For Empty Nesters, Today’s Vacation Home is Tomorrow’s Retirement Spot

Although many Americans are waiting longer to retire, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re also waiting to experience the relaxed lifestyle and recreational amenities of their “retirement” home. In fact, according to the sales and development team at Heritage Harbor Ottawa Resort, a marina resort community in Illinois’ Starved Rock Country recreational region, a number of buyers are purchasing a vacation home in the community to enjoy right away on a part-time basis, with plans to eventually move there full-time once they retire.

Located along the Illinois River in Ottawa, Ill., Heritage Harbor Ottawa is a 142-acre development of single-family homes, townhomes, vacation cottages, carriage homes and condos, centered on a 32-acre harbor with a full-service marina and year-round restaurant. With its boating amenities, waterfront setting and nearby recreational attractions, the community offers an ideal resort lifestyle for those seeking a vacation, retirement or full-time residence.

“Quite often, we see a scenario where buyers are looking for a home they can use as a ‘stepping stone’ to retirement,” said Tammy Barry, director of sales and marketing at Heritage Harbor Ottawa. “They’re empty nesters who are at a point in their career where they have the flexibility to get away regularly and take full advantage of owning a vacation home, plus they’re also thinking ahead to how they want to spend their retirement years. They see buying at Heritage Harbor as something that fits what they want now and even more so in the years to come.”

Barry noted that for these buyers, Heritage Harbor’s setting in Starved Rock Country, with its plentiful recreational amenities and resort lifestyle, is extremely attractive at this stage of their life. “They are looking for a getaway destination where they can have a real change of pace from their weekday life and start transitioning to a lifestyle where the focus is on enjoying the activities and hobbies they love,” said Barry. “Plus, they are excited to find a community where they can start sharing those activities with teenage or adult children, not to mention grandchildren, sooner rather than later.”

While many people first discover Heritage Harbor because of its top-notch boating and marina amenities, equally popular among outdoor enthusiasts is the fact that the community is near opportunities for hiking, biking, fishing, hunting and other nature-based activities. Heritage Harbor is just minutes from Starved Rock State Park, Illinois’ most-visited state park, as well as Matthiessen State Park and Buffalo Rock State Park. The community also has a direct access point to the I&M Canal Trail, which is popular among bikers, hikers and joggers alike.

In addition to plentiful recreation amenities, Heritage Harbor offers almost-retirees a convenient location just 90 minutes from Chicago and its suburbs. According to Barry, this proximity allows those who still work full-time in the city or suburbs to maintain their Monday through Friday routine, and easily travel to Heritage Harbor for the weekend.

“We also see a lot of people that are in a semi-retirement stage, where they’ve cut back on the amount they work, or have retired from a full-time job but continue to consult part-time,” said Barry. “For them, having a vacation home so close gives them the ability to come and go frequently regardless of their work schedule.”

She added that with the overall trend of more baby boomers opting to stay in the same state when they retire in order to be close to their network of friends and family, Heritage Harbor’s location fits the long-term goals of many vacation home buyers planning ahead for retirement.

“These days, people don’t necessarily want to relocate to an entirely different part of the country when they retire,” said Barry. “They want to be close to their children so they can be involved in their grandkids’ lives, as well as their circle of friends. So for those from the Chicago area, Heritage Harbor fits their short-term desire to have a vacation getaway nearby, plus their long-term goal of having a great retirement lifestyle not too far from friends and family.”

Giving additional flexibility to almost-retiree residents at Heritage Harbor is the opportunity to place their home in the community’s on-site rental pool when they are not using it themselves. “Depending on how much time they can spend at Heritage Harbor, homeowners might find it beneficial to offer their home as a vacation rental at certain times of the year to offset the cost of ownership,” said Barry. “Our residents love that it’s so easy to participate in our rental program because we handle all the details – from marketing the property and booking renters to providing cleaning service and routine maintenance.”

For information on Heritage Harbor Ottawa Resort and available homes and vacation rentals, call (815) 433-5000 or visit www.heritageharborottawa.com.

About Heritage Harbor Ottawa Resort

Heritage Harbor Ottawa Resort is a 142-acre master-planned marina resort community of 600 homes located on the Illinois River in Ottawa, Ill., just 90 minutes from downtown Chicago. Featuring a 32-acre marina surrounded by pocket neighborhoods of waterfront custom homes, condominiums, cottages and townhomes, Heritage Harbor Ottawa is a unique residential option in Starved Rock Country for those seeking a vacation, retirement or full-time home on the water.