What Are The Advantages of Retiring in Arizona?

Arizona has been a retirement destination of choice for years, with Phoenix being one of the most popular retirement spots in the American Southwest. Retirees can save money and have the kind of quality lifestyle they’ve always dreamed of. With year-round warm, sunny weather, relatively low cost of living (compared to many other areas in the country), exciting cultural attractions, great shopping and entertainment, professional sports teams, over 200 top-rated golf courses, and a concentration of communities offering resort-style active adult living in Arizona, it’s easy to see why the Phoenix area attracts a steady influx of retirees year-after-year. 

Warm Weather & Sunshine  

There’s a very good reason why Metro Phoenix was nicknamed the “Valley of the Sun.” With over 300 sunny days per year and only 9 inches of rain (compared to the U.S. average of 38 inches of rain per year), retirees can enjoy an outdoor lifestyle and stay active and healthy. The Phoenix area is especially appealing to those who want to avoid high heating costs and shoveling snow every winter. However, if you do want to experience distinct seasons, you can always head up to Flagstaff in the northern part of Arizona, which regularly gets snow during the winter months.

Low Cost of Living

Phoenix, Arizona’s relatively low cost of living appeals to many retirees who are living on a fixed income. It happens to be one of the most affordable big cities in the Southwest and often attracts retirees from the west coast who are seeking warm weather and sunshine but without the high prices. Typically, retirees prefer to live in an area where their money will last longer and the taxes are in their favor. The good news is that Arizona is one of the most tax-friendly states in the U.S. and doesn’t tax social security benefits like half of the states do.

Premier Active Adult Communities

Trilogy® at Encanterra in San Tan Valley

The Phoenix area has numerous premier communities offering active adult living in Arizona for those who want to stay physically and socially active. Many of these communities offer a vast assortment of resort-style amenities such as community pools and spas, state-of-the-art fitness centers, tennis & pickleball, arts & crafts centers, golf courses, driving ranges, restaurants & cafes, fishing lakes, walking & biking paths, personal interest clubs, classes, planned events, and more. 

Resort-style Amenities

Whether you’re interested in a cozy villa on the golf course, single-family home with a casita, or a luxury home designed for entertaining, active adult communities in the Phoenix area offer a wide range of residential choices. Top retirement communities for active adults include Trilogy® at Encanterra (San Tan Valley), Ovation at Meridian (Queen Creek), Solera at Johnson Ranch (Queen Creek), Encore at Eastmark (Mesa), Leisure World (Mesa), Sunland Springs Village (Mesa) Sun Lakes Communities (Sun Lakes), Trilogy at Power Ranch (Gilbert), Solera (Chandler), Springfield (Chandler), The Cays at Downtown Ocotillo (Chandler), Lone Tree (Chandler), Heritage Village IV (Scottsdale), Scottsdale Heights (Scottsdale), Bellasera (Scottsdale), Hillcrest (Phoenix), and Crystal Point Condominiums (Phoenix). 

Cathy Carter is a top-rated Arizona REALTOR® with over 25 years of local experience. She is very familiar with the different active adult communities in the Phoenix area and can help educate you on the types of homes and features offered, lifestyle and community amenities, surrounding area amenities and attractions, and much more. Cathy has the knowledge and resources to help you find the perfect home in the right active adult community. Get the process started today by contacting Cathy directly at (480) 459-8488 or you can get in touch here

Exciting Cultural and Recreation Options

Phoenix Art Museum

Metro Phoenix offers an abundance of art and culture, with dozens of museums spanning the valley including the Phoenix Art Museum, the Pueblo Grande Museum and Cultural Park, Children's Museum of Phoenix, and the Heard Museum, just to name a few. Popular performing arts venues include the Phoenix Symphony Hall, Arizona Opera, Ballet Arizona, Orpheum Theatre, and Herberger Theater Center. Concerts can be attended at Talking Stick Resort Arena and Comerica Theatre in downtown Phoenix, and Gammage Auditorium in Tempe (the last public building designed by Frank Lloyd Wright). The city of Chandler has its very own symphony orchestra and the Mesa Arts Center in Mesa supports regular independent musical and theater performances.  

