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Cheap Places to Retire

Affordable places to retire in the USA

Where are the cheapest places to retire and the cheapest retirement communities? CheapPlacesToRetire.com is charged with finding cheap places to live and retire. We search for communities with homes you can buy cheap - most for less than $100,000. We do have standards: low crime rate, and low cost of living, along with adequate attractions, recreation, shopping and nearby medical services. If you can spend a little more, say up to $250,000, and you also want to avoid winter, you'll find the best places to retire at our sister site www.GreatRetirementPlaces.com

Where to retire cheap depends on your desired standard of living and your willingness to relocate. The cheapest places to retire generally require forsaking the single-family home in favor of villas, townhouses, and condos, although there are some great single-family homes under $125,000 if your requirements are modest. The current economic situation and housing price collapse represent a great opportunity to find a cheap place to live and retire. Caution is advised, however, as many bank owned homes and short sales suffer from deferred maintenance. We suggest you should rent in the community you wish to buy in for long enough to know if you'll be happy there.

Manufactured Homes Retirement Communities

If you are willing to overlook the outdated stigma associated with manufactured homes, they clearly represent the best value in cheap retirement living. Some of the new and most of the resale manufactured homes for sale are priced well under $100,000. Summaries of the communities we visited in Central Florida are in our Cheap Places Blog - Florida Manufactured Homes Communities

Cheap places to retire in Central Florida

The first region we explored for cheap retirement places was the Central Florida Gulf Coast. Home prices in this region are among the lowest in the state, yet the area is rich in attractions, arts, sports and lifestyle diversity. Most single-family homes in coastal Florida are not cheap, but many multi-family dwellings are. There are plenty of villas, townhomes and condos for as little as $39,000. Many communities have two-bedroom villas and townhomes for under $150,000. We looked at two very nice 2BR 2BA villas in a golf community that included golf membership and greens fees. One was priced at just $112k! Condos offered many more available listings, but many condo communities are higher-density high-rises.

Even though most of us prefer to own, sometimes renting makes sense. Renting allows you flexibility and avoids the considerable expenses of real estate taxes and insurance, not to mention the considerable expense of purchasing a home. If you have or develop serious health concerns, it is easier to transition to assisted living or nursing from renting than from having a home you must sell.

Cheap living in an RV

Cheap places to retire could be anywhere in the USA, especially if you can live in an RV. RV parks are not like trailer parks, your neighbors are fellow Baby Boomer "home" owners whose home happens to have a steering wheel. Living in the confined, but functional space of an RV helps you learn what is really necessary and reduces waste. RV living gives you maximum flexibility; you can find one place you really like and settle in or follow the seasons around the US. Enjoy winter in Florida, spring on the West Coase, summer in the Rockies and fall in New England, for instance.

Financially, you also have flexibility as an RV dweller. Save on taxes by establishing your residency in a state with no income tax; Florida for instance. Move around less often and take advantage of cheaper long term RV pad rates.

Cheapest Places to Retire Abroad

You've read numerous articles about such and such country is the best place to retire. Most of these articles are written by marketing and sales people who offer deluxe oceanfront homes for sale. In reality, most of us (the 99%) just want to live a simple, healthy, happy and comfortable life somewhere when we retire. One of the primary reasons people look for the cheapest places to retire overseas is to reduce their current cost of living. $1000 Social Security checks might be insufficient to exist in the United States, but more than ample somewhere overseas.

Although retiring overseas is not for everyone and there are many obstacles and choices that would have to be made, finding a cheap place to retire overseas is looking more attractive everyday.