Best Boomer Towns Columns

U.S. Baby Boomer Towns - Suggestions from Forbes

Much has been written about where “empty nesters” might move as their children move off on their own. One longstanding favorite is the notion that, having jettisoned their children, the boomers will also desert their suburban communities for the bright city lights. Unfortunately for developers — some of whom have invested heavily in high-end housing for urbanizing “empty nesters” — the actual data do not support this thesis. Indeed, our analysis of migration by this cohort in the past 10 years shows a 10.3% decline among core city dwellers, a loss of some 1.3 million people over the past decade.

For this analysis, Forbes, with the help of demographer Wendell Cox, looked at population numbers from the Census for boomers aged 45 to 54 in 2000 and compared them with the numbers for those ages 55 to 64 in 2010. Much has been written about where "empty nesters" might move as their children move off on their own. One longstanding favorite is the notion that, having jettisoned their children, the boomers will also desert their suburban communities for the bright city lights.

Link to Full Story Here and Towns Here:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/joelkotkin/2011/08/12/biggest-boomer-towns/

 

Pulte Homes New Site in the Triangle Near Brier Creek

Pulte opened an active-adult community in Cary, Carolina Preserve at Amberly, in 2006 under the company's Del Webb brand. Other age-restrictive developments in the Triangle include Heritage Pines in Cary, Chapelwood in Chapel Hill and Summerwinds Plantation in Clayton.

Excerpts from David Bracken at The News Observer

 

California Personal Income Tax Information

Personal income tax

* California collects income tax from its residents at the following rates.

For single and married filing separately taxpayers:

1.25 percent on the first $7,060 of taxable income

2.25 percent on taxable income between $7,061 and $16,739

4.25 percent on taxable income between $16,740 and $26,419

6.25 percent on taxable income between $26,420 and $36,675

8.25 percent on taxable income between $36,676 and $46,349

9.55 percent on taxable income of $46,350 and above

* A 1 percent surcharge, the Mental Health Services Tax, is collected on taxable incomes of $1 million or more, making California's highest marginal rate 10.55 percent.

* For married persons filing joint returns and heads of households, the rates remain the same but the income brackets are doubled.

* Residents must complete returns on Form 540EZ, Form 540A (short form), Form 540 (long form) or Form 540-ADS by April 15. When that date falls on a weekend or holiday, filers get until the next business day to submit their state returns.

* You might be able to file your California return electronically at no cost using CalFile if you meet the program's eligibility requirements.

* With Ready Return, eligible California taxpayers can view a pre-filled state tax return, update it if needed and e-file it directly with the state, all at no cost.

 

Las Cruces, NM a Lovely Place for Boomer Golfers

LAS CRUCES, N.M - Boomers seeking second or retirement homes in areas that are warm and dry with plenty of golf to choose from should check out Las Cruces, N.M.

Located in the Mesilla Valley with 350 days of sunshine each year, the state's second-largest city has been ranked by Money magazine as one of the "best college towns to retire," AARP as one of their "dream towns" to retire, and Best Boomer Towns as one of its 21 top U.S. communities.

Surrounded by desert and the jagged Organ Mountains, Las Cruces sits along the banks of the Rio Grande River less than an hour from El Paso International Airport.

It is home to 21,000-student New Mexico State University, (NMSU) and the 46-year-old University Golf Course, one of the area's top public courses and a great practice facility with a large driving range, contoured putting greens and new short game practice area that opened in 2007. All 18 holes are visible from the clubhouse. The club hosted the 1968 NCAA men and 1988 NCAA women championships.

Other Las Cruces-area public-access courses of note include:Photo of goler and golf cart in Las Cruces

• Las Cruces Country Club. Located in the city, the semi-private club was originally built in 1928. The facility prides itself on staying affordable, has active men and women associations and a busy program schedule.

• Dos Lagos Golf Course in Anthony. Built on the site of an abandoned silica mine, it blends well with the natural surroundings of the old quarry site.

• Oasis Golf Resort in Elephant Butte. Located within a retirement community, the Dick Phelps design has a 200 feet of elevation change from one area to another, affording magnificent views of the surrounding countryside. It expanded from nine to 18 holes about 10 years ago.

• Rio Mimbres Country Club in Deming about 50 miles west of Las Cruces. Opened in 1950, Rio Mimbres is well maintained and provides outstanding views of surrounding mountains such as Cooke's Peak to the north and the Floridas to the southeast.

• Santa Teresa Country Club. Located 40 miles from Las Cruces toward El Paso, the club has two 18-hole courses designed by Lee Trevino. The Spanish Dagger Course is the tighter design and features more undulating greens than the Yucca Course.

