SNOWBIRDS...when do you plan to head North, & why? (homes, property taxes)

[beach43ofus]

Originally Posted by NSHL10

Are snowbird homeowners still paying more in property taxes than full time Florida residents? If so, the full timers are getting quite a good deal having their taxes subsidized by the snowbirds.

Yes, they are paying more because they cannot Homestead to get a property tax break. ALL of the snowbird & tourist activity provides full time Floridians tremendous tax breaks on all kinds. I appreciate it greatly, so thanks for coming to FLA to spend $ here It's a fair trade-off for our area being crowded for 4-5 months/year. Just the same, by April 1st, I'm happy to get some relief from the crowds.

I'm saving over $1,000/mo. on all taxes combined versus Georgia (where we lived last). I own a home, a business, still have earned income, & 2 cars. I save tax money on all of it here vs. GA.

[beach43ofus]

Originally Posted by MOforthewin

I get those in the mail from time to time too. Form letters and data from houses in my area for what they sold for.

That's what I think the west coast is turning into. Mostly rentals. They can charge a lot for short term rentals.

Most newer HOA's have strict rules prohibiting short-term rentals. Most have 6 month minimums. I would not buy in a neighborhood that allowed short-term rentals. All the communities nearby our home prohibits short-term rentals too.

Short-term rentals are found in older areas for the most part, & even some of those are fighting short-term rentals...like St. Armands & Lido Key in Sarasota:

https://www.yourobserver.com/article...t-armands-lido

Vero Beach Florida has a city wide ordinance against short-term rentals...city-wide! Even some Counties have instituted all kinds of rules regarding short-term rentals, but the rules must apply to ALL homes equally, and not just rental properties, says the State of Florida.

It's easy to avoid living in a shot-term rental area, & its not so easy to be a short-term landlord here; wherever you please. They tend to cluster in older areas that lack HOA restrictions, & city ordinances.

[Travelassie]

Originally Posted by NSHL10

Are snowbird homeowners still paying more in property taxes than full time Florida residents? If so, the full timers are getting quite a good deal having their taxes subsidized by the snowbirds.

It depends on whether the snowbird homeowners declare their Florida home as their primary residence or not. They are eligible for the Florida county homestead exemption(s) on their homes if they do. But if their primary home is in another state, they can't.

Though I've heard of instances ( and saw the documentation ( public records) for one of these) where the snowbird claimed both his Florida home, and his home in the northeast ( can't recall which state) as his primary residents, and claimed the homestead exemption on both. It seems those dual homehowners with homes in different states can get away with doing this if they are so inclined.

[pjbrien]

Is a month considered short-term?

I have a friend who purchased in Lakewood National and what he describes is pure chaos. I believe they are far more lenient that other HOA's as you often see all the rentals clustered there or, to a lesser extent, Esplanade. It would make me crazy to see 3-4 new next door "neighbors" every year. While golf is included in the dues, he is having trouble getting a tee time that is not after 3:00 in the afternoon.

[Trying941]

Originally Posted by Travelassie

It depends on whether the snowbird homeowners declare their Florida home as their primary residence or not. They are eligible for the Florida county homestead exemption(s) on their homes if they do. But if their primary home is in another state, they can't.

Though I've heard of instances ( and saw the documentation ( public records) for one of these) where the snowbird claimed both his Florida home, and his home in the northeast ( can't recall which state) as his primary residents, and claimed the homestead exemption on both. It seems those dual homehowners with homes in different states can get away with doing this if they are so inclined.

It is possible for a married couple to lawfully claim that one is the primary resident of one state and the other is the primary resident of the other state - each property getting the homestead exemption though each held jointly. The facts have to justify this is correct. In Colwell v. Royal International Trading Corporation, 226 B.R. 714 (S.D. Fla. 1998),

[beach43ofus]

Originally Posted by pjbrien

Is a month considered short-term?

I have a friend who purchased in Lakewood National and what he describes is pure chaos. I believe they are far more lenient that other HOA's as you often see all the rentals clustered there or, to a lesser extent, Esplanade. It would make me crazy to see 3-4 new next door "neighbors" every year. While golf is included in the dues, he is having trouble getting a tee time that is not after 3:00 in the afternoon.

They allow 30-day short term leases....as many as 12 per year

I would not buy there for that reason alone. I've never seen that work out well in the long run.

[beach43ofus]

I saw another auto carrier loading up cars today, but I also saw lots of cars parked on the Venice airport grass at the Pier Beach area. Downtown Venice was packed, due to a car show.

The car-tags due jour were Ohio, Michigan, Mass, & PA. Fewer NY, NJ, or CT.

I saw lots of Cali plates today, & Oregon, New Mexico, and a few Washington's. Do these people drive all this way? Or use car transporters? Maybe they're moving here for good, but just have not gotten their Fla plates yet.

Anyways, I was surprised to see no let up in visitors yet. Spring breakers are still here. Local businesses must be cleaning up this season.

[Travelassie]

Originally Posted by Trying941

It is possible for a married couple to lawfully claim that one is the primary resident of one state and the other is the primary resident of the other state - each property getting the homestead exemption though each held jointly. The facts have to justify this is correct. In Colwell v. Royal International Trading Corporation, 226 B.R. 714 (S.D. Fla. 1998),

Welp, so much for the claim that snowbirds are subsidizing full time Florida resident homeowners by paying higher property taxes....

Honestly, I can't see how this would be a valid claim if each property is held jointly by the married couple. Sounds like a loophole someone tore open and jumped through.

Though I suspect people inclined to do this probably get away with it more often than they don't if the two residences are in different states. I doubt the Florida counties check to see if someone applying for a homestead exemption has a residence with a similar tax exemption elsewhere.

[Trying941]

Originally Posted by Travelassie

. Honestly, I can't see how this would be a valid claim if each property is held jointly by the married couple. Sounds like a loophole someone tore open and jumped through.

I can give you an example of where this would be proper. Husband is retired, and lives in Florida 7 months a year. Wife is school teacher with three years left to get her pension. She works in NJ 9 months a year - stays in Florida during vacations.

We can each think of many examples of where this would not be proper.

It is not usual for people to stay in northern states for 6 months and a day to get a homestead type deduction, because they then have to pay resident income tax. This is truly an exception where done legally.

[Travelassie]

Originally Posted by beach43ofus

I saw another auto carrier loading up cars today, but I also saw lots of cars parked on the Venice airport grass at the Pier Beach area. Downtown Venice was packed, due to a car show.

The car-tags due jour were Ohio, Michigan, Mass, & PA. Fewer NY, NJ, or CT.

I saw lots of Cali plates today, & Oregon, New Mexico, and a few Washington's. Do these people drive all this way? Or use car transporters? Maybe they're moving here for good, but just have not gotten their Fla plates yet.

Anyways, I was surprised to see no let up in visitors yet. Spring breakers are still here. Local businesses must be cleaning up this season.

I wouldn't be surprised to learn that a significant number of those "visitors" you're seeing are people moving permanently to the area. Seems to br that way in our neck of the woods just south of you ( Charlotte county).