Leesburg Florida Affordable Retirement Communities

Florida has been a haven for retirees for the past 50 years or longer.  It has a warm climate, low cost-of-living, affordable homes, and no state income or inheritance tax.  However, many people from northern states are unsure where they should start their Florida home search.  In the November/December 2014 issue of "Where to Retire" magazine, they recommended the small city of Leesburg, Florida.

Advantages of Retiring in Florida

There are many reasons why people from the Northeast and Midwest have long considered Florida the perfect place to retire.  My own parents left their home state of Missouri and retired to Florida in the 1980s and continued to live there for the next 25 years.  In addition in a mild climate, here are some of the advantages:

Below average cost of living compared with other parts of the U.S.
No sales tax on groceries, prescriptions and over-the-counter medicine
No state income tax
No estate tax
No inheritance tax
Typical vehicle registration costs only about $28 to $46 a year


Advantages of Retiring in Leesburg

In addition to the reasons you might want to retire to Florida, why would you specifically choose Leesburg?  What are some the features that make this community so appealing?  Many people are attracted to the fact that it is a small, charming community with low traffic and a relaxed, laid-back lifestyle.  In addition, here are some the features that have drawn retirees to the area:

Excellent healthcare at Leesburg Regional Medical Center
Medical specialists an hour away at Orlando Regional Medical Center
Miles of hiking trails in the nearby gardens, parks and state forests
Over 130 miles of waterways for canoeing and kayaking
Over 150 miles of equestrian trails
Only about 45 miles from Disney World and other Orlando attractions
In Lake County, Florida with more than 1,000 freshwater lakes and rivers
Charming town founded in 1857 with very little traffic
Variety of restaurants, boutiques, outlets, antique shops and thrift stores
February Mardi Gras parade and year-around special events
A summer arts festival and a performing arts series
Only 15 miles from The Villages with its full schedule of public concerts, socials and special events


Active Adult Communities near Leesburg

As the administrator of this blog, I frequently am sent information about charming retirement towns, but the articles often contain no mention of any particular active adult communities that are designed for the over-55 crowd.  Fortunately, Leesburg has several to choose from with a wide variety of styles, sizes, amenities and prices.  Here is a list of the major communities with their price ranges at the end of 2014:

Arlington Ridge - $145,000 to $215,000
Legacy of Leesburg - $140,000 to $210,000
Heritage Hills - $164,000 to $343,000
Lakes of Mount Dora - $190,000 to $500,000+
Zellwood Station manufactured housing - $40,000 to $170,000
Pennbrooke Fairways - $105,000 to $239,000

Apartments are also available in the town for under $1,000 a month.  Homes can be rented for about $1,600 a month and up.

Learn more about the Leesburg area at:

LeesburgChamber.com
LakeCountyFl.gov

If you are looking for more retirement ideas, use the tabs at the top of this page to find links to hundreds of additional articles in this blog's archives.

You are reading from the blog:  http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.com

Photo credit:  http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Motemorris02.jpg (Historic home in Leesburg, Florida)

Lake Ashton Florida Active Adult Community

The Lake Wales, FL area is lovely.

One of the retirement communities that keeps coming up when I do research on over-55 communities is Lake Ashton, near Lake Wales, Florida.  This master planned community has many of the amenities offered in other age restricted communities, as well as some that are more unique because of the access to the nearby water recreational area.  For those of you who are comparing a variety of retirement communities before making your final decision, here are some features of Lake Ashton that may be of importance to you.

Lake Ashton Amenities

1200 Acres that front Lake Ashton
26,000 sq. ft. clubhouse
Two 18-hole private golf courses
Driving Range
Eagle's Nest Sports Pub
Pro Shop
Boat ramp and dock with slips
RV and Boat Storage area
Indoor and outdoor pools, as well as a whirlpool spa
Movie theater with surround-sound
Bowling alley
Lighted tennis and shuffleboard courts
On-site restaurant and lounge
Ballroom
Library
Game room
Billiards tables
Arts and crafts room, including a kiln for ceramics
Computer lab with internet access
30,000 sq. ft. health and fitness center
Personal Trainer and Nutritionist
Indoor Track, basketball and racquetball court
Weight room and aerobics area
Sauna
24-hour manned gatehouse


Lake Ashton "Green" Retirement Homes

The Lake Ashton community is located in Central Florida between Orlando and Tampa in what is known at the Lakeland-Winter Haven area, near the town of Lake Wales, just off Highway 27.  In addition to the amenities within the community, residents are only about a one hour drive from Tampa where they can visit Busch Gardens.  Within a much shorter drive, residents can enjoy nearby Bok Sanctuary (pictured above), Lake Kissimmee, and Cyprus Gardens.  In the other direction, it is also approximately a one hour drive to Orlando, home of Disney World, Sea World and many other amusement parks and attractions.

This region of Florida, located half-way between the metropolitan areas of Orlando and Tampa, is surrounded by citrus groves and rolling hills, and is dotted with lakes.  It is a fun recreational area for people of all ages.  Lake Ashton is an over-55 gated community that has been designed for adults who want to live an active lifestyle.


The homes are certified "green," which means they have extra insulation, energy saving appliances, and indoor paints and floor coverings that are designed to provide better quality indoor air for a healthier lifestyle.

Homes are also designed for beauty and efficiency, with skylights, custom windows, french doors, art niches, built-in entertainment centers, custom countertops and cabinets, jetted garden bath tubs, and other features commonly found in luxury homes.

Single Family homes start at around $150,000, with larger and more luxurious homes selling for up to $450,000.

How to Visit Lake Ashton and Find Out More

One way to find out more about this eleven year old planned community is through their "Great Escape" program.  You can get a special Lake Ashton rate at a nearby Hampton Inn.  During your stay you will have the opportunity to meet current homeowners, get a guided tour, and see the model homes, golf courses and other amenities.

If you want to set up your own Great Escape, call (866) 525-3274 to make the arrangements.

Sources:

http://www.55places.com/florida/communities/lake-ashton
http://www.lakeashton.com/

If you are interested in learning more about your retirement options, you may want to read additional articles from this blog in the section entitled "Great Places to Retire in the United States."  Shown below are all the index articles for this blog.  If you click on one of the titles below, you will find a list of additional helpful blog posts on each topic:

Gifts, Travel and Family Relationships

Great Places for Boomers to Retire Overseas

Great Places to Retire in the United States

Health and Medical Topics for Baby Boomers

Money and Financial Planning for Retirement


You are reading from the blog:  http://baby-boomer-retirement.blogspot.com

Photo of Bok Sanctuary courtesy of www.en.wikipedia.org/commons