Info needed from Florida residents

767Jockey · #1 (**permalink**) 05-05-2009, 12:06 AM

I am just now starting to toy with the idea of moving to Florida. Can anyone with good knowledge of the area tell me where there are really good deals on homes, and nice areas to live. I'm not one of the wealthier guys on the board here, so million dollar homes in Naples are out of the question.....

Thanks!

COBRANIP · #2 (**permalink**) 05-05-2009, 12:41 AM

While no expert, I would guess the best "bargins" would be in the markets that were the hottest 2-3 years ago i.e., mid to south FL coastal areas. Also, what climate are you looking for? North FL is alot like south GA. South FL does not have the "seasonal" change we have in north FL. How much traffic do you want to put up with? South east FL and Orlando traffic can be brutal.

I would recommend you rent an R.V. and spend time vacationing in FL (love those "Yankee" tourist dollars!)....spending a little time in various parts of the state. There are R.V. parks everywhere. Are you looking for metropolitian or country?

Check out Ocala. Also, you have to understand (the threats of) hurricanes are part of the package.

Good luck!
John

767Jockey · #3 (**permalink**) 05-05-2009, 12:57 AM

Well......Although I don't have much experience there, southeast Florida at the moment holds little appeal for me. I don't want a heavily urbanized area, but I can't live in the sticks, either. I am an airline pilot and have to commute to the NY area by airplane probably 5 times per month, so I would need to live within about one hours drive of a fairly large airport that my airline serves. Airports that come to mind are: Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Daytona, Orlando, Tampa, Ft. Myers, Jacksonville. I think that about covers it. We used to service Sarasota, and that seemed like a really nioce area, but we don't service that city anymore. Any and all info is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

SS COBRA · #4 (**permalink**) 05-05-2009, 04:18 AM

Check out Ft Meyers, seems to have been hit the hardest, friends of ours bought a 1700 sq ft home, 3 years old, that sold for $350,000. in 2005, bought it from the bank for $78,000. Had to do some clean-up and work, but got a deal.

mrmustang · #5 (**permalink**) 05-05-2009, 05:37 AM

Check out West Palm Beach Yes, I did say West Palm Beach) and the immediate area for deals that will only come around once in our lifetime. $700,000 homes and condo's selling for 200-250K..........Most of Florida has been hard hit, just watch out for a lot of short sales (unreliable and usually trashed inside) being advertised.......Personally inspect (also hire a licensed and bonded inspection company) before you buy anything.

Bill S.

Ronbo · #6 (**permalink**) 05-05-2009, 05:47 AM

Guess first thing would be if your retired or not. The job market varies quite a bit depending on the region. Jacksonville has always been a very low cost area to live in but places like Orlando have more diverse job markets and somewhat higher wage levels.

For peace and quiet there's no beating the panhandle. Southern Florida is the ultimate "Florida" experiance (south of Titusville). Up here in Jax the ocean looks like lake Erie because the deep water is about nine miles off shore. This is also why Jax rarely gets hit by hurricanes, they typically swing up into the Carolinas following the warm currents.

Thankfully, Jax doesn't stink anymore as the paper mills here switched to making recycled paper instead of cooking ground up southern pine trees in acid. (these plants are still around but mainly out in the middle of nowhere)

If your a golfer, Jacksonville is the place to be. (assuming your wife is like most and wants you out of the house during the day)

Coming from up north, I think you'll be pleasantly suprised how laid back Florida is. You'll be saying "ya'll" and "fixin' to" before you know it.

Be fore-warned, Jamo will be making fun of you...

Oh, almost forgot. Best darn BBQ you ever et...

acmjg · #7 (**permalink**) 05-05-2009, 05:56 AM

Check out Cape Coral. It is on the west coast 30 miles north of Naples. We were hard hit with the foreclosure/ speculation market. Lots of really great deals here now. 400 miles of canals so a boaters paradise also. Don't worry about hurricanes- more of them hit the carolinas than here.

Anthony

Speedysnake · #8 (**permalink**) 05-05-2009, 07:14 AM

I lived most of my life in south & central FL (stuck in GA now

) Look at the area north of West Palm Beach. Jupiter / Tequesta and Stuart. You have all the ammenities of the Palm Beaches, and just about any lifestyle & price range, and with Jonathan ****enson state park to the north, there won't be any major growth to hem you in. Wish I was back there!

Rickd · #9 (**permalink**) 05-05-2009, 08:55 AM

Having lived in Miami (Coral Gables) for the past 18 years, with a desire to retreat from the dense population, our company has agreed to relocate as soon as the economy improves (so some employees don't get hammered too badly). We have decided on St. Augustine. 60 miles south of Jacksonville Airport (we all travel a lot to S. America), lowest statistical hurricane risk in Florida (insurance on an $850,000 home in St. Augustine was $800.00 compared to $10,000.00 in Broward (a friend who moved). There are very nice homes on St. Augustine Beach in the mid $500's, and the same home, "on the mainland" in a very nice development is probably in the $300's. One of the most livable communities around, nice access to beaches, great cobra driving country, and generally a little cooler than the SE region. We stay at a B&B in the center of town, next to Flagler College, and the old town and it's restaurants are a short walk. The beach .. with A1A running south for miles, has a lot of "beach shack" type restaurants that you can pull up to any time of day or night with a cobra, dine, and not worry about a car being ripped off - in fact most have out door dining where you can see your car.

footnfan · #10 (**permalink**) 05-05-2009, 09:20 AM

Simply put.....Midwestern life style = SW Florida. NE life style = SE Florida. Orlando...is a mix of industries...lots of built up traffic issues. Best airport...hands down...Tampa. Ft Myers flights are OK to the NE, but not as numerous as in Tampa or Ft Lauderdale. Ft lauderdale and Orlando have great schedules, but the airports are a mess...better than most, but nowhere near Tampa, which is the best airport I have EVER used. The BEST!!

