Retirees Are Offloading Florida Condos and Choosing These 7 Alternatives

Florida condos have recently lost much of their appeal for retirees. The Sunshine State was once a popular place to spend retirement, but rising costs have made many owners question whether the move still makes financial sense. Those hoping to stretch their retirement dollars are increasingly looking elsewhere.

Here’s a look at why many retirees are selling their Florida condos and heading to seven other destinations instead.

Why Florida condos are getting tougher to sell

Florida strengthened its condo regulations after the collapse of Champlain Towers South in Surfside, which killed 98 people. Buildings three stories or higher must now undergo milestone structural inspections at a certain age, along with a structural integrity reserve study every 10 years.

Communities that delayed maintenance for years are now facing the bill, and many are also dealing with higher insurance premiums. Owners absorb those costs through larger monthly dues and special assessments.

Statewide sales figures show the shift. In September 2026, Florida had a 7.7-month supply of condos and townhouses, compared with 4.4 months for single-family homes, according to Florida Realtors. The statewide median condo-townhouse price dropped 1.8% from a year earlier to $293,500, while single-family home prices rose 1.2%.

Southwest Florida has fared even worse. Florida Gulf Coast University reported that inflation-adjusted condo prices there declined 8% in the second quarter of 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier.

Financing is another obstacle. Fannie Mae does not buy mortgages on units in buildings with critical repairs, and lenders also examine whether associations have enough reserves and master insurance. That leaves a smaller pool of buyers, mainly cash purchasers and those using less common loan products.

As a result, many retirees are looking at these seven alternatives instead.

Marietta, Georgia

Marietta puts retirees close to Atlanta-area specialists, including Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center, a Level I trauma center. Georgia also exempts up to $35,000 of retirement income from state tax for residents ages 62 to 64, and up to $65,000 for those 65 and older.

The tradeoff is cost. Redfin put the median sale price at $431,295 for the three months ending in September 2026, meaning buyers should expect to pay more than they would for a typical Florida condo.

San Antonio, Texas

San Antonio is the least expensive option on this list. Redfin reported a median home sale price of $257,377 for the three months ending in September 2026, well below Florida’s condo median.

Texas has no individual income tax, and homeowners 65 and older receive an additional $60,000 homestead exemption for school taxes. The downside is property taxes: the city increased its property tax rate for the first time in 33 years, to about 0.563%.

Raleigh, North Carolina

Raleigh trades beach access for major-city health care, including WakeMed's Raleigh Campus just a few miles from downtown. North Carolina does not tax Social Security, although most other retirement income is taxed as ordinary income.

Redfin listed the median sale price at $414,802 for the three months ending in September 2026. This move is more about medical access and scenery than savings.

Wilmington, North Carolina

For retirees who still want the beach, Wilmington is a strong contender. Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center offers solid medical care, and North Carolina’s Social Security exemption applies here as well.

But Wilmington is not cheap. Redfin reported a median sale price of $464,779 for the three months ending in September 2026. Redfin also says 17% of properties face severe flood risk over the next 30 years.

Greenville, South Carolina

Greenville is inland, and Prisma Health’s main Upstate campus is centered on Greenville Memorial Hospital, an adult Level I trauma center. South Carolina does not tax Social Security, and residents 65 and older can take a deduction of up to $15,000 against South Carolina taxable income.

Housing costs are the main drawback. According to Redfin, the median home sold for $492,266 over the three months ending in September 2026.

Knoxville, Tennessee

Knoxville is one of the more affordable choices, with a Redfin median sale price of $324,845 for the three months ending in September 2026. The University of Tennessee Medical Center serves as the region’s academic medical center.

Tennessee does not tax Social Security or other retirement income, and its effective property tax rate is 0.52%. Still, moving from a condo to a house means repair costs fall back on the owner, so the savings may be smaller than expected.

Savannah, Georgia

Savannah offers coastal living at a comparatively lower price. Redfin put the median sale price at $334,841 for the three months ending in September 2026, and Memorial Health University Medical Center is located in the city.

Georgia’s retirement income exclusion also applies here. However, the city’s flood guidance identifies hurricane storm surge as the biggest threat and warns about heavy-rain flooding, so expensive flood insurance may be part of the package.

What to review before selling a Florida condo

Tax planning should come first. If you owned and lived in the condo as your main home for at least two of the five years before the sale, you may be able to exclude up to $250,000 of gain from federal income tax, or up to $500,000 on a joint return.

Leaving the state also means giving up Florida’s Save Our Homes cap, which limits how much a homestead’s assessed value can rise each year. Portability only transfers that benefit to another Florida home.

Before listing, get your association’s reserve study and any planned special assessments in writing. Buyers’ lenders are likely to review them.

The bottom line

The lowest-cost move is not always the best one. If price is the main concern, San Antonio and Knoxville have the lowest median home prices on this list. If staying near the water matters most, Wilmington and Savannah may fit, but storm and flood costs can follow.

Either way, many other retirees are making the same calculation. According to HireAHelper data reported by AARP, about 45,700 people age 65 and older moved to Florida in 2025, while nearly 44,900 left. Before listing, compare the full annual cost in both locations, including taxes, insurance and HOA dues, not just the sale price.