Find the Best Places to Retire
Determining the best place to retire starts with you and your priorities. There are hundreds of noteworthy destinations in the United States and abroad, so getting started may seem daunting. But with a little help from ideal-LIVING magazine, you can figure out the best location for you.
What Are Your Personal Priorities?
The Necessities
Even if you already have a city or state in mind, it’s important to sit down and decide what it is you’re looking for in retirement. Most people of or near retirement age gravitate toward living in or near a city to take advantage of all its offerings. And that’s a smart move, especially for your health and wellness. Being close to top medical care makes it even easier to live your ideal life with peace of mind. Plus, you’ve got shopping, dining, and entertainment at your disposal—so when you want to venture away from your peaceful retreat and the goings-on of your community, you can.
From a financial perspective, cost of living should be at the top of your list. One of your reasons for moving may be to escape high rates, so consider areas where your dollar will go farther. Also, look into how retirement benefits are taxed, as well as sales tax and real estate costs.
The Wants
Once you’ve checked off financial and medical priorities, it’s time to look into the type of lifestyle you really want. This is where choosing a new home gets really exciting. As you pinpoint your priorities, you’ll be able to narrow your search and more easily select your destination. Think about things like access to water activities or proximity to family and loved ones. If you’re looking for beautiful championship golf courses, add the best retirement golf communities to your list. Maybe you’re looking for a place to settle with like-minded neighbors. Browse some of the best retirement communities for active adults. From resort living to waterfront retirement communities and everything in between, finding a place that can accommodate your new life is part of the journey, and you get to draw the map.
A Good Fit
The atmosphere of the city you choose needs to feel good, too. You can hunt for the best of anything: best tennis communities, best lake communities for retirement, best master planned communities—the list can go on. Different places are filled with an abundance of unique amenities, and you should look into them carefully, choosing areas that can fulfill your interests and hobbies. But location also matters; broaden your research beyond the retirement community’s amenities. Make sure that the surrounding areas will feel like home even when you venture out.
Research and Explore The Best Places to Retire
Search Filters:
Click to explore the following retirement communities. Request information from multiple communities by selecting the checkboxes to the right and completing the form below.
K. Hovnanian’s Four Seasons at Baymont Farms
Located in Middletown, Delaware, K. Hovnanian’s® Four Seasons at Baymont Farms is a resort-style 55+
active lifestyle community featuring low-maintenance single-family homes. With endless amenities just
outside your front door and an ideal location offering plenty of shopping and dining to explore nearby,
you won’t need to go far to find your next adventure.
K. Hovnanian’s Four Seasons at Baymont Farms features a 6,000-square-foot clubhouse. It’s where you’ll
gather around the grand fireplace of the social lounge and bar area, or enjoy recreation of your choice in
the fitness center, game room, billiard room, card room or aerobics studio. The opportunities to relax,
socialize, and exercise continue outside, where you’ll find an outdoor pool and bar, pickleball courts and
walking trails.
K. Hovnanian Homes has decades of expertise curating exceptional active lifestyles for those 55 and
older. Their other active lifestyle communities in Delaware include K. Hovnanian’s Four Seasons at
Hatteras Hills in Magnolia, K. Hovnanian’s Four Seasons at Scenic Harbor in Lewes, K. Hovnanian’s Four
Seasons at Silver Maple—which was Delaware’s best-selling 55+ community from 2014 until its
completion in 2016.
Contact a Community Specialist to learn more about this amenity-filled community or schedule a tour of
one of the stunning model homes!
Cresswind Charlotte
Encompassing 370 woodland acres, Cresswind Charlotte is a 55+ community in Charlotte, North Carolina. This active adult community is situated away from the congestion of the city but within a 25-minute drive of Uptown Charlotte.
New homes at Cresswind Charlotte are specifically designed for active adults with design with flexible floorplans and hundreds of design and structural personalization options available. Miles of walking trails meander throughout the community, and the 17,000-square-foot clubhouse features a fitness center, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis, pickleball and bocce courts. A full-time Lifestyle Director organizes a full event calendar including fitness programs and clubs for every hobby.
Homebuyers can choose from a collection of 7 floorplans, ranging from 2- up to 4- Bedrooms and designed for optimal flexibility to create a home Built Around You. Kolter Homes offers a minimum of 25 structural options per plan so you can have the ability to add bedrooms, expand garages, second floor bonus rooms and more. Plus, choose from hundreds of design personalization opportunities.
Charlotte is home to NASCAR, Carowinds Amusement Park and U.S. National Whitewater Center. The Nantahala National Forest, Pisgah National Forest and ski resorts at Sugar Mountain and Beech Mountain are close enough for day trips and weekend getaways. Nine designer-decorated model homes open daily.