I live in Naples, lived near Tampa ( Palm Harbor....on the Gulf) for 10+ years. Western Florida is a slower pace of life. Midwestern values..as a result of being on S I75.

When Nigel Mansel moved to Florida a number of years ago....his best buddy Greg Norman....said, if you have kids..west coast is the way to go. Too many kids on the East coast are in rehab...and that was over 15 years ago!

I am a SW Florida guy. Cape Coral is a huge bargain. Way over bought...and now everything is on sale....especially water front... ..and I think the best bargain in the state....if you like a slower pace of life.

Good luck.

flwolfman · #11 (**permalink**) 05-05-2009, 10:49 AM

West Central Florida, north of Tampa is a great area. I have lived in Florida most of my life, born in St. Petersburg, college in Miami, have traveled all of Florida in business. Now live north of Tampa on Gulf Coast. Nice area, nice homes, great expressway to Tampa International. My 2 cents. Jim

rokndad · #12 (**permalink**) 05-05-2009, 11:05 AM

My daughter was a reporter/anchor for WFTS TV in Tampa/St. Petersburg for 3 1/2 yrs. Easy to get to and beautiful, we visited every 6 months or so.

The gulf beaches are spectacular and very calm. The sunsets are amazing and TPA is amazingly easy to use. Bucs and the Rays are right next to the airport. Lots of great communities just to the north of the main city....and affordable.

Don · #13 (**permalink**) 05-05-2009, 11:06 AM

A few years ago, must have visited 15+ gated communities in the central area of FL, north of Orlando and south of Ocala. As a starting point for comparison purposes, look at The Villages, which has a number of amenities, clubs, entertainment etc. Their web site has new as well as re-sale homes.

http://www.thevillages.com/

A number of these communities offer the package specials for a 1 to 3 day visit

An agent if your looking in the Mt Dora area which is also North of Orlando

http://www.vangieberry.com/

Numerous choices in the state , depends upon your desires of gated, amenities , ocean or in-land, north or south of Orlando etc., etc.,

When relatives were into the selection process, ended up at The Villages, they rented for 2 months to gain personal experience, deciding on a life style etc as well as allowing time to visit a number of communities

I have vacationed in the Pensacola area......was great

Bobcat · #14 (**permalink**) 05-05-2009, 05:11 PM

Hey Don ... saw a "feature " on Fox ( I think ) a while back about the Villages . Seems it is one of the easiest places to get laid in FLA ..... according to them . Specifically , they were talking about how the police were always breaking up fights in and outside of the clubs over women ... involving " Senior Citizens " .. and some of them were using canes . I laughed my a$$ off on that .

Gatorac · #15 (**permalink**) 05-05-2009, 05:21 PM

If your a "driver" stay North of I-4. There are some decent roads up there. South of I-4 the roads mostly suck. Nothing but straight, flat airport runways.

Power Surge · #16 (**permalink**) 05-05-2009, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 767Jockey

I am just now starting to toy with the idea of moving to Florida. Can anyone with good knowledge of the area tell me where there are really good deals on homes, and nice areas to live. I'm not one of the wealthier guys on the board here, so million dollar homes in Naples are out of the question.....

Thanks!

I'll give a vote for here in Palm Coast. The housing market is in the crapper, and houses are cheap as **** here right now. NICE houses. Palm Coast itself, is a very nice town, that is still fairly new. Very clean and well kept, and mostly run by an older group of chamber people.

What's also nice here, is that over 75% of the people are from up north. It was really nice to move here and still feel like we weren't that removed from NY. Plus, the beach is 5 minutes away, and you've got St. Augustine a half hour north, and Daytona a half hour south. The climate is also very similar to Long Island.

I couldn't see being from up north and liking any other area really.

767Jockey · #17 (**permalink**) 05-05-2009, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Power Surge

I'll give a vote for here in Palm Coast. The housing market is in the crapper, and houses are cheap as **** here right now. NICE houses. Palm Coast itself, is a very nice town, that is still fairly new. Very clean and well kept, and mostly run by an older group of chamber people.

What's also nice here, is that over 75% of the people are from up north. It was really nice to move here and still feel like we weren't that removed from NY. Plus, the beach is 5 minutes away, and you've got St. Augustine a half hour north, and Daytona a half hour south. The climate is also very similar to Long Island.

I couldn't see being from up north and liking any other area really.

Sal,
What's the driving time to Jax, Orlando and Daytona airports for me to get to work?

windy · #18 (**permalink**) 05-05-2009, 08:01 PM

I have lived in Naples, Sarasota, Vero Beach, Daytona, and Ocala. Best drives are across Ocala/Daytona/North Orlando area. Get outside Orlando and jobs become tough to find. Sarasota and Naples are beautiful and getting quite congested in snowbird season. Pretty pricey unless you stay inland. After being in so many places, it is hard to go wrong.