Snowbirds...when is your departure date? (Jacksonville, Port Charlotte: rentals, crime, hotel)

[BP1968]

Originally Posted by beach43ofus

At a large gathering of neighbors over the weekend, I heard many of our snowbirds mention they are leaving soon, and were saying their goodbye's.

The Canadians said they have a 6 month limit, so that is why they were leaving now. Others said they miss their family members up North and some said the weather's good where they from already. 1 said they are leaving after the last Braves Spring Training game...outlier there.

These people are not renters, they are snowbirds that own 2 homes, so other than the Canadians, they can leave when they want.

Each day now, more will leave than arrive. By April 10th, the traffic will be noticeably thinner. Many leave the morning after Easter for some reason unknown to me.

Apparently they are not giving up Florida for Lent!!

[beach43ofus]

I love how the snowbirds and tourists help our economy, and help us to avoid state income taxes, but by March of each year, I'm very ready for them to leave.

I'm counting the days now....17 days left until we'll notice it thinning out.

[tinytrump]

Originally Posted by Eda_Pimentel

How do snowbirds really really help the citizens of Florida help avoid State of Florida instituting an income tax which is really left up to the legislature? yes, they pay taxes but so does everyone else as full time residents and even illegal immigrants in the form of sales taxes. We're not beholden to the largess of only part time/ 6 mos residents for godsake. I contend that tourist dollars are far more significant to the state's ledger in re budget. We have more tourists each year than snowbirds. For example, most snowbirds don't pay bed taxes/fees. Clearly we should appreciate the thousands of tourists a bit more, they come and visit year round - thousands of them it seems to me. It's strange to appreciate snowbirds for their presence when they too tax resources and services while they are here ! At least tourists spend money, don't stick around for 6 mos, and GO HOME.

I don’t care for the snowbird plan at all. They come - complain - take up space, have entitled attitudes, think they need to be served and have fits about home taxes going up to help the community thrive. They leave over 1 millón homes empty in April, many don’t even return. We would not have a housing problem if they stayed home. Now let’s talk about traffic.

[NSHL10]

Originally Posted by tinytrump

I don’t care for the snowbird plan at all. They come - complain - take up space, have entitled attitudes, think they need to be served and have fits about home taxes going up to help the community thrive. They leave over 1 millón homes empty in April, many don’t even return. We would not have a housing problem if they stayed home. Now let’s talk about traffic.

So the answer is to let snowbirds be replaced by full time residents ? Then you will have traffic issues year round.

First you complain they are there, then you complain about a million empty houses after they leave.

Seems like nothing makes you happy

[joshan]

Had the conversation last night at poker tourney with Canadiens at my table. They have to leave or they lose their health insurance benefits.

[joshan]

Originally Posted by NSHL10

So the answer is to let snowbirds be replaced by full time residents ? Then you will have traffic issues year round.

First you complain they are there, then you complain about a million empty houses after they leave.

Seems like nothing makes you happy

You figured it out. He argues both sides of an issue. Everything is negative no matter what it is. Just use another fake sock account...

[tinytrump]

Originally Posted by NSHL10

So the answer is to let snowbirds be replaced by full time residents ? Then you will have traffic issues year round.

First you complain they are there, then you complain about a million empty houses after they leave.

Seems like nothing makes you happy

No -let them stay and the natural course of the life-cycle takes place. They are selling homes from 55+ to other 55 yr olds. If those homes were all age, the cities would settle. Too many over 55. And too many unaffordable homes due to big money the retirees bring. It used to be condos or mobile homes. Now they’ve taken over the small starter homes that are perfect for young families. My grands a few years ago moved to a nice established neighborhood. The kids had no friends to play with. All the neighbors were elderly. I’m a 70 yr old native. This area just approved so many more homes and by next year or so, it’s going totally be miserable. If the snowbirds don’t come, no need to overbuild.

[NSHL10]

Originally Posted by tinytrump

No -let them stay and the natural course of the life-cycle takes place. They are selling homes from 55+ to other 55 yr olds. If those homes were all age, the cities would settle. Too many over 55. And too many unaffordable homes due to big money the retirees bring. It used to be condos or mobile homes. Now they’ve taken over the small starter homes that are perfect for young families. My grands a few years ago moved to a nice established neighborhood. The kids had no friends to play with. All the neighbors were elderly. I’m a 70 yr old native. This area just approved so many more homes and by next year or so, it’s going totally be miserable. If the snowbirds don’t come, no need to overbuild.

