Overview

• Steve Vernon’s companion Forbes articles replace generic state and city rankings with checklists tailored to retirees’ individual goals and circumstances.
• Two checklists cover general geographic criteria—such as family proximity, healthcare access, cost of living and climate risks—and specific home and neighborhood features.
• The recommended four-step process guides retirees to determine if they need to move, assess potential homes, calculate all moving-related costs and compare relocation benefits versus staying.
• Cost assessments extend beyond real estate and taxes to include capital gains, insurance, utilities, moving fees and home-modification expenses.
• Emotional considerations, including attachment to current communities and the effort needed to establish new social and healthcare connections, are built into the decision framework.