florida members
 

looking for a place in florida - NOT moving there,jt looking for a place for a few months out of the year.i don't want to rent.

I have a friend in key colony beach,and another in st Augustine

give me a few opinions - thanks !

There are verry good prices here around charlotte harbor southwestflorida.
Prices have been gling up but a few years back a canal fixer upper home could be had near 100k. Off the water even lower

If you want a mobile home you can even get in cheaper!

What do you want to do? Fish? Dive?

Shoot, One bud in the keys and one in north east FL.
Why not just split the stay 50/50 with them...

Just a thought..

Hey Ken, NSS.....!!!! Why you asking us??? You have all you need right in front of you, friends in the Keys and NE Florida, just don't bother coming this way I have NO free room to offer.

Flor-duh!
 

Jim, I don't think you would like it down here for a couple of reasons -
1) The Gulf Stream runs too close to shore in the Keys and Gold Coast - just a couple of miles out.
2) The West Florida Shelf extends out almost 100 miles along the Gulf Coast - just too much habitat to fish.
3) 150 miles of Intracoastal Waterway on the Gulf Coast with rivers feeding estuaries in the northern Gulf and Panhandle region
4) 440 miles plus of Intracoastal on the East coast with America's Spaceport on the upper 1/3.
5) A Governor who is too tall, bald headed and speaks in "bursts". (of course he has managed to get the state to have a budget surplus in 3 years, which is good if you plan on paying taxes - if not who cares!) (plus no state income tax)
6) We have 7 months of summer a mild spring and fall and a winter that lasts 7 or 10 days where you have to wear socks with your flip flops!
7) Think about the region within 80 miles or so of the Georgia line being the "Southern" part of the state, the Center "I-4 Corridor" as being the "Economic Engine" of the State and the southwest part being the "Wealthy Retirement Capital" and the southeast part being the "Caribbean" part of the state. Now that ain't exactly precise - it's like paint'in with an 18" roller with no cutt'in brush, but I gives you a "lay of the land"
The important thing for you to know is that my Mom moved down here from Cape May in 1946 so she could "watch the tide come and go". She will be celebrating her 101st birthday in July, line dances 3 days a week, just got her license renewed until shes 106, goes the Red Hatters meetings on Thursdays, belongs to the St. Pete/Clearwater Ski Club and just joined the Elks Club in Madeira Beach! The "Salt Air" appears to be good for you.

I agree with Trader Ter and Mike and told Gillie to look around at St. James down on Pine Island. Or better yet watch the Gathering Thread to see if we end up on Cabbage Key in November, which is right around the corner from St. James. It might be a good "scouting trip" plus you can go riding in all kinds of Seacrafts with us including Island Trader Ter's old 21 that probably has "fiberglass fatigue", so wear your life preserver!

"a winter that lasts 7 or 10 days where you have to wear socks with your flip flops!"

Hey Terry, that's a really good one!!! You can easily tell who the yankees and the "brothers" are by the socks and flip flops, especially white socks with stripes. :)

I couldn't have said it better myself, ha!

Looks like OH god here comes another one ----don't really mind as long as they don't pull the 'that's not the way they do it back________

NO kidding!!! I like to tell them when they come up with the "it's not the way we do it back where ever"........if it's so great back "home" I-75 & I-95 also runs north. :)

I know, but there are coming anyway - at least Jim knows good boats!

There is a tendency for many of them to move here from a place to escape high taxes and then want to implement policies and programs, "Just like up North" that cause us to have to raise our taxes. I wish they'd just git a glass of Sweet Tea, set down on the front proch and r-e-l-a-x, - it's gonna be allright! (Did 'ya notice I didn't tell Jim about the mosqiutos we have here with drop tanks, the drivers we have that go 17 miles with their turn signals on and our best kept secret of living in area 442 - shhhhh)

after reading a lot of the posts some of you guys have made concerning repars/modifications -you would be wise to listen to others...


i'm not interested in working in florida - I have more than enough business in my shop here...
just looking for a winter vacation place...January and febuary...

definatley want a gated community -I've gotten that advice more than once from different realotors - it's been said certain parts of florida have a small theft/crime/unemployment problem...also been told to purchase weapons not just for the wildlife:snakes,bears...
i'm a big fan of the second amendment ! I'm also so conservative,my dog's a registered republican...but - i'll need to learn a new language,seems a lot of florida,english is a second language...

not interested in staying with anyone - no need to get all excited : I want a vacation,i'm not looking to spend my time straightening out and correcting problems,along with giving advice and answering questions...

Flora-duh
 

Jimbo, You'll be fine if you stay south of SR 70 in January and February, if you want to go boating a lot - you wouldn't even need your socks.