KOLTERHOMES created the Go Guide to Active Adult Living and Homebuying to help put buyers in control of the homebuying experience. After gathering suggestions from homebuyers, and with guidance from industry experts, KOLTERHOMES developed this comprehensive online guide with the best active adult locations, insider tips, insights, and driving tours. View the FREE guide at www.cresswind.com
Port Ludlow
For retirees, active adults, and remote workers, Port Ludlow is an inviting resort-style community on the shores of Puget Sound in the state of Washington.
Westharbor Homes is building new Port Ludlow residences to the highest environmental standards with energy-saving appliances. In the Ludlow Cove Cottages and Olympic Terrace II neighborhoods, you’ll find a delightful variety of floor plans, including beachfront single-family homes, waterfront condominiums, and spacious villas with fairway views.
The amenities and activities at Port Ludlow start with play on the community’s 18-hole golf course, a scenic layout along the water and through the maritime forest. The 300-slip marina offers complete boating services and launches for kayaks and paddleboards. In addition, there are two community clubhouses with fitness centers, swimming pools, and tennis/pickleball courts. You can also enjoy 30+ miles of walking trails, more than 100 community social clubs, and genuine farm-to-table dining with fresh seafood always on the menu at the Fireside Restaurant.
The nearby towns of Chimacum and Port Townsend feature cafes, bakeries, artisan shops, and grocery markets, plus convenient health care services that include specialty practices. And just a 30-minute ferry ride away is the dynamic city of Seattle, home to some of the nation’s leading hi-tech companies, a thriving cultural arts scene, and major professional sports teams.
When you request more information below, you’ll be on your way to discovering the waterfront lifestyle in the Pacific Northwest at Port Ludlow.
Check out our 360 degree view of Port Ludow by clicking here!
Riverlights
Nestled along the Cape Fear River in the coastal town of Wilmington, NC, Riverlights is a vibrant, master-planned community full of small-town charm. The perfect location makes all the difference – along the Cape Fear River and just five miles from historic Wilmington, rated the most charming beach town on the East Coast with award-winning restaurants and shops. When you live in Riverlights, your days radiate with the positive energy that happens when you live on the water in the Carolina sunshine.
There are plenty of opportunities to walk, run, or ride bikes along miles of trails, kayak in the 38-acre freshwater lake, or roam free in any one of the community’s many parks. Whether enjoying a riverfront walk along the boardwalk and dock, gathering with neighbors for an oyster roast, or watching the sunset on the waterfront, exploration happens here daily. Our Lakehouse clubhouse includes a zero-entry pool with lap lanes, a fitness center, and indoor and outdoor gathering spaces, including a firepit overlooking the lake. Coming soon in 2026, our brand-new Riverhouse clubhouse will feature another pool and fitness center, plus gathering spaces with a scenic backdrop.
Riverlights has home options suited to any stage of life – from new families to active adults easing into retirement – from nine quality homebuilders. The coastal North Carolina community offers 10+ beautifully decorated model homes open daily for walk-ins allowing home shoppers to get a feel for the lifestyle that awaits in Riverlights.
Tundidor Wealth & Investment Group
Welcome to Tundidor Wealth and Investment Group, an office of Cetera Financial Advisors. We are a full-service Independent Financial Planning practice focusing on Retirement, Investment Management, Income Spend-Down Strategies, Wealth Management, Tax Planning, and Estate Planning through our open architecture and unbiased approach. We give our clients the familiarity of a large national brand while providing the flexibility and intimacy of a local boutique firm. Our mission is to help clients grow and protect their wealth while having a one-on-one long-term relationship through retirement and the passing of any assets to future generations. We focus on pre-retirees/retirees, high net worth investors, and business owners.
Five Locations!
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630 Freedom Business Center Drive Suite 43 King of Prussia, PA 19406 Phone: 215-375-5984 Fax: (267) 238-3801
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1100 N. Glebe Road Suite 1010 Arlington, VA 22201 Phone: 215-375-5984 Fax: (267) 238-3801
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61213 Culbreth Drive Suite 450 Wilmington, NC 28405 Phone: 215-375-5984 Fax: (267) 238-3801
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501 E. Las Olas Blvd Suite 200 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 Phone: 215-375-5984 Fax: (267) 238-3801
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991 US Highway 22 Suite 200-210 Bridgewater, NJ 08807 Phone: 215-375-5984 Fax: (267) 238-3801 |
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PGA Village Verano
PGA Village Verano is a gated, new home community in Port St. Lucie, FL. This neighborhood features nineteen unique floorplans ranging from 2- to 4-Bedrooms and a wide range of personalization options.
