The baby boomers have driven the demand for retirement housing through the roof in the last few years, and they are being faced with loads of questions that differ from buying their first, and even second, home. When it comes to buying your potentially last home, there are some things to keep in mind when making your decision. 

Take a look at these top 11 ways to make your move as smooth as retirement ought to be.

1. Acclimatize beforehand . Vacationing somewhere and living there full time can prove to have different weather and temperature patterns depending on the location you choose. Places like Florida, Arizona, and off shore vacation locale’s can be much more seasonal than you might realize during your one week visit. Try taking your trip during the off season, as to better acclimate yourself to the reality of your future home. Here in Montrêux, we are lucky to have 4 distinct seasons throughout the year, so it can be beneficial to visit multiple times throughout the year, so you can get a feel for the differences.
2. Neighborly know-how. During retirement, you’ll hopefully have plenty of free time. With this, as in our Montreux community, you will have the opportunity to attend gatherings within the gates that will bring all of your neighbors together. Take the time to get to know your neighborhood and (at least some of) your neighbors. Whether you befriend them or not, your neighbors can become the more important aspects of your community, so take the time and feel out if a neighborhood is going to be the right fit for your lifestyle.
3.  Next door medical care. Many retirees, whether they choose to pursue an active lifestyle or not (Here in Montreux, it’s pretty hard not to!), need to be sure that there is apt medical care in reachable distance. If there is not medical care within your community, make sure there is some in a short distance. Other options are finding a physician that will make house calls or a community that offers in home care.
4. Less taxing, more relaxing. Here in Montrêux, this is a saying we use often, because it is an important aspect of the lifestyle, as Nevada does not have personal or corporate income tax. When looking for a retirement community, make sure that you have a full knowledge of the local taxation including income, property, and estate, as it can differ greatly between areas. Taxes can change the level of investment you’re willing to make in a certain location and open your eyes to new possibilities that you had not since considered.
5. Get it on sale. Alright, so your home isn’t going to go on sale, per-say, but there IS a good time to buy, and it depends on your desired area. This time frame usually comes in the off-season months when there is little trace of tourist traffic. Down south, this time comes around May and June, when the temperature and humidity rise, whereas here in Montrêux, it comes anytime before May 31. Why? You need to be a Nevada resident for at least 6 months in order to file your taxes and be exempt from certain income taxes. Make sure you’re shopping at the opportune time for the area you want.
6. Do your homework. Different areas and communities around the US took a big hit with this last recession, and some are bouncing back quicker than others. To make sure your desired area of relocation is one that is on the upturn by taking a look at the finances from the Home Owner’s Association, or search the county clerk’s office. If these all check out, you can also ask for the minutes from a recent HOA meeting to see what does concern the community.
7. Familiarize yourself with the process of approval. In the big cities, the boards of condo’s and co-ops are very careful to scrutinize all possible residents, to make sure everyone in the buildings will fit in properly. Some communities have a more strict approval process than others, performed by boards of your future neighbors and peers. If you are inherently private, look into the approval process to make sure it’s one you are comfortable with.
8. Memberships. If you are looking into communities that are full-service make sure that they have a clubhouse and/or fitness centers with membership options. Before you move, make sure you know what options are available to you and if memberships are required to reside in the neighborhood. In some communities, it is mandatory to buy an ‘equity membership’ for the club and in others there is a food and beverage minimum for the year. Here in Montrêux the clubhouse membership options do not come with the purchase of your home, but it is not mandatory to buy one.
9. Look over your social calendar. With all this extra time on your hands, you’ll have more time for games and activities than you may think and the things that your new community is based around can be a determining factor. Popular community activities are golf, tennis, and swimming, all of which are present in Montrêux. Montrêux also has a wonderful and innovative fitness center with exercise classes to keep you in shape and ready for whatever activities call to you.
10. What could be restricting you? There are always certain restrictions in private and upscale communities, whether they are membership restrictions or those instilled by the HOA. Some restrict pets, outdoor grilling, and cigar smoke, whereas others do not allow parking in your driveway (and most don’t allow street parking). Here in Montrêux, there are light restrictions on signage and outdoor decor, as well as no street parking.
11. Partaking in care-taking. Everyone goes out of town or gets ill from time to time, and when this happens, cleaning and taking care of the house does not sound like fun. Some communities offer more opportunities for home care and maintenance than others, so if you are planning on using services of this nature, it’s important to make sure that it is affordable and convenient for you. Using your neighbors and clubhouse can help to point you in the right direction in choosing one.
    

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