[Eddy G]

Central to North Western Florida?
If I look at the map I'd say Tampa to Tallahassee to Pensacola...

From what I've read the summer isn't as hot and humid but the winters are still nice enough (as compared to New England).

My wife and I are in our early 50's and would like to start exploring area's and options for retirement in the next 5 or 6 years. We're fortunate enough to have put together decent Pensions, savings, and investments that will help us live with a moderate middle income.. Obviously money is a whole other matter...

I don't know if it exists in Florida but our dream home sits by a lake on a wooded lot. A quite area away from hustle and bustle vacation spots...Some would call it a bedroom community.
A two bedroom ranch style house with a good size garage...Not a mega mansion by any means.

We'd like to be with in an hour of a larger city but in a smaller to mid size town. Some place with a down town area, shops and local activities... Something between BIG City living and the Sticks...


We're would we start looking?

[kyle19125]

There are not a lot of the type of home you're looking for which from my translation of your descriptive would be of what one might see in New Hampshire for instance. You might look around Gainesville which has dozens of lakes to the east around Hawthorne, Keystone Heights and Melrose where a good many University of Florida administrators and faculty commute from. There are a number of nice lake homes in the 200K range (above/below) and Gainesville offers excellent healthcare accessibility (UF/Shands Medical Center) as well as plenty of social/recreational options. Living on the east side would have you within an hour of Jacksonville which has even more amenities and a good airport for travel.

[Eddy G]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

There are not a lot of the type of home you're looking for which from my translation of your descriptive would be of what one might see in New Hampshire for instance. You might look around Gainesville which has dozens of lakes to the east around Hawthorne, Keystone Heights and Melrose where a good many University of Florida administrators and faculty commute from. There are a number of nice lake homes in the 200K range (above/below) and Gainesville offers excellent healthcare accessibility (UF/Shands Medical Center) as well as plenty of social/recreational options. Living on the east side would have you within an hour of Jacksonville which has even more amenities and a good airport for travel.

Thanks, Keystone Heights looks interesting...I'm going to dig in to all the towns mentioned a little deeper...