[stefanodimera72]

I've been combing over every single post here related to Central/North/Panhandle over the past month and, well, now I'm paranoid about my dream of relocating to Florida. I'm thinking that MAYBE i can avoid the drastically changing neighborhoods if they aren't somewhere originally targeted by snowbirds and retirees.

Probably futile, but I thought I'd bring it up. My thinking is that people w/ a 2nd home are the 1st to flee the state, and w/ retirees, they're either dying off or moving to cheaper states. Oversimplified? Set me straight please.

What I'm looking for is a moderate/heavily wooded neighborhood like Sugarmill Woods in Homosassa w/ a high % of caged pool homes priced under $160k...although willing to stretch to $190k for perfection. Any suggestions? ...and please no HOA's/wacky deed restricted spots like Sugarmill. I prefer the Gulf side but willing to consider anywhere.

Another option is finding something rural maybe? I can live just about anywhere as long as there are trees, piece of quiet, privacy and some fast food w/in 15-20min. I don't mind the drive if stoplights and traffic are sparse.

Thanks in advance.

[verobeach]

If the snowbirds or retirees haven't discovered it then it's a backwoods/backwards spot not worth discovery. Good luck.

[Sunny-Days90]

For me I want to be around those snowbirds.

They seem to take care of their homes in Florida and do not let them run down into slums.

Do not forget many snowbirds end up not going back to the town they lived before after a certain age and stay year around now.

Many snowbirds are in their late 50 early 60's and will not be dying off anytime soon. With a huge rash of new boomers retiring in 2011 at age 62.

You can look at the age data right here on this website.

If you are looking in that area there is a local real estate person who post on this forum who could help you a lot.

I will PM his name.

[verobeach]

I also want to be around snowbirds. They support the economy here in Vero Beach and without them we wouldn't have such nice restaurants and shops. And as Sunny-Days90 says, a lot of them are in their 50's and 60's. I am a retiree and I'm 59.

[stefanodimera72]

Originally Posted by verobeach

I also want to be around snowbirds. They support the economy here in Vero Beach and without them we wouldn't have such nice restaurants and shops. And as Sunny-Days90 says, a lot of them are in their 50's and 60's. I am a retiree and I'm 59.

Sorry, not bashing snowbirds one bit. It's just that I keep hearing about how bad renters are down there, and I'm fearful that the homes these snowbirds own will either go into foreclosure or to renters if they can't/must sell.

[verobeach]

It's apples and oranges, Stefanodimera. Snowbirders don't rent their houses out while they're not there. Snowbirders leave behind their personal belongings and furnishings so they lock the door behind them when they go north. The rental market in Florida has nothing to do with snowbirders or retirees unless, of course, they choose to be landlords and then they know exactly what they're getting into just like anyone else, young, old, native Floridian, or snowbird.

[stefanodimera72]

Verobeach,
I should mention that this site alone is responsible for my fears (oops, i mean some posters)...

I keep reading about empty houses/renters/foreclosures in Florida, things I would have never thought of before. I certainly don't mind my neighbors being away for 1/2 the year or more, it's just that I'm now under the impression w/ higher insurance/cost of living/people losing their savings that this means many of those who own a 2nd home down there might have to dump their place right now.

I look at a place like Spring Hill and shudder at the thought of 3000 homes for sale...if not more. The neighborhood has to be impacted by this...for better or worse I wouldn't know. Sorta why I was wondering if anyone knew of a more stable neighborhood.

In spite of the above I'm still wanting to move to Spring Hill b/c it already feels like home to me, spent much time there for 17-18yrs straight.

Thank you for defining though.

[runswithscissors]

Yes you have it backwards. Even the old guys I know who are upside down are clever enough to make it right.

There is no correlation between foreclosures, renters or deferred maintenance and retirees and/or snowbirds. The only thing you'll see with some senior communities is less dramatc landscaping and not alot of outside "upgrading" because they are of that generation or they are on a budget. But no mess just not all glammed up.

You were right to take the issues seriously that are posted here. Just don't extrapolate it out to be seniors or snowbirds as an underlying issue.

It's primarily investors first (that includes regular people not companies) like a teacher who overextended to flip and by that time there was no more flipping so they are having to pay two mortgages thanks to stupid tv LOL...HGTV flipping shows

And second, regular people who pillaged their equity to take vacations or never had equity at all and took high risk loans without regard to the requirements like getting it recast within two years or it doubles in size.

Seniors dont retire to Florida and risk everything with bad mortgages and bad financial decisions. Snow birds don't either in the traditional sense. And basically so what if they die or leave, it happens all the time. That's why the whole future of neigborhood thing takes some guarded calculation.

[RUBIES77]

Originally Posted by stefanodimera72

I've been combing over every single post here related to Central/North/Panhandle over the past month and, well, now I'm paranoid about my dream of relocating to Florida. I'm thinking that MAYBE i can avoid the drastically changing neighborhoods if they aren't somewhere originally targeted by snowbirds and retirees.

Probably futile, but I thought I'd bring it up. My thinking is that people w/ a 2nd home are the 1st to flee the state, and w/ retirees, they're either dying off or moving to cheaper states. Oversimplified? Set me straight please.

What I'm looking for is a moderate/heavily wooded neighborhood like Sugarmill Woods in Homosassa w/ a high % of caged pool homes priced under $160k...although willing to stretch to $190k for perfection. Any suggestions? ...and please no HOA's/wacky deed restricted spots like Sugarmill. I prefer the Gulf side but willing to consider anywhere.

Another option is finding something rural maybe? I can live just about anywhere as long as there are trees, piece of quiet, privacy and some fast food w/in 15-20min. I don't mind the drive if stoplights and traffic are sparse.

Thanks in advance.

Issue#1: PERFECTION does not exist.

Issue#2: In Florida, no need to be so PARANOID about the snowbirds. They sustain the Florida economy, and usually keep their homes impecable.

I think your biggest threat and concern should be the people under 55, who own homes and rent them out to unsavory characters, with no sense of community, which in Florida is rampant.

[sallygoodin]

In my humble opinion you are worrying needlessly. Worry about neighbors who borrowed money to buy a home, car, boat, etc. that they couldn't afford. As far as snowbirds go, a good percentage of them are the folks "with" the money.