Photo of Sonoma Ranch flag for BoomerVisitors can choose from 37 hotels, motels, bed and breakfast inns, or RV parks in the Las Cruces area.

Home ownership is very affordable in Las Cruces and neighboring Mesilla. According to Best Boomer Towns, the tax rate is $26.985 per $1,000 of assessed value; in Mesilla, it is $22.937 per $1000 of assessed value. Homes are assessed at 33.3 percent of market value. Tax on a $195,000 home, minus the $2,000 homestead exemption, would be about $1700 in Las Cruces and about $1445 in Mesilla.

Residential communities are available within and near Las Cruces golf courses. Two of the most popular are Sonoma Ranch and Picacho Hills.

Sonoma Ranch allows buyers to accessorize homes with everything imaginable from pools to palm trees and boasts a Cal Olson-designed course that was a Golf Digest "Best New Course" nominee. Opened in 2000, the 18-hole layout sits among rolling hills dotted with bunkers and undulating bentgrass greens. Photo of Sonoma Ranch logo for Boomer

Within Sonoma Ranch, the Del Prado community won a 2008 Gold Achievement Award for The best of 50+ housing. Del Prado offers everything from the low-maintenance condominiums of The Villages to the single-family homes of The Collection. The master-planned community features a mix of residential neighborhoods, fine homes, golf course estates, and specialty multi-family dwellings. The National Association of Home Builders recently awarded it five Silver Medal Awards for Master Planned Community of the Year.

Photo of Picachio Hills GC for BoomerThe private par-72 Picacho Hills Golf Course stretches to 6,950 yards and is rarely crowded. Originally started in 1978, Picacho Hills is reportedly the first development in the area to be built around a golf course setting. The course has been consistently rated by Golf Digest as one of the top two country club courses in New Mexico. Residents do not have to be members of the club, but it boasts a 70 percent membership of homeowners.

Located three miles west of the City of Las Cruces in Dona Ana County, property taxes are reportedly 30 percent lower than for comparable property within the city limits. Housing in Picacho Hills offers expansive views of the Organ Mountains, valley and city lights. Within this master-planned community are a number of different residential subdivisions, with 600 home sites and 1,200 residents at present. Home prices and styles vary among the subdivisions ranging from condominiums to garden homes to single-family homes of various sizes and styles both on and off the golf course. Home prices range from $130,000 to more than $500,000.

Other communities in Las Cruces located near golf courses include Mission Bell Estates, Las Alturas and Shadow Run.

Helpful Web sites regarding Las Cruces include the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce, Las Cruces Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Best Boomer Towns.

 

Austin, Big City with Small Town Charm

Austin is known as the Live Music Capital of the World! Offering a vibrant downtown with over 200 venues from jazz, country, rock and reggae! The Austin City Limits is coming up October 2 - 4. Discount packages available from the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau, http://austintexas.org or http://aclfestival.com

Stay at the Hotel San Jose starting at just $95 http://sanjosthotel.com or Barton Creek Resort & Spa, a AAA Four Diamond property) offers packages that include golf as well, starting at $170 http://bartoncreek.com

Get around by Dillo Trolley, running every 5 minutes Monday through Friday from Congress Avenue and 5th and 6th Streets from only 50 cents.

Be sure and eat at the County Line BBQ, all you can eat meals starting at $19.99 http://countrylinebbq.com

 

Prescott, Arizona is Boomer Friendly

An active lifestyle is important to Prescott, Ariz., Boomers. Just ask the The City of Prescott Parks and Recreation Department and Prescott Senior Olympic Games Steering Committee, which are preparing for the 2009 Prescott Senior Olympic Summer Games scheduled for July 10 through July 26. Not surprisingly, golf is an important component of the event in this Boomer-friendly area, which boasts numerous residential golf communities and stand-alone golf courses.

"You'll find that many of the homes for sale in Prescott seem to be only one stroke away from this engaging sport," writes real-estate agent Tim Anderson on his website. "If you love to bring out the irons for a few rounds then you'll certainly have your fair share of golf courses in Prescott to choose."Photo of people on Talking Rock clubhouse patio for Boomer

Talking Rock Golf Club is one of the most respected golf communities in the area. Talking Rock has been named one of Arizona's Top 25 Courses by Golf Digest magazine for the second consecutive time, checking in at No. 19 on the 2009-2010 "Best in State" list.

A private home community northwest of Prescott, Ariz., Talking Rock is home to a Jay Morrish-designed 7,350-yard championship course winding through more than 1,000 acres of preserved open space. The environmentally friendly layout is a high-country master-planned community minutes from downtown Prescott. The community consists of Ranch Cottages, Ranch Homes and Custom Homes on homesites affording mountain or golf course views.

