Best Places to Retire for 2018

Best Places to Retire

Planning for retirement is an exciting time. Especially if you’re a get-up-and-go boomer type looking to kick it up a notch for this next life stage.

Forget about weekly bingo at the local American Legion Hall. We’re talking fun in the sun and the kind of lifestyle the twenty-year-old you would have been super jealous of!

Today’s retiree is far from content to be “put out to pasture” with a new rocking chair on the same old porch in the family home. Today’s retiree is selling up and heading south in search of sunshine and excitement.

And where are they headed?

We’ve got the answer right here.

US News & World Report has completed their Annual Report on the Top Places to Retire and Taylor Morrison is proud to offer exciting amenity-rich communities in a whopping 7 of the top 20 markets.

Each region offers a distinctly different retirement vibe. Read on to discover which fresh adventure best suits your personality and needs.

How the Results were Tallied

Ranking America’s most popular retirement destinations wasn’t easy. There are so many factors that come into play when homeowners hang up their working shoes and search for a brand-new retirement home.

Some of the data is compiled according to hard and fast statistics. Stuff like net migration and the job market. You might not think that unemployment rates matter to a retiree but as a general rule, low unemployment and a high migration rate mean that somewhere’s a pretty darn good place to live.

Why else would so many folks be flocking there?

And since price matters, the survey absolutely takes into account value for money. Not just for real estate, but also the cost of living in general.

Subjective indices like quality of life and desirability are more challenging to define. Here are the criteria used by US News & World Report to come to their conclusions:

  • Crime Rate
  • Quality of Education and Availability of Colleges & Universities
  • Average Commute Time (Sure, you won’t be commuting but you don’t want to get stuck in a traffic jam on the way to your tee time, either!)
  • Availability of Health Care
  • Overall Well-Being – Satisfaction is measured according to these 5 areas: purpose, social, financial, community and physical.

Without further ado, let’s find a place to retire.

#1 Sarasota, Florida

Sarasota is best described as a full plate of paradise with just enough reality to keep you honest.

With year-round gorgeous sunny weather, world-renowned beaches and a thriving art and culture scene, it’s easy to see why new homes in Sarasota, Florida are a hot commodity for those looking to chill out in their sunglasses.

Whether you’re after the country club lifestyle, quiet preserve view or a low-maintenance luxury condo, Sarasota real estate has what you’re looking for:

Bellacina by Casey Key in Nokomis, Florida

  • 1,689 to 2,740 sq. ft. | 2 to 4 Bedrooms + Den | 2 to 4.5 Baths | 1 to 2 Story | 2 to 3 Car Garage | Available Homes

Esplanade Golf & Country Club at Lakewood Ranch, Lakewood Ranch, Florida

  • 1,856 to 3,486 Sq. Ft | 2 to 4 Bedrooms + Den | 2 to 3.5 Baths | 1 to 2 Story Homes | 2 to 3 Car Garage | Available Homes

Esplanade Golf Club at Lakewood Ranch Condos, Lakewood Ranch, Florida

  • 1,616 to 1,632 Sq. Ft. | 2 Bedrooms + Den | 2.5 Baths | 1 Story Condos | 1 Car Carport | Available Homes

Esplanade on Palmer Ranch, Sarasota, Florida

  • 1,689 to 3,006 Sq. Ft. | 2 to 4 Bedrooms + Den | 2 to 3.5 Baths | 1 to 2 Story Homes | 2 to 3 Car Garages | Available Homes

Legacy Estates at Esplanade on Palmer Ranch, Sarasota, Florida

  • 2,862 to 4,789 Sq. Ft. | 3 to 5 Bedrooms with Den | 3 to 4.5 Bathrooms | 1 to 2 Story Homes | 2 to 3 Car Garages | Available Homes

# 9 Austin, Texas

Music, music and more music. Austin’s live music culture put the capital of Texas on the national map for tourism and relocation alike.

But what’s not so well known is how Austin’s real beauty lies in the Texas Hill Country.

From watersports on quiet lakes to stunning vistas from your living room, there’s a reason why more people are choosing to live outside the city and visit Austin’s storied nightlife on the weekends.

And to up the ante, amenity-rich master planned communities like Heritage at Vizcaya bring vacation-style bliss right to your doorstep.

Heritage at Vizcaya

  • 1,344 to 2,169 Sq. Ft. | 2 to 3 Bedrooms | 2 to 3 Bathrooms | 1 Story Home | 2 Car Garage | Available Homes

#11 Dallas / Fort Worth, Texas

The appeal of retiring in Dallas is simple. The city offers the perfect blend of traditional Texan cowboy culture and modern urban delights.

It’s a big city with a small-town community feel. Discover all Taylor Morrison communities in DFW.

Home prices are very reasonable given the size of the metroplex. You can buy a new construction home with waterfront amenities on Lake Lewisville from the $300s!

