Retiring to Vermont?

[long island boarder]

Spent the weekend up at Sugarbush VT. The person I stayed with has owned a condo up there for 30 years, goes up every weekend from Long Island in the winter. He told me how he never runs out of things to do be it skiing, snow shoeing, cross country skiing etc. I am amazed at the active and fit people that I see up there versus here on the island. Is it a crazy thought to want to go north for the winter or year round for that matter? Shouldn't I be planning on playing shuffleboard in Florida? Maybe bingo too? What do you girls/guys think?

 

[Paul]

Spent the weekend up at Sugarbush VT. The person I stayed with has owned a condo up there for 30 years, goes up every weekend from Long Island in the winter. He told me how he never runs out of things to do be it skiing, snow shoeing, cross country skiing etc. I am amazed at the active and fit people that I see up there versus here on the island. Is it a crazy thought to want to go north for the winter or year round for that matter? Shouldn't I be planning on playing shuffleboard in Florida? Maybe bingo too? What do you girls/guys think?

I've planned on retiring to NH / ME for at least 5 years now.

15 more years.....

 

[Beetlenut]

My wife and I have planned to retire to Me/VT for some time now.

 

[MommaBear]

After being in the Sugarbush area this past summer, we have seriously considered relocating there, possibly sooner than retirement age.

 

[andrec10]

Thats our plan as well. And make a few trips to the warmer climes during the winter to keep the Mrs. happy....People are just much friendlier in Vt.

 

[noski]

Here is your relocation page on MadRiverValley.com

A lot of people make the intentional choice of moving here. Your friend is right, there is a TON of things to do and no lack of organizations and non profits. One of my favorites is the Valley Futures Network. www.valleyfutures.net.

Don't wait for retirement.

 

[SKIQUATTRO]

be sure to spend time there before making the jump. Going every weekend, staying and leaving is alot different than beign there 24/7. we had friend who had the same thoughts as they skiied at mt snow every weekend, fell in love with the 'idea' of living in VT/Country life..but once they got up there full time, they couldnt handle the isolation, lack of social activites and some of the local attitudes towards them as they were 'outsiders'. when you go full time, you arent going out to dinner everynight, skiing, apres ski,,there is alot of down time....just dont get caught up in the 'romantic idea' of it all......not saying that it doesnt work for some, but here are pitfalls you need to watch out for, esp fast/close response of medical care if you are retiring there....would hate to be an hour away from the nearest trauma center...

Me and Mrs Quattro talk about it all the time, thats why we are scouting every NEngland Ski area now, to see where we'd like to get a place for the winters if (and when) we retire and can spend some time up there...the house on the Cape will be for the summers ...thats the plan now, lot can change...

 

[deadheadskier]

I could see it for early retirement years. Not sure about late retirement years. I think we all wish to be skiing into our 70s/80s. I bet only a few of us will still be on snow at that age.

When I get to a stage in life where I'm no longer very mobile, require close proximity to urgent care and spend the majority of my days sitting back and watching the world go by; I could see the appeal of a warmer location.

 

[Puck it]

Retirement and VT does not go well together. Very high taxes in VT. Not good for retirement. NH is right next door. NH is much better for a fixed income.

 

[deadheadskier]

Retirement and VT does not go well together. Very high taxes in VT. Not good for retirement. NH is right next door. NH is much better for a fixed income.

I don't know if I agree with this having lived in both states, Maine as well. During working years, if you make a decent income, the income tax savings of living in NH are quite significant. It is worth the trade off of much higher property taxes. High property taxes are unavoidable in NH. There are certain communities in VT and ME where they are.

During retirement, income typically goes way down, so in VT or ME, your burden will go down. NH, you're still stuck with high property taxes.

Having lived in coastal ME/NH for the past five years, I can tell you there are far more retirees just over the border in ME than there are near me in NH. Kittery is loaded with them.

 

[Warp Daddy]

Retirement and VT does not go well together. Very high taxes in VT. Not good for retirement. NH is right next door. NH is much better for a fixed income.

