Best Places to Retire

Retire to Savannah, Georgia

When you are getting older and retirement is all but knocking at your door, you need to make an informed choice about where you'd like to settle down.

Why not consider Savannah in the state of Georgia?

The history of Savannah goes back quite a long way to 1733 when it was founded by James Oglethorpe.

Live oaks provide plenty of shade, with Spanish moss completing this charming picture.

Savannah has a population of over 131,000, with 8% of its residents being over the age of 65 years.

Homes in neighborhoods with gates are generally within easy distance of the Atlantic Ocean and the Savannah River, apart from picturesque trails for walking, tennis courts and golf courses.

Residents who live near the water have a view of the wetlands that attract a number of birds.

The catch here is that along with the birds, you are likely to find alligators in the wetlands as well.

This is in stark contrast to Florida where developers tended to clear it away.

You'll even find a magazine called Coastal Senior, which covers news about events taking place along the coasts of South Carolina and Georgia.

Medical care is provided by the Memorial Health Hospital network, which is held in high regard, particularly for rehabilitative and cardiac care.

You'll find income tax and sales tax being charged at 6% each, while property tax is levied at 1.7% of the assessed value of your property.

You could say it's quite a price to pay, but if you love Savannah enough, perhaps you wouldn't mind it too much.

If you acquire property in Savannah and are prepared to spend a fair amount on land and construction, you stand a good chance of ending up with a fine house and an excellent view of the wetlands, while the value of your property could be over a million dollars.