Money Australia — May 2017

HUON VALLEY

• ClosetoHobartfor
  amenities


• Four distinct
  seasons


• Lifestyle (gourmet)
  andleisure(suchas
  golf and gardening)

SA

ADELAIDE HILLS

(eg Mount Barker)

• Natural open spaces


• South Eastern
  Freeway enables
  access to Adelaide


• Choice of shops

FLEURIEU

PENINSULA

(eg Victor Harbor)

• Largenumberof
  community groups
  and clubs


• Medical services


• Proximity to
  Adelaide

WA

GREAT SOUTHERN

(eg Denmark)

• Arts and culture


• Restaurants


• Natural environment


• Sense of community

SOUTH WEST

(eg Margaret River)

• A Mediterranean
  climate


• Art and culture
  (vineyards, restaurants,
  music festivals, art
  galleries)


• Lifestyle


• Proximity to sea
  and forests

COUNT THE COSTS
Moving can also be an expensive business. As well as the
financial cost (real estate agent fees, legal fees, removal
expenses,stampduty,furniturereplacement),thereis
theemotionalcost,particularlyifyouhavelivedinone
homeforalongtime.Itcanbeverytiringsortingout
whattotakeandwhattoleave.It’ssaidthatunpacking
is harder than packing.
Also, how much does it cost to live in a new location?
Areaspopularduringtheholidaysmayputuptheprices.
Wehaveheardofpeoplereceivinga“locals”discount.
Sellingyourhomeandmovingisamajorlifeevent.
Couldyou“trybeforeyoubuy”?Couldyourent,or
think of a house swap or house sitting? Some retirees

take their “wheel estate” to their preferred area and live

in their caravan to find out what life is like.

KEY ISSUES TO THINK ABOUT

Oneofthemostimportantissuestoresearchbefore

moving are the medical facilities, which can vary greatly

from area to area.

Askhowmanydoctorsandspecialistsliveandprac-

tiseinthearea.Isthereahospital?Howlongdoyou

have to wait for an appointment? We were researching

alocationandcameuponamedicalwaitingroom.One

localtoldusthevisitingspecialisthad90patientsin

adayandmanyofthemhadbeenwaitingsomemonths

to see him. Another local in a remote location had the

motto:“Ifyouhaveapain,getonaplane.”

The security of a location is also important. Stopping

bythelocalpolicestationoftengivesyouaninsight

into what is happening in an area. Does the crime rate

soar at certain times of the year? What sort of issues

dothepolicefaceandisthepolicestationstaffedat

alltimes?InsomepartsofAustraliatherearespecial

initiativesforseniors,suchasvolunteerswhowill

assessthesafetyofyourhome.Checktoseeifthereis

Neighbourhood Watch. Ask the co-ordinator for their

views on safety in the area.

Would you prefer to have a significant number of

people around your age? Look at the Australian Bureau

of Statistics website to get an idea of the number of

people in each of the age groups in your preferred area.

Increasingly we see people wanting to continue to

do some paid or volunteer work in their retirement.

Are there opportunities for casual or part-time work

inthenewlocation?Doesthecouncilsupportsmall

businesses or profitable hobbies? Are you allowed to

workfromhome?Havingareliableinternetandphone

connection is essential.

Another issue to look at concerns transport. If you

don’twanttodrive,orareunableto,aretherealternatives

suchasbus,trainortaxiandisthereanairportnearby?

Having an air service is not only important for leaving

theareaandwelcomingguests,butit’salsoimportant

for medical evacuation.

Whattypesofpropertiesareavailable?Lookaround

andseeifhalfthetownisupforsale.Whatistheturn-

over?Howlonghavethehomesbeenonthemarket?

Ifyouhadtosell,wouldittakealongtime?Arethere

retirement villages and nursing homes?

Will you have grandchildren and other visitors? It’s

worthwhile taking time to investigate what activities

andeventsareonoffer.Willtheyappeal to your visitors,

andisthereacostinvolved?M

JillWeeksistheco-authorofseveraleditionsofWhere

To R e t i r e i n A u s t r a l i aandRetire Bizzi and is the author

of21 Ways To Retire.

Going bush: grand homes such as

Greenbrier Park add to the rich

history of the Southern Highlands.