Key West...good place to live? (Venice, Big Pine Key: real estate, homeowners insurance, military)

[macguy]

Originally Posted by Need_affordable_home

Everyone said it well. Key West living isnt all cracked to be. I checked Realtor and the costs blew me away! Half million will get you a 2 bedroom shack thats falling apart! Youll need a million for a half decent 1500-2000 square feet house! The costs are easily $500 a square foot and if you want a nice new house with ocean views, thatll set you back $700-1000+ a square foot! If your rich enough to consider the keys, you could retire! If you still want to work, someone mentioned north Florida beaches which are nice and far cheaper!

Like a lot of things, Key West falls into the category of "If you have to ask the price, you can't afford it". There are a lot of wealthy people in this country who can afford the keys, it is not for struggling working people.

[mystree]

Been to key west 2 years ago,I have to agree with all above...nice to visit but I wouldn't want to live there. I would prefer any of the other keys myself,
but when we looked in the real estate books we picked up...very expensive but you can see why the keys are beautiful.

[momof2dfw]

If you want the "island life", no crowds, beautiful waters, quiet beach (more like private), look at the islands down the Belize way. This is where we have turned our attention to now. For the price of a home in the Keys that is not ocean/water front and needs major repairs, etc we can pick up an island off the coast of Belize. And it has a beach Then the flight time for us would be even less. The savings on taxes alone will make a huge difference.

[Need_affordable_home]

Originally Posted by macguy

Like a lot of things, Key West falls into the category of "If you have to ask the price, you can't afford it". There are a lot of wealthy people in this country who can afford the keys, it is not for struggling working people.

It makes no sense to live in the keys if you arent an upper class multimillionare. You can live in south Florida for much cheaper than the keys and its only 2-3 hours away. In fact south Florida is for the upper middle class, a middle class salary, say a teacher for example wouldnt be able to afford anything, not even a 1/1 condo! Some of them rent with another teacher and live check to check, others are married to husbands with a high paying job and the teacher's income is supplemental as a secondary income to his. North Florida is much more affordable, theres 1/1 condos for $50k and small houses for $100k. Nice four bedroom houses can be had for $200k. That $200k will get you a 2 bedroom shack here in south Florida!

[bnepler]

I've been on nicers islands in the middle of rivers..

[lonelychicagoan]

[quote=takenadvantageof;192472]i have a house close to big pine key but live in ohio full time. alot of problems in key west. i started a business there a year ago but could never live there full time i would go nuts.plus alot of political corruption unless your a local there for a long time nobody and i mean nobody will do anything for you. Moderator cut: link cut
if you think key west is corrupted, try looking at other places that are worse, like detroit, du page county, illinois, saint louis, missouri, north new jersey, etc.

[MortonR]

And just to clarify what others have said, there really are no beaches in the sense that most would consider on Key West - it's a coral island, so the beaches are just that - coral! Very unpleasant and painful on the bare feet.

RM

[Ktballou]

Key west is my favroite place in the world, but there is alot of crime there....on the side streets and alot of bum's there...so...

[Ktballou]

Key west is my favroite place in the world, but there is alot of crime there....on the side streets and alot of bum's there...so...

[spotrod]

You may want to lease a cottage on the water for 2 weeks out of the year. Maybe split the cost with another person/couple I have a friend who does this goes lobster fishing ever year loves it, gets his Key West fix, parties then goes home total cost about 3k. Well worth the $$ but alot less expensive than living there Great place to visit but living there permantly I would not do it. JMO.