[jambo101]

Affordable homes abound in the Springhill area=https://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sal...ct/11_zm/1_fr/

You can also find rentals for under $1000 a month

[Fredesch]

Originally Posted by quinndog

retired snow birds ? good neiberhoods , what to do rent or buy, what do they do ?

Rent for at least one season. It will help you figure out where you will want to be the next year and also give you an idea of whether renting or owning will be the better option for you.

[Restrain]

We have a lot of snowbirds that live in mfg home parks here in SW FL. Buy in a park where you own the lot. Costs are reasonable, lots of activities, and the parks have people looking after the homes vs a detached home in a typical subdivision. And, no, they haven't been blown away in a hurricane. Resale price is good for these nits.

[RamenAddict]

Originally Posted by quinndog

retired snow birds ? good neiberhoods , what to do rent or buy, what do they do ?

Keep in mind that if you do not have homestead exemption, your taxes can go up. A lot. If you have an exemption, no one can decide the next year that your house value has shot is by 40%. That is why people might prefer to rent.

[AnotherTouchOfWhimsy]

I live in Sarasota county (southwest fl). We homeschool and many of our homeschooling friends are snowbirds. In this area, rents are very high and you'd be better off buying a condo. Prices are also rising here, so it might be a decent time to buy. I'd suggest talking to a realtor about that type of decision.

We hope to take the plunge and buy a condo up north in a few years so we can be snowbirds. I can work from anywhere (freelancer) and my husband can likely either do the same or, if we go to Connecticut, work for the summers with his former employer.

[snowtired14]

Wow! What a difference between the time this thread was started and today. Back in 2007 the market was beginining it's freefall, today it's a sellers market.

[JazzmanLI]

I would definitely recommend renting. Yes, being cold stinks, but investing in an area you no little about and making a decision you later regret is a lot worst. Every winter Fort Myers - Naples has rentals all over the place. If youre looking for schools in Florida, do your research on the district and schools. St. Johns and Sarasota offer excellent choices for schools.

The only way to qualify for the Homestead exemption is to become a FL resident and claim the home as your primary residence. If you decide to file for the exemption in FL you will loose any tax breaks on your northern home/property as you may only accept tax breaks on one US property. Many of the snowbirds I know who remain out of state residents do not qualify for the exemption.

[Fredesch]

Originally Posted by JazzmanLI

The only way to qualify for the Homestead exemption is to become a FL resident and claim the home as your primary residence. If you decide to file for the exemption in FL you will loose any tax breaks on your northern home/property as you may only accept tax breaks on one US property. Many of the snowbirds I know who remain out of state residents do not qualify for the exemption.

I believe if you homestead you cannot rent your house - not even part of the year.

[loves2read]

Originally Posted by snowtired14

Wow! What a difference between the time this thread was started and today. Back in 2007 the market was beginining it's freefall, today it's a sellers market.

That is an over-simplification IMO
Real estate is always about "location" and other factors are tied into how desireable location mirrors price, local schools, neighborhood/house aesthetics...
Some areas are still moving very quickly and I think others have slowed down--

[loves2read]

Originally Posted by JazzmanLI

I would definitely recommend renting. Yes, being cold stinks, but investing in an area you no little about and making a decision you later regret is a lot worst. Every winter Fort Myers - Naples has rentals all over the place. If youre looking for schools in Florida, do your research on the district and schools. St. Johns and Sarasota offer excellent choices for schools.

The only way to qualify for the Homestead exemption is to become a FL resident and claim the home as your primary residence. If you decide to file for the exemption in FL you will loose any tax breaks on your northern home/property as you may only accept tax breaks on one US property. Many of the snowbirds I know who remain out of state residents do not qualify for the exemption.

You are totally correct---
But it is also possible some people decide to get the exemption for both homes...and succeed until someone tells the tax authority what is going on...
It is illegal to have TWO primary residences, especially in different states, just as it is illegal to be on voting rolls in two states or two different precincts--
But we know that happens...