How To Make Sure Your Best Places to Live in the Carolinas are Affordable
There are a number of ways to decrease your costs and make things more affordable, whether you're retiring or relocating to communities in the Carolinas.
First of all, look for communities that are less like a "resort" and more like a "community". Remember, all those amenities cost money and someone has to pay for them.
Many planned communities in North Carolina and South Carolina have golf memberships, tennis memberships, social memberships, and even equestrian memberships. There are fees associated with all of them, and you don't want to find out how much they are, after you buy or build your Dream Home in a community. There can be fees for using the health club, pool, boat docks, and community room for social events.
This week, I was researching several communities to include in my North Carolina Communities Directory. I came to find out that for a full golf membership at one community, there was an initiation fee of $100,000! Plus yearly dues of $7,000, and a dining minimum of $1400 per year. I don't know about you, but that's one heck of a chunk of change.
Most planned communities, have either a Property Owners Association or a Homeowners Association, and each have fees associated with them. If you own a townhouse or condominium, the fees are usually higher.
Most people today are seeking out communities in North Carolina and South Car0lina to retire to based on a choice of lifestyle and their interests, and they need to find out before hand if the fees associated with those activities will make it impossible to pursue them.
In my North Carolina and South Carolina Communities Directory, I have interviewed each community using my 50 Point Survey. Also included is detailed information on all their memberships and fees.
In my next post, I'm going to reveal several ways to save thousands of dollars when you buy or build your Dream Home in North Carolina or South Carolina!