Toomsboro mayor Roger Smith stands at the fence of the newly restored bed and breakfast at the center of his mid-Georgia town

There is a story in the Huffington Post that says buying a small town just keeps getting easier.  It says a developer who owns most of Toomsboro Georgia is putting his properties up for sale.  The town has 700 residents and features several small businesses like a florist, a convenience store and a custom cabinet shop.  According to the seller it was be ideal for a movie production company for a movie or a music video.

Toomsboro is in Wilkinson County where I went to high school and I knew several classmates who lived in Toomsboro.  Kurt was a butcher in Toomsboro the last time I went through there.  .

I know this sounds sensational saying a town is for sale, but several things just do not make sense to me.  So what does it mean to buy a small town… don’t the people living there have a say?   Reportedly a developer has the properties for sale…. well I can assure you there has not been much new development in Toomboro in quite some time.  I remember when the Swampland Opera closed down and most buildings in town were showing their age and in need of repair.   Maybe I could be wrong and the developer renovated the buildings and the town.  Gosh, you know he is upside down on those loans.

Despite all the publicity, have any sales of small towns ever worked out?   I remember Kim Basigner was going to buy Braselton, another Georgia town.   That sounds about as a good idea as her marriage to Alex Baldwin. With perhaps too much disposable income, Kim headed up an investment group that purchased the entire town of Braselton, in her native Georgia, for $20 million (she would later have to sell it).

Some guy who is the sole resident of Buford Wyoming put his house up for sale and a Vietnamese businessman bought it and could say he owned the whole town.  Big deal.

The town where The Hunger Games was filmed is reportedly for sale for 1.4 million.  The owner says the town gets lots of visitors.

If a small town is for sale, it is probably not a good place to live, much less retire to.   Who wants to live in a town that someone owns most of the property in and probably runs everything.   My guess is most of these towns are ghost towns and the people have long left for better living somewhere else, leaving  some buildings that may be called a town on paper but no longer in reality.

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Lake Odessa Michigan

We have now updated all of our state pages at Small Town Retirement with some of the best small towns for retirement that we could find.  This caught the eye of a reporter in Michigan who is excited to share this information but wondered what criteria was used to determine the selections, in particular on our  Small Towns in Michigan, a town named Lake Odessa in Michigan.

Ms Patterson who did this page was on maturity leave, so I did research Lake Odessa Michigan to see why it was in fact on our list.  I enjoyed the process and clearly see  why Odessa was added.

I was happy to reply as follows.

Hello (Reporter),

Our Ms. Patterson developed our Michigan page recently and added Odessa to the list.   Shelley is now on maturity leave however I think I can answer why Odessa was added.

The introductory paragraph of our Michigan page says it best:  The best small towns in Michigan offer comfortable and laid back settings, workability, arts and culture scene, and plenty of outdoor activities.   That describes Odessa pretty good and are reasons it would be desirable for retirement living.

Odessa has plenty of things to do and the city’s web site lists many wonderful upcoming events to keep retirees active and are affordable.   Arts  and festivals are  another attractive part of the community.  The revitalized downtown and the old Lake Odessa Train depot are charming and bring a sense of community.

The scenery and the enjoyment of Lake Jordan and nearby Games and Recreation areas are attractive too.  Odessa has affordable housing costs and this has become important to many retirees.   At retirement age, many want to retire to a relaxed small town atmosphere, which Odessa has.  It is also within 100 miles to two larger metro areas.  For all the above reasons, Odessa was added to our list of good towns  for retirement.

Thanks for your inquiry.
Robert

Robert Fowler, President
Retirement Media Inc.

Best Small Towns – Advantages

Best towns for retirement do differ but offer many common things.  See more at our page Advantages of Small Towns.

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Update March 22, 2012 – Tax Exemption for Georgia Seniors Capped

The Georgia Senate voted unanimously Thursday for a sweeping tax plan that its supporters said would help the state compete for jobs and help families. The bill now awaits the signature of Gov. Nathan Deal, who helped put the plan together. Here is the key elements of House Bill 386 that will affect the Georgia Income Tax Exemption for Seniors:

Cap nonwork income that seniors can exclude from income taxes at $65,000, or $130,000 per couple.

