Where are all these so called cheap Florida houses

bigeasy1 · #1 01-09-2013, 01:25 PM

Whenever any friends or co workers come back from a stay in Florida,they tell you all about how cheap the houses in Florida are.It's always something unbelievable, like "you can't belive how cheap houses are there"You can buy a house for 75,000"
Are they exaggerating or dreaming? When I go on to realtor.com,or other real estate sites and look around, everything I see that's cheap is mostly run down or in a terrible area.Maybe I don't know where to look.

I'm doing a little daydreaming myself,as I just started taking my soc sec.benefits and figure I'll work for another couple of years,then call it quits.(unless my savings & private retirement dollars evaporate,A scary thought).
After a few days of shoveling snow this past week,It got me to thinking,maybe I should eventually sell my home in Ma.,spend the summers at my camp in western NY on the great lakes,and maybe either get a permanent camper at a campground,or affordable small house in Florida for the winter months.

I love the summers up here in the north,so I want to stay,but the winters get less and less tolerable each passing year.
I thought why not get a small center console for some sheltered waters,and a little place to spend the winters in Florida that wouldn't break the bank.
Is this do-able? other than doing trade shows for years at Doral in Miami and a few in Orlando, and Daytona I don't know much about any other areas.

Where in Florida could a guy go and fish with a smallish 18-20' cc by himself on some sheltered waters for fun (and food) have a small affordable place to live for a few months(December -April).Is this possible?
I figured why do I really need a home in Ma.If I'm not in NY. on my boat I can always stay with one of my children in Ma. for a few weeks when needed before I head south.

Any suggestions?,-areas in Fl. to look?- good places with a mix of waters to fish solo?-Or is it best to just rent a place for the winter months each year and call it a day?

NOLA Riverrat · #2 01-09-2013, 01:43 PM

They are probably in Southeast Louisiana where there is the best "inside' and probably "outside" fishing in the world. Come down here for a visit at almost any time, look around, get a guide and go fishing.
Chuck

P.S. I am not in real estate, work for the state or any charter operation.

cdavisdb · #3 01-09-2013, 02:08 PM

You have missed the super bargains, prices are on the way up, inventory is way down and there is a scramble by investors for real cheap deals that they can flip or rent. Prices are still way off the real estate peak, you can easily find a good house for less than 200k, not sure how much less. The real bargains are fixer uppers and the trick is to recognize what is cheap to fix up vs what will cost a fortune.

That said, my understanding is that the Charlotte Harbor area is taking off more slowly than most of the rest. That's a great area for n inshore or offshore fisherman and a winter seasonal house. Lots available, not sure of the current price. You might also find some low priced houses where they have always been low, north of Cedar Key, Steinhatchee, etc. That's getting pretty cool in the winter though.

Mikem8560 · #4 01-09-2013, 07:55 PM

I have seen prices like that in charlotte county. not all bad areas a little more will get you on the water but there going fast noiw is the time to buy for sure

Mikem8560 · #5 01-09-2013, 09:04 PM

look here
http://www.thebrys.com/welcome-punta...-englewood.asp
I just saw a decent house off the water for 57k in a community with a pool tennis courtsthe prices for water are going up min is 175k charlotte harbor and the barrier islands has some great protected waters for my 20

just some area info http://www.charlotteharbortravel.com/

Fr. Frank · #6 01-09-2013, 10:23 PM

You can still get a smaller 3/2 in southern Okaloosa County Florida for $70-90K, within 10 minutes of a boat ramp leading to the Gulf of Mexico. I'm talking about a site-built home, 40-60 years old, with a 1-car garage or carport. The house behind me here in Shalimar sold in August for $79K: a brick 3/2/1, 1198 sq. ft. built in '78, less than 2 miles from a boat ramp on Choctawhatchee Bay.

This is the panhandle of Florida, between Panama City and Pensacola; the home of Destin, Fort Walton Beach, and Eglin AFB. USAF Special Ops is here at Hurlburt Field, as are the Army 6th and 7th Ranger Battalions on the Eglin range.

Go farther east to Port St. Joe, and you can buy a 3/2/2 for under $100K in a waterfront community. 10 mile run to the Gulf, though, through St. Joseph bay. But if you like redfish, spotted sea-trout, gag grouper, etcetera, they can all be had right there in the bay.

And the woods in that area around Wewahitchka, Tate's Hell, and Apalachicola is some of the most heavily populated with white-tail deer in all of the south. They're just not real big. A 150 lb. buck is pretty good-sized.

It's true. If you avoid the "traditional" retirement communities, you can still buy houses here in Florida for around $75K. Buy between Port St. Joe and Crawfordville, and you an get a house with 5+ acres for under $100K, and still be within 15 minutes of a boat ramp to the Gulf.

Islandtrader · #7 01-10-2013, 09:35 AM

Charlotte harbor excellent place for the winter...there are a lot of mfg. home sites that can be had at a reasonable price. Plus you have a multiple choices of what type of fishing you want to do. Fresh and salt...

bigeasy1 · #8 01-10-2013, 09:59 AM

Thanks guys,for the great info,it's a big help,and willl keep me busy,and thanks for the links and maps,to the sites.
I'm going to talk this over with the family.It would be a bonus for them as well.they would have a place to go for a weeks winter break without having to pay for a motel.

jorgeinmiami · #9 01-10-2013, 10:29 AM

The Cape Coral/ Pine island and surrounding areas had some decent prices last we looked.

I decided to buy in the Florida keys only because as a weekend place the drive was about an 1 1/2 hr shorter to get there

Also when I am not using it I have zero problems renting it out and it does make a huge difference don't leave the Keys ut of the equation.

We saw a Real nice 3/2 in a place called Matlacha that we were real close to buying it was on the water had a dock with boat lift and close to the "city"

Your best best is to contact a local realtor with knowlege of the area give him your wish list and let them look for you. I'm a realtor and that's what I did when I looked