The Phoenix area offers plenty of great shopping with chic boutiques, high-end shopping malls, hyper-regional outdoor lifestyle centers, and designer outlet malls. Some of the most popular shopping destinations include Uptown Plaza (Central Phoenix), Biltmore Fashion Park and Kierland Commons (Phoenix); Scottsdale Fashion Square (Scottsdale), Chandler Fashion Center mall and Phoenix Premium Outlets (Chandler); the outdoor Santan Village lifestyle center (Gilbert); and Tempe Marketplace and Arizona Mills Outlet Mall (Tempe). "Foodies" will discover exceptional dining options in Phoenix and the East Valley from classic comfort food to ethnic cuisine to five-star restaurants too numerous to count. 

Outdoor Activities Galore 

McDowell Mountain Regional Park

The Phoenix area provides an abundance of outdoor recreational opportunities for all ages.  Hiking, biking, climbing, horseback riding, and golfing are among the most popular activities, which can all be enjoyed year-round. McDowell Mountain Regional Park offers spectacular views and features more than 21,000 acres of pristine desert, with miles of hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails. South Mountain Park & Preserve, the largest municipal park in the country, includes over 51 miles of trails for horseback riding, hiking, and mountain biking for all ability levels. Camelback Mountain Echo Canyon Recreation Area is a local landmark and a popular hiking destination that offers spectacular city and desert views. Salt River also provides plenty of recreational fun with bike paths and picnic areas that surround the lake.  

Top Golf Destination

Troon North Golf Club

Active adults who enjoy playing golf will feel right at home in Phoenix. One of the top destinations for golf in the country, the Phoenix metro area is home to 200 top-notch golf courses. Popular courses like Troon North and We-Ko-Pa occupy desert landscapes while Raven Golf Club features more than 6,000 mature pine trees along its lush fairways. Other great golf clubs like Arizona Biltmore, Boulders, and Gainey Ranch are part of opulent resorts where golfers can indulge themselves with a post-round spa treatment. 

Check out this list of the top 35 golf courses located in the Phoenix metro area including level-of-difficulty, awe factor, value/bang for your buck, course layout, service, and proximity to restaurants and activities. Phoenix is also home to some of the biggest golf tours and events in the country such as the annual Waste Management Phoenix Open, also known as the "people's open," and the "greatest show on grass.” The WMPO is the best-attended golf tournament in the world with more than 700,000 fans in attendance.

Professional Sports Teams

Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB) at Chase Field Stadium

Sports fans have the opportunity to watch professional basketball, football, hockey, and baseball teams, as well as offseason spring training games held in the Phoenix metro area. Phoenix is one of the few cities to have professional sports teams in all major sports: Arizona Cardinals (NFL), Phoenix Suns (NBA), Phoenix Mercury (WNBA), Arizona Coyotes (NHL), Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB), and Phoenix Rising (USL). Phoenix is also the only city in the nation to host an entire spring-training league for MLB - the Cactus League. Other major sporting teams/events in the Phoenix metro area include PGA and LPGA golf, NASCAR and NHRA racing, and major marathons.

Partner with Top-Rated Arizona REALTOR® - Cathy Carter

If you would like to learn more about the advantages of retiring in Arizona or would like help in finding your dream home in the Phoenix area, please contact top-rated Arizona REALTOR® - Cathy Carter. With over two decades of local experience, Cathy has the knowledge and resources across the valley to help you explore your options and make the best home purchase decision. Feel free to contact Cathy directly at (480) 459-8488 or you can get in touch here.   

 

CATHY CARTER, ABR, CRS, CDPE 
RE/MAX Alliance Group 
725 W. Elliot Rd., Suite 111 
Gilbert, AZ.  85233 
Cell: 480-459-8488 
Toll-Free: 800-519-5578

   

 

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