[marypoppins]

Originally Posted by Floridaboundphil

I've spoke to embassy. I can get 6 month visa and apply for extension. I hope to extend so plan that would do about 10 months out of 12 (maybe more if I can)

Hmm.....be careful. As a visitor, you're only allowed to stay for 6 months in each year max. I can PM you details of a website/forum which will help with any questions about visas etc. Let me know if you'd like the address.

A cautionary word.....you may be entering a visa minefield if you don't plan ahead. If your ultimate intention is to live here, I urge you to get visa advice. I know too many Brits who have fallen foul of immigration law.

[Floridaboundphil]

Originally Posted by marypoppins

Hmm.....be careful. As a visitor, you're only allowed to stay for 6 months in each year max. I can PM you details of a website/forum which will help with any questions about visas etc. Let me know if you'd like the address.

A cautionary word.....you may be entering a visa minefield if you don't plan ahead. If your ultimate intention is to live here, I urge you to get visa advice. I know too many Brits who have fallen foul of immigration law.

Forum would be intresting. I am planning ahead. I will want 6 month visa in 12 months time. Why would Embassy in London tell me I can extend when I cannot ?

[Floridaboundphil]

Originally Posted by blackhillsdreams

Phil,

I know Rotonda too. it's pretty isolated. It's south of Sarasota and too far north of Ft. Myers and so forth to be much of anything other than housing. It is close to beaches however. Rotonda was purchased for pennies in the 70's I think by a developer that wanted to get rich building houses and then went broke after putting in roads and so forth. It sat for many years and then they started to build houses there. Summers are very hot on Rotonda compared to NE FL and my opinion is: it's nice but just too far from anything. I'd consider NE Fl first.

Good luck!

Thanks for this info. I looked quickly at information on area discussed. (by that I mean NE FL as you suggested) Looks very good and excellent value. I will now plan to visit both places so I can see for myself which will suit me best.

[marypoppins]

Originally Posted by Floridaboundphil

Why would Embassy in London tell me I can extend when I cannot ?

I could write a book about people who have been given wrong information, then found out to their cost. I'll PM you some info.

[Floridaboundphil]

Originally Posted by marypoppins

I could write a book about people who have been given wrong information, then found out to their cost. I'll PM you some info.

Thanks.

[SoFLGal]

I sounds like marypoppins might be a good resource. mr&mrssunsunshine also live over by you and might be another very valuable resource. There are many posters on the board from England that have purchased over here and could probably give you some good information.

[Floridaboundphil]

Originally Posted by blackhillsdreams

Phil,

What about work? I'm assuming you are not retired and will have to find a job being that you are under 55, no? I personally grew up in the Clearwater/St. Petersburg/Tampa Bay area (West Central Florida), have lived in Naples/Ft. Myers for 10 years (South West Florida), and have lived most of the last 4 years in Palm Coast (North East Florida dead center between Daytona and St. Augustine, an hour South of Jacksonville).

Tampa Bay area: Very Pricey anymore, super high taxes, way too much traffic, but there are nice beaches and lots of things to do in the area. $180K might get you a 2bed/2bath home unless you go North to New Port Richey/Spring Hill area. Weather is usually hot, but winter/fall does bring some change.

Naples/Ft. Myers: Even more pricey (but they have come way down), not close to the central attractions, crazy taxes, crazy traffic. But I liked Naples better than Tampa Bay for the most part. Weather is hot year round with 3-4 days you might need a jacket.

Palm Coast: Employment is just about dried up but they are building lots of stores and a new town center. Weather is much nicer than the rest of the state, you actually sort of have 4 seasons and it just might snow a little now and then (don't worry, it will be melted by 10AM if it does). GREAT location if you like the motorcycle events in Daytona or the NASCAR races. St. Augustine is just about my favorite place in the state to walk around AND it's not too far to go to Disney/Universal Studios and so forth. Houses in Palm Coast are very nice and SUPER Cheap right now because they over built during the boom. If you come to Palm Coast, look around in the neighborhood behind Home Depot, STAY AWAY from any neighborhood or subdivision with a lot of duplexes. Those are usually rented to Thugs you don't want any part of but Palm Coast is very nice.

Good Luck.

I have done an MLS search and seem to get a number of areas.
Which is preferable as I could drive round them all and I guess not worth it.
They are listed as Bunnell, Daytona Beach, Flagler Beach, Ormond Beach, Palm Coast, St Augustine South Daytona and Welaka.
Appreciate your comments to save me time.

[KMaxx]

Originally Posted by marypoppins

Are you coming over to look around? Or are you hoping to find something by looking on the internet? Sometimes, you see beautiful homes online at very good prices, but I'd always advise being aware of the immediate surroundings. No good having a gorgeous house if it's in a not-so-desirable neighbourhood.

I am a Canadian looking for a winter home in Fla. Being so far away, I did massive research on the Internet, printed out all kinds of listings and flew down to the Orlando area to meet with a real estate agent. We spent alot of time looking, and in MANY cases, the condo was nice but I would NEVER live in the area/surroundings. I have sure learned my lesson. I am still looking at many on-line, but I would not even get my hopes up unless I have actually SEEN them. I have another trip down planned for Dec 23 - Jan 3, to the Ft Lauderdale area, and I hope it works out.

Kathryn

[Tungsten_Udder]

Originally Posted by TNRyan23

I haven't been in state in the past 10 or so years so I can't suggest any subdivisions, However, I would suggest living in the Lakeland, Kathleen, or Haines City areas. They are within an hour from both Tampa and Orlando and seem to have cheaper home prices then Tampa or Orlando and you'd also be close to Disney, Seaworld, Busch Gardens, ect, ect.

http://www.florida-map.org/florida-road-map.gif

Yeah, we saw some incredible deals south/southwest of Orlando when we were first looking--and that was at least a year ago, so I can only imagine what a steal they must be now . . . we were initially hoping we could head that way and work in Orlando or Tampa, but the employment situation turned out to necessitate southeast Florida instead.

[Floridaboundphil]

Originally Posted by KMaxx

I am a Canadian looking for a winter home in Fla. Being so far away, I did massive research on the Internet, printed out all kinds of listings and flew down to the Orlando area to meet with a real estate agent. We spent alot of time looking, and in MANY cases, the condo was nice but I would NEVER live in the area/surroundings. I have sure learned my lesson. I am still looking at many on-line, but I would not even get my hopes up unless I have actually SEEN them. I have another trip down planned for Dec 23 - Jan 3, to the Ft Lauderdale area, and I hope it works out.

Kathryn

Kathryn, not sure what your looking for. I've just finished home search and found same as you describe. In the end I went for towards Haines City as you are outside of the disney "commuter belt" so to speak. The people and area is a little more laid back, you may also find that as it's not so "tourist" it may be better suited. If your looking for beach then on the Gulf down around Englewood is very good, I know an excellent Realtor down there.