Living in California, we have built enduring friendships, treasured memories, and sustained stable careers over the years. But is it truly the best state for our retirement? This post explores Arizona as a potential option for downsizing or establishing residency. Although I previously mentioned here that we were not considering settling in the US, recent discussions have led us to explore a few states that might be suitable for us to live in for a while.

Why choose Arizona? Retiring in Arizona is appealing thanks to its warm, sunny climate, tax-friendly policies—such as no state income tax on Social Security benefits and low property taxes—and access to quality healthcare.

Pros of retiring in Arizona

• Climate: With over 300 days of sunshine annually, Arizona offers mild winters and year-round outdoor activities. 
• Taxes: Arizona is a tax-friendly state for retirees, with no state income tax on Social Security benefits and a low flat income tax on other retirement income. 
• Cost of Living: The overall cost of living and housing can be more affordable than in other parts of the country, especially in areas like Green Valley or Sun City. 
• Healthcare: The state has strong healthcare options, particularly in major cities like Phoenix. 
• Outdoor Activities: The climate makes it ideal for activities like golf, hiking, and swimming. 
• Community: There is a wide selection of age-restricted communities, such as 55+ communities, that foster a sense of community. 

Cons to consider for retiring in Arizona

• Housing Costs: While some areas are affordable, housing costs in certain popular retirement spots have been increasing. 
• Summer Heat: Summers are very hot and dry. 

While housing costs are an important factor, downsizing to a smaller home and eliminating our mortgage would make relocating to Arizona much more appealing. We are currently exploring the many 55+ communities throughout the state, attracted by the favorable tax benefits and quality healthcare. Arizona stands out as an excellent option for a home base in the US, especially for the times when we want to spend time there.

The 55+ communities are very appealing to us for the times we plan to spend in the US. The modest HOA fees are manageable, and the amenities along with the sense of community make these places ideal for the few months we want to relax without being on a plane, ship, or RV. Naturally, we will be mindful of the hot summers and plan to avoid the extreme 100+ degree heat by traveling to cooler parts of the country during that period. Some communities we are currently considering include Sun City Grand and Sun City Festival. Alternatively, if not a 55+ community, we are looking for options with low HOA fees and prices that allow us to avoid a mortgage. Eliminating mortgage costs and benefiting from a 0.56% property tax rate would significantly lower our living expenses in the US.

Another advantage of living in the Phoenix area is the availability of direct flights to Taiwan and the expanding Taiwanese community, thanks to the newly built TSMC plant in the northern part of the city. National parks and major cities in California, Nevada, Utah, and New Mexico are just a few hours away, offering a perfect escape from the intense summer heat. So, unlike the typical “Snow Birds” from colder climates seeking warmth, we are more like “heat refugees” looking to escape the scorching temperatures. 😀

考慮在亞利桑那州定居嗎?

居住在加州多年，我們建立了深厚的友誼、珍貴的回憶，以及穩定的職業發展。然而，加州真的是我們理想的退休地點嗎？這篇文章將探討亞利桑那州作為縮減生活規模或建立居住地的潛在選項。雖然我先前提過我們並未考慮在美國定居，但近期的討論讓我們開始研究幾個或許適合暫時居住的州。

為什麼選擇亞利桑那州？
在亞利桑那州退休的吸引力在於其溫暖、陽光充足的氣候、對稅收友善的政策（例如：社會安全福利免州所得稅、地產稅低廉），以及優質的醫療資源。

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✅ 亞利桑那州退休生活的優點

氣候：
每年有超過 300 天陽光普照，冬季氣候溫和，全年皆適合進行戶外活動。

稅務：
亞利桑那州對退休族群相當友善——社會安全金免州所得稅，其他退休收入則採低額固定稅率。

生活成本：
整體生活與住房開支比美國其他地區更為實惠，特別是像 Green Valley 或 Sun City 這類地區。

醫療資源：
主要城市（如鳳凰城）擁有優良的醫療設施與醫師網絡。

戶外活動：
氣候條件非常適合高爾夫、健行與游泳等活動。

社區環境：
州內有許多針對 55 歲以上人士設計的社區，能營造良好的歸屬感與社交氛圍。

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⚠️ 在亞利桑那州退休需考量的缺點

房價上漲：
雖然某些地區相對實惠，但受歡迎的退休地點房價正逐步上升。

夏季酷熱：
夏季氣溫極高且乾燥，需適應炎熱的氣候條件。

雖然住房成本是一項重要考量，但若我們能縮減到較小的住宅並清償房貸，搬遷到亞利桑那州將變得更具吸引力。目前，我們正在研究全州各地的 55 歲以上社區（55+ communities），因為該州的稅收優惠與優質醫療資源都相當吸引人。亞利桑那州對我們而言，是一個極具潛力的美國「根據地」，特別適合我們想在美國停留一段時間時居住。

這些 55+ 社區對我們而言尤其具有吸引力。合理的管理費（HOA fees） 容易負擔，再加上完善的社區設施與溫馨的人際互動，使其成為理想的短期定居地——能讓我們在不搭飛機、不上郵輪或露營車旅行的幾個月內，徹底放鬆身心。當然，我們也會注意亞利桑那州炎熱的夏季，並計畫在超過攝氏 38 度（華氏 100 度）高溫的時期前往較涼爽的州份避暑。目前我們考慮的社區包括 Sun City Grand 和 Sun City Festival。

若未選擇 55+ 社區，我們則希望找到 管理費低、價格合理、可避免貸款 的房產選項。透過免除房貸與享受僅 0.56% 的地產稅率，我們在美國的生活開銷將能大幅降低。

居住在鳳凰城地區的另一項優勢是交通便利——這裡有直飛 台灣 的航班，且隨著 台積電（TSMC） 在該市北部設廠，台灣社群也日益壯大。此外，加州、內華達州、猶他州與新墨西哥州的國家公園與主要城市都僅需數小時車程，非常適合在酷暑期間前往避暑。

因此，與其說我們像來自寒冷地區、尋找溫暖氣候的「候鳥（Snow Birds）」，不如說我們是尋求避熱的「炎逃族（heat refugees）」吧！😄