Waterford Point at the Tribute

  • 1,601 to 3,787 Sq. Ft. | 2 to 3 Bedroomss | 2 to 4 Bathrooms | 0 to 1 Half Bathrooms | 1 Story Home| 2 to 3 Car Garage | Available Homes

#12 Houston, Texas

Eating out is a way of life for Houstonians. With 11,000 restaurants to choose from, how could it not be?

And what’s best? An evening out on the town costs less in Houston than similarly sized cities across the country. A perfect choice for those who prefer to leave the cooking to the pros.

Houston is home to our popular Bonterra brand. Offering age restricted communities for buyers seeking a 55+ community in Houston.

Bonterra at Cross Creek Ranch

  • 1,606 to 2,878 Sq. Ft. | 2 to 3 Bedrooms with Den | 2 to 3 Bathrooms | 0 to 1 Half Bathrooms | 1 Story Homes | 2 Car Garage | Available Homes

Bonterra at Woodforest

  • 1,606 to 2,878 Sq. Ft. | 2 to 3 Bedrooms with Den | 2 to 3 Bathrooms | 0 to 1 Half Bathrooms | 1 Story Homes | 2 Car Garage | Available Homes

Visit Taylor Morrison Houston today.

#15 Fort Myers, Florida

The City of Palms continues to be a yearly staple on the Top Places to Retire countdown. Simply put, Fort Myers and Naples are the stuff that Florida dreams are made of.

Close your eyes and think of the first image that comes to mind when you hear, “the Florida lifestyle.”

That image. It’s Fort Myers.

Esplanade at Hacienda Lakes

  •  1,689 to 3,144 Sq. Ft.  | 2 to 4 Bedrooms with Den | 2 to 3.5 Bathrooms | 0 to 1 Half Bathrooms | 1 to 2 Story Homes | 2 to 3 Car Garage | Available Homes

Esplanade at Hacienda Lakes | Twin Villas

Esplanade Golf & Country Club of Naples

  • 1,856 to 3,486 Sq. Ft. | 2 to 4 Bedrooms with Den | 2 to 4 Bathrooms | 0 to 1 Half Bathrooms | 1 to 2 Story Homes | 2 to 3 Car Garages | Available Homes

Esplanade Golf & Country Club of Naples | Coach Homes

  • 1,717 to 2,272 Sq. Ft. | 2 to 3 Bedrooms with Den | 2 to 3 Bathrooms | 0 to 1 Half Bathrooms | 1 to 2 Story Homes | 1 Car Garage | Available Homes

Esplanade Golf & Country Club of Naples | Condos

  • 1,616 to 1,632 Sq. Ft. | 2 Bedrooms with Den | 2 Bathrooms | 1 Story Home | Available Homes

#17 Raleigh & Durham, North Carolina

If green space, craft breweries and mouthwatering barbecue sounds like the perfect way to spend a Saturday, you might want to take a peek at what’s happening in Raleigh & Durham.

This booming metro is young, educated and diverse. The perfect combination to keep the local energy high and provide a vibrant environment for active retirement years.

Grandin Trace

  • 1,800 to 2,700 Sq. Ft. | 2 to 4 Bedrooms | 2 to 3 Bathrooms | 1 to 1.5 Story Homes | 2 Car Garage | Explore Floor Plans

#20 Orlando, Florida

A city with many faces.

From charming oak lined boulevards to world class theme parks to a vibrant downtown, Orlando hits for the cycle. And despite its reputation for being “inland” it’s only an hour to hit the coast and be at a famed Florida beach.

And better yet, Taylor Morrison has brought our luxurious Esplanade brand to the area:

Esplanade at Highland Ranch

  • 1,722 to 2,930 Sq. Ft. | 2 to 3 Bedrooms | 2 to 3 Bathrooms | 1 to 2 Story Homes | 2 to 3 Car Garage | Available Homes

Discover Your Happy Place for Retirement

The new home communities listed here are just the tip of the iceberg. Explore more retirement worthy destinations from sunny So Cal to Phoenix, Atlanta and more.

Wherever it is that you want to unwind and spend your golden years, we probably build new homes there.

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All information (including, but not limited to prices, views, availability, school assignments and ratings, incentives, floor plans, exteriors, site plans, features, standards and options, assessments and fees, planned amenities, programs, conceptual artists’ renderings and community development plans) is not guaranteed and remains subject to change, availability or delay without notice. Any community improvements, recreational features and amenities described are based upon current development plans, which are subject to change and under no obligation to be completed. Maps and plans are not to scale, are not intended to show specific detailing and all dimensions are approximate. Prices may not include lot premiums, upgrades and options. Community Association or other fees may be required. This communication is not intended to constitute an offering in violation of the law of any jurisdiction and in such cases our communications may be limited by the laws of your state. Please see a Taylor Morrison Community Sales Manager or Online Sales Manager for details and visit www.taylormorrison.com for additional disclaimers. For our Age Qualified Communities only: At least one resident of household must be 55 or older, and additional restrictions apply. Some residents may be younger than 55 in limited circumstances. For minimum age requirements for permanent residents in a specific community, please see Taylor Morrison Community Sales Manager for complete details.