Below is my orginal article about the state of Georgia Tax Exemption for Seniors.  It still applies but now will be cap as per the above limits of 65,000, or $130,000 per couple.  This is still quite generous and would cover most people.  – Robert Fowler

Currently in Georgia at age 62 citizens may exempt up to $35,000 individually (or $70,000) of retirement income per couple from the state income tax. The state of Georgia income tax rate is 6% of income.  For a couple exempting the max of $70,000, that would be $4200 in saved on taxes.  This has been the current law.

Now Georgia Governor Perdue is passing a much broader exception for senior age 65 which will phase in started in 2012. House Bill 1055 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE (at very end of page) raises the retirement income for persons age 65 during any part of the year in 2012 to $65,000 per person, then in 2013 to $100.000, then in 2014 to $150,000, then in 2015 to $200,000 per person for retirement income exemption.   Finally in 2016 all retirement income is exemption from state income tax for a person age 65.

You don’t have to be retired, just have retirement income which is defined as follows:
For the purposes of this paragraph, retirement income shall include but not be limited to interest income, dividend income, net income from rental property, capital gains income, income from royalties, income from pensions and annuities, and no more than $4,000.00 of an individual’s earned income. Earned income in excess of $4,000.00, including but not limited to net business income earned by an individual from any trade or business carried on by such individual, wages, salaries, tips, and other employer compensation, shall not be regarded as retirement income. The receipt of earned income shall not diminish any taxpayer’s eligibility for the retirement income exclusionexclusions allowed by this paragraph except to the extent of the express limitation provided in this subparagraph.

This is a major benefits for the state of Georgia seniors and anyone considering relocating to Georgia.  We applauded Governor Perdue and the state of Georgia for passage of this benefit for the seniors of Georgia. This will be a boost over the long terms to the senior communities of GA.

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The history of Thomasville is rich and predates the Civil War! Before Florida was opened up, Thomasville was the last train stop. It was visited in those early days for health reasons, thinking the many pines would be beneficial for those with pulmonary afflictions. Others came to hunt on one of the many Plantations that surround Thomasville. Some just came for the social gatherings.

The streets and roads of this county have been trodden by some very famous and notable people threw out its history.  Joann Woodward, wife of Paul Newman is from here.  Her father was the principal of an all girls’ school here.  This is just one of the many well known personalities of our area. Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy was tucked away here on one of our many plantations for a time, to give her and the children a respite from the public shortly after President Kennedy’s assassination.

Part of the pride of Thomasville is the tremendous participation in restoration of historical homes and the downtown area.  Thomasville residents take their preservation of history and restoration seriously.  They put their money where some only put their mouth, they simply do it!!  The downtown has undergone restoration on a large serious scale.  A lot of energy, enthusiasm and dollars are being put into the downtown area. But the rewards are worth it.  The result, is a thriving vibrant downtown area that attracts people from miles around.

The homes on Love Street and Warren Ave, near the downtown area, have been dealt a new lease on life over the past eight years. These are now home to many professionals, young and old.  It is a place where neighbors stroll the streets with their children, groups of young parents get together for kickball and flag football, and children play together in the green space at the corner.

Court House Thomasville GA

“We all love the Warren-Love Street neighborhood, because it is so easy to walk to downtown community events, restaurants, and shopping.  The city tennis courts and the cultural center are also within short walking distance”.  Quote by, Darlone Bailey Kaley
“The neighborhood is special because we all saw the potential to return to a simpler time and way of living, and we were willing to work to make it happen. There are still a few houses waiting to be completed, and we would love to have a few more great neighbors”!
Darlone Bailey Kaley- is an owner and resident of a home on Love Street.

Church Garden Thomasville GA

Thomasville Landmarks and The Historical Society are places to receive support and encouragement when taking on any of these restoration projects.

You will appreciate the proximity of being close enough to the Gulf Coast for a day trip, within one hour and thirty minutes express route or two to three hours the slow scenic route.  Just a tree lined forty minute drive on four lane highways to Tallahassee, Florida for all kinds of shopping, eating and entertainment events.  Four hours from Atlanta and North Georgia mountains can be reached in a day.  Savannah and east coast is only three hours away.

Thomasville proper is a good balance of a slow southern atmosphere, with a healthy emphasis on culture for arts, writing, music, acting, and athletics.  These are all encouraged and nurtured here.  If Florida is too crowded for you, try north of the border. “Thomasville;  a place apart.”

Thomasville has received mention in several retirement research articles and books.