Then you would complain about the cost of schools as young families come in and schools need to be built.
If you want Florida to be more affordable for younger people you need to raise wages for the working people. The ongoing joke of Florida employment is that you get paid in sunshine.

Florida for decades has actively courted tourism and snowbirds as the life blood of its economy. It saved full time homeowners thousands in taxes each year as the tourists and snowbirds paid for everything keeping taxes this low. The subsidized taxes further drew more folks to move at least part time to Florida. The people Florida tended to draw in prided themselves on being smart enough to move to a low tax area no matter what the effect on the community. This is nothing new, but it may have worsened lately with the red state/blue state divide we have seen following covid.

Condos are now less desirable due to the new law making sure the property has been maintained and sufficient reserves are in place. Great idea, but everything has consequences. Trailers are not reliable because the insurance on them is too high, and the land has become too valuable. There is no guarantee that the park won't be sold to a developer and then you are stuck. This has made single family homes more desirable and hence more expensive.

The building now is not just for 55+ people. It is for people who rent their property for Air B and B's and for hedge funds that are amassing a real estate portfolio of rental properties to help reduce their reliance on the stock market to make profits. Perhaps the localities need to amend their renting rules and regulations?

I suppose one can argue that Florida is a victim of its own success. I can understand peoples' frustrations, but I think people are blaming the wrong folks. It is the system that enables this that is the problem.

[tinytrump]

Originally Posted by NSHL10

Then you would complain about the cost of schools as young families come in and schools need to be built.
If you want Florida to be more affordable for younger people you need to raise wages for the working people. The ongoing joke of Florida employment is that you get paid in sunshine.

Florida for decades has actively courted tourism and snowbirds as the life blood of its economy. It saved full time homeowners thousands in taxes each year as the tourists and snowbirds paid for everything keeping taxes this low. The subsidized taxes further drew more folks to move at least part time to Florida. The people Florida tended to draw in prided themselves on being smart enough to move to a low tax area no matter what the effect on the community. This is nothing new, but it may have worsened lately with the red state/blue state divide we have seen following covid.

Condos are now less desirable due to the new law making sure the property has been maintained and sufficient reserves are in place. Great idea, but everything has consequences. Trailers are not reliable because the insurance on them is too high, and the land has become too valuable. There is no guarantee that the park won't be sold to a developer and then you are stuck. This has made single family homes more desirable and hence more expensive.

The building now is not just for 55+ people. It is for people who rent their property for Air B and B's and for hedge funds that are amassing a real estate portfolio of rental properties to help reduce their reliance on the stock market to make profits. Perhaps the localities need to amend their renting rules and regulations?

I suppose one can argue that Florida is a victim of its own success. I can understand peoples' frustrations, but I think people are blaming the wrong folks. It is the system that enables this that is the problem.

In the past, there was a balance, then came 2008, Blackstone and Covid. Yes, wages should be higher, but the present housing prices cannot be paid by the typical Fl employee. My sister has been selling real estate for 30 yrs in this area. Cash wins. You can’t even write a nice letter to the seller anymore. I obtained my last house that way. And to be fair, those small 1000 sq ft, 40 yr old homes are not worth $400,000. .
In Wimauma, per my friend, the council said no more 55+ only developments.. The area’s infrastructure will not sustain the increase of more people.
Just saw a town-hall chart for a new development by the Ellenton outlets. It’s crazy. How they keep approving these developments is crazy. The councils need to stop approving more housing until they can accommodate the influx. We have a min of 12 traffic accidents a day, we are short in workers. They can’t afford to live here. This governor not gong to deal with lowering the rents. He won’t even increase the unemployment benefits , that the same amount for the last 30 yrs. Wait until June, and our home insurance goes up…

It’s the councils fault for allowing it, they have not acted in the areas best interest. And the 55 + influx has to slow down. Remember many are Canadians. They have no interest in improving the area.

[beach43ofus]

Originally Posted by joshan

Had the conversation last night at poker tourney with Canadiens at my table. They have to leave or they lose their health insurance benefits.

I had the same conversation with my Canadian pals. It opened my eyes up to how gov't healthcare can be used as a control tool...no thanks!

I prefer the Free State of Florida in the great USA...11 months out of the year anyways.

I'm a reverse Snow Bird, I head North in the Summer for 1 month to take a break from our heat.