Are you looking for a great place to retire? Have you thought about checking out Bradenton, Florida?

If you’re like most people, you’ve probably never heard of Bradenton, Florida or considered it as a retirement destination. In fact, when most people think of retiring in Florida, they think of bigger cities like Naples, Fort Meyers, or Daytona Beach.

But, it is definitely worth checking out.

Check out this guide to learn why Bradenton, Florida is a great place to retire.

1. Great Location

One of the best reasons to retire in Bradenton, Florida is because of its great location.

It’s just 50 minutes south of Tampa, 30 minutes north of Sarasota, and is located at the forefront of the Manatee River which leads into the Gulf of Mexico.

Plus, while Bradenton is the main city, many beach cities are sprinkled along its west side, including Palmetto, Holmes Beach, Anna Maria Island, Bradenton Beach, and Ellenton.

Because Bradenton is located on the gulf, there are many great activities to enjoy such as deep-sea fishing, scuba diving, water sports, and dolphin watching.

Bradenton is also just two hours from Orlando and 1.5 hours from Disney World, making it a great place for the grandkids to come visit!

2. Plenty to Do

While Bradenton, Florida is much more laid-back than larger cities like Miami and Orlando, there’s still plenty to do here to keep you busy.

Here are just a few of the things that Bradenton has to offer:

Visit the Village of Arts
Play golf at the Manatee Golf Course
Visit the De Soto National Memorial
Hike around Manatee River State Park
Hit up the Sarasota Farmer’s Market
Visit the Palma Solma Botanical Garden
Take the grandkids to LECOM Park
Visit the Florida Maritime Museum
Visit the South Florida Museum and Florida Railroad Museum

With great weather year-round, you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy these activities.

3. Great Real Estate Market

Last but not least, Bradenton has a great real estate market.

Due to the huge influx of residents, Bradenton is definitely a buyer’s market. Interest rates are also at an extremely low 4 percent, and it’s still possible to get a Standard Conventional or FHA loan with as little as 3.5 to 5 percent down.

If you’ve always dreamed about living on waterfront property, Bradenton is a great community to check out, as there are many waterfront properties for sale.

Lastly, property tax rates in Bradenton are extremely low. In fact, Manatee County has the 11th smallest tax rate out of 67 counties in Florida.