{"id":50132,"date":"2024-09-23T21:37:14","date_gmt":"2024-09-24T01:37:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/?p=50132"},"modified":"2024-09-23T21:37:20","modified_gmt":"2024-09-24T01:37:20","slug":"worst-florida-towns-to-retire-in-and-lakeland-is-on-the-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/2024\/09\/23\/worst-florida-towns-to-retire-in-and-lakeland-is-on-the-list\/","title":{"rendered":"Worst Florida Towns to Retire In and Lakeland Is on the List"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ah, Florida. It\u2019s on the vision board for many retirees. What could be better than kicking back on a warm beach while the sun beats down on you and your margarita? But there\u2019s one problem \u2014 not all Florida towns are created equal when it comes to retirement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GOBankingRates spoke with real estate professionals to get the lowdown on where to avoid when looking for a potential place to spend your golden years in the Sunshine State.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are the 11 worst Florida towns to retire in.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Naples<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Naples is often touted as the epitome of luxe retirement in Florida, it may not be the best choice for many retirees. \u201cNaples is known for its luxury appeal but it\u2019s very expensive which makes it hard for retirees to manage their savings,\u201d said Keith McCoy, owner and founder of Midtown Homebuyers in Milton, Florida. \u201cA lot of retirees struggle to keep up with the high cost of living there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Robert Washington, broker at Savvy Buyers Realty in the Tampa Bay area, similarly said, \u201cMiami and Naples are both great places to retire. If you can afford it. The problem is that most retirees can\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boca Raton<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another town that might look appealing at first glance but could prove challenging for retirees is Boca Raton. \u201cBoca Raton has high home prices which makes it less affordable for many retirees even though it offers great amenities,\u201d McCoy explained. \u201cIt can be hard to find a reasonably priced home in Boca Raton.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key West<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The allure of island living might draw some retirees to Key West, but the financial reality can be harsh. \u201cThe cost of living in Key West is extremely high because of limited space and tourism which makes it tough for retirees on a budget. Living in Key West could drain savings quickly due to everyday expenses,\u201d McCoy said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sarasota<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Sarasota is often praised for its location and amenities, it\u2019s becoming increasingly challenging for retirees on a budget. \u201cSarasota is in a great location but the rising home prices can force retirees to look for more affordable places. Many retirees may need to explore nearby towns for cheaper options,\u201d McCoy added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Miami Beach<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Miami Beach might seem like a dream retirement destination, but it comes with significant drawbacks. McCoy explained, \u201cMiami Beach has a fast-paced lifestyle and high real estate prices which may not suit retirees looking for a more relaxed and affordable environment. It\u2019s also a hotspot for tourists which adds to the high costs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Orlando<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Orlando might be great for a family vacation, but it\u2019s not ideal for retirement. \u201cOrlando is a tourism based economy with theme parks being the main attraction,\u201d Washington said. \u201cOutside of maybe being able to entice your grandchildren to visit more often, it isn\u2019t exactly favorable for retirees.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

St. Petersburg<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While St. Petersburg has traditionally been popular with retirees, it\u2019s undergoing changes that might make it less appealing. \u201cSt. Petersburg is starting to experience a younger vibe and feels like it may become Florida\u2019s Austin,\u201d Washington said. \u201cWhich I\u2019m all for, but it isn\u2019t exactly what most retirees are seeking.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Palm Beach<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Omer Reiner, realtor and president of FL Cash Home Buyers, LLC, warned about Palm Beach. \u201cEverything that makes Palm Beach a wonderful place to vacation also makes it a tough sell for retirement,\u201d he said. \u201cIt is an expensive place to visit, and living there also carries a big price tag. For people on a limited or fixed income, the costs of living here can soon overwhelm the bank accounts of all but the wealthiest of retirees.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Miami<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Miami offers many amenities, it comes with significant risks. \u201cThis is a fun, exciting city with a good transit system, access to all types of healthcare, and a long list of entertainment options,\u201d Reiner said. \u201cThe downside? It is the most hurricane-prone city in the state. Most of those who live there are 20 miles or less from the coast and it has a higher chance each year of getting hit by a hurricane than many other cities in the nation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lakeland<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For those who value easy transportation, Lakeland might not be the best choice. \u201cLakeland is between Tampa and Orlando, which is great if you like to drive,\u201d Reiner explained. \u201cHowever, the city itself gets backed up frequently. Expect to spend at least a half-hour getting around the town most days.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

St. Augustine<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While St. Augustine is rich in history, its climate might be challenging for some retirees. \u201cMost of Florida is fairly muggy, but St. Augustine is steamy. That isn\u2019t usually attractive to the older population,\u201d Reiner said. \u201cThe city averages 82% humidity year-round. This can seem especially harsh for retirees moving from cooler, drier climates.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ah, Florida. It\u2019s on the vision board for many retirees. What could be better than kicking back on a warm beach while the sun beats down on you and your margarita?… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":50133,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"14","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":0,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"wpai_generated_summary":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2,"attached_media":[{"id":50133,"url":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/images-1-2.jpeg","type":"image\/jpeg"}]},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false},"categories":[14],"tags":[9839],"class_list":["post-50132","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-worst-florida-towns-to-retire-in-and-lakeland-is-on-the-list"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50132","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=50132"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50132\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":50134,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50132\/revisions\/50134"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/50133"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=50132"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=50132"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=50132"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}