8355 Whisper Trace | Closed on June 24th 2022 | $405,000

Where to Retire? WalletHub Ranks Florida No. 1

To determine the best state for retirement, WalletHub weighed 45 variables, such as affordability, quality of life and healthcare – and Fla. was, and is, No. 1.

ORLANDO, Fla. – For many people, a Florida retirement means warm year-round weather and no shoveling snow. But retirement living is a big decision. It’s not paradise if you run out of money. A state with good healthcare might have a high cost of living and high taxes. A state with affordable housing may have limited access to hospitals.

To determine which U.S. state was best overall for retirees, WalletHub weighed 45 variables, including affordability, quality of life and healthcare. Florida wasn’t the No. 1 state in many categories, but the study determined that Florida, overall, was the No. 1 U.S. state for retirees considering a move.

According to WalletHub, cost is a major concern for many retirees, and “Even in the most affordable areas of the U.S., most retirees cannot rely on Social Security or pension checks alone to cover all of their living expenses.”

But safety and healthcare also weigh heavily in relocation decisions.

WalletHub’s advice: “If retirement is still a big question mark for you because of finances, consider relocating to a state that lets you keep more money in your pocket without requiring a drastic lifestyle change.”

To determine the best places to retire, WalletHub compared the 50 U.S. states based on those 45 key indicators and came up with a score for retirement-friendliness.

In the analysis, No. 1 Florida had a total score of 61.09 compared to second-place Colorado. For affordability, Florida ranked fourth; for quality of life it ranked sixth; for healthcare, it raked 28th.

Colorado had a 60.94 overall score, but it ranked 13th in affordability and 16th in quality of life. It beat Florida only under healthcare at fifth.

New York and New Jersey hugged the bottom positions, with scores of 41.86 and 37.41, respectively. New York ranked 49th in affordability, 17th in quality of life, and 27th in healthcare. No. 50 New Jersey ranked 50th in affordability, 35th in quality of life, and 33rd in healthcare.

Source: WalletHub

Lesina #804/ Closed on June 21st | $912,500

BE IN THE KNOW – Should I Renovate My Home Before I Sell It?

Some Highlights
  • In today’s hyper-competitive market, buyers are often willing to overlook cosmetic or minor repair needs if it means snagging a home in their price range.
  • With so few houses available for sale today, you may be able to skip the bigger renovations before you sell and cash in on the current demand for your house.
  • Homes that are renovated to a high quality, better than average level and in neutral colors do command a lot of demand and quicker offer, but it may not always make sense to do the renovation and expect to recoup all of your cost or make a big profit.
  • If you renovate it might not be to the taste of the next buyers, for example flooring, kitchen cabinets, etc. Someone may love the home but have different tastes in colors and finishes than what you chose.
  • Some people do not want to buy a home that requires to many major renovations – like kitchens and full baths and flooring. So a renovated home is much more appealing to them than one that needs work. Others don’t mind doing home improvements.
  • It depends on your cost basis and market for your home if renovated. But as the graphs above show, in todays hot market it may be better to just sell your home and skip the headache of the renovations, and cash in on the demand for your house.
  • If you’re ready to move, let’s connect to determine your best next steps in this sellers’ market.

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