When you’re looking for a new home, what are the top things you’re looking for? That can depend on where you are in life. As a young family, you’re looking for enough space for your kids to have their own rooms, a backyard to play in, and good daycares and schools in close proximity. As you reach retirement age, your priorities begin to change.
Today, retirees looking for active adult living communities have a lot of options, as more of these neighbourhoods have been developed across Ontario. At Blythwood Homes, we believe the Niagara Peninsula is one of the best places in Ontario to live, especially for retirees who want an upscale adult-oriented community in a world-class location. There’s a reason Niagara welcomes millions of visitors every year, from the vineyards to the golf courses, sightseeing to shopping. It’s a great place to relax, and when you live here, you get to enjoy it all year long.
Location
Location is one of the top considerations in a new home. When you’re still in your career years, where you work and how long you’re willing to commute set the parameters for where you’re going to move. With retirement comes the freedom to move pretty much anywhere you want. But there are some important factors to consider before you move, and you should consider what you already enjoy about where you live before you make your move.
1) Family
Just because the kids aren’t living with you anymore doesn’t mean you don’t want to be close to them. Whether it’s the odd weekend with the grandkids or the holidays, being close to family means being able to spend a lot more time with them.
Besides being home to half a million people itself, Niagara is a short drive to the GTA. Also, many home buyers who have moved to Niagara to retire find that their children and grand children enjoy making the trip to Niagara to enjoy the many attractions including time at the beaches on Lake Erie or a day at ZOOS Niagara or Great Wolf Lodge.
2) Climate
At the northern edge of the Carolinian Forest, Niagara has one of the warmest climates in Canada, and one of the few places outside of British Columbia known for its comparatively mild winters. The Peninsula’s unique micro-climate enjoys milder winters and summers, mitigated by two Great Lakes, one of the reasons the wine industry has come to thrive in the area.
3) Access to Healthcare
In the earlier years of your retirement, access to healthcare may not be your top priority, but if you plan on making this your dream home, you will want to make sure good quality, readily accessible healthcare is nearby for the future. Niagara Health Care is regional healthcare provider with multiple sites and a growing network of community-based services. Their team is made up of more than 4,800 employees, 600 physicians and 850 volunteers who we count on to deliver extraordinary caring to every person, every time. A state-of-the-art hospital has been recently completed in St. Catharines (with affiliations to McMaster) and an additional billion-dollar facility is planned to serve the south area of Niagara at Lyons Creek Road and the QEW.
4) Cost of Living
Finally, there’s how much you can get for your money. As you shift from a salary to a retirement income, you want to make sure that your savings go a long way. Selling your current home and downsizing should give you some extra funds to add to your retirement nest egg. Moving to a brand-new home with maintenance free exterior and interior and energy efficient design will save you lots. With reduced ongoing expenses, you will have more left for travel, leisure activities, and whatever else you want to do with your free time.
Home Design
Home design, materials, and quality construction are also important things to look for in your dream home. Our adult-oriented community in Ridgeway, ON, The Oaks at Six Mile Creek, features both detached bungalow and bungalow townhomes in a variety of designs and floorplans, starting at 1330 sq. feet up to over 2000 square ft, as does The Vintages at Four Mile Creek in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Our townhomes are designed to maximize privacy, including in outdoor garden patio areas that will be great for hosting in Niagara’s long summer season. You can also work with a personal décor specialist on customizable materials like countertops, cabinets, flooring, and more. Get the type of home you want which includes:
- Bungalow design No stairs!
- Large entertaining spaces, sunrooms and windows
- Covered exterior patios to enjoy the outdoors
- Quiet and privacy and
- Elegant exteriors
Get the design you’ve always wanted from a home but never found until now.
Lifestyle
The best part about living in Niagara is the lifestyle. It’s the perfect place to live an active adult lifestyle with plenty of leisure time, a lust for life, and a taste for the finer things.
The Oaks at Six Mile Creek are only a short walk away from the historic village of Ridgeway, a town next to Crystal Beach with tons to do, including restaurants, museums, a centre for the arts, and even a craft brewery. It’s also only a short trip to the lakefront of Lake Erie and some of the nicest beaches in Ontario.
The Vintages at Four Mile Creek is located in the village of St. Davids in Niagara-on-the-Lake, and quite literally at the doorstep to some of the best vineyards in the region. In the heart of the wine region, you have tons of excellent wine, farmers’ markets, and farm-to-table dining available.
In addition to the dining and vineyards, the Niagara River Bike Trail is one of the most scenic cycling routes you can take. It follows the Niagara River all the way from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie, passing the Falls and tons of destinations in between, from historic sites to incredible vineyards. If you love cycling, having the Niagara River Bike Trail in your neighbourhood is an excellent way to stay active. There are also three-dozen championship golf courses throughout the region. It’s the perfect place for anyone who loves to tee up. Of course, the region has no end of great places just to walk the dog or go for a stroll.
If you’re ready to enjoy long summer evenings entertaining on the patio, the sunset from a vineyard, some of the best dining options available in Ontario, stunning natural scenery, and an active lifestyle, Niagara is the place to go.
If you’re looking to move, Niagara Region features several adult lifestyle communities by Blythwood Homes. We are currently working on completing The Oaks at Six Mile Creek and The Vintages at Four Mile Creek, in Ridgeway and Niagara-on-the-Lake respectively. Stay tuned for move-in ready homes as they’re completed or get in touch about building a custom home in Niagara today.