[howard0181]

Am looking to buy a holiday home in Florida with two other couples. We are all from London, England.

Undecided on location. Would prefer to be no more than 10 miles from a beach and no more than one hour drive from an international airport. We have been thinking of Palm Beach area Boca etc. Our budget is $300,000 - $450,000. Ideally we would like a 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom house in a nice sub division.

Concerned about high property taxes. In UK for this price property we pay about $1500 a year. Also, how much would we have to pay for building/hurricane insurance. I also dont know how your property tax system works. Is it revalued when you buy the house?

Any ideas on location?

[ivcceo]

Property taxes would most like be $6000 with $4000 - $6000 for property insurance. As you would not qualify for a homestead exemption, which caps Florida residents tax increases on their property to 3% among other things, your property tax would be subject to further increases. It is revalued at the time you buy the house. Also, I recommend you look west of Interstate 95 as private insurers are very difficult to find for those areas.

[THX 1138]

Originally Posted by howard0181

Am looking to buy a holiday home in Florida with two other couples. We are all from London, England.

Undecided on location. Would prefer to be no more than 10 miles from a beach and no more than one hour drive from an international airport. We have been thinking of Palm Beach area Boca etc. Our budget is $300,000 - $450,000. Ideally we would like a 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom house in a nice sub division.

Concerned about high property taxes. In UK for this price property we pay about $1500 a year. Also, how much would we have to pay for building/hurricane insurance. I also dont know how your property tax system works. Is it revalued when you buy the house?

Any ideas on location?

This is a good site to get you started:

http://www.century21sunland.com/

Prices are dropping, but if your not in a hurry I would wait a little longer, this site even gives you the estimated taxes.

Also dont' forget to add Wind Damage to your Insurance premium, that is unless you pay the home off and don't finance.

[howard0181]

Thanks for replies.

It will be a cash purchase.

[jhlcomp]

You mentioned Palm Beach. Please visit http://www.co.palm-beach.fl.us/papa/index.htm

I live in Broward County and they have an easy to access calculator - check www.bcpa.net or http://www.bcpa.net/TaxCalc.asp

Based on $400,000, taxes would run approx $7300.

[TampaKaren]

Originally Posted by howard0181

Am looking to buy a holiday home in Florida with two other couples. We are all from London, England.

Undecided on location. Would prefer to be no more than 10 miles from a beach and no more than one hour drive from an international airport. We have been thinking of Palm Beach area Boca etc. Our budget is $300,000 - $450,000. Ideally we would like a 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom house in a nice sub division.

Concerned about high property taxes. In UK for this price property we pay about $1500 a year. Also, how much would we have to pay for building/hurricane insurance. I also dont know how your property tax system works. Is it revalued when you buy the house?

Any ideas on location?

You might consider looking in Pinellas County as well. The entire peninsula is barely 10 miles across, surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay. It is also within a one hour drive of Tampa International Airport. Some of the cities within Pinellas County are St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Palm Harbor, Tarpon Springs, Dunedin, Seminole, Bellair, Indian Rocks, Treasure Island, Boca Ciega and several other small towns as well.

Good luck with your search in the Sunshine State!

[LM1]

While I'm reticent to encourage any more people to move here, Northeast Florida is probably the very best bang for your buck as far as proximity to the ocean (lots of coastline), services, quality of life and real estate prices.

The old saying is that in Florida, there is safe, convenient and cheap.
You can only pick two.

In Northeast Florida, you can almost have all three.
If you want a "big city", Jacksonville is a good choice, however, St. Augustine and St. Johns county is a lovely place that is still very reasonably priced (in relative terms) with all services and amenities.
While I don't recommend St. Johns County for younger people or families with children- as there is somewhat of a lack of "things to do" compared to other places- it's an absolutely superb place for someone like yourself who is looking to buy a home to vacation to a few times a year or less.

Just today, I was out crabbing at my brothers home- he paid $160,000 for it this year... Concrete block home, absolutely STELLAR middle/upper-middle income area (St. Augustine Shores) and we walked from his house right down to the intercoastal waterway and pulled supper right from the salt water. The Atlantic ocean/beach is a short 5 minute drive further.

[howard0181]

thanks for replies.

[TriMT7]

Look into Jupiter and Palm Beach Gardens (both in Palm Beach County). Close enough to glitz, but far enough away if you want to relax.

[Airchauffeur]

I was told to RUN if I saw a sign saying 'Welcome to Jacksonville', lest you take your life in your hands...Is that not true?