One of the destinations that a lot of people choose to retire in is Arizona. For many years this has been among the most popular retirement destinations for many people. One of those reasons is it has desert weather that is favorable to a lot of people.
Another major reason is the wealth of outdoor activities, which was grown by the early economic wealth of the town that came from raw materials such as copper, gold, and cotton. Retiring in Arizona also offers you an opportunity to enjoy urban settings. You can recreate your life again. Read on and discover more reasons why Arizona is a great place to land for your retirement years.
If you’re planning to retire, one of the hardest decisions that you have to do is find an area where you can settle down and call home. There are several decisions that you need to consider. Some of the significant decisions include the cost of living, weather, activities to engage in just to mention a few. We’ve put together five reasons why this state is one of the most preferred destinations for many retiring individuals.
Why You Should Consider Retiring in Arizona:
1. The Weather
The weather can make or break your experience living in a certain area. When you are retiring, it’s common to look for a place that has great weather. It should allow you to engage in the activities that you have always planned to engage in, so naturally, the weather should be comfortable most of the year.
Arizona is highly known for its extremely warm weather, especially in the summer months. Being a desert climate where the winter temperatures are similar to the summer temperatures in most of the other states throughout the U.S. Being that the state has low humidity it’s easy to find relief. Whereas high humidity gets sticky, hot, and very uncomfortable it makes it difficult to find relief in escaping it. I know for us moving to Arizona from Minnesota this was was something that we really appreciated. With the low humidity, it often feels at least 10-15 degrees cooler then what the temperature actually is. A couple of years ago we went back to Minnesota in May and we were visiting one of the State Parks. The temperature was in the high 60’s, but the humidity was very high. Both my wife and I said to each other that we were sweating more than when it’s in the 90’s here in Arizona. The humidity in Arizona is approximated to be below 60%, which is ideal for most people. There isn’t another state that has humidity that’s as low as that.
The average rainfall in the state is around 3” in the desert and more than 330” in the mountains per year. Did you know Phoenix is called Valley of the Sun? It’s because the majority of the cities in the area enjoy approximately 250 days of sun! Which also makes for a lot of dry and clear nights. A close friend that I grew up with, moved to Arizona a few years before we did. He said he feels so much more relaxed here because you don’t feel this pressure to have to take full advantage of every nice day because you know that tomorrow is going to be just as nice. I can tell you now that we live here that statement is sooo true! I know many individuals mood and just general mental health are greatly affected by a lack of sunlight. That’s one of the big reason’s why we moved to Arizona, my wife could have sun anytime she wanted or needed it and it’s helped her to feel much better! There are also some cities that have cooler temperatures so if you would want a cooler environment, you should consider going to more of the northern towns up in the high country or even Tucson is typically cooler than Phoenix, so that can also be an option as well.
The warm weather can also be good for your health. I know for me personally, I’ve grown up with asthma and since moving to Arizona my asthma has never been better. There are certain months, like when the cactus flowers are blooming in the spring that allergies will be bad for many individuals. Winter is often associated with ailments, and time away from the extreme cold can do you some good. As a person ages, for example, you could develop arthritis. Cold weather often triggers pain when you have arthritis and we know MANY who decided to retire in Arizona for that reason and have found great relief from their symptoms. That’s not to say though they don’t have occasional flareups when different weather systems roll through.
If the cold weather affects your health negatively, you should try to at lease visit Arizona and see how the warm desert climate will do wonders for your health.
The weather in Arizona opens opportunities for you to engage in a lot of outdoor activities. As you age, you may want to enjoy the outdoors more than you ever have before because now you actually have the time to do it! Arizona offers a perfect environment in which you can easily do this. The weather makes it possible for you to stay outdoors for as long as you want. You can even enjoy the outdoors at night depending on where you live as there are few bugs, like misquotes, to ruin the evening vibe. This is something that you can’t say for many other places in the United States.
2. Low Cost of Living
When you are looking for a place to retire, it’s important to find an area where you can afford to live. You may have a fixed income or you may not have a lot of income, and you may also not have the strength or even the desire to work outside the home anymore. If you are dependent on your retirement benefits, you should make them count by weighing all your options and making sure that you get a place that fits your budget. When you are looking at the cost of living, a few areas to consider are the cost of food, housing, hospitals, transportation, leisure activities, and clothing.
