10 Best Places To Retire In The World

As a person grows older, they consider what may be the ten best places to retire in the world. Decisions have to be made regarding cost of living, lifestyles, and whether one wants to join a retirement community. Choosing the best places to retire isn’t easy.

1. Philadelphia, PA. Most would not imagine Philadelphia as one of the best places to retire, but those accustomed to NYC find the slower pace easy to adapt to. History buffs are at ease and with a typical home price of $375,000, Philadelphia is the perfect location for long-term city dwellers.
2. Lakewood, CO. Mountain living ranks high on the list of best places to retire; Lakewood provides just that. This Denver suburb provides city access and country feel. Average home prices are $230,000 and with a rail service to Denver in the works, Lakewood is a perfect location.
3. Savannah, GA. If you are looking for history and beauty in the best places to retire, Savannah is key. Home prices are a steal at an average of $225,000 and when you combine charm with the beauty of the coast and homes of the 18^th century, one could spend not only their retirement in Savannah, but most of their lives.
4. Fredericksburg, TX. For history buffs, Fredericksburg is one of the best places to retire. The city has never forgotten its German roots, and museums of American history are easily found. Its close proximity to both San Antonio and Austin, plus its low average home price of $220,000, make retiring in this city an easy choice.
5. Boulder City, NV. For those looking to spend their retirement in the outdoors, Boulder City should rank high on their list of best places to retire. One of the rare gambling free cities in Nevada, Boulder City offers tons of activities for summers spent with the grandchildren. Home prices are steep at $315,000, but the beauty of the area makes it a remarkable choice.
6. Surprise, AZ. It should come as no surprise that Surprise ranks on the list of best places to retire. With an average home price of $150,000, residents feel a bit of surprise when they begin to plan their move to the bustling area. Between baseball’s spring training, a state of the art aquatics center and a 30,000 acre park, Surprise has something for everyone.
7. Pinehurst, NC. If golf is one of your priorities when considering the best places to retire, Pinehurst is the dream you’ve been looking for. Even if you have no interest in golf, the small town has everyone feeling like one big family. Although home prices aren’t cheap at an average of $300,000, if relaxation is what you’re looking for, this is it.
8. Traverse City, MI. If beach living isn’t on your list for the best places to retire, consider Traverse City. A population of 14,000 gives you country living with access to top-notch medical facilities and one of the few places that will allow you to see all four seasons. Even though home prices average $250,000, the option for snow or relaxing on the beaches of Lake Michigan makes this town ideal.
9. Palm Springs, CA. If one is considering a place of sun as one of the best places to retire, Palm Springs is beautiful. Housing prices dropped approximately 44% to an average of $250,000. The 332 days of sunshine offered in Palm Springs add to the beautiful mountain views and help offset the higher state income tax.
10. Port Charlotte, FL. While most find Florida to be one of the best places of retire, few know about this gem. With a population of 48,000 and home prices averaging $170,000, this is where to spend your golden years. Real estate prices have dropped steadily since 2005. The miles of coast line and laid back atmosphere make Port Charlotte the place to be.

If you are thinking about going outside the United States to retire, consider these countries as options: Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama or Belize. With lower costs of living and close proximity to the United States, any of these locations could make your golden years your best.

Reference:

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2009/moneymag/0909/gallery.bpretire_top25.moneymag/index.html