9 Things You Should Know About Rural Living Before You Retire

There was a time when the phrase ‘rural living’ conjured up images of living in what some might term “the sticks.” The idea of finding oneself anywhere in a remote area far from the hustle and bustle of urban or suburban life seemed alien at best. But in recent years, population experts have seen movement of people retiring into cities and towns one might deem off the beaten path. Some seek a quieter lifestyle in their golden years. Others are looking to start a new adventure. No matter the reason, rural areas are having a bit of a moment right now.

For many, retiring is all about a fresh start on life. City life, or even the exponential growth of suburban living, has made it impossible to have quiet moments during the day. The idea of being able to go out on one’s porch with a cup of coffee and just be sounds pretty nice.

As with most idealistic ideas, it is important to ask questions. If considerations for rural living retirement are in mind, there are a few things to understand going into it. For example:

Access to Medical Care — While there has been a greater push to have more state-of-the-art healthcare facilities to serve rural communities, there is still progress to be made. This isn’t to say that rural medical service providers are not highly qualified and excellent at their work. However, it may be that there will be travel needed to see specialists and receive various types of care.

Lower Cost of Living (in general) — For the most part, smaller cities and towns are less expensive to live in. The difficulty lies with their proximity to larger cities and population overflow that negates this savings.

Getting Around — It is important to take into consideration access to public transportation, the overall walkability of the area, as well as the proximity of your new home to the town center and all of your other needs (e.g., doctor, city hall, etc.).

Available Housing — The housing market in the U.S. has been quite a journey in recent years. Prices have been driven higher than ever before while available homes are almost nowhere to be found. New construction is doing its best to keep up. In terms of more rural areas, however, one other issue that could emerge is finding a variety in housing.

Considerations for Continued Work —  Many retirees tend to pick-up part-time jobs for some supplemental income and as a way to stay active and social. However, these types of opportunities may not always be available in more rural settings.

It is also worth looking into how weather impacts the way residents get around, as some of the usual public works services one has become accustomed to might not be as readily available. Entertainment is worth researching as it is a way to gauge one’s chances of being as social as possible. We as a collective group congregate with like minded individuals who have similar tastes.

Finally, rural living retirement may be all about having the perfect home built in the most perfect place possible. One of the most researched topics on retirement is the onset of loneliness. And while there are many reasons why these feelings emerge, moving away from a familiar space is high on the list. Being able to establish a home in a new city or town is a major first step.

Let our team here at T. Locke Construction help you reach your goal of the perfect home. Whether it’s Austin proper or rural living in central Texas, let us show you why our clients are clients for life. Call us today.