Retirement in Florida

[JD]

Since I know the NC coastal area, and spend a fair amount of time on the Texas coast I'm curious as to what the Florida contingent would say is the best area of Florida to consider retiring to. The Gulf coast would probably be to my liking (I spent some time at MacDill in the 60's but probably wouldn’t want to live there).

Soooooo, where is the best area in terms of livability, property cost and not toooooo touristy? A small home on a canal with Gulf access would do the trick.

Just a bit over a year to go :)

[Jack Hexter]

Anywhere from the Big Bend area to the panhandle

[~~Snakeman~~]

I'll agree with Jack. That area of the state does not give you ready access to the east coast & the fishing that is closer to shore, but the property values/costs are much lower. Being accustomed to Gulf of Mexico fishing, you will probably not miss a step. The winters are cooler longer there than they are further south.

If you would like to move closer to the east coast, as long as you stay north of Lake Okeechobee, the costs won't be as scary as they are south of it.

~~Greg~~

[Eddie]

I agree with the above. Try the Crystal River-Chassahowitzka area. Compared to the rest of Florida, it's quiet, sleepy, not overdeveloped (by Florida standards, anyway). Also a bunch of wild hogs and turkeys to hunt if you enjoy hunting, and real estate costs aren't outrageous.

[Duff]

Crystal River gets two thumbs up from me. Nice community - not too much traffic. I spend just about every other weekend there and wouldn't mind living there myself some day.

http://www.greengrouper.com/duff/naturecoast.jpg

http://www.greengrouper.com/duff/midgrnds2.jpg
Your offshore selection - just past the middle grounds is your billfish and tuna grounds - a mere 100 miles offshore

http://www.greengrouper.com/duff/tenfthms2.jpg
My favorite area to fish - 10 fathoms - 40 miles out

http://www.greengrouper.com/duff/twogroupers.jpg
Me and JAW back in 2000 - catching gag grouper off of Crystal River with Capt Ken Roy

[JD]

for the input. You've given me an area to focus on. I'll have an idea next week how soon I might get over that way to take a look around. Possibly this fall.

In the meantime I'll start poking around the online real estate.

Dan (JD)

p.s. nice fish there Duff

[DanS/FL]

Start looking and buying now. Prices are low. Buy now, find some old geezer like Howard, Ray or Jack to rent to till you become retarded. Helps with the overhead untill the fateful day. Waterfront prices won't drop to much more then they are now. There is just so much waterfront property, no more being creatate. It won't get any cheaper then it is now, I believe it will start upwards in the next 5 months or less. The new retirees are ready to retire are waiting for JR or Sissy to graduate or start school in the fall. By then they will have had a summer sale on the snowbound homestead up north and head for the new home in FL.
Dan
Dan

[JD]

Well, Ray is an old pharte, but I doubt anything I'd buy would offer a captain's table with tux for evening meals daily :D

'sides, the house wouldn't float to exotic destinations (hopefully) for 6 months a year which seems to be Ray's MO ;)

http://www.fishmojo.com/photos/OBX%20III%20Sunday%20Evening%205.jpg

[PK]

ahhhh.. the good 'ol days...:D

I'm sure you are aware... but just watch those HIGH real estate taxes in Florida... even with that 'homestead exemption' or whatever they have down there... they gotta be way way higher than in Texas and up here in NC

[Zane]

Waterfront is great and will always increase in value, i agree with PK buy now and make a bundle!!!!!!

[JD]

Real estate taxes, with homestead exemption, run around 2% county, city and schools in this area. So they be high as well as over 8% sales tax.

NC real estate taxes are low but the state income tax takes a bite.

[~~Snakeman~~]

The sales tax in Florida is 6.5%. It is not on everything...services, food (except for prepared food), & medications are exempt, among a few other items. There is no state income tax.

If you want to take a look at some of the pricier areas of the state, or would just like to hook up & fish with me on the Mad Son, let me know & I'll see what I can do. I'm over on the east coast, in the middle of Palm Beach County.

http://madsonfishing.com ~~Greg~~

[JD]

Thanks Greg.

I did do some searching around the net this weekend and agree that bargains abound. Looked up on the northern portion of the Gulf coast as well as the Fort Myers area (just for comparison). Sales and property taxes are lower as well.

Fortunately, the bottom hasn't fallen out of the housing market here in one of the fastest growing counties in the U.S., Rockwall, Texas. We have a home on the lake 25 miles east of Dallas and there is no more undeveloped waterfront. I'll have a better idea by the end of this week what the near future holds.

Later