Hassayampa Golf Club and Community is a 550-acre master-planned affair located two miles outside Prescott. Desert Troon, which also built Troon Village in Scottsdale, developed the community on the site of historic Hassayampa Golf and Country Club, one of Arizona's oldest golf courses, operating operated from 1919 to 1969. The new Tom Weiskopf-designed layout measures 6,800 yards with significant elevation changes throughout. The community offers mountain views, boulder outcroppings, ponderosa pines, mature oak trees, and two natural streams.

Prescott Lakes GC for BoomerHassayampa Golf Club is a member-owned equity club. The community includes several gated tracts with condominiums and as well as single-family custom homes. It is located in the Ponderosa pine forest with sections overlooking downtown Prescott. Residency is not required for golf club membership. The social scene centers on the 30,000-square-foot, lodge-style clubhouse with log beams, stone fireplaces rustic décor and both fine and casual dining. In addition to golf, the community offers a fitness facility, tennis, swimming, sport court and hiking trails adjacent to 2.5 million acres of Prescott National Forest.

Prescott Lakes Golf & Country Club is a master-planned community stretching across nearly 1150 acres. The centerpiece is the Hale Irwin Signature Golf Course that meanders through 12 acres of lakes and grasslands. Other amenities include miles of hiking and biking trails as well asseven petroglyph parks that preserve Native American symbols found on rock formations along the golf course. Fishing, sailing and swimming are a mile away at Watson Lake and Willow Lake.Photo of Prescott Lakes GC house for Boomer

A wide variety of residential offerings in both gated and non-gated areas are available at Prescott Lakes with custom homes, production homes, townhouses, condominiums, golf villas and building lots of various sizes. Also part of the community are commercial spaces for sale or lease and business parks.

Other master-planned golf communities in the area include:

• The Rim Golf Club in Payson boasts a Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish 18-hole layout rated the No. 1 residential golf course in the Southwest three years in a row in Golfweek magazine's list of "America's Best Residential Golf Courses.

• Seven Canyons is a Weiskopf masterpiece in Sedona that opened about three years ago and has been rated one of America's 50 Greatest Golf Retreats by Golf Digest Index.

• Forest Highlands Golf Club has two courses, Meadow and Canyoyon, perched at a 7,000-foot altitude among pines, oaks and aspens within an 1,100-acre community in Flagstaff.

• Pine Canyon is another Flagstaff standard bearer with broad fairways, open entryways to greens and trout-stocked lakes along its 18 Morrish-crafted holes. to name a few.

 Antelope Hills GC for BoomerPrescott-area golfers can also choose from a seemiongly endless supply of public courses including city-owned Antelope Hills. The 36-hole facility first was founded in 1956 with the opening of the North Course, a traditional tree-lined layout with speedy bentgrass greens designed by Lawrence Hughes. The South Course designed by Gary Panks opened in 1992 featuring open fairways, generous mounding, large undulating greens and panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and granite rock formations. For those wanting to fly in, Antelope Hills is located next to Prescott Municipal Airport (Ernest A. Love Field).

Prescott enjoys more than 300 days of sunshine, is generally 10 to 15 degrees cooler than Phoenix and is home to more than 500 buildings named on the National Register of Historic Places. It is listed among the top 21 communities for Boomers to retire by BestBoomerTowns.com.

 

Best Boomer Towns Talk Show Guest, Glenn Lyons, CEO of Downtown Tucson Partnership

My name is Glenn Lyons.  I am 55 years old.  I was born in Detroit.  I attended university in Canada and spent the last 30 years in Calgary, Alberta.  Two years ago, I decided to return to the United States, in part, so that my 86 year-old mother could live near me. 

After so many bitter winters on the Northern Prairies, I was looking for a more temperate climate to live in.  I also had a preference for living in a university town, which had both an intellectual and a multi-cultural complexion.

My partner, Marilyn, and I, had the pleasure of visiting Tucson two years ago in January.  It was warm, very welcoming, and an incredibly eclectic place.  Tucson is one of the oldest communities in America.  It has a very large Hispanic community and a rich Sonoran history.  The University of Arizona is a strong influence here, both in terms of science and technology – as well as arts and culture

Tucson, a city of one million people, has a professional symphony, opera, ballet, Theatre Company, Broadway plays, a major art museum, and a wonderful desert museum. It is a great musical location, with strong local sounds and countless traveling road shows. 

About two months after we arrived, we realized just what a jewel we had found.  We promptly cut our travel budget in half and quadrupled our entertainment budget.  Tucson has just about everything a local culture can offer.

The desert is also very compelling, with its mountains, basins, statuesque Saguaro Cacti, and majestic sunsets.  Life is tenuous on the desert and we are reminded that our existence on the earth is fleeting.

I can’t think of anywhere that I would rather be than here in Tucson.