Can you still make plans for retirement after 50? Absolutely…

Retirement is one of life’s greatest rewards. After decades of contributing to society, you finally get to relax, travel, get up whenever you want, and dive into any hobbies or pursuits you like. Although we all dream of the day we get to leave the office for the last time, we often approach the idea like winning the lottery. We see it as a distant dream, not an achievable and inevitable reality, rather than planning it carefully. While we can’t guide anybody to their perfect spot on the planet specifically, we can help you choose the best place to retire to; the home for your best years yet.

Take full stock of your wants and needs

When choosing where to move, we can often focus on our wants while overlooking our needs. This is only natural, but it can introduce challenges down the road. It can be better to take a step back and consider all the options:

• Local weather patterns and possible future changes
• Access to local infrastructure, shopping, and activities
• Proximity to community activities and friend groups
• House suitability. Does it require modifications?
• Difficulty and intensity of regular upkeep
• Suitability for current hobbies and future potential hobbies
• How easily you’ll be able to accept (or deny) guests based on living arrangements
• Suitability for travel if you decide to go on long holidays
• Gardening or local green space for growing food or enjoying nature

Some of these elements might be necessities to you, while others might not be concerns at all. Determining which are important means looking at what you want now, and what you might want going forward. If you’re unsure, ask your retired friends or family what they value most and what they wish they had changed, and you’ll start with a better idea of what’s essential.

Read more: Why we are happier as we grow older

Staying prepared for the move

Before actioning any of your ideas, you’ll also need to sell the property you have now. While traditional property selling systems can help here, modern options to help you sell property can be far more streamlined. Using the latest in online tech, these online house sale platforms can help you sell in your own timeframe with no hidden fees, promising to offer sales much faster than traditional estate agents can. This would potentially allow you to capitalise on great opportunities when they appear, not having to worry about missing out.

Regardless of how far you are from retirement, it’s important to remember that this inevitability is something to take seriously. It’s not just about fantasy, it’s about looking towards the reality of your life ahead.

If you have big plans for things you haven’t tried before, get some practice in now, to see if your dreams really appeal to you in real life. This way, when your golden years do appear, you’ll be in a better position to take advantage of them