see and live. A short 2 hour drive and you can be on Mackinaw Island. This Island has no vehicles. Only horse drawn buggy, and carriages. The movie "Somewhere in Time" was filmed here. Then of course there isThe Mackinaw Bridge! One of the longest suspension bridge in the world! The "Mighty Mac" will take you to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, still only a couple hours from Traverse.
Come visit us here. You will not want to go HOME!

Wayne Pare of MI 5:29PM October 18, 2011