Retirement - Planning and Location

[AxeMan]

I know this should be a popular topic with a few of the more active members we have here and I have been thinking about it a lot too.

It would be good to hear a few opinions on the topic and some sage advise from those already retired and are living the dream.
I know we all want to have good access to our outdoor sports and a retirement move makes that easier.
I am only a year or two away myself and we have been looking at properties and options for some time now.  Always seem to more questions than answers though.  We had been looking seriously at moving to BC, but holy molly, the taxers are crazy out there.  I will be making a spreadsheet scorecard of sorts to evaluate my priorities when looking at properties and locations to retire to.

Some of the possible criteria:

Attraction (outdoor pursuits opportunity), cost of living (taxes and real estate value), crime rate/rural crime (proximity to reserves), climate (e.g. Yukon vs southern BC), water quality, distance from family and relatives, odd job possibilities, distance to health care, cost of moving, buy now or later, amenities, etc.

Would be good to hear some thoughts.

[W101]

I quote a friend of mine , now passed I miss him a lot

 " Ever since I started every morning , standing at the foot of
    the bed and saluting ; saying I Stand corrected ....
     My life has gotten a lot easier ! "

   We talked for quite awhile about moving to the island , when
    we were both retired . After spending a good portion of a few
     winters on the island , my leader announced that she really didn't
      Care for the island ....and doesn't like leaving the grandkids for
       3-4 mo s .
       I have lived in BC 3 times and always end up coming back to the
       flatland .
        I'm a fall guy ..best season ...
         My good friends would tell you , I have been retired most of my
         existence.
         She retired and lasted 2 weeks , went back to work part time ...loves it .
         So a few days ago I engaged a snow removal guy for next winter.
          What doesn't kill you,makes you stronger ..maybe time to buy another
          Boat ..
   

[Walleyes]

I touched on this the other day on the fishing page. We are seriously thinking of Ont,, if the kids head that way. Price of property is right your dollar value in real estate is stretched a lot farther. Fishing opportunity is unparalleled in the country hunting may lack in the deer category but moose hunting holds as good of opportunities as Alberta has left. For me it's the fishing that draws me and the price of property. I can sell out here and pay a 3rd of what I would pay in Alberta and have a nice place on the water if you wanted. But this hinges on the kids. If atleast 2 of them don't move there I doubt we would either. If we stay west I'm thinking Sask for us, just accross the border from where we are at, stay close to our friends and family. Sask has the reserves but that doesn't bother me, been living in between reserves my whole life that's no big deal. I'm truly hoping to try the east. I would miss getting out to the coast for salmon fishing but have been researching the Great Lakes Salmon fishery and in all honesty I think the west coast fishery will be shut down in short order or the retention rate won't be worth that trip I think the Great Lakes fishery is going out last it.

[AxeMan]

I often use the mls map site to get an idea what properties are worth in different areas.  It is good to Google and look at the local realter sites too once you have an area nailed down.

https://www.realtor.ca/Residential/map.aspx

[AxeMan]

Ontario, eh Walleyes.  My wife was born in Kenora on Lake of the Woods.  Her uncle Frank had a remote peninsula get away with a cabin, but he had a float plane business too and could fly in.
Here you go, you could buy your own island.  Ooops, off grid though....not good.

https://www.realtor.ca/Residential/Single-Family/18867404/Ptarmigan-Bay-Kenora-Ontario-P0X1C0-Kenora

[W101]

 Small World....I spent quite a few summers in Kenora ...
  at my uncles place ....fished till we dropped .
   What a great summer spot .....
   My wife ....true Albertan ....thought LoW was the
   most beautiful spot she had ever seen.
   
  I have had drive to and boat to cottages on LOW ...
   I'm a drive to guy ...There is some big lakers in
     that area ...I didn't notice any power going in there !

[greylynx]

Hi Walleyes:

Have you ever considered North West B.C. in the Skeena Drainage.

Places like Babine Lake?

That is my fishing heaven.

[Walleyes]

We've definetly thought of BC, one thing BC has going for it on top of fishing is the hunting opurtunities. If it was myself I think I would pick BC but it has a lot to do with the family. If I picked BC it would be around the Dawson area were I am working now. The people are of the same mind set as Albertans hard working conservative mined people. I like it around here. For those that have never spent time around here you wouldn't believe the game in this country, moose like white tail around home, mule deer, white tail, Elk and that's around the farming areas that's not brining into the conversation the out back areas. It's a nice area.

[BruceW]

Another good site is point2homes.com  Has general real estate And farm listings over whatever area you are interested in.  Have to look around on it till you figure out the search options, then you can zero in on different areas.  We used this and googleearth.

[Phoenix]

we were thinking of retiring on our estate in Bermuda. Spend some time in Sylvan Lake for hunting season and not in Bermuda's fly season.