Retire in Style: 60 Outstanding Places Across the USA and Canada [Paperback] Warren R. Bland PhD (Author)
When you make your list of places to explore for retirement potential, Thomasville should be on your list.

Historic Thomasville Georgia Visitors Center

About The Snarky Boomer

I live in Thomasville Georgia.  I’m a “Baby Boomer” of 1951.  Check out my blog at Boomersberg.com and leave me a comment OR start a conversation in the forum.

Thomasville Interesting Facts: Thomasville Georgia deems itself the City of Roses and holds an annual Rose Festival. Thomasville features plantations open to the public, a historic downtown, a large farmer’s market, and a 320 year old oak tree at the corner of Monroe and Crawford streets. The population of Thomasville was 18,413 at the 2010 census

Georgia Small Towns for Retirement | Georgia Retirement Communities

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In recent times, taking the advantage of a mortgage, people are incessantly buying a new house. This has increased the rate of houses being sold. Mortgages can be obtained at any age and it necessarily takes the span of 7 to 10 years to be repaid. However, people are generally being suggested to repay the mortgage loan before they retire.

Now people may want to know the reason behind this suggestion, so here are the three main reasons.

• Retirement is the age when people lose their capability to work hard and earn money. This is the time when they need to have a comfortable and debt-free life.  A mortgage payment typically involves 20 to 30 percent of the monthly budget. So, if the mortgage is paid, retirees can manage their finances more comfortably, especially if they live on a fixed budget. It saves them considerable money, which they can spend towards their medical expenses or holidays.
• Pay-off the mortgage prior to retirement also provides people a long term care. Having equity in a home is considered as an asset, which can be used for many other purposes in life or during the time of emergency. In the event retirees should need some cash, they can consider selling the residence or securing a reverse mortgage in order to meet the needs.
• It also gives peace of mind to the retirees. Paying off mortgage prior to retirement helps people achieve stress free and tension free life.

Paying off a  mortgage before retirement requires some prior planning. If you find your existing mortgage extending beyond your expected retirement date, apply some strategies.

• People who are in mid 40s and on the front end of a 30 year mortgage repayment can refinance their mortgage to a fifteen year mortgage. This may increase the monthly payments, but will reduce the span of mortgage repayment from 30 to 15 years.
• Another viable way of repaying the mortgage as early as possible is making additional principal payment each month. Many mortgage lenders allow borrowers to pay more than minimum monthly payment so that mortgage is paid earlier. This reduces the overall interest charges as well as the span of mortgage repayment.

In conclusion, almost 70 percent Americans own a house, out of which 35 percent are mortgage-free during retirement, so if you also prefer a stress free life after your retirement, take the necessary steps to achieve the goal.

This is a guest post by K. Craig who is a financial writer associated with various finance related Communities. He has been providing advice on debt relief since 2007 and also written some great articles on bankruptcy, mortgage refinance, credit counseling, credit repair, debt management, personal injury and so on.

Home Health Care Agencies Atlanta

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Real Estate Investing

Retirement is a stage when you can no longer work hard, so it is the best time to invest in real estate, provided you do not owe any debt. The value of housing has taken a hit but prices will return as the economy improves, so it is a great idea to invest in real estate. However, since after the recent economic meltdown people are unable to afford to pay the huge amount of money for investment, they are obtaining mortgage. But when they default on their mortgage, they go for mortgage refinance. Nevertheless, before investing in real estate, consider some factors so that your investment proves to be a right decision.

Location: This is one of the most important factors to be taken into account while investing in real estate. Having a house in good location and at good neighborhood is extremely important after retirement. Make sure the house you buy is close to hospitals, post office, shopping malls, and police station. Many over retirement homes in over 55 communities are selected because they have great desirable locations.   Also, buy a house that is close to your friends and relatives.

Design: This is another important factor to be considered. Before buying a house, check out the design of the house, if possible. Make sure, the house has all the essential facilities, such as laundry. Also ensure that the rooms in the house are proportionate.

Services: After retirement, people seek for comforts and services. So if you are planning to invest in real estate after retirement, make a list of all your preferred services and specific requirements. While looking for a house, make sure, your preferred services and requirements are available near your house. For example, home maintenance, nursing aids, and other significant services.

People mostly stay away from investing in real estate after retirement since it requires huge amount of money to invest. But there are several advantages that you must know. So let us have a look at each of them.

