Eureka California Retirement

Eureka is on the northern California Coast. Like Crescent City, Eureka offers some magnificent coastal and Redwood forest scenery, hiking, and outdoor adventure wrapped in a sometimes downtrodden city landscape.

Retirement Communities: Yahoo Local lists several retirement communities in the Eureka area

Population: About 25000

Climate: Very rainy with mild to cool temperatures pretty much year-round.

Cost of Living: Moderate to high due to high Real Estate costs

Housing Costs: Eureka Housing Information from Zillow

Taxes: California generally has high taxes. California Tax details are here: http://www.ftb.ca.gov/

Higher Education: College of the Redwoods is based in Eureka and serves the Northern Coastal region. Humboldt State University is located in Arcata California, about 15 miles North of Eureka. Humboldt State is part of the California University System offering up to Masters degrees in many subjects.

Transportation: Redwood Coast Transit provides dial a ride service throughout parts of the region.

Health care: St Josephs Hospital is a major regional health care facility: http://www.stjosepheureka.org

Travel and tourism: Eureka offers Redwoods and Coastal scenery that are spectacular and just a short drive from town either north or south along Highway 101. Consider a trip out to the North Jetty for wave watching and on to the Samoa Cookhouse for lumberjack style meals served family style. Timber was king in this region for many years and for many the Cookhouse brings back the feel of those times. Eureka Chamber of Commerce: http://www.eurekachamber.com

Crescent City California Retirement

Crescent City lies on the Northern California Coast, about 20 miles south of the California - Oregon Border. Home to Redwood National Park and some of the finest coastal scenery in the USA, natural beauty is abundant in this region. Unfortunately the Crescent City economy is not so beautiful with a relatively weak job market with many low paying jobs, leading to some community challenges. The stretch of California Highway 101 passing through Crescent City gives a bad impression of the city, but also reflects the fact that this area is a far cry from the more luxurious standards of California Retirement areas like San Diego and San Francisco.

Retirement Communities: Couldn't find any! If you know of one please let us know.

Population: About 5000

Climate: Very rainy with mild to cool temperatures pretty much year-round.

Cost of Living: Moderate

Housing Costs: Moderate

Taxes: California generally has high taxes. Details: http://www.ftb.ca.gov/

Higher Education: College of the Redwoods

Transportation: Redwood Coast Transit provides dial a ride service throughout parts of the region.

Health care: Sutter Coast Hospital . Sutter Coast Hospital is a 59 bed acute care, community-based, not-for-profit hospital offers many forms of care at the Crescent City

Travel and tourism: Check out the Del Norte Chamber website for information about travel and tourism in this amazing region. The Redwoods and Coastal scenery are magnificent.

Retirement in Birmingham, Alabama

Birmingham is located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountians. It is because of this combination of mountains and rivers that Birmingham has such a wonderful climate. It is said that it is a favorite for retirees who golf, because you can be on the links year-round! In retirement, one must consider carefully thier finances, and Birmingham is amongst the most affordable cities in the Southeast for housing and cost of living. It was also in the top 11 on "America's Most Livable Communities. When we retire, we also must think of accessing good health care, and this city boasts world class health care facilities, including the Birmingham VA Medical Center. Retirement also is the time for fun and pleasure and Birmingham offers an abundance of entertainment, sports events and recreation.

RetireUSA Web Coming soon

We are now in the process of creating the new national database for RetireUSA.net, a big expansion from our Oregon retirement website.

RetireUSA.net will feature information about retirement communities in all 50 US States so you can browse retirement options all over the country. Whether you are looking to retire or helping to find a great place for others we'd like to be your source for Retirement information.

Here at the blog we'll continue to feature articles and links to help you with retirement planning. Retirement offers wonderful opportunities but also some complex financial and lifestyle decisions. Here, we'll try to make that process easier.

Roseburg Oregon Retirement

Our Oregon Retirement website has detailed information from all over Oregon. For example if you are interested in Roseburg Oregon Retirement communities we list several with links and information about each of them. As we expand the site you'll find more details about all the major retirement areas in the USA.

Roseburg is a cozy and comfortable city in Southern Oregon with a mild climate, rich history, and some amazing outdoor adventures within a short drive. There's easy access to the spectacular Oregon Coast about 90 minutes to the west as well as the incomparable Umpqua River Valley to the east. The Rogue Umpqua National Scenic Byways heads up through beautiful waterfalls, past Diamond Lake near Crater Lake National Park, and down along the Rogue River into the Medford Oregon area.

More about Roseburg

Retirement - Common Financial Mistakes

Check out this reprint of a USA Today Article that discussed several common mistakes with retirement finances.

The financial advice regarding retirement issues in finance notes how important it is to *diversify* your portfolio, how you should generally take full advantage of tax free and company subsidized opportunities, and other great tips.

Retirement and Social Security - timing can be everything

Retirement financing is one of the most important considerations for prospective retirees, and for many Social Security is a key component of the money they will expect to get during the retirement years. Business Week offers some excellent advice on how to time your social security for maximum benefit.

Strategic concern for timing of your social security can make a difference in the total payout and benefit to you. Also, be sure to factor in other time critical financial concerns such as pensions, annuities, and IRAs.

One grim but simple question to ask yourself is "how is my health?". If you are very healthy and statistics indicate you'll live longer than the average American, you'll want to factor that into your retirement finance calculations. Some pensions and social security are based on data from "average" people in those groups. If you have reason to believe you'll be living a lot longer or shorter than average it may impact your retirement financial strategies.

West Virginia Retirement

Although West Virginia does not usually spring to mind as the retirement capital of the country, it is one of only five US States that have set up a certification program for retirement communities in the state.

This Retire in West Virginia state website offers free literature by mail and information about West Virginia's new certification program. The state has designated these six communities as having great retirement potential:

Beckley
Bluefield
Greater Morgantown
Lewis County
Nicholas County
Summers County

West Virginia's designation comes after an application process that ensures community viability as a retirement destination:

Designated Retirement Communities, or DRCs, are communities that have undergone a rigorous 12-point application process that ensures that the community does indeed provide the resources and amenities required to be considered as a viable retirement destination.

Financial Planning for Retirement

Financial planning is not always the easiest thing to do and understand. However, when considering retirement, it is a must. Retirees and future retirees have a multitude of resources to access to build their plan. One option that is really set up for retirement is a reversed mortgage. Those retired folks who want to investigate this opportunity, should make sure you have a reputable person to work with. Our local YMCA had a workshop for retired people who wanted to learn more about reverse mortgages. The presenter was a woman who had a great deal of knowledge and told us she got into the business because her mother was retired with very little income, and this option was her ticket to financial stability and a joyful retirement. The website for this mortgage broker is www.golfsavingsbank.com/loanofficers/triciasmith.htm The federal government will also send you a free information packet, just go to www.financialfreedom.com

What I Am Going To Do When I Retire

I often ask people why they chose the retirement community that they did. One woman told me it was because Ashland is a town that loves Art. Now this woman retired from academics, but she aways told herself "when I retire I am going to pursue my passion of art". She is now retired, and living in her favorite retirement community, and is painting away! Her website www.cafepress.com/rdunndalton shows how a retiree can have fun and make some extra retirement dollars at the same time. Retirement truly is the time to explore new ways to live and living in a retirement community that supports your interests is an important factor in making that decision