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Today, a retired couple shares how they built their dream home in Naples, Florida, named the Best Place to Retire in 2025 by U.S. News & World Report.
The basics
Age: 72
Marital status: Married
Occupation: Social Security worker
What was your home experience growing up?
I grew up in the housing projects of East Harlem in Manhattan, New York. When I married a New York City police officer, we moved to Queens and rented the upstairs of a duplex.
Did you own a home before moving to Naples?
We bought our first home in Long Island, which was wonderful. We enjoyed living there for 20 years. Over time, that area became too congested with traffic, and we downsized to a townhome in Suffolk County.
What prompted the move?
After a 35-year career as a Social Security worker, I retired. If we stayed in New York, my pension would be taxed, but Florida doesn’t have a personal income tax. One of my girlfriends had retired and moved to Naples, so I convinced my husband to visit.
Was your husband excited about the possible move?
At first, he wanted nothing to do with Naples. He said that Florida is where you go to die. But, when he saw that people were not dying—they were active, enjoying the beach and the outdoors—he changed his mind. We also really liked that the people are so nice. People in New York are not nice. Another benefit is that, in Naples, you are surrounded by hospitals and doctors. The health care here is unbelievable.
What was your first Naples home like?
We actually bought it the year before I retired. We found a community we liked, and when we walked into one of the models, it was just “wow.” It had a pool and everything else we didn’t have in New York. It made me think that retirement in Naples would be heaven. When we told our Realtor® we couldn’t buy right now, she let us know we could purchase this model as a lease-back. In other words, we’d buy the house and lease it back to the community. They would continue showing it for the next 12 months and agreed to pay all expenditures, like electricity, so we wouldn’t pay anything for a year. It was a dream come true and we signed the paperwork that day.
What prompted you to start looking for this most recent home?
When Hurricane Ian hit, we were living in a condo right by the Gulf. It wasn’t affected, but our community fees went up a lot. I just thought we could get more for our money.
What were you looking for with this home?
Over the years, we’ve owned five houses in Naples, but none was brand new. They came furnished and mostly already done. With those, I never had a say in what I wanted. I figured that my last breath should be taken in a brand-new home.
I had driven past and saw a big sign advertising it was a community for people 55 and over. Naples has all these communities for 55+ people. A certain percentage of homes have to be available to all ages, but the 55+ communities don’t allow anyone under 21 to live there. They’re peaceful and feel very safe. Also, because you’re paying community fees, which pay for landscaping and the amenities, these places are beautiful.
The clubhouse was a big