PENSACOLA IS NUMBER TWO OF TOP FIVE PLACES TO RETIRE...  

With 401(K)s taking a hit, Americans are in no rush to retire now.  But that doesn't mean they're not planning for their golden years.  A recent survey of real estate agents, conducted by a national real estate company, finds that many 50-somethings are buying their retirement homes now, well before they retire. 

Driving that trend: plummeting home prices and low interest rates.  "The areas hardest hit by the recession can be prime spots for second-home seekers," says Jim Gillespie, Coldwell Banker CEO. 

Here is the list of top five cities for young retirees (55 to 59).  The rankings are weighed in order based on recreation, weather, health resources, crime and cost of living (in all five towns, it's below the national average).

1. Helena, MT.  (pop. 28,726): This town has a local symphony and fine-art galleries.  Nature lovers can trek 1,000-plus miles of mountain and forest trails.  Median home price: $ 191,500.

2. Pensacola, FL. (pop. 54,283): The sun always shines on its white beaches, it's super-safe (the crime rate is well below the national average), and the American Association baseball team boosts hometown spirit. Median home price: $ 137,200.

3. Creve Coeur, MO. (pop. 16,933): Its 320-acre lake is a boating haven surrounded by picnic sites and an archery range.  And St. Louis is a half-hour drive away.  Median home price: $ 355,000.

4. Traverse City, MI. (pop. 14,339): The "cherry capital" is famous for its vineyards.  Plus, its health services are top-notch; the Munson Medical Center is consistently named one of the top 100 hospitals in the nation.  Median home price: $ 129,500.

5. Butte-Silver Bow, MT. (pop. 31,967): This area's 29 recreational facilities (golf courses, parks, pools) keep residents active.  And Butte will host the National Folk Festival again next summer.  Median home price: $ 108,500.

Source: USA WEEKEND July 24-26, 2009The ensacola Fl real estate market has excellent residential and investment property. Pensacola is located on the western most part of the Florida panhandle, about 10 miles from the Alabama border and 60 miles from the city of Mobile.  The city of Pensacola is a seaport on Pensacola Bay with easy access to the Gulf of Mexico.    Pensacola has a rich and colorful history dating nearly 450 years.  It was the first settlement in the continental United States and was controlled by five different countries over the years.  It has since been called the City of Five Flags. 

Pensacola also proclaims itself as home of the “World’s Whitest Beaches,” with over 50 miles of Gulf waters and pristine shores for residents and tourists to enjoy.

On the southwest side of Pensacola is the Naval Air Station Pensacola.  NAS Pensacola was the first naval air station in the country.  The Naval Air Station Pensacola is home to the Navy Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Team and to the National Museum of Naval Aviation.   This has earned Pensacola another nickname, the “Cradle of Naval Aviation.”   

The city of Pensacola is predominantly residential with a large historic area.  The residents of Pensacola enjoy easy access to fishing, water sports, Pensacola Beach and the Gulf of Mexico; and also to military facilities (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Corry Field, Navy Exchange, Naval Hospital Pensacola, and the recently completed Veterans Administration Hospital Clinic), local hospitals (West Florida Hospital, Baptist Hospital, Sacred Heart Health System), local shopping (Cordova Mall, University Mall) and to the Tangier Outlet Mall.

Pensacola has real estate which many say is under-valued.  In April of 2020, the median home price in the Pensacola area was $ 137,800.  There were 234 homes sold with the highest priced home selling for $ 1,153,800, the lowest priced home sold for under $100,000 (foreclosure).