Burlingame CA as Retirement Destination Not Far-Fetched

Burlingame as retirement paradise? U.S. News & World Report says so. In 2010, it included the City of Trees on its list of ?Best Places to Retire.? And maybe it?s not so far-fetched; once you get over the shock of thinking of our vibrant, family-friendly city of 28,000 as a retirement destination, the idea begins to make sense ? for retirees with boat loads of money, that is.

Del Webb enthusiasts can stop reading now. If your plan for retirement includes a full-blown ?active retirement community? like Webb?s Sun City franchises ? one that offers its residents a completely self-contained environment with days full of activities, clubs and ultra-convenient healthcare options ? you?re better off considering Rossmoor in Walnut Creek.

There are a few small ?senior living? communities within Burlingame. There is a branch of the successful Atria franchise, one of 120 such residential set-ups capable of shepherding elderly residents through their golden years. The Versailles is an upscale condominium tower just across the border in San Mateo.

One would think, though, that Burlingame?s appeal to seniors would be more about what the city itself has to offer, rather than what individual elder communities might have.?For the retiree looking to integrate him or herself into the greater community at large, Burlingame makes a pretty convincing argument for itself.

You can start with the weather; Del Webb builds his communities mostly in the desert. Right now it is 100 degrees in Sun City, Arizona. It is only 83 in Sun City, California, but tomorrow?s predicted high is 95. The temperature in The Villages, a massive retirement community located outside of Orlando, Florida, is 95; humidity makes it feel like 108, however.

Tomorrow in Burlingame, the mercury will stop at 72 degrees.

Unless you?re staring down the barrel of retirement yourself, it?s difficult to understand how important weather is in your golden years. Burlingame offers reasonable summers and ? more importantly ? mild winters. It isn?t by accident that so many retirees become ?Snow Birds,? spending their winters in Arizona/Florida/Palm Springs and their summers in their original home towns.

Consider, too, that Burlingame?s crime rate is far below that of the national average, and that there are 42 hospitals located within 30 miles of town. Five of those received a mention on U.S. News & World Report?s 2010 ?Best Hospitals? list.

Cultural opportunities loom not only 25 minutes up the road in San Francisco, but also in nearby Peninsula towns like San Mateo and Redwood City, two communities large enough to support local theater groups and lively restaurant scenes. Closer to home, the Kohl Mansion begins its 29^th chamber concert season on October 16.

Now, of course, we come to the tough part. Burlingame?s $1 million-plus median property values render a large portion of retirees ? those living on fixed incomes, maybe those whose ?other? life didn?t culminate with a seat on the Board of Directors ? ineligible for admission.

As of July 21, there were 21 active single-family homes priced under $1 million on the Burlingame market. Nine were listed under $800,000. All but two were two-bedroom homes. On the condo side we found 18 properties, all on the market for less than $900,000. Eight are priced under $500,000; three ? two two-bedroom units and one one-bedroom ? are available for less than $400,000.

For perspective, consider that right now homes in Sun City, California, are selling for around $60 per square foot. You can pick up 27250 Murrieta Road, a three-bedroom, two-bath home built in 2004, for $75,000. Foreclosures (there are plenty) are cheaper, and you can pick up a double-wide for about half that amount.

And outside your front door: desert.

So it?s not for everyone, this Burlingame retirement paradise. For those with the means, though, spending the golden part of life in Burlingame is a tempting scenario.

Source: http://beststatestoretire.com/burlingame-ca-as-retirement-destination-not-far-fetched/

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