(Think about pack'in your sense of humor when you come though, my Scandinavian brother. These guys wouldn't even be "mess'in with ya'", if they didn't think you were OK. Life hands us plenty of serious stuff to wear 'ya down and you know, the less serious prowls near the bottom of this CSC site. Sometimes we go out trolling the "Goof" Plug or kite fishing with the "Silly Spoon". Once Sandy got a jewfish hook-up on a flyrod. He ended up jump'in up with his discount Craig's List hooka rig and power-headin' 'em. They were "legal" back then. It was someth'in to experiance)

Gated communities too often come with busy body neighborhood associations that want to tell you how to live your life. I can use up hours telling stories about some of those crazys that are all true, but you would not believe.

My favorite. Poor guy buys a brand new, beautiful, fancy, no expense spared pickup truck. His neighborhood association goes ballistic, no trucks allowed in here, might bring the riff raff, its in the rules, only cars. they threaten big fines. So, he stores his truck outside the neighborhood, buys a junker, puts a tank turret on it, complete with fake cannon and home made camoflage paint, and parks it in his drive. Meets all the rules.

You might want to rethink that gated community thing. Respecting your neighbors and looking out for each other can work a lot better than rules. My neighborhood has no rules other than respect your neighbors, is way prettier than almost any gated community in town, and hasn't had robbery since I've lived here so I don't lock my doors much. But, oh God help us, there are a few Democrats that live here. You would not like it.

I think gated community's are the best place for frightened conservatives. When the gates close I know where your all at.

No frightened conservatives here at the well fortified gated Area 442!! :cool:

As a matter of fact come on in and make my day!!!

Moving targets are much more fun...:)

Old truck? check. Old boat? check. Hoa? No way in hell. We live in a mostly Cuban neighborhood. No thru streets. Kids play outside all day. They have lived here for decades.
All know each other. Few problems. Many have their own business. The kids have good morals. Lots of smiles.

When the Canes came we all shared gas, generators, chain saws, water and food.
They were amazed I could get ice for a week.

Kinda like this place. Lots of knowledge and understanding.

My thoughts echo the above on gated communities. Stay away. Even the nicest ones have the "Nazi" patrol. Up until a few years ago, a lot of these gated places would not allow a pickup truck to be parked out in the driveway over night. Even though they were 50k and the wife drove it back and forth for groceries only...do your homework.

Connor is right (sandy also) there are a lot of very nice small neighbor hoods, with cinder block houses, that would be perfect for what you want. Easy to take care of, and neighbors that watch out for you, rather than looking out for the "association".

And take this for whatever its worth...get the chip off your shoulder...OK!

I have fond memories of Cuban grandmothers (who liked to sit on their front porches and had radar eyes) from my years in a high crime Miami area. Best security system ever created. We NEVER locked our doors( I didn't even have a key to most of the doors) and nobody ever bothered the boat in the side yard.

the reasoning behind realotors suggesting a "gated community" is based upon the fact I will not be there 9/10 months a year - been advised by numerous realators/friends who have florida property of the same - again,reason being,there's clearly a high crime rate in certain parts of florida - along with a high unemployment rate as well.

personally,i'm not a fan of anyone telling me what I can and can't do it my house - I DO NOT live in a gated community,house is single family on a large piece of ground - I can throw a rock from my driveway and hit the beach...



no "chip" on my shoulder OK ??

I can see if he just wants a vacation place for a couple months being gated. While hes gone.
But if he ever plans to retire snd move in and you cant even have a boat trailer in the yard

What are your plans as far boats, motorcycles, golf carts etc. ??

A condo on the east around Stuart would work as long as the above
mentioned do not play into account..

12 years ago Patti and I bought a large lot in a gated community
in Ormond Beach to build our new home and play house.

The guy who lived right across the street had a shop just like I
wanted to build.. Dumb me, for not checking on the covenants
and restrictions. The HOA changed the rules to being only
400 sg ft detached! B-Shttt. The rule book was 3/4 inch thick.

Needless to say, sold the property 6 months later and started
looking again.. Well it took a year and Area 442 was discovered.

I will NEVER go back to a subdivision setting!

In your case it all comes down to where and what...

Take some time narrow down your search area, (Florida is a
big state) then get with any of the local boys here for the
solid scoop on the area you desire.

boat will be coming down with me then leaving with me...small boat,no motorcycle...

No "chip" ?? For some reason when someone asks for advise, and then states...

after reading a lot of the posts some of you guys have made concerning repars/modifications -you would be wise to listen to others...


