The southeastern coast of NC, from Jacksonville down to the SC border is highly driven by northern retirees moving and 2nd homes. 

All you should be calling your house is a rental, who you rent to is irrelevant to the policy, you could say it's for retirees, but legally it's just a rental and anyone can rent it.You also need to be careful in your tenant selection process trying to weed out the public to provide housing for only students.

I am a retiree from the bank haven worked with the bank for many years.

DarrenFrom an Air Force Retiree and 26+ Year Real Estate Agent / Broker / Small Time Investor.Suggest you scale your area of interest initially to the area you know best (Home Plate) before taking on everything from "Dallas to San Antonio".

Yes, I know may retirees use Facebook, etc but it does not hurt to make a multi-channel marketing approach.

Can you legally qualify retirees differently, since it is based on income not necessarily age?  

The neighborhood is mostly retirees; therefore, not much movement in the neighborhood.

I like Florida too because so many retirees are headed that way and many are renting.

And, for all the retirees down there, how will this impact them in terms of financially being able to rebuild?

Maybe a family member, friend, retiree, or coworker.