5 Reasons to Build Your Retirement Home in Vancouver
Picking the right place to retire to can be a daunting task. It has to be somewhere suited to your new lifestyle, where you can enjoy your freedom. While looking for the perfect location to build your retirement home, we think you should seriously consider Vancouver, Washington. Between the mild climate, proximity to cities, outdoor activities, and small town charm, it has a little something for everyone! Here are our top five reasons to retire to Vancouver.
The Great Outdoors
Winding rivers, beautiful beaches, lush forests, and did we mention the mountains? One of the most attractive features of living in the Pacific Northwest is the incredible natural landscape. The region has drawn droves of outdoorsmen since it’s settling, and it continues to draw nature enthusiasts to this day. Vancouver is uniquely located, affording residents the opportunity to go skiing in the morning and hiking in a rainforest in the evening. From the fishing, boating, skiing, hiking, biking, and everything in between, you’d be hard-pressed to not find the outdoor activity of your choice.
Even when you are not actively outside enjoying everything Mother Nature has to offer, you can still enjoy the sweeping vistas from the comfort of your own home. How many people are lucky enough to have a big, beautiful mountain view out of their kitchen window?
Fiscal Living
One attractive factor that has people retiring to Vancouver is the monetary advantages the town provides. Residents of Vancouver are fortunate enough to not pay a state income tax, allowing those on a fixed income to stretch their budgets more. In addition, the proximity to Oregon allows people to cross state lines and take advantage of their lack of sales tax. You can easily find most major retailers just a hop, skip, and a jump across the river! Most would be surprised to see how much of a difference those two taxes make in their budget, and Vancouver is the rare place where you can minimize that cost!
The tax benefits aren’t the only financial incentive to retire to Vancouver, either. As we’ve already said, the natural world is at your fingertips in Vancouver. Think of how much money you could save by skipping the movies and going out on the water or taking a hike.
That Famous Northwest Climate
Now, not everyone can agree that the Pacific Northwest has the best climate in the world, and that’s mostly because not everyone has lived here! Some people find it too gray and gloomy in the winter, with sun breaks few and far between. Those who move to the region from sunnier climates can take a little while to adjust, but when they do the benefits are clear! The proximity to the ocean makes sure it never gets too hot or too cold, with summers being in the eighties (or nineties at the highest) and winters being in the thirties or forties with minimal snow.
The Pacific Northwest has a reputation for rain and gloom, but it isn’t nearly as bad as people make it out to be! More often than not, it’s just a light mist that keeps everything fresh and vibrant. In the winter, the evergreen trees stretch out endlessly in a beautiful verdant canopy. In the summer, the people and land come out to play! Beautiful flowers, lawns that stay green all year, and late night outdoor activities make for the perfect summertime.
Big City Benefits
Thanks to Vancouver’s proximity to Portland, it manages to enjoy a rather quiet and small-town environment while still managing to offer big city benefits. The city is just a few miles over the river, making it a short car trip for Vancouver residents. You’ll have access to a vibrant arts scene, world-class restaurants, show-stopping entertainment, wineries and breweries, everything that makes Portland such an exciting place to visit!
By building your home in Vancouver, you can enjoy all those benefits and more. Portland is about 24% more expensive than Vancouver, and housing costs are almost 50% higher! That’s not even mentioning the tax benefits. Vancouver residents also enjoy a shorter commute and much less traffic than Portland residents, Portland having been ranked one of the ten worst cities for traffic in the United States. Finally, people in Vancouver can sleep a little bit easier at night knowing they have a lower crime rate than Portland. So, if you like the idea of big city amenities and opportunities without the cost, traffic, or crime, Vancouver is the place for you!
The Community
You don’t want to build your home just anywhere; you want to be part of a community. Vancouver offers a kind of community that is hard to find these days, one where you can get to know your neighbors. With plenty of local activities, it offers that small town feeling so many people are looking for.
People in the Pacific Northwest are known for their casual, relaxed outlook on life, and it’s hard to not see why! Tired of hiking? Why not try one of the local wineries with some new friends! Washington State is quickly becoming a destination for wine lovers, with many just a few minutes away from town. Looking for some live entertainment? Check out the Sunlight Supply Amphitheater! There is no shortage of activities for the active retiree, no matter what your interests.
Clearly, there are plenty of reasons to build your retirement home in Vancouver. The natural beauty is hard to beat, and it’s paradise for the outdoorsy. With a major city just one river crossing away, you won’t miss out on any of the great things about city living. When you’re done with all of that, you still have a great community to come home to, full of art, music, and good times! If you’re ready to make the move, don’t wait a second longer! New Traditions Homes is ready to help you make this next step in your life. We’re excited to show you what Vancouver has to offer!