Question Tell me the TRUTH.....

[Raydawg]

You can usually find a good property manager for 15% of rental income and a gardener for $300 month DON'T SELL !

We live in a very unique area where service oriented occupations are pretty scarce and those that are here somewhat lacking......but I speak more from rumor than experience.
I understand the value of real estate, and where we live only so much can be developed and then its gone, so in effect in has its own hedge against market trends.

Because of my age, I hesitate, not wanting to add another burden of responsibility to my wife if I die.
Funny thing she is GREAT with paying our bills (we both have 850's credit) but freaks out with taxes, investing, etc, and doesn't even want to hear about it...... prolly dig up my casket just to yell at me why I did it to her

I think if I called in the kids and shared with them the "options" on the table, might be very useful, as all of this will be their inheritance anyway......

Thanks for your nudge

 

[Dan_Frisbie]

I am a Florida native that spend most of my late teen and adult life in other places due to a military career.
I have lived and visited the entire USA and nicknamed of the world. When I retired, I settled in the Florida Panhandle.
I’m away from the Peninsula freaks, the coast, and the cities, yet close enough to visit it all.

 

[Rthrush]

My kids, grandkids, son in law and his family are all giving some serious thought of picking up and moving to Florida from their home in Southern California ( Inland Empire ).
They have already contacted people to sell their home and like the profit in their equity that would allow them to purchase a nice home and still bank a substantial amount too.
Of course they want us to go as well, but in our 70's and the very thought of moving to an area unknown to us, never been there, and I am sure a huge leap from our serenity and slow life on our island in the Pacific Northwest.
I can think of many reasons why we should, but I speak from ignorance and only see an upside peppered with lots of hope.
I would really appreciate any advice and firsthand experience from those who made a similar life change as well as those who have called it home for a spell, etc.
So much contradicting information on the internet, etc, and the deeper you dig into the more confusing it gets.
I don't think we would move until we visit, maybe land on the west coast by Tampa then cross over to the east coast, and just try and get a feel for it in a week, if possible, maybe in June.......

THANK YOU in advance!

 

[Rthrush]

The "War Dept" and I (that's my wife affectionately) retired in 2012 sold off everything paid off everything and bought a motorhome. Our travels in 3 years opened up the world for us to make further plans for our "freedom years". We ended up in West Tennessee. My brother moved to Florida and lives with his wife in, "The Villages", you might want to check that community out, they are about to get their own Walmart, if that plays into any of your considerations. They love it there. But Florida is becoming mecca for many, especially New Yorkers. Financial opportunities have exploded and so has the cost of living. My son and family moved to Florida, Tampa area, put up a concrete home and first year there that construction method paid off with a Hurricane slamming into them dead center. They survived with little damage. Another consideration if you build in hurricane country. Also insurance is going to be outrageous soon. Meanwhile, back in Tn. We Northwest migrants from Coeur d Alene love it here, with some tension over tornado country. Just last year Selmer was hit 6 miles north of us with a cat 3. But the cost of living, we live on an acre out in the country pay $325 a year property tax.
Conclusion: visit the devil out of your prospects, analyze your financial status vs cost of living and unexpected troubles. There is no perfect place, just what you make of it. Make a list two columns, cons vs pros. I'm 75, War Dept. is 72 and we found the perfect place for us "up the holler". Best of luck to you and yours, and I hope this little insight was helpful. So far you've gotten some pretty darn helpful responses.

 

[Raydawg]

The "War Dept" and I (that's my wife affectionately) retired in 2012 sold off everything paid off everything and bought a motorhome. Our travels in 3 years opened up the world for us to make further plans for our "freedom years". We ended up in West Tennessee. My brother moved to Florida and lives with his wife in, "The Villages", you might want to check that community out, they are about to get their own Walmart, if that plays into any of your considerations. They love it there. But Florida is becoming mecca for many, especially New Yorkers. Financial opportunities have exploded and so has the cost of living. My son and family moved to Florida, Tampa area, put up a concrete home and first year there that construction method paid off with a Hurricane slamming into them dead center. They survived with little damage. Another consideration if you build in hurricane country. Also insurance is going to be outrageous soon. Meanwhile, back in Tn. We Northwest migrants from Coeur d Alene love it here, with some tension over tornado country. Just last year Selmer was hit 6 miles north of us with a cat 3. But the cost of living, we live on an acre out in the country pay $325 a year property tax.
Conclusion: visit the devil out of your prospects, analyze your financial status vs cost of living and unexpected troubles. There is no perfect place, just what you make of it. Make a list two columns, cons vs pros. I'm 75, War Dept. is 72 and we found the perfect place for us "up the holler". Best of luck to you and yours, and I hope this little insight was helpful. So far you've gotten some pretty darn helpful responses.

So far you've gotten some pretty darn helpful responses.


I AGREE!

 

[alunbell]

My kids, grandkids, son in law and his family are all giving some serious thought of picking up and moving to Florida from their home in Southern California ( Inland Empire ).
They have already contacted people to sell their home and like the profit in their equity that would allow them to purchase a nice home and still bank a substantial amount too.
Of course they want us to go as well, but in our 70's and the very thought of moving to an area unknown to us, never been there, and I am sure a huge leap from our serenity and slow life on our island in the Pacific Northwest.
I can think of many reasons why we should, but I speak from ignorance and only see an upside peppered with lots of hope.
I would really appreciate any advice and firsthand experience from those who made a similar life change as well as those who have called it home for a spell, etc.
So much contradicting information on the internet, etc, and the deeper you dig into the more confusing it gets.
I don't think we would move until we visit, maybe land on the west coast by Tampa then cross over to the east coast, and just try and get a feel for it in a week, if possible, maybe in June.......

THANK YOU in advance!

We're ex-pat Canadians who have lived and worked in central Florida for 20 years. It has been a great experience but we are thankful to be at the stage in our lives where we can spend our summers up north in Ontario and our winters in our Florida home. As others have mentioned, the humidity in the summer is sauna-like, you get thunderstorms every afternoon (so get ready to replace all your electrical devices if you don't have surge protectors) and plant and wildlife grow at incredible rates turning your backyard into a jungle seemingly overnight if you don't stay on top of the yard work. I jest, but growth is phenomenal!

If at all possible I would urge you to consider visiting for extended periods of time rather than relocating entirely. I have a feeling that your Pacific Northwest island home may be a welcome refuge for the entire family once they've been through a couple of Florida summers.