Wednesday, March 4, 2015

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)

2 comments:

  1. This really sounds like a great place to retire, but I can't leave my home here in Oklahoma. I wish I could afford a winter home there!

    ReplyDelete
  2. The prices for homes and living in general are astonishing. But the information about Florida in general comes as a huge surprise. The tax situation alone would be a real money saver. Nice job!

    ReplyDelete

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