Ownership feeling: Owing a house is really a special feeling and that is the reason why people try to buy a house in their life. Having an own house gives you a feel of ownership that matters a lot in old age.

Can implement your personal choice: All individuals have certain dreams and desires which they want to implement after retirement. At this stage people look forward to own a house and decorate it as per their choice. Not only this, they also want to renovate the house or make some modifications according to their comforts. And this is only possible when you have your own house.

Avoid paying rent: Buying a house is a better option than paying rent to the landlord.  Senior apartment communities are expensive.  This will save you money, which you can spend for your other interests. You may invest in the education of your grand children or in a luxurious life in your dream city.

Earn some extra cash: If your new house is spacious enough, you can think about utilizing the space in various ways to earn money. You may set an office to start a business of your own or rent a room or two and earn a considerable amount each month.

In the meanwhile, many senior citizens are falling into debt because of the recent financial upheaval and economic devastation. So they are looking for some resources or grants that can help them with financial assistance.

Home Buyer Training Classes:

State community action partnership agencies conduct training classes for people who are going to invest in real estate for the first time. Depending on the program, these agencies even aid first-time home buyers with down payment assistance programs.

Conclusion:

Thus, it is to be concluded by saying that investing in real estate after retirement is a good option since the value of housing is incessantly increasing. So investing in real estate can secure the path of your financial future. However, before investing, keep the mentioned factors and advantages in mind.

This is a guest post by K. Craig who is a financial writer associated with various finance related Communities. He has been providing advice on debt relief since 2007 and also written some great articles on bankruptcy, mortgage refinance, credit counseling, credit repair, debt management, personal injury and so on.

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With four seasons this New England state of Maryland has several small towns  which we consider the best to live or retire in. Here are three towns from our list of the best small towns in Maryland.

1. Easton

Located along Maryland’s eastern coast, Easton has approximately 10,000 residents and is know for its excellent health care system and its cultural activities including a historic theater and art venues.  Easton offers four seasons and a variety of outdoor activities. The Chesapeake River offers a nice location for sailing, fishing or boating and the town presents seven scenic golf courses that are noted throughout the region as some of the best holes in New England. The Eastern shore offers retirement and 2nd homes as well.  Chesapeake Active Adult Living Community, a Del Webb 55 Plus community is located in Easton MD and should be checked out if you are 55+.   Easy commute to Washington DC, Baltimore and Annapolis from the Eastern Shore.

2. Crofton

The town of Crofton was originally a gated community that surrounds a large scenic loop that encompasses two elementary schools, a country club and a town hall. One year Crofton was named one of the 100 Best Places to Live in the US.  The Crofton Parkway is designed for bicyclists and joggers who long for outdoor exercise and fresh air offered in Crofton. The area is a safe community with an exceptionally low crime rate. Crofton is only thirty minutes away from Baltimore MD which makes it a desirable place for city dwellers wishing to slow down a bit. Crofton’s population is about 28,000.

This photo of Tilghman Island is courtesy of TripAdvisor

3. Tilghman Island

Another desirable small towns along Maryland’s eastern shore lies the picturesque town of Tilghman Island, the so-called Pearl of the Chesapeake Bay.  The area is considered to be unspoiled and a place where one goes to unwind and relax. The town is filled with quaint spots for shopping and dining, City walk sightseeing, the Tilghman Watermen’s Museum and is a working watermen’s village with excellent fishing, an excellent retirement activity.  Take a visit to Tilghman Island for a peaceful getaway to check it out.

See our page for the top 7 best smalls towns in Maryland for more towns to consider.  Also check out our Maryland Retirement Communities to see 55+ communities in Maryland.

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Then there’s a group interested in “lifestyle” that living in a small town appeals to,  brought to my attention by David Carse’s blog post “Small Business – The Solution To The Worlds Woes“.

In the post he touts small living as well as small business.  When you think about it, they kind of go together.

David says  “We made the decision to start our own business as a lifestyle choice. We had come from a big city, where we would commute to work, drop kids at day care, work for some boss in a company culture we didn’t believe in, then off home again, repeat. All so you can buy that expensive house, pay for those child care fees, maybe buy a trinket to put in your house on the weekend.

It all struck us as a bit of a hamster wheel and not really satisfying. With a young family we wanted to spend time with our kids and each other. We also thought – we only have one life, we didn’t want to wake up at 50, finally owning that house and lots of other crap but not knowing our kids.”