True we DID all the research when we retired , looked at and spent 2-3 months in several locations -- THE FACTS at the time were 92 % of folks end up IN THERE OWN home and travel at will -- IT way cheaper

PUCKIT is right about the tax hits and Quattro makes very sensible points about the diff between vacationing and actually living in an area .

Altho we could afford to move We KEEP MORE of OUR $$$ staying in our own home here in NNY which is rural on the river in a smallish town 9000 , close to 4 Universities and cultural events and within easy drives to several ski areas and a nations capitol

Visiting exotic locations and actually living there yr round is often a fantasy / reality conundrum .
The Lust for Excapism while one is in the work world is very tempting. however, once retired none of the stressors that drive that feeling are present . U get rid of job stress and Ass holes u no longer have to tolerate and everyday is a vacation

I 've told ya before a retirement well planned is like adolescence with $$ -- I abhor paying more taxes than i have to and that is why i stayed where i am .When all was said and done and the paper and pencil $$ and tax analysis was completed i am much better off here and traveling at will and keeping a higher % of our retirement income .

 

[Warp Daddy]

'oops Puckit you may want to look into NH's property taxes -- (sky high) also check what happens to your INVESTMENT income with taxes in NH

 

[Glenn]

It's years off...but we'd like to retire up there somewhere. Current thinking is to buy a big plot of land and build a house and a hobby farm. Or buy a house/hobby farm on a lot of land.

Big Dream: Tons of land, a massive workshop, a fleet of ATVs, snowmobiles and old snowgroomers. A trail system on the property for said vehicles. Oh, I'd have a few tractors too. And a sweet log splitter...and a ski tuning room with a stone grinder...and.....

 

[Puck it]

'oops Puckit you may want to look into NH's property taxes -- (sky high) also check what happens to your INVESTMENT income with taxes in NH

In cetain locations the taxes are high. Bartlett property taxes are very reasonable. I forgot about the investment income tax though.

The property taxes in NH and compared to MA property and income tax becomes a wash though.

 

[Paul]

It's years off...but we'd like to retire up there somewhere. Current thinking is to buy a big plot of land and build a house and a hobby farm. Or buy a house/hobby farm on a lot of land.

Big Dream: Tons of land, a massive workshop, a fleet of ATVs, snowmobiles and old snowgroomers. A trail system on the property for said vehicles. Oh, I'd have a few tractors too. And a sweet log splitter...and a ski tuning room with a stone grinder...and.....

You'll get nothing and LIKE it!!!

 

[WakeboardMom]

The property taxes in NH and compared to MA property and income tax becomes a wash though.

In cities and towns along the border that's certainly true. We've done comparisons with our friends in MA on several occasions and have proven that. While our RE taxes are high, our lower car insurance, lack of income tax and sales tax help to keep overall costs of living in line with the towns on the other side of the border. It's a wash for sure.

 

[Puck it]

In cities and towns along the border that's certainly true. We've done comparisons with our friends in MA on several occasions and have proven that. While our RE taxes are high, our lower car insurance, lack of income tax and sales tax help to keep overall costs of living in line with the towns on the other side of the border. It's a wash for sure.

Yeah forgot about the car insurance also. I pay about $2700 a year for my son's car insurance in MA for a Jeep Liberty and my buddy pays about $500-600 a year for his son (same ages for the two of them) and similar vehicle Ford Escape. We live about 10miles apart though. He lives in Salem.

 

[MommaBear]

Our kids always talk about us moving to VT because they think it would be "so much better". Until I remind them that its not all skiing and hanging out. Kids in VT have to go to school, too. The subject usually gets changed at that point.

I just love the sense of peace that comes over me when in the northern parts. But, as someone mentioned, when you leave the work world, a lot of the stressors also disappear from your life.

For now, we'll just keep dreaming.

 

[Glenn]

You'll get nothing and LIKE it!!!

Gawd Damnit! :lol:

 

[bigbog]

Go with what works for your plans....
IF you know your career will hold out in the area....and it IS the career you like....get started with a mortage ASAP. <-- May NOT be the best advice, I'm just coming from a more emotional side of having spent much too long renting.

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