[faithfulFrank]

Thank you guys,

Spotrod......your post is also appreciated, you are correct. I admit I WAS a bit rattled when I saw the news. I know I have a lot to learn about Florida, and I know there is no perfect place. We were just in Lady Lake a few weeks ago.

Because of some "bumps" in the closing process, I agreed to aquire insurance on the property as of 2/1/07, and it is bound and paid for as of that date for a whole year. In light of what happenned, I now think that is a good thing.

The fact of the matter is, I was under the impression that historically, most all of the tornadoes usually happened more in Northern Florida. Now, I see this tragedy happened less than 15 miles from my new home, it did shake me a bit.

I talked to some good neighbors who live across the street from our new home, and they assured me that everything there is ok.....they only lost power for about one minute, had a bit of wind and some rain, but no damage. It is amazing how localized these things can be.

Years ago, we actually had a tornado here in our town just three miles from my house....a freak thing. You never know. My prayers are with all those effected.

We start driving down Tuesday......since we are coming from NY, we will be driving through, or around the effected area.

All in all, I like the honesty here, and have grown to like this forum. It has helped us during this exciting but crazy time for us.

Frank D.

[doggiebus]

About those tornados, I too thought they happened in north florida only. The news actually had a map yesterday of the major tornados in Florida they were all in Central Florida between Tampa, Orlando, and the Cape. I was surprised, but they said something about that is the place were the cold air and the heat from the south usually meet for some reason, then creates the tornadoes.

[Rhett_Butler]

Originally Posted by doggiebus

About those tornados, I too thought they happened in north florida only. The news actually had a map yesterday of the major tornados in Florida they were all in Central Florida between Tampa, Orlando, and the Cape. I was surprised, but they said something about that is the place were the cold air and the heat from the south usually meet for some reason, then creates the tornadoes.

Central Florida has a bout with Tornadic activity a few times a year or so (I'm including watches and warnings as well as actual touch-downs).... Nothing that's any more extreme than when I lived in the northern suburbs of Chicago though....

[missy sissy]

welcome home frank everytime i go up to the villages i'll think of you and your wife having all that fun in the plantations ..enjoy the fun in the sun state .

[MaryLou2007]

Originally Posted by faithfulFrank

So........Why am I buying a house in Florida?? There seems to be a lot of negitives here...some I have learned from, but just for balance, I'd thought I'd try to start a positive thread. I admit, I'm a newbie here, and have A LOT to learn about Florida, but a person does not spend 6 figures on a home without having some reasons........here are mine. If I find I made the wrong decision after a few years, I can always go somewhere else......

1) I liked the community in the gated community I am moving in. The neighbors seem great. Good sense of community.

2) I think I will actually like the weather. I think I will tolorate the summers better than I can tolorate the Buffalo winters.

3) Florida is one of the best states tax wise for my pension, etc. I do not think that will change.

4) I am not scared of hurricanes where I am moving to in Leesburg. I'm thinking that by the time one hits the middle of the state it should lose some of its punch. I know how to replace shingles.....

5) Real estate prices have gone up there steadily...my equity will grow more then it is here in NY.

6) My taxes are 1/2 what I pay in New York. Even with the higher homeowners insurance, I am making out better.

7) The gated community I'm moving to seems safe and almost no crime. There are many activities I think i'll like.

8) The local hospital system is rated very highly. The paid fire/ems station is less then 1/2 a mile away from my house. If I need a paramedic, they will be there fast.

I suppose I could go on, and i'm sure there are things I need to learn. No place is perfect, but this seems like it is worth trying. If I do not like living here, I could always relocate somewhere else. What a great country we live in that we have that freedom.

We close on the house this week, and we will be down there by Wednesday for a week or two, checking and buying everything for the house. Then back to NY.......until retirement.

Frank D.

That is an EXCELLENT QUESTION... why in the world are you buying in FL, specially in the tornado-prone Lake County/Lessburg!!


Well, to comment on your #4 item, yeah, you are not worried about "Replacing a few shingles" because you don't know what happens when water enters your property after a hurricane leaves. Mold starts to grow in less than 24 hours and next thing you know, you have $20,000 worth of damage and guess what?? Your Home owner's insurance won't cover, unless you have a MOld addendum!! Yay... now, you have to take out an equity loan (IF you have any equity) or have hives, dry cough, sneezing, and massive headaches because you are living with mold and cannot afford to fix it!! Yay, I love having a house here!

"The gated community I'm moving to seems safe and almost no crime." SEEMS, is a nice word. Have you called the local PD and the Sheriff's office to verify that? Probably not, huh?

Did you just see the massive tornadoes that just ripped through your area just a few days ago??