How to Retire to the 'Burbs

For empty nesters and downsizers moving to the suburbs, considering the following four questions will help buyers find the right place for their needs.

According to Alison Bernstein, founder of relocation company Suburban Jungle, imagining your future hometown based on activities and community that don't revolve around having kids is top of mind for downsizing buyers: “People are opting for alternative options, like being close to water or some other asset they didn’t have while raising kids in the suburbs,” MarketWatch and NextAvenue.org report.

Debra Hoffman, 62, used to spend up to a total of 11 hours a day commuting to her job as a medical buyer for Advocate Health in Downers Grove, Ill, a Chicago suburb. She wanted a much shorter commute, so she relocated from Carpentersville to a townhouse in Lisle. Aside from trimming her commute down to 15 minutes each way, she loves that Lisle is a fun destination for her adult sons and their families: “They have a lot of things going on, for the kids as well. On Fourth of July they have Eyes to the Skies, with all these hot air balloons, and a three day carnival.”

However, Hoffman is also happy that her neighborhood of apartments and townhouses isn’t overrun with children: “It is kid friendly but it’s not annoying,” she says.

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