Big city living working at a big impersonal corporation and spending your time in the traffic getting to your cubicle was not the kind of life David wanted.

David continues “We started this business in early 2009 after the first GFC. We saw a need in the region and built up the courage to go out on our own. It has been hard, but in 3 years we now have over 115 websites and some wonderful clients.

During these 3 years of business I have been involved with many other businesses, discussing what they do, who they employ, who their customers are. The vast majority of my clients are small/micro business, under 20 employees. The thing I have noticed is these businesses are the lifeblood of their towns and communities. It is these, commonly family run, businesses that create an income for themselves, employee others and create something of value in their community. I really respect these clients, and some of them are 2nd and 3rd generation businesses.”.

So out of the big city to a small town community and from the big corporation working for the man to your own small business that is part of your town and community is more to David lifestyle likening.  He points out that shopping locally with real people and family businesses is giving back to your community.

Finally David says “You could take it a step further, if you are employed by a large corporation, consider downshifting to a rural community and contributing to a smaller local business. You would be amazed at how affordable housing is and what a pleasant lifestyle these rural towns can provide.”

It is clear that small town living appeals across generations for the same reasons that we tout small town retirement living.  Thanks for our insight David.

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We had a box at the Post Office and it was common to stop to visit and talk with neighbors in or out front of  our Post Office.  Besides the church and maybe Hazel’s Beauty Parlor,  the Post Office was where you got to visit with people.   My dad would even take the mile trip to the Post Office on Saturday just to see who he could run into. The name US Post Office Gordon, Georgia was out front of our Post Office along with the American Flag.  It was part of our small town’s identity.

Now 3,700 of those post offices, most in small towns, will be gone if the U.S. Postal Service is not prevented from closing them.  All told, the postal service intends to review 16,000 of its existing 32,000 post offices over the next decade for possible closure. This most certainly will be a loss in more ways than one to those living in small towns.

The Post Office system seems to be in trouble but I thought serving everyone was the main purpose of this government service and never thought it would come down to closing small town post offices.

I understand small towns are fighting back against closure of their community Post Office but with the financial mess in Washington everything is up for review.

There are initiatives to provide high speed broadband internet service to everyone but will this be able to replace small town Post Offices?   Will the drug store or convenience store sell stamps and postal supplies?  We will see rows of mailbox stations in central locations where mail can be delivered by a mail carrier?  Maybe Senior Centers,  Community Centers or other government buildings can be used for this purpose.

Lots of changes going on in today’s economy but closing small town Post Offices never occurred to me as being one.

May 2012 update to this post office story: It has been decided, at least for now, that small town post offices will not be closed, but will have limited operation hours of operation, a plan to save money will mean less money in the budget for local post office employees.   They will cut back on their retail hours but access to post office lobbies and PO boxes will remain the same.

Many think to keep these small town post offices open will be a benefit to small towns and save traveling to large towns for post office business.

Right now this is just a plan and is not officially decided for sure, but has to be reviewed by the Postal Regulatory Commission with some town hall meeting in communities across the US to gain community support.  This strategy may be implemented over the next several years to be completed by maybe 2014.  Stay tuned.

Arizona senior centers – Seattle senior center – Orlando senior center – Texas senior centers

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Retirement Home

1. Move to a Small Town where housing costs, property taxes and cost of living are all lower.  This will save you money.

2. Downsize to a new smaller more efficient home which will save you money on utilities and have less upkeep & maintenance repairs.  It will be a long time before you spend money on appliance replacements or have to replace the hot water heater, furnace, air conditioner or roof.

3. Buy a resale home from a realtor or the owner rather than buying from the builder / developer.  You can get a resale at a better price. There are previously occupied homes in every community, even new communities.  Most resales have been improved by their owners.

4. Age in place in your current home making some improvements to make your house  more livable.  Check into changes in home design and function – many resources are available on the Internet.  Visit your neighborhood senior center or active adult center for programs and activities that will help you stay active, learn, exercise and socialize right in your own neighborhood.

5. Also check out 55+ communities and senior communities that may better serve your housing needs into the future. Being pro-active and acquiring long-run sustainable housing can save you money by avoiding emotional, maybe rash decisions about housing later in life.

Although seeming more expensive age qualified communities many times include services, meals, transportation, exercise facilities and much more that you are paying for now, so overall may be a good value for you.

By Robert Fowler, President of Retirement Media Inc.
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