Retirement

“Best Place to Retire in Arkansas”  -Msn.com

The Ozark Mountain Lifestyle

By Randy Worlow – Worlow Land Company

A lady who purchased a home through me 14 years ago said to me, “If anyone had told me there was still a place like Lake Norfork, I would have called them a liar”. Retire to Norfork Lake, Arkansas’ hidden Treasure near Mountain Home in the Ozark Mountains when contemplating your next life’s move. The area around Lake Norfork, which includes the towns of Mountain Home, Henderson, Gamaliel, Salesville, Jordan, and a few other communities, is absolutely wonderful. You rarely hear a horn blow or a siren blare in this area. There is a laid back lifestyle that is contagious to even the most bound up of executives. This area has historically been ideal for the blue-collar retiree who loves water.

The list of reasons to retire in the Lake Norfork area are endless. Here are a few of them.

• The property tax rate is extremely low. A $100,000 home typically has an annual property tax bill of $800 to $900. If the home is your principal residence, you can get a $350 homestead tax credit off of that.
• It cost less than $35 annually for a vehicle sticker or plate.
• The crime rate is one of the lowest in the nation.

There are 4 distinct seasons in this area of the Ozarks. Spring is beautiful with dogwoods and redbuds blooming. When you get away from town, you will find a mostly pastoral or wooded scene and the colors change dramatically. Summer is mostly pleasant without a lot of high humidity. We may hit 100 degrees, but rarely. Autumn is gorgeous with hundreds of colors. Winter will show you some snow, but not much. Typically we get 3 – 4 inches 2 or 3 times a year. It rarely stays more than a few days. You will hardly ever see a low temperature in the single digits. You have a year round opportunity to fish because Norfork Lake never freezes plus there are dozens of access points.

NO MOSQUITOS. Well almost no mosquitoes. You may find one here or there. They really have a hard time reproducing here. The land is porous and water doesn’t stand very much. The lake moves too much for them to lay their eggs. Most folks don’t see a reason to screen their porch.

Water, water everywhere. You will love Lake Norfork with over 500 miles of shoreline and depths over 100 feet. The fishing and boating are perfect. When you swim in Lake Norfork you can usually see your feet, the water is that clear. Norfork is a great lake to anchor a pontoon in a cove. You put your legs through the armholes of a life jacket and float with your cooler and your friends. It’s very relaxing indeed.

Ready for something different. Just a few minutes away is the White River. Wade out and get your limit of Rainbow trout in just a few minutes using a simple rod and reel and a can of corn as bait.

Shopping in the Lake Norfork region is growing rapidly. There are many of new stores coming in. Most of us here believe that if you can’t get it in Mountain Home you can live without it. Some folks make a trip to the outlet stores 2 hours away in Branson to get the last few gifts for Christmas. You will find so much to do and you won’t have to go far to do it. Golf, music, dancing, church, trips, etc. are all available in abundance. Additionally, Tunica, Mississippi is only about 4 hours away if you are a gamer.

The Lake Norfork area is a great place to live and work. Grandkids love their visits here. Old friends end up moving here after they come for a visit. As the lady said, you won’t believe there is still a place like this.

Contemplating your next life’s move? Retire to Norfork Lake, Arkansas’ hidden Treasure near Mountain Home in the Ozark Mountains.

If you would like to check out the area, contact one of the local realtors and get yourself a tour of the area. You can still buy a new home for around $100 a square foot. Small acreage home sites can still be purchased for under $25,000. If you are looking to retire in one of the most peaceful places on the planet, you won’t be disappointed.