The average age of retirement is 62 but the average age of death at 78.6 that leaves us with over 15 years to fill. Many people at the age of retirement choose to downsize.

Maintaining a large home takes a lot of work and money. Most retirees don't want to spend their hard-earned free time on yard work and repairs. Which is why many retirees look to purchase a condo and some even relocate to another part of the country.

But if you're going to go through all that effort, you want to find the perfect place and home to live out your golden years in comfort and style that's still affordable. Which is why many retirees are looking to move to Myrtle Beach, SC.

We want to help you find the perfect spot to call home for many years. With that in mind, keep reading to learn how to find the perfect retirement condo in Myrtle Beach.

Retirement Condo

Retirement Condo Location

Your first order of business is to determine where you want to live. Some seniors focus only on finding a place where only seniors are allowed. Usually, that starts at 55 plus but some places have their cut-off around 65 years of age.

If you're looking to move into senior condos, your first order of business is to figure out where they are located. While senior living condos are in every state, there may not be any in the town you currently live in.

You may also decide you want to live somewhere else in the country. If you choose to move, you'll have to figure out if you want to move closer or further away from your family.

Also, the weather will play a huge factor in your life. If heat and humidity bother you, then a senior condo in the south may not be for you. If however, you hate the cold and never want to see snow again, then South Carolina is a great option.

Not everyone wants to purchase a condo for seniors only. You may prefer to live out your golden years surrounded by people of all ages rather than within a community filled with members of your own generation.

Retirement Taxes

Taxes and Other Expenses

When you're retired, your income levels are much lower than when you were working full time. Due to retirement and often, health issues, many seniors are on a fixed budget.

Certain states like New Jersey are known for their high taxes. Those on a fixed income should look to move to states with lower taxes to help make their money last longer.

Most retirement villages and even condos also have added on monthly fees you're expected to pay. Most of the fees go towards shoveling the snow, landscaping, and other types of maintenance but how much they are varies depending on where you're planning to live.

Make sure you fully understand the extra expenses you'll have to pay before you decide which retirement condominium you want to spend the rest of your days in.

Choose Whether You Want to Rent or Buy

Right now, it's more expensive to buy a condo than to rent one in every state. However, before you move to a senior condo, there are more considerations you need to make.

If you decide to buy your own condo, you can decorate it however you want. It's also yours to sell, you can take out equity, and it's something you can pass down to your heirs.

If you choose to rent a retirement condominium, when something breaks, there's someone else there to fix it for free. And if something like a major appliance breaks and can't be fixed, it's replaced by the management company, not you.

Work With a Realtor

Trying to find the perfect retirement condo on your own will take a lot of work. Unless you know exactly where you want to be, it's a good idea to hire a realtor.

A realtor is going to know exactly where all the senior living condos are located. They'll also help you narrow down your search without feeling overwhelmed by the vast amounts of choices you can make.

Realtors also have an ongoing network of people and vendors who keep them in the loop whenever a new condo is available. They can also help you search in your price point and make sure you get the best deal.

Also, if you need to sell your home, a realtor will make life a lot easier and less complicated. A realtor can also help you ask the questions you didn't even know to ask.

Retirement condo at the beach

Look Beyond the Glitter

Most retirement condo communities come offering a wide array of activities for seniors. Many have swimming pools, tennis courts, and even golf courses.

While this looks and usually is, impressive, your goal is to look beyond the glitter to see what's really going on in the background. The worst thing you can do is end up in a senior condo where the administration is completely useless.

Don't just take one tour of any retirement condominium you're looking at. Staffing levels and senior activities may vary at different times of the day. Maybe you walked in during chair yoga which happens to be the only health class offered that's halfway decent.

Talk to as many staff members as possible. Ask them how long they've worked there for. Turnover is high at senior living condos due to the low pay. Look for a senior condo where the staff is invested in their careers.

Don't forget to talk to the residents as well. While they might look happy and healthy at first glance, you don't want to end up stuck in a community with angry, petty people who make you feel like you went back to 7th grade.

Retire to Myrtle Beach

Look at the Various Levels of Care Offered

Some retirement condos offer no care at all. You simply are a resident and are allowed to enjoy the amenities but if something happens to your health, it's your responsibility.

Not all senior living condos are like that. Many offer a range of care to their residents.

Some offer round-the-clock nursing care for individuals with serious medical needs. Others offer 24-hour supervision to provide additional assistance with daily living but are otherwise healthy individuals.

Other communities are known as continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs). These senior living condos provide access to care when and if they need it. There are different levels and residents can move in between these levels as they need to.

