This article focuses on Florida’s booming retiree population. Share this information with clients and media outlets. Or, adapt parts of it to use in your Web site, blog, e-newsletter or other business marketing materials.
Retirees appreciate Florida’s lifestyle and value
For retirees, Florida offers an ideal combination of lifestyle and value, says Teri E. McCall, a sales associate with Compass Realty of NW Florida in Destin, “We have the beaches and the golf, lots of shopping, restaurants and nightlife. Our retirees also like having plenty of activities for the grandkids as well. And today’s lower home prices make Florida even more attractive.”
As members of the Baby Boom generation move into their retirement years, Florida remains a leading destination for active adults. In fact, more than 27 percent of all Florida buyers – and 40 percent of repeat buyers – are ages 55 and up, according to the National Association of Realtors® “2008 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, Florida Report.”
Alison Anderson, a broker-associate with Amerivest Realty, Naples, says “Retired people come to Florida for more than just golf and warm weather. Florida provides an excellent quality of life for the money. Retirees know a bargain when they see one.”
On the financial side, retirees benefit from Florida’s relatively low cost of living and no state income tax. They also receive a substantial break on property taxes on primary residences, thanks to Florida’s homestead exemption rules. Plus, in-state retirees can now take along some of their current property tax benefits when they move and buy another Florida home, following voters’ 2008 approval of Amendment 1.
As for a retirement lifestyle, Florida has more than a thousand miles of sandy beaches, more than 1,300 golf courses and thousands of lakes, local and regional parks and recreation areas. Retirees can enjoy boating, fishing, tennis, bicycling or walking outdoors almost every day of the year.
In addition, Florida is home to art museums and festivals, popular concerts, Broadway shows, symphony orchestras, ballet, opera and one of the nation’s largest book fairs, held annually in Miami. Residents and visitors of all ages enjoy the state’s theme parks and attractions, creating memorable multi-generational experiences.
“We are in for a retiree boom, and we are in the right place for it,” said Patricia Osborne, a sales associate with Prudential Tropical Realty’s Port Richey office. Looking at recent Census statistics, Osborne said 10.6 percent of the U.S. population will reach retirement age in the next decade. “That's nearly 32 million people who are ages 55-65 right now,” she said. “Because of our weather, the cost of living and the services already in place, Florida will continue to attract retirees.”