A Look at Retirement Costs, Phoenix AZ

Cool thing about the internet, when people find something you’ve put out there, you get to see the search terms they used to get there. Maybe it’s the down economy or maybe people are just smart, but the words “cost” and “retirement” seem to go hand in hand.

Take Phoenix Metro for example. Someone out there searched “cost to live at Encanterra” in Google, and found our previous bit about the Southeast Valley.

In that article, we mostly talked about golf and amenities. We went on about how Encanterra’s golf course offers “elements reminiscent of the traditionally great private clubs” and how the main restaurant, Bistro 1528, offers “a casual yet sophisticated feel with emphasis on delicious continental cuisine, superior service and genuinely friendly team Members” We did not attach price tags to our descriptions, but we are aware that price is always a factor.

Here’s the thing – buying a retirement home, and associated 55+ active adult retirement lifestyle, is a little more involved than buying, say, a toaster, an entertainment system, or a car. There are a lot of variables to consider, and each one will have an up or down impact on “what it costs to live at Encanterra”.

First of all, there are a variety of floor plans to choose from, and each floor plan has different architectural styles to choose from. Then there are details such as what type of counter surfaces will there be in the kitchen, bathroom(s), etc. With so many options to choose from, purchase prices for your dream retirement home can range from approximately $160K to up to over $500K.

The up side is that this means that most people who are in the position to buy a retirement home can likely buy at Encanterra in Phoenix, but the down side is that when someone asks “how much” we always have to point back at “that depends”…

Then there’s the “green tech” stuff. According to one article in Arizona Foothills Magazine said about Encanterra “As eco-consciousness makes its way into the everyday, one Valley community is finding that the once costly and unattainable benefits associated with green building are not only a possibility, but also a reality.”

http://www.arizonafoothillsmagazine.com/living/homes/1062-a-green-lifestyle-at-encanterra-.html

So now we have to address the fact that Encanterra offers some standard energy saving features that other builders might charge extra for. Saving energy is saving money, so it’s like getting an upgrade for free and then you have to calculate the savings – which might also depend on things like how cold you like to set the thermostat in the summer. Like the ad people like to say about weight loss, “individual results will vary”.

So really, the best answer to the question is, “contact your real estate agent, or contact a representative of Encanterra directly and talk to them.” All we know is that the housing market as a whole dropped to levels not seen since 2000, and some people are seeing prices pick up again, just a little. Once you know what’s available and what it actually costs, then you’re in position to make an intelligent decision about buying in. Just asking the internet seems a little risky.

Arizona Offers Much To Do For the Active Adult in Retirement

Active Adult Retirement Community Phoenix, Arizona

So, you’re an avid golfer and while you’ve been thinking about retiring as a way to get in more time on the links? You read our recommendation on the Southeast Valley in the Phoenix Metro area. Sounded good, right? Then you remembered that you own a boat.

Okay, so we didn’t think about the boat, either. In our defense, not everyone owns one. But you do, and you enjoy it when you’re not playing golf, we get it. You want a dream retirement that includes sunshine, the dramatic landscape backdrop, access to a great golf course, in an area that offers a reasonable cost of living and relatively low taxes, a variety of cultural events, access to sporting events and interesting places to visit – near water.

Admittedly, the Southeast Valley fell short in that last criterion. So how about the Northeast Valley?

It’s still in the greater Phoenix area, out of the bustle of Phoenix Metro but close enough to essential services, and offers all of the perks that we talked about before. Money magazine called Maricopa County “retirement central” in 2007, not just the southeastern part of it. Of course, the icing on the cake is that the Northeast Valley is up by Lake Pleasant.

Named for Carl Pleasant, the engineer who designed the original Waddell Dam, Lake Pleasant was originally part of a private irrigation project. The first dam was built in 1922 to impound water from the Agua Fria River system, and created a lake of about 3,000 surface acres. In 1992 a new, and much larger, Waddell Dam was completed. The new lake covers an approximated 9,000 surface acres.

The newer, bigger Lake Pleasant supports a wide range of activities for today’s active adults, including swimming, boating, and fishing. Anglers have caught record white crappie and trophy largemouth bass. All around the lake is plenty of hiking, picnicking, wildlife viewing, and camping. All in all, it’s a great place to relax. Conveniently, wet or dry boat storage is available at Lake Pleasant Marina, Pleasant Harbor Marina, or Scorpion Bay Marina, so you can be on the water on a moments notice! Check out their web sites for rates and availability of services.

But where to play golf in the Northeast Valley? Well, you’ll be pleased to know that there’s a Golf Digest 5-star rated course not terribly far from the lake at Vistancia.

Vistancia is another one of those 55+ planned retirement communities, and it’s a really nice one. It’s a gated community located in Peoria AZ, and the amenities are geared towards an active adult retirement lifestyle.

Vistancia is a Trilogy active adult retirement community, and homes are built using the latest in “green” technologies, which can save homeowners about $1500 per year through energy efficiency. It’s been estimated that the carbon footprint is about 40% less than traditionally built homes. And if you’re worried about living in some space odyssey reject, forget it – the homes are beautiful. It’s an intimate, friendly, accessible living environment, with a 5-star golf course.

If you’re not the avid golfer, but live with one, the 5-star rating is a designation determined by combining the opinions of official Golf Digest raters with the online responses of the general public. It’s only been given to two dozen courses in North America, and Vistancia is the one in Arizona. Golf Digest defines 5-Star as "Superb. Golf at its absolute best. Pay any price to play at least once in your life.”

So if golf and boating are in your retirement plans, you should definitely look into Trilogy at Vistancia in Phoenix, Arizona – especially now since falling home prices have created such a phenomenal buying opportunity in that state.

Of course, prices are rebounding and inching their way back up as home buyer confidence has returned. Low prices won't last for long, and if you've been waiting on the side-lines, it’s time to move.