Also, don't forget to consider the fact that while you may have your health and energy at this point, things can change at any moment. If you're planning on living out the rest of your days at the same senior condo, take into consideration possible future health requirements.

 

Faith-Based Communities

Some people may want to live the rest of their lives in a faith-based retirement condominium. Many retirement communities are owned and operated by faith-based organizations.

Faith-based senior living condos offer opportunities to make friends and provide fellowship with other residents who share similar values and morals. This may help to provide someone moving to a new residence with the reassurance that at least they have their faith in common with their new neighbors.

Many new residents feel as though they're treated like old friends and already have a built-in community to come home to. Of course, those from different religious backgrounds and walks of life are always welcome at faith-based retirement communities.

Activities

As we've already mentioned, most senior living condos offer a wide array of fun-filled activities. That doesn't always mean you want all the extra bells and whistles.

Find out what the residents at the retirement condos like to do for fun. See what types of extra amenities are offered on the campus itself.

Then look to see what types of amenities are offered off-campus in the surrounding town or neighborhood.

Whlie it's great that your community may offer a wide variety of extracurricular activities if the town doesn't have basic amenities like a grocery store, pharmacy or a few restaurants, that may become problematic.

It's also a problem if there are no nearby hospitals or quality doctors in the nearby area.

Also, not everyone wants to move to a retirement condominium and become the life of the party. Some people prefer a quieter lifestyle with only a few good friends in order to call a place home.

And if you hate golf but the golf course is the premiere attraction at your senior condo, this may not be the place for you. Make sure you enjoy the type of lifestyle offered at your senior condo.

Condos with Low Maintenance fees

Focus on Low Maintenance

You didn't work your entire adult life to use your retirement for doing chores around your home. Unless you really enjoy doing that type of stuff, it's probably a better idea to find a senior condo that handles all that stuff for you.

Also, let's face it. You're not getting any younger. As you age, basic tasks become harder to perform. You may find your energy isn't what it once was.

It's also entirely possible for you to suffer from a major health problem. Even a small stroke could leave you unable to walk. While it's a scary thought, the time is now to start making arrangements for possible "what ifs".

Focus on finding a senior condo that is easy to maintain. Consider downsizing and getting rid of everything you are no longer using, no longer need, and no longer want.

Smaller space means less time cleaning. Make sure your lawn care and landscaping needs are handled by someone else.

Figure out what your next steps are should you become incapacitated and communicate those wishes with your children. Get your will in place and let someone know where you keep it.

The more you prepare ahead of time, the easier the transition. And the more you focus on finding senior living condos that are fully maintained, the more you can focus on enjoying your life after you move.

Always Read the Fine Print

If you choose to live in retirement condos for seniors where healthcare and other services are offered, there's a chance you may have to sign a contract.

Even in basic retirement villages, there are rules and regulations you should be aware of before you decide to move there. They may have a say in what decorations you can put up and what trees you can plant in your yard.

At senior facilities where healthcare is offered, it's perfectly legal for the establishment to ask a resident to leave if they are becoming a problem. A problem may be that you are simply getting too sick for them to properly care for you.

Another reason residents in senior living condos are asked to leave is for behavioral problems. If a resident becomes abusive or combative, it's common to ask them to leave to ensure the safety of the other residents and staff members.

Know in advance what might trigger the decision to have you removed from your home. Then make sure you determine what the next course of action you and your family need to take should you find yourself in this position.

What do retirement condos cost

 

 

Cost

You can now find senior living condos in all different types of price ranges. There are those for the extremely wealthy and even those communities willing to accept Medicaid.

Unfortunately, most retirement condo communities don't publish their price list on their websites. The price also depends a lot on the types of amenities offered and in some cases, which services you want to receive.

Keep in mind that not all communities structure their fees and costs in the same way. Some may have hidden fees that can quickly add up if you're not aware of them. If your retirement condo has a kitchen and you ask for room service, you may have to pay extra for that request.

After narrowing down your list of senior retirement condos and taken into account your current and possible future healthcare requirements, it's time to start collecting quotes from them all.

Find a great place to retire

Find Your Retirement Condo With Us

Never be afraid to ask as many questions as you need in order to make the right decision. Your retirement condo may be the last place you call home in this world, so make sure you love it.

We can help you find the home of your dreams. Click here to start your search with us.

You have questions... We have answers! 

Give us a call 843-839-9870. Jerry Pinkas Real Estate Experts. We are here to help! Talk soon.