Oklahoma As A Retirement Destination

[Conan71]

http://biz.yahoo.com/special/retire1010_06_article1b.html#four

[Conan71]

I thought it was pretty cool.  

At least if we don't have the kind of jobs that attract young college graduates, we have enough land to attract them when they retire.[]

[USRufnex]

quote:Chicago is drawing retirees from its suburbs and beyond, despite the price tag: A two-bedroom condo downtown costs roughly $500,000 to $2 million. With office buildings in the South Loop section of downtown getting new life as luxury residences fronting the city's two-year-old Millennium Park with views of Lake Michigan, "we've heard from a lot of developers that roughly a third of the high-rise condominiums going up are being purchased by retirees," says Ty Tabing, executive director of the Chicago Loop Alliance.

This really IS a reason for good downtown dense/urban/walkable developments.  Housing prices have gotten so crazy in so many places that a walkable DT Tulsa could really draw from across the country-- and even from those older Tulsans/suburbanites who may not want to drive as often as they used to.

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by USRufnex

quote:Chicago is drawing retirees from its suburbs and beyond, despite the price tag: A two-bedroom condo downtown costs roughly $500,000 to $2 million. With office buildings in the South Loop section of downtown getting new life as luxury residences fronting the city's two-year-old Millennium Park with views of Lake Michigan, "we've heard from a lot of developers that roughly a third of the high-rise condominiums going up are being purchased by retirees," says Ty Tabing, executive director of the Chicago Loop Alliance.

This really IS a reason for good downtown dense/urban/walkable developments.  Housing prices have gotten so crazy in so many places that a walkable DT Tulsa could really draw from across the country-- and even from those older Tulsans/suburbanites who may not want to drive as often as they used to.

I have to be very careful someone doesn't think I'm biased against retirees, so I'll choose my words carefully. [xx(]

Hmmm, sort of dispels the myth about all the well-heeled retiries moving off to Scottsdale or South Florida.

Interesting USR.

[Jammie]

OK will definitely become a place for retirees or semi-retirees. I often read (and post) on the City Data Forum. Right at the moment, there are two families who live in Az. who are looking at OK.  If you get a chance, slip over and answer to newcomers about your area. [}:)]Remember Jessaka? I met her on that same forum. She's a Cal. resident who made the trip to OK a few weeks ago and bought a house and will be living there before Thanksgiving.  (Tahlequah) Many people are leaving Fla. because it's just too expensive. We have family there and had actually considered Fla., but it's just unaffordable for the average person. The Floridians are moving to NC which is fast filling up. The northeastern people are also moving that direction and now they're feeling invaded and full. My guess is that a lot of upper midwesterners will eventually find their way to OK. I know of two other families from the same town I live in who are interested in moving to the Tulsa area when they reach 62.

And Conan, my husband will be a semi-retiree and I don't feel at all offended that OK is also looking for younger people then we are. Every places NEEDS people of all ages.[]

[Conan71]

Jammie,

I read your glowing review of the area on another thread and we'll be pleased to have you.

"We'll leave the light on fer ya." (Apologies to Tom Bodette)

[Jammie]

Conan, thank you. We'll be there eventually.[}:)] I normally try to look at things with a positive attitude, but my review of OK was totally sincere. There are many parts of the state that are nice, especially GROVE.[]

[pmcalk]

Having spent much time in south Florida (Boca Raton, Ft. Lauderdale, Coral Springs), I believe its a crime that we force are elderly to retire there.  Its a horrid, horrid place.

Not only is Grove, and the rest of Oklahoma, much, much better, but you can still afford to eat after you purchase your home.

[Jammie]

PM, I couldn't agree with you more. We had actually been looking at Fla. off and on because we have family who live there. Besides the horrific cost of housing there, they've been having problems with such high insurance that it's totally unaffordable. Their real estate taxes are also through the roof since the houses are so over priced. Fla. does have a lot of nice places, but so many Floridians are moving out that it's easy to tell there's something wrong. We've never been to southern Fla., but it sounds like it's not a nice, safe place to be.

As far as housing in OK, we were surprised that a place like Grove wasn't even higher priced for housing. Don't misunderstand me, it's plenty high there, but it's even that way up here. I really think that OK has a lot to offer and that it will eventually become a hot spot. A lot of the northern states are nice, too like Wyo. and So. Dak, but people will eventually be leaving the COLD behind.[}:)]

[Jammie]

OK, the most recent person who is looking at OK as a destination is from the Netherlands. They recently visited family or friends there and OK appealed to them.[}:)]