Alabama: The Perks of Palm Beach Without The Price Tag
August 2nd, 2012
Nicknamed the "Heart of Dixie," the state of Alabama is always sure to serve up a huge slice of southern charm along with its cost affordable and quality home ownership opportunities. With the beautiful Gulf coast beaches, inexpensive golf courses, and favorable climate, Alabama offers any potential retiree who is considering purchasing a new home for sale the "perks" of the Palm Beach lifestyle without a grandiose price tag.
Alabama's overall cost of living is much lower than many other states, being 12% below the national average. Even living along the coast line is reasonable. To live in the Gulf Shores costs 11.2% more than average, but that is significantly less compared to the 36.4% more than average cost of living of Boca Raton, and the 121.7% for Santa Barbara. Cost-effective incentives also include the fact that the income tax rate tops off at 5%, and social security plus pension income are exempt. In addition, home owners over 65 are not required to pay property taxes, and there is no estate tax. Alabama also has many top of the line healthcare facilities, such as the University of Alabama Hospital in Birmingham, and Southeast Alabama Medical Center in Dothan along with affordable nursing and assisted living homes. According to MetlIfe Mature Market Institute, a private room in a nursing home costs $186/ day compared to $239/ day for the nation as a whole and $2,694/ month for assisted living, compared to $3477 for the nation as a whole
The proud home of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, Alabama just "may be the biggest bargain in the country," according to The Wall Street Journal. With its 11 championship course sites across the state and 468 holes, a golfing excursion in Alabama will prove to be the most memorable and best public golfing experience in the country, if not, the world.