Salem Oregon seems to be having a recent rash of people wanting to retire here. I have several clients that are looking for that retirement property right now. After the hustle and bustle of living in a city, the number one request is to get away from it all. Well…this is easier said than done in the Willamette Valley. For a myriad of reasons, affordable land is hard to come by here.

How do you really want to live?

I encourage you all that are thinking about this option to consider how you really plan to live your retirement. Trees are stunning and provide shade, but they also shed leaves from October-December. Fir trees are numerous here, and they drop needles and fir cones year round. If you don’t want to spend your retirement time taking care of tree droppings, look for land with trees away from the house. If you own land, you need to take care of it. If you want to garden, then you are fine.

Prepare for the worst.

After dealing with my mother’s broken hip 3 years ago, I try to delicately bring up to my retiring clients, consider a one level and think about poor health possibilities. Many people buying their retirement property are very healthy and don’t think about these things. Being close to doctors for ongoing health care is important. My neighbor is 87 and was on his ROOF getting all of the fir needles the other day (Did I mention I live in a neighborhood with A LOT of trees), and has been successful living in his home for 40 years and will for many years to come as he lives in a one level home. (If I could just convince him to let my husband get up on his roof for him…) All of the older people in my neighborhood are staying in their comfortable homes and planned accordingly by living in a one level home.

Are you sure this is what you want?

I recently had a call from a retired couple that purchased 10 acres of land with a beautiful home on it. The wife was ready to sell and wanted some help talking her husband into selling the house. She was tired of taking care of the land. Like some retirees, she wanted to get away from it all, and once away realized she wanted to come back. If you want to go to the movies, Broadway shows, out to dinner, etc, consider that with your purchase. While I spoke with her, I did tell her I don’t talk people into selling their homes, I just help them when they are ready.

Talking to a really good agent about how you want to spend your retirement, can help you to determine if you really want rural land.

(c) Copyright, 2008. Melina Tomson, All Rights Reserved. DO NOT COPY this without express written permission from the author.

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