Arizona is known to have a lower cost of living than many states. To start off, you can get a nice house at a very affordable price. The increase in those choosing to move to Arizona has motivated the development of a lot of houses by real estate developers. This increased supply has led to lower-priced houses. Therefore if you are in the market to buy a house, you should visit Arizona to find that home from which you can retire and enjoy the rest of your retirement. Buying a house can be very expensive. If you don’t have the funds to buy a house, the next best option is renting a house. Arizona has very competitive home rental rates. When compared to other states, you will notice that Arizona offers rental homes at rates that are lower than the national average and can get a lot of house for your bang, however, have been going up and this is always changing. If you do have real estate questions please feel free to contact my dad, Bruce, at www.leslierealestateteam.com He’s always very helpful!!
Because of the initial wealth of the city, there are a lot of luxurious amenities that you can enjoy. You can enjoy many fun activities without having to break the bank. Even though Arizona is known for all of the great outdoor activities, it offers some indoor ones too. Some of those are the variety of museums, for instance, the Heard Museum offers free general admission each first Friday of the month from 6 to 10 p.m. except in March. The Desert Botanical Garden hosts Community Day the second Tuesday of every month, where admission is complimentary. The Center for Creative Photography in Tucson is free and open to the public, just to name a few. You may find these articles helpful as well 5 Tips Before Visiting Phoenix and 5 Tips Before Visiting Tucson.
Food is also very important when you are thinking of where to relocate. Arizona is known to have very hot weather, which may not be suitable for all plants but it’s definitely suitable for other plants such as grains. You will have an adequate supply that is priced fairly. Also, it is surrounded by states that are rich in food, so you will notice that Arizona seems to have a plentiful supply of wonderful fresh fruit and vegetables available year-round.
One of the things that typically spikes the cost of living in the US is the heating and cooling systems. Cooling your home in Arizona in the summer can be costly especially if your home has large square footage, is a two-story, has bad insulation, and old windows. The average residential electricity rate for Arizona though is less than the national average residential rate for the rest of the country according to our research. During winter, people around a good portion of the country have to use their furnace to keep the house warm during the cold winter months. In Arizona, you have to heat your house minimally, so you are able to save a lot of money during the winter months. Once spring/fall come around oftentimes you don’t have to run the thermostat at all! That’s a great perk to ease the bank account during that time of year. During summer you can expect to see your bill rise but if you are careful with your settings you can regulate so your bill isn’t outrageous.
Finally, you need to think about transportations. You’ll need to move about. Transportation cost in Arizona are fairly reasonable. There are many people who work in the Phoenix area, and there have been measures set to ensure that transportation remains affordable. Both Tucson and Phoenix have a public transportation system using light rail. This can help to ease some of the congestion in the urban areas. So you want to catch a Phoenix Suns or Diamond Backs game? You can hop on the rail system from say Mesa and it’ll take you right downtown Phoenix without the worry of where you are going to have to park.
3. Lots to Do
If you are retired then you’ll have a lot of time in your hands. There are many ways in which you can keep yourself engaged, entertained, and busy. In Arizona there are a variety of activities that you can have fun in that include:
Beautiful Parks
If you enjoy nature, you should know that parks are one of the places you should frequent. You get to enjoy parks and sceneries around the state that are unique to this area and such special places as the Red Rock State Park, Sedona, The Grand Canyon, Kartchner Caverns State Park, Boyce Thompson Arboretum, and Lake Havasu. There are just so many sites to see and experience, you’ll really have an enjoyable time at each of them. If you are working on a limited budget, you can buy a national parks pass, which is very affordable, particularly to seniors, because they get a discounted rate. If you’re 62 years of age or older the cost is $80 for a lifetime pass, unless it’s lost or stolen. If you’re a senior citizen on a fixed budget, you can obtain an annual pass for only $20.
Golf
If you enjoy golf, Arizona is a perfect fit because of the countless golf courses there. Florida is probably the only state that has more golf courses than Arizona. If you want to learn how to golf, this is a perfect place to retire because you will interact with so many golfers who can help you learn. Enrolling into a golf club can be expensive, but in Arizona, there are so many underutilized golf courses. This has led to an increase in golf clubs that charge very low fees especially in the summer months when business slows down with all the snowbirds leaving town, and you will actually enjoy golfing but at a very affordable rate.
