[katchad17]

Hello,
My husband and I are wanting to retire to Florida working full-time jobs in few years. We will both be 50 and the last of our kids will be graduated from high school. We are taking the next few years to travel(from Cinti,Ohio) to florida and visit different spots. This year we will be southeast near Pompano in few weeks and in May will visit Marco Island then back to Fort Lauderdale in July. We are trying to figure out what area near the ocean is best for our budget. Thinking the mobile home community will be best but I know most don't allow unless your 55+. We want the community life style cause we are pretty social but we need to be able to afford it. Anyone have any experience with that community lifestyle?
I figure we will rent an apartment until we decide where we want to be.
Thanks for any and all input!

[jwolfer]

With mobile homes they do not hold up as well in hurricanes and tropical storms

[Fredesch]

Originally Posted by jwolfer

With mobile homes they do not hold up as well in hurricanes and tropical storms

+1

Not only do mobile homes not do well in wind - if flooded they can be full of hidden mold.

[expatCA]

Originally Posted by katchad17

Hello,
My husband and I are wanting to retire to Florida working full-time jobs in few years. We will both be 50 and the last of our kids will be graduated from high school. We are taking the next few years to travel(from Cinti,Ohio) to florida and visit different spots. This year we will be southeast near Pompano in few weeks and in May will visit Marco Island then back to Fort Lauderdale in July. We are trying to figure out what area near the ocean is best for our budget. Thinking the mobile home community will be best but I know most don't allow unless your 55+. We want the community life style cause we are pretty social but we need to be able to afford it. Anyone have any experience with that community lifestyle?
I figure we will rent an apartment until we decide where we want to be.
Thanks for any and all input!

Some really nice parks near Flaggler Beach. East Coast by Daytona Beach.

[jghorton]

Originally Posted by katchad17

Hello,
My husband and I are wanting to retire to Florida working full-time jobs in few years. We will both be 50 and the last of our kids will be graduated from high school. We are taking the next few years to travel(from Cinti,Ohio) to florida and visit different spots. This year we will be southeast near Pompano in few weeks and in May will visit Marco Island then back to Fort Lauderdale in July. We are trying to figure out what area near the ocean is best for our budget. Thinking the mobile home community will be best but I know most don't allow unless your 55+. We want the community life style cause we are pretty social but we need to be able to afford it. Anyone have any experience with that community lifestyle?
I figure we will rent an apartment until we decide where we want to be.
Thanks for any and all input!

When you say, "wanting to retire to Florida working full-time jobs in a few years," does that mean you will be 'retiring' to Florida or 'changing jobs and moving to Florida?'... (or can work wherever you want) ... and hope to eventually 'retire' in Florida? All are, of course, feasible, but, it changes the dynamic of your question.

The job market in the places you mentioned is largely service sector, while the affordable mobile home community market in Marco Island is probably non-existent, - with the Ft. Lauderdale 'mobile community' market being further from the beach. There may be an affordable mobile home community near Pompano Beach, but, a limited job market.

There is a large mobile home community in Barefoot Bay, near the coast just South of Melbourne on the East Coast. But, East Coast wind storms (and hurricanes) are a problem for Barefoot Bay -- (on the other hand, since 2004, there have been as many hurricanes in Nebraska, as Florida). However, the distance from Barefoot Bay to the Melbourne job market, may be prohibitive

[LarsMac]

Spend August through October in South Florida. Then think about whether you want to live there full time.