Future snowbirds wanting to buy now and rent/move when we retire (Miami: for sale, coupons)

[the searchers]

Cape Coral is the second largest municipality in Florida second to Jacksonville. That is in square miles. My friends who moved there got hit with some big costs when water and sewerage was brought to their home. Lately the issue has been some type of tax surcharge for fire department service. I would check out the Cape Coral section if I was you and if you do go that route make sure to do all your homework.

[fiege1224]

Don,t forget the 7% tax surcharge on our electric bills also. They wanted 10% it is like the third year they have tried to get it passed. They got it passed this year by reducing it to 7%. I can't believe people still get excited about voting any more. It is like electing a person to rob you all the time in this town or the whole state for that matter. The people sued to try and stop the fire surcharge 150.00 per house. They also mess with the mill rate as much as they can with out having to put it to a vote. That is why all of the surcharges it is there way around having to put new taxes to a vote which most voters would say no too. The water and sewer rates are also sky high because of mismanagement of funds. If you do buy in Florida make sure it is no where new a flood zone. Check with new FEMA maps coming out. The new rates in flood zone areas in Florida will shock you at what it costs.

[Baby Boomer]

Thanks!

[Baby Boomer]

Originally Posted by fiege1224

Don,t forget the 7% tax surcharge on our electric bills also. They wanted 10% it is like the third year they have tried to get it passed. They got it passed this year by reducing it to 7%. I can't believe people still get excited about voting any more. It is like electing a person to rob you all the time in this town or the whole state for that matter. The people sued to try and stop the fire surcharge 150.00 per house. They also mess with the mill rate as much as they can with out having to put it to a vote. That is why all of the surcharges it is there way around having to put new taxes to a vote which most voters would say no too. The water and sewer rates are also sky high because of mismanagement of funds. If you do buy in Florida make sure it is no where new a flood zone. Check with new FEMA maps coming out. The new rates in flood zone areas in Florida will shock you at what it costs.

OMG thanks for the info!

[SJNE17]

Fiege1224, can you elaborate?

Is that a city-specific item you're referring to, or Charlotte County?

[fiege1224]

The rate surcharges are for Cape Coral area. The flood increases are for the whole state. I have homes in both areas on the water. But the extra fees added to property taxes in Charlotte County are just as bad to make up for there poor budgeting and promises they can't cover.

[sunshinewi]

Originally Posted by the searchers

Cape Coral is the second largest municipality in Florida second to Jacksonville. That is in square miles. My friends who moved there got hit with some big costs when water and sewerage was brought to their home. Lately the issue has been some type of tax surcharge for fire department service. I would check out the Cape Coral section if I was you and if you do go that route make sure to do all your homework.

Many homes already have the assessment paid. But if you look in Cape, make sure you check that out or tell the realtor you are only interested in homes that the assessment is paid. I think they did different parts of Cape at different times?? I think Cape is nice, particularly some areas. It covers a large territory, so it varies from homes built 40 years ago to new developments. But to each his own. But definitely a pool is a plus if you want to rent. It is more expensive to put a new one in than to buy a home with a pool.

[sunshinewi]

CTC - can you give more information on renting seasonably? How do you pay the taxes? Do you do background checks on renters? I assume you leave a key in the lockbox. Do you have a cleaning service hired for after the people leave who also check on the condition of the property?
We have an annual renter at this time, but plan on retiring soon and may be snowbirds for the first couple years. We have though about seasonal renters, but are a little leery. Is it a lot of work?

[Baby Boomer]

Originally Posted by sunshinewi

Many homes already have the assessment paid. But if you look in Cape, make sure you check that out or tell the realtor you are only interested in homes that the assessment is paid. I think they did different parts of Cape at different times?? I think Cape is nice, particularly some areas. It covers a large territory, so it varies from homes built 40 years ago to new developments. But to each his own. But definitely a pool is a plus if you want to rent. It is more expensive to put a new one in than to buy a home with a pool.

Thanks Sunshine! We don't want a house that is too old! We are not sure what area yet but will speak to several realtors to get different points of view. We would prefer to rent seaonally but if that is too difficult we will do annual renters instead.

[saxondale351]

smartest thing you could do, its only going to get more expensive.