Baseball Spring Training
Are you a lover of baseball? Settling in Arizona will offer you a chance to catch professional baseball. In early spring, there are many professional baseball teams that go through their preseason training in Arizona. You get to relax, sit down, and watch the training sessions in awesome Arizona weather. This privilege is unique to Arizona as it’s not in many other states.
Cultural activities
Every state has its own cultures and way of doing things, activities, beliefs, and values. There are a lot of cultural activities in Arizona that are unique to the state. You get to enjoy activities such as the Tucson Folk Festival, Arizona State Fair, the Musical Instrument Museum or also known as the MIM Museum, Western Spirit Museum, Phoenix Art Museum, & the Heard Museum just list a few.
Outdoor activities
Because of the weather and the general structure of the state, there are so many outdoor activities that you can engage in. You can engage in hiking in the Superstition Mountains, mountain bike riding in Sedona, white water rafting down the Colorado River, hang gliding through the desert, or fishing on Saguaro lake. There is so much that you can enjoy doing, it’s hard to name them all!
4. Good Retirement Communities
When you’re looking for a place to settle down when you retire, you need to think about the availability of good retirement communities. Arizona is one of the states where a lot of people choose to retire, and the state is aware of this. This has led to a lot of changes in the way the state is governed, the amenities provided, and the culture of the people in the area. There are so many retirement communities in Arizona! But what makes them good retirement communities?:
First, is the 55+ age restriction. The parks or communities only allow certain age groups to reside within the community so this helps to regulate the riff-raff from disrupting the peace, some places even go as far as having age restrictions in place even for the guests. The appearance of the communities’ exterior is inviting because they are clean, well-kept, and make sure everyone abides by the ordinances set in place to keep things looking nice. Many of these communities have awesome amenities that are suitable for the older friends and some recreational centers that you are bound to enjoy. The amenities are usually run by friendly people who are always willing to help.
Arizona is one of the places that is known to be rich in a variety of healthy food. There are different types of foods that are grown by the locals while others are imported. If you want a unique culinary experience, you need to visit Arizona with all the different cultures that live here and have influenced this unique place. There are also a lot of restaurants that are known to offer high-quality dishes that you will enjoy.
If you decide to enroll in a retirement home, a lot of the region offers meals that are of high quality and delicious. You’ll no doubt enjoy the richness of the culinary experience of this region.
5. Tax Breaks
I first what to state that tax advice can be very complicated and is always changing so it’s best to talk to a tax professional for advice when making decisions.
Tax burden can be very high. When you’re retired, you get a retirement benefit that may not be adequate if you’re heavily taxed. When you’re looking for a place to settle after you’ve retired, you should look for a place where the taxes are lower. Apart from the tax rate, you should also look for an area where the tax breaks will offer you relief.
Retiring in Arizona allows you to take advantage of tax breaks that are here. For instance, the state does not tax social security income. A lot of retiring individuals are dependent on social security income, and when it’s not taxed it allows you with more money to spend on other things.
There are also no gift tax, estate tax or inheritance tax. If you are offered a gift which is common as you’re retiring, you don’t have to pay taxes on it, also you don’t have to pay for the income you get from estate or inheritance. These breaks can make a huge impact!
However, there is a lot more that is taxed. But even when you are taxed, the tax rates are relatively low when compared to the tax charged by other states. For instance, groceries are not taxed. When you study the tax rates and the taxing process of Arizona, you will notice that the state has considered the many people who have chosen to retire in Arizona. There are very friendly terms and benefits that will ensure that you do not spend all your money on taxes.
When you’re retiring, you need to find a place that will be a haven for you. You need to find a location where you can spend your golden days peacefully and gloriously. There are a number of factors that should be used to influence your decision. The main issues are the affordability of the place and the availability of amenities that will make your stay in this location comfortable. There are states that are better than others when it comes to accommodating people in the retiring years.
Arizona is one of the states that can be a safe haven for people who are retiring. There are a lot of benefits that you get to enjoy when you choose to retire here; there is good weather, tax breaks, recreational activities you will enjoy, among many more. If you are looking for a place to spend your retirement days, you should consider Arizona, and hopefully, this article has helped you to see why.
