Medical Resources
My clients’ most significant concern when deciding on small-town living is access to quality medical care. We’ve all heard horror stories of a shortage of doctors and crazy wait times. When a client asks me about their risks, I share insights from other clients who live in the communities they are looking at. However, I always emphasize the importance of doing their due diligence and research, empowering them to make informed decisions and take control of their retirement plans.
There are several places you can start. There are online resources such as the “Find a Doctor Service” run by the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Ontario to learn about doctors in specific areas. You can use this as a starting point to make a list of physicians in the area who you can contact to find out if they accept new patients. Ratemds.com is a doctor’s rating site that allows you to see how a physician is rated.
For many of my clients, the presence of a well-reputed local hospital affiliated with a broader health network is a crucial factor in their decision-making process. This ensures they have access to specialist care when needed. Some retirees even choose small towns within a reasonable driving distance from larger cities like Toronto, allowing them to commute for specialist visits. However, it’s important to remember that commuting may become less sustainable as you age.
While the availability of doctors and specialists is a top priority, it’s also important to consider other health practitioners. Dental care and mental health services are often overlooked but equally important. What is the selection of other services like physiotherapists, chiropractors, hearing and vision care, and massage therapists? If you regularly use any of these services, knowing their availability in your potential retirement town is crucial.
Entertainment & Food Options
Most small towns will have a selection of good restaurants, cafés, and pubs to choose from at different price points if you don’t feel like eating in. But if you are a foodie who loves various ethnic food options, you will be less likely to find those. For example, if your weekly routine is a sushi night, you will want to look at small towns with a local Japanese restaurant. I always suggest that my clients try a few restaurants in town, in the locations they are looking at, if eating out is a regular entertainment activity for them. This can be a deal breaker for some clients; others will travel into Toronto or Toronto suburbs for a big night out to get back into the city and connect with old friends and relatives.
Not sure if you’re ready to downsize away from the city? Click here to read my blog about retiring in rural areas.
Community Activities & Amenities
Other things to explore in the towns you are looking at are what other entertainment options and amenities are available. Are there big box stores, good grocery stores, and hardware stores? What about community centers, movie theatres, golf courses, recreation centers, gyms/yoga studios, waterfront amenities like boating and yacht clubs, music scenes, festivals, farmers markets, and seniors’ centers? Parks and walking trails are usually easy to find and abundant in small towns.
Do You Like to Travel?
How often do you like to travel internationally? I have a client who is a regular traveller as a retiree. Ease of access to Pearson or Island Airports in Toronto was an absolute must-have criterion for her when looking for her retirement community. Because of these criteria, we narrowed our community searches to locations along the GO Train line. She loves her new home, which is only a 7-minute walk to the train platform.
Dreaming of downsizing your home? Check out these related blogs for more advice!
- 5 Tips For Downsizing Your East GTA Home
- I Want to Sell My Home But I Have Too Much Stuff
- Should You Hire a Senior Real Estate Specialist?
Proximity to Friends and Family
I have clients retire to towns where they already have friends or family. I’ve seen reports online that making new connections in a small town can be more challenging because people there have known each other their whole lives. Yet, I’ve had experiences with clients who had neighbours introduce themselves while we were showing the home. You can usually get a sense of the community while touring it. It is something you should pay close attention to.
Everyone is different. Some chose a small town to create distance from the neighbour (like my client John, who dismissed a property because the neighbour was too friendly), and others wanted the close-knit community to feel. You can make changes to things you don’t like about the home.
You can’t change your neighbour. Some choose a town near a family cottage. Others will consider family commutes for a visit when choosing their small-town communities. Have kids in Toronto and Ottawa? Then Prince Edward County may be a location that is commutable to everyone. Will your family have to fly in to visit you? You may want to be on a GO train or bus line to make it easy for your family to access Toronto airports.
As a Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES), I have extensive experience helping clients navigate this life change. It’s crucial to have a specialist working in your best interests, as they have the depth of knowledge and network to provide superior support and service for your transition into your next chapter. Watch for my next blog, where we focus on a few specific small towns and what they can offer you.
Looking for a Senior Real Estate Specialist to guide your home sale? I can help! Call 647.283.2127 or email me at stuart@stuartnodell.com to get in touch.
Your Personal Market Guide
See how I simplify your real estate experience with personalized plans and total project management.
