Looking to head to the Midwest for retirement? If you haven’t already thought about Fort Wayne, Indiana, you should consider this town for your Golden Years. Fort Wayne is not to be overlooked. The area counts itself among the top 50 best places to live in the U.S., and it’s easy to see why.
As a midsize metropolitan area in the heart of the Midwest, people who choose Fort Wayne have access to the amenities one would expect to find in a large metropolis, like excellent entertainment options and a thriving arts scene. The city experiences all four seasons - meaning retirees can enjoy different types of activities all year round.
Ready to start house hunting? Below you’ll find a few tips to keep in mind during your search to keep the process as smooth and painless as possible.
1. Plan your budget ahead of time
Money is a very important consideration for retirees. You’ll want to make sure any place you choose to settle is a place you will be able to afford for years to come, especially if you plan on buying a home. The good news is Fort Wayne has a very low cost of living, especially when compared with the rest of the United States. Additionally, Indiana is considered to be tax-friendly for retirees, which is great news for retirees who plan to primarily subsist off a fixed retirement income. You can expect to keep a good amount of your retirement income in your pocket.
This affordability of Fort Wayne extends to housing. The median home listing price for a house in Fort Wayne is about $170k, which is well below the national average. While being able to afford the outright cost of a home is, of course, an important consideration - it is equally important to first have a true sense of your financial situation. Some steps you can take to gain a clearer picture of your budget include:
Evaluate your eligibility for Medicare or Medicaid for health expenses
Calculate your expected monthly income from your 401k or other retirement plans after you’ve stopped working
Review property tax requirements and other cost-of-living nuances specific to Fort Wayne
2. Consider accessibility and safety when choosing a home
The home you choose for your retirement should ideally be one in which you can live for many years to come. To avoid having to move shortly after settling in, it may be best to search for a ranch-style home as opposed to a multi-story home to reduce the likelihood of accidents. Other home amenities to consider that can help to keep you safe include:
Room for grab bars or another support device near your shower and/or toilet in case you need to install them now or in the future
If the home is multi-story, at least one bathroom on the main level, ideally a full bath
Outlets and switches that are low enough to be reached from a chair
Wide hallways and doorways
An entrance to the home that doesn’t include steps
3. Consider alternative living options in Fort Wayne
During your house hunting experience, you may decide that owning a home outright actually isn’t the best choice for you. Your health issues and/or concerns about mobility may be more than you think you can handle on your own - you should definitely listen to your gut in this case. Luckily, a variety of housing options exist in the Fort Wayne area.
One option you can choose to explore is life in a retirement community. Retirement communities, also known as “55-plus” or “active adult” living communities, are planned neighborhoods designed specifically to meet the needs and preferences of people 55 years of age or older. Retirement communities strive to be safe, convenient and enjoyable - all while allowing seniors to remain as independent as possible. Community management takes care of things like lawn maintenance, exterior repairs, and other burdensome chores.
Retirement communities can be an amazing choice for older adults, but they might not be the best fit for everyone. If you have - or think you will have - health issues or mobility limitations that could affect your ability to live independently while staying safe, consider choosing an assisted living facility instead. An assisted living facility can provide peace of mind in the form of health monitoring and 24-hour access to specialized staff that can assist you with activities of daily living, including bathing, dressing, managing your medications, keeping up with general housework, and moving around your living space safely. If this seems like a good fit for you, you’ll be relieved to know that there are many highly-rated communities in the Fort Wayne area from which to choose.
Ready to Get Started?
House hunting doesn’t have to be an overwhelming, painstaking experience. Contact Reecer Properties, Inc. today! We are proud to offer our unique combination of knowledge, attention to detail, and dedication to a strict code of ethics. Together, these allow for personal attention and flexibility that’s hard to find in national agencies, and at the same time brings its clients a wealth of knowledge of the market, the area, and the entire process. You can trust we will give you our all.