PGA Village Verano’s clubhouse, Club Talavera, is the centerpiece of the community. Residents enjoy access to resort-style amenities that include South Florida’s largest, private Pickleball Center featuring 27 courts. The Talavera Fitness Center includes an indoor pool with lap lanes & apa; locker rooms with saunas; cardio studio; full strength training & cardio center; tennis, bocce and basketball courts; and a resort-style outdoor pool with cabanas and sundeck. As the only master-planned, new home community affiliated with the PGA Golf Club, our residents enjoy golf cart access and special privileges to our award-winning neighbor. The Talavera Social Club is the perfect place to gather, and features billiards & card rooms, lounge, library, demonstration kitchen, arts & crafts studio and ballroom with catering kitchen. A full-time Lifestyle Director keeps the social calendar full of activities and events.
Verano’s new SmartFIT Training Center also offers PGA Village Verano residents a cutting-edge, easy-to-use circuit training system as part of Kolter’s exclusive partnership with global fitness leader EGYM.
Aldea Savia – Mexico
Aldea Savia is a thoughtfully designed residential development located in the booming area of Tulum, combining modern amenities with the natural beauty of the Mexican Caribbean. This community was created with a focus on sustainability, wellness, and a deep respect for Tulum’s natural environment. Positioned near Tulum’s beaches, vibrant downtown, and archaeological sites, Aldea Savia offers residents easy access to some of Tulum’s most sought-after destinations, appealing to both residents and vacation rental clients.
Investing in Aldea Savia means choosing a development that aligns with Tulum’s unique vibe and that benefits from a developer with a proven history of delivering quality projects. Aldea Savia is a solid, long-term investment opportunity for personal use or rental income.
Amenities:
- Residential pool
- Children’s pool
- Recreation area
- Pet park
- Panoramic infinity pool
- Pergola barbecue area
- Coworking space
- Visitor parking
- Bicycle parking
- Two air-conditioned gyms
- Hammock area
- Children’s play area
- Padel court
Bay Creek
Located along the sparkling waters of the Chesapeake Bay, Bay Creek is a community where coastal living is defined by a deep appreciation of family, nature, and authentic shore experiences. Set upon 1,720 lush acres along the Chesapeake Bay, our community is a natural wonderland, enhanced with exceptional amenities and rich experiences. Distinctly designed homes and neighborhoods are set among hundreds of acres of lush nature preserves, waterways, and interconnected trails—the welcoming backdrop for your family’s next great adventure.
Bay Creek is the first golf resort in the country to feature Signature courses from two of the top names in golf: Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. Both of these award-winning courses enhance the natural beauty of the land, employing acres of dunes, mature trees, and well-protected greens to create a challenging course for all skill levels. And with holes on the Chesapeake Bay and along Old Plantation Creek, it’s no wonder The Wall Street Journal ranks them among the “Top 100 Residential Golf Courses in the United States.”
This is coastal living at its most satisfying. A lifetime of memories will begin the moment you make this place home. ‘Home’ at Bay Creek is both varied and distinct. Ten exceptional neighborhoods each with unique character, offer homesites of varying views and sizes, elegant single-family homes, colorful cottages, townhomes, and large, scenic estates. So no matter what your perfect fit is, it’s easy to find yourself completely at home at Bay Creek. The best way to discover this incredible lifestyle, the charm of Cape Charles, and the magic of living on Virginia’s Cape is to experience it for yourself. Contact us to schedule your own Personal Real Estate Discovery Visit with a three-day, two-night getaway to Bay Creek.
Amelia National Golf and Country Club
A Place to Call Home. Amelia National Golf & Country Club, a new home community in Fernandina Beach, FL, provides residents with some of the most sought after amenities. Manned, gated security, 18 holes of immaculate golf from master designer, Tom Fazio, practice facilities, brand new lighted tennis courts, fitness center with spa, and a charming French provincial county club featuring a resort-style pool are just a few of the amenities we offer.
- Manned, Gated Security
- Private Tom Fazio Golf Course
- Low Initiation Fee
- Practice Facilities & Pro Shop
- On Staff Golf Pro
- Use Your Own Golf Cart
- Brand New Lighted Tennis Facility
- On Staff Tennis Pro
- Clubhouse with Full Bar and Dining
- Community Pool with Hot Tub
- State-of-the-Art Fitness Center & Spa
- Homes with Golf & Preserve Views
Location, Location, Location
Amelia National’s close proximity to Amelia Island, the Jacksonville International Airport and the beach make it a highly desirable location for those looking for new homes in Fernandina Beach. Some of the finest restaurants, shopping and attractions are just a short drive from your front door. If you are feeling a little more adventurous, the heart of Jacksonville, St. Augustine and Georgia are easily accessible because of Amelia National’s convenient location just a few miles from interstate 95.
