Texas Hill Country– a Growing Southern Retirement Destination
Posted by Mary Sallman on Sun, Dec 11, 2011
Texas Hill Country– a Growing Southern Retirement Destination
It’s not a new trend to want to retire further south if you live in the northern parts of the United States or Canada. Weather considerations provide a major reason for these moves. As people get older they no longer want to deal with the inconvenience of shoveling, dangerously slippery roads and sidewalks, and the expense of heating a home for so many months of the year. Today’s retirees are more active than ever and are looking for places where they can enjoy golf, cycling, boating and other outdoor activities for more of the year.
For years it came as no surprise when people announced their intentions to move to Florida upon retiring. However many people choose Texas as their retirement (or pre-retirement) destination these days. In a recent interview several people shared their reasons for moving and the criteria that brought them to Texas.
Bob & Michelle Devereux, formerly of Illinois fell in love with Texas and its people during their visits to their daughter who attended college in Galveston. - “Bob, hated/hates snow…even as a child he hated being cold and didn’t like outdoor winter sports. He did try skiing with me, ugh, bad deal there. He hated shoveling/plowing snow…I even bought him an ATV with a plow; still he couldn’t find the joy in snow. I even told him I thought he was Bob Marley in another life. Tropical guy stuck in the Midwest, ha-ha”. Last year “after plowing for 3 days, 30 inches of snow… he came in for his hot cocoa and said “this is our last year here…let’s go to Texas now instead of waiting for retirement, I am so done with this!”
Some of the things they were looking for in a location:
- a newer home on acreage with a pool
- nowhere near the Gulf (no evacuating for hurricanes)
- near extended family in Woodlands
- no state income tax.
Cliff & Carol Wiest, of Alberta Canada were also looking for better weather and had considered Phoenix, AZ and the Houston area (where their son and his family live) before settling on Canyon Lake. – We “fell in love with the Hill Country during one of many Texas visits. It is beautiful, peaceful, and very friendly. Also (we have) easy access to all amenities and the surrounding area and towns are all very interesting. Also we love to golf!”
Criteria important to them in choosing a location:
- closer to family in Houston
- not in a big city but close enough to a major airport
Christian Wendler of Colorado was originally from west Texas and had considered Colorado, Arizona and Southern California and Texas. During his travels and work in the Hill Country area he grew very fond of the Canyon Lake area. He has purchased property and plans to build here after he retires. - When asked what specifically made him choose Canyon Lake, Christian replied “It is in Texas. Is there any other reason required? Seriously though, lake access, cost of living, great weather and proximity to San Antonio, Austin and New Braunfels.”
Some of the amenities/criteria he had in mind when deciding on an area to move to:
- great year around temperate weather
- population density
- ease of travel
- terrain with views
- access to freshwater lakes and other recreational activities
Economic conditions in the area may also be a factor in why so many are moving to Texas. In a recent article in the San Antonio Express News, it stated that Texas had grown twice as fast as the nation as a whole since 2000. In Kiplinger’s 2011 annual ranking of the least expensive places to live in the U.S., five out of ten least expensive cities were in Texas and CNBC ranked Texas as having the 5th best cost of living overall in the country when compared to the other 49 states.
Is it any wonder then why so many are choosing Texas over some of the more traditional retirement states? With a great climate, low cost of living, wonderful friendly people and so much to do, Texas has what people want.
What are you looking for in a retirement location? Have you found your perfect area of the country yet? Let us know.
Interested in more information in the Canyon Lake area in the Texas Hill Country, click here for our Land Kit! 