the road of life


Hoping to be a Snowbird in Retirement?


By Dave Dineen, Brighterlife.ca


IF YOUR RETIREMENT DREAM IS TO HEAD SOUTH FOR THE WINTER, HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO.


W


hether it’s for a short winter break or to spend the entire season away from


the snow, the southern U.S. has always been a top travel destination for Canadians. As many Canadians approach retirement they dream of buying their own piece of the sun to return to year aſter year. But while spending the whole winter


down south may look sunny at first glance, it’s important to plan carefully and make sure you’ve covered all the bases before you take off for warmer climes. You will need to take care of tax, immigration and health considerations, as well as deal with all the usual paperwork required for a long-term trip (suspending services such as mail and newspapers, arranging for snow to be shoveled, etc.).


Pierre Noël is a Montreal real estate broker who oſten advises clients getting ready to embark on just such an adventure. When he saw how favourable the U.S. market had become for real estate investments, he started thinking about buying his own piece of paradise in the sun. At age 40, retirement still seemed a long way off, but it became a major topic of conversation at home. His spouse even told him straight up: “Tere’s no way I’m going to spend my retirement years in Montreal!” Aſter some intensive research, Noël


bought a condominium in Pompano Beach, Florida, a project he was very enthusiastic about: “Between the fallout from the real estate crisis in the U.S. and the strength of the Canadian dollar, the


SNOWBIRDS & RV TRAVELERS 36


timing was just right for us. Tere are some great opportunities out there to get your hands on higher-end properties at very affordable prices.” Noël strongly recommends using the


services of a good, local broker to help you with all the details of the transaction. “In terms of both zeroing in on your needs and helping you with the paperwork, a broker will save you a lot of hassle,” he says. “For example, many of the really attractive opportunities are foreclosures. So, you have to be aware that if you’re not dealing directly with the owner, you’re buying without a legal guarantee.” While their respective provincial laws protect Canadian consumers at home,


Continued on page 44 SUNCRUISERMEDIA.COM


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