Homes that Meet Your Exact Needs
Luxury homes of grace, beauty and magnificent golf course views. ICI Homes has earned its reputation as Florida’s Custom Home Builder by offering in-house architectural services so you can design your new custom home from scratch or from a favorite plan you’ve found. Or if you’d prefer, you can select from our extensive portfolio of award-winning floors plans, all of which can be totally customized to suit.
Because ICI Homes has built thousands of homes, from affordable villas to breathtaking mansions, ICI Homes benefits from a volume purchasing advantage that ensures your home is built with the best quality materials at the greatest value for your money. Building a brand-new, one-of-a-kind home easy and surprisingly affordable, with home/lot packages starting from the $300’s.
Via Montejo – Indico
Welcome to Indico Apartments, where modern living meets the charm of historic Merida. Nestled in the heart of this vibrant city, our apartments offer a perfect blend of contemporary design and convenience. Located in a prime area, Indico Apartments provide easy access to Merida’s cultural treasures, bustling markets, and trendy cafes.
Indulge in a lifestyle of comfort with our thoughtfully designed living spaces that feature sleek finishes and ample natural light. Whether you’re seeking a cozy one-bedroom or a spacious two-bedroom residence, each apartment at Indico is crafted with attention to detail and a commitment to quality.
Our residents enjoy a host of amenities that enhance daily life. Relax by the sparkling pool or unwind in the beautifully landscaped courtyard.
Convenience is key at Indico Apartments. With on-site parking, a dedicated management team, and 24/7 maintenance services, we ensure a hassle-free living experience. Embrace the urban lifestyle without compromising on tranquility.
Discover the allure of Merida from the comfort of Indico Apartments. Your new home awaits, where modern living and historical charm come together seamlessly. Welcome to a life of style and sophistication in the heart of Merida.
Keowee Key
Looking for the perfect lifestyle community for retirement or to raise your family? Keowee Key has more of what you love. Golf, tennis, fitness center, swimming, boating and pickleball are just a few of the amenities this active, gated, lakeside community offers.
Located at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Salem, SC, and surrounded by the pristine waters of Lake Keowee, Keowee Key is a 1,600-acre community carved out of a forest of hardwood and pines. You’ll find a wide variety of home styles and price points available in a natural setting with mild seasons and an abundance of local adventure.
All homes in Keowee Key are custom-built, including lakefront, mountain or golf-course views. For a maintenance-free lifestyle, you’ll find ample condominiums, town homes and cottages. Choose a lakefront home with private dock or use one of 5 community docks with 324 boat slips, pontoon and kayak rentals, and a supply store.
The challenging 18-hole, par 72 George Cobb Golf Course, features four tee boxes to match all skill levels. A clubhouse with award-winning chef, lakeside leisure trail, three swimming pools, and a dog park, contribute to Keowee Key’s country club lifestyle.
Savannah Lakes Village
Savannah Lakes Village is on the 71,000-acre freshwater Lake Thurmond in McCormick, South Carolina with 1,200 miles of shoreline. The community boasts two championship lakefront golf courses with restaurants and pro shops, fiber-optic Internet to each homesite, a 23,000 square foot recreation center with 6 lighted tennis courts (4 HarTru and 2 hard surface), pickleball, bowling alley, indoor & outdoor pools, sauna, fitness room, private card rooms, library, 50+ social clubs, yoga studio, Rod & Gun Club, and so much more. This is active retirement in its truest form…
We are a short 45-minute drive to Augusta and a 2-hour drive from Atlanta. The community abuts three state parks and offers 100+ miles of hiking and biking trails. With no initiation fees or monthly minimums, low property taxes, and no special assessments, you can live an unexpectedly affordable luxury lifestyle.
Our preferred builders offer many custom home plans and lot-home packages to choose from at whatever price point and product type you may desire.
Come stay and play at Savannah Lakes Village. 2 nights for $199. Visit SavannahLakesVillage.com or call 864-391-5259 to book your tour.
Where to Go From Here
You’ve made your list, and now it’s time to find the perfect place to retire. Whether you’re looking for the best retirement communities in FL or elsewhere, we’ll get you pointed in the right direction. Take a look at some of the guides below to help make the decision easier.






