It just seems to make me want to say...hey do what you want why ask!:rolleyes:

perhaps that's what you should do ??

notice I didn't ask for advice concerning repairs/modifications ??

go back,reread - you'll see why I made that reply

I agree with you ! I believe,if you own that property,you should be allowed,within reason,to do with it what you choose ! I don't like that about HOA's - too much power.if those people are paying the bills,then they can do what they choose,but,when i'm writing checks - it's MY way

Ormond beach seems like a nice area


I like st Augustine area too

I will follow your advise...

do not let common sense get in your way...LOL

and maybe you should do the same...:D

Knowing that most people from NJ always like to get the last word in feel free to knock your self out...but this is it for me...good luck on your hunt and may you find what you are looking for.

good choice for you...

"In other Florida news'.......finding it's easier to dig in Florida's sand Mr. Pelican has now quickly dug a hole much larger, which is making it harder to get out of. Good luck and good riddance!!

St Augustine is beautiful. Lots of crime from Ormond
south.

i'm leaning towards the st Augustine area

lots of sink holes in florida...

True. But I hear Georgia is nice...

St. Augustine!
 

Now what the heck kind of Southern Hospitality are you boys expos'in Senior Alcatraz to? The man is ask'in for local knowledge and your try'in to run him up on a sand bar!

He's got a real sharp Realtor feed'in him the all the local scuttlebutt so don't try throw'in up no smoke screen, candy coat'in this god forsaken place. He's on to the fact that there are sink holes every two miles here that swallow up whole neighborhoods with alligators AND Snapp'in turtles in 'em but you'll never get a toe wet in 'em before the rattlers git ya' and the skeeters drain the blood out of ya' first.

The Realtors has got to 'em and he's got it all figgered out now. Just go back to play'in with your boats. We been outsmarted again. We'll have to wait for another Cuerno Verde to come along and hope they don't talk to one of them real honest Realtors first.

His realtor is originally from New York.... Ya know dare...:eek:

I'm a 3rd generation Floridian, born in West Palm Beach, lived in Palm Beach, Lake Worth, Layton (Long Key), Sebastian, Melbourne, Winter Haven, Crystal River, and now Shalimar in the Panhandle.

Most of Florida has a lot of great features, and great people. Parts of it you want to avoid.

Juno Beach south to Miami on the east coast - 60-115 miles to the Bahamas, Gulf Stream only 1-3 miles offshore, and 3 full reef lines inshore of that. Inlets everywhere from the ocean into the ICW. Higher property costs on average than more northerly, but absolute bargains available, too. Older waterfront SFH with ocean access starts around $450K in some areas.

Jupiter north to Jacksonville. 5-30 miles to the Gulf Stream increasing as you go north, but the same 3 reef lines start at about 3 miles offshore. Inlets spaced farther apart, but waterfront SFH with ocean access starts around $325K, depending on location, size, and age.

Panhandle from Alabama line to Port St. Joe, Gulf Stream is 30-85 miles offshore depending on time of year and location, but lots of little reefs and rockpiles bring the best red snapper and gag grouper fishing in the USA, and best cobia fishing during the spring runs, as the Emerald Coast is where the cobia run TO. Inland fishing for redfish (Red Drum) and Spotted Sea Trout is is better than anywhere else during the late spring and early fall, but not quite on a par with Cedar Key to Homosassa overall. Not many inlets, but Destin area is the best recreational fishing area in Florida north of 27 degrees North Latitude. Older, smaller SFH with direct Gulf access on the north side of the ICW and up the bayous can be had in the lower $300K range.

Port St. Joe to Cedar Key is quiet from a real estate point of view, and the inshore fishing is very good. Quite a way to run for pelagics, however, with the Gulf Stream 80-105 miles offshore. Good rockpiles for various grouper, and oyster bars (as different from sandbars) hold lots of trout and redfish, and occasional tarpon. SFH with Gulf access can be had for high $200K range if you're a few miles upriver, or don't mind an older home on a dirt road in a salt marsh.

Cedar Key to Homosassa/Chassahowitzka may have some of the best values in waterfron real estate. Older homes with Gulf Access can be as low as $250K in flood zones, and the seashore is different than anywhere else. While the gulf front topography resembles the Louisiana Mississippi delta islands, the fishing is different. Depth increases an average on 1 foot per mile headed out into the Gulf from Crystal River, and the closes true reef is the Florida Middle Grounds, 87-115 miles offshore, which has the best mix of pelagic and reef fish in the entire state, bar none. It's just a long way offshore. (I used to run out there with my 20' Seafari, in the company of 2 or 3 other boats, carrying 60 extra gallons of fuel on the foredeck).

I never lived south of Crystal River on Florida's West Coast, so someone else will have to speak to that.
But when I retire, in about 15 years, I intend to live either between Pensacola and Panama City, or in Sebastian to Cape Canaveral zone. Cuz' I likes to fish.

thank you for taking the time to reply fr frank -that's the kind of info I was interested in