I'm not liking southeast florida (Tampa, Plantation: lease, HOA, condo)

[Marble cake]

can anyone recommend an active 55 plus community on the west coast of Florida? Not too crowded, quiet, Low crime, near to the beach, and lots of amenities? I'm not so sure there is such a community.

I not happy in southeast Florida. It's just too crowded. I'm afraid to drive.

I've have been searching on lined for info, but if anyone has any info that you can share, it would be very much appreciated. I'll stick it out this winter, but I will keep up my search. This is my first winter here. Relatives bought here so I thought I'd try it, as I do love the beach. But I just can't take the congestion, as I am originally from upstate NY. I guess it was not such a good ideas for me to to buy here after all.

Thanks for your input.

[deebin]

Sun City Center, 25 miles southeast of Tampa, is a possibility.

[justNancy]

Originally Posted by Marble cake

can anyone recommend an active 55 plus community on the west coast of Florida? Not too crowded, quiet, Low crime, near to the beach, and lots of amenities? I'm not so sure there is such a community.

I not happy in southeast Florida. It's just too crowded. I'm afraid to drive.

Price range? There are some very nice communities in Venice. West Villages is a quiet section on the North Port line. I'm not sure if this is strictly an over 55 community, but you can call if you're interested.

[url=http://www.divosta.com/communities/fl/venice/islandwalk-at-the-west-villages/16219/index1.aspx#.VojgXcYrLnA]New Homes at IslandWalk at the West Villages | Venice, FL by DiVosta Home Builders[/url]

Plantation CC is also very nice and in a quiet area. This time of year, however, it's going to be a bit more crowded in SWFL until April.

[Marble cake]

Thanks for your replies. My price range is under 200.000 for a house.

[justNancy]

Originally Posted by Marble cake

Thanks for your replies. My price range is under 200.000 for a house.

Same for me, but I wasn't sure from your first post. You can buy a condo in Plantation for under $150,000. However, there are many other factors to consider. Some communities charge a CDD in addition to your annual property tax bill. Also, each county has a different millage rage. Often the monthly or quarterly HOA fee is higher in an over 55 community because there's a full time activities director.

Have you considered a mobile home community? I wouldn't buy one on leased land, but there are several nice resident owned communities. [URL="http://villageofholidaylake.com/"] I lived here[/URL] for a while. The online calendar hasn't been updated, but there's always a card game, water aerobics, bingo, dances, dinners, parties, arts & crafts and more. It's not an over 55 community, but about 90% of its residents are snowbirds from Massachusetts, Canada, Ohio, Michigan, etc. Monthly HOA fee is $100 which includes lawn care and use of the 2 pools, clubhouse, tennis and most activities.

I know exactly what you mean about traffic and crowds of people. It's a tough call, since I moved from SWFL to Western NC this year and there's no traffic at all in this rural area, but there are fewer amenities where I am, and half the people travel back to Florida in the winter. It all depends on what you're used to, but I had the same trouble driving on the FL turnpike and I-95 when I'd visit my Dad in Delray Beach, and that was several years ago.

You might want to search for posts on the Sarasota forum, because I remember some realtors listing several communities on one of the threads.

[Marble cake]

Thanks so much JustNancy. The info you provided is very much appreciated.

[mcharas]

Originally Posted by Marble cake

can anyone recommend an active 55 plus community on the west coast of Florida? Not too crowded, quiet, Low crime, near to the beach, and lots of amenities? I'm not so sure there is such a community.

I not happy in southeast Florida. It's just too crowded. I'm afraid to drive.

I've have been searching on lined for info, but if anyone has any info that you can share, it would be very much appreciated. I'll stick it out this winter, but I will keep up my search. This is my first winter here. Relatives bought here so I thought I'd try it, as I do love the beach. But I just can't take the congestion, as I am originally from upstate NY. I guess it was not such a good ideas for me to to buy here after all.

Thanks for your input.

We moved here a few months ago from Upstate NY. Our initial goal was for the west coast, we love it there... but we ended up in the SE like you. I have family around Venice and they LOVE it- in fact two just retired there. So I second the idea of looking there. Good luck!

[Marble cake]

Mcharas, what made you settle here in SE Florida? I wish you luck in returning the the west coast of Florida.

[veggienut]

Originally Posted by Marble cake

can anyone recommend an active 55 plus community on the west coast of Florida? Not too crowded, quiet, Low crime, near to the beach, and lots of amenities? I'm not so sure there is such a community.

I not happy in southeast Florida. It's just too crowded. I'm afraid to drive.

I've have been searching on lined for info, but if anyone has any info that you can share, it would be very much appreciated. I'll stick it out this winter, but I will keep up my search. This is my first winter here. Relatives bought here so I thought I'd try it, as I do love the beach. But I just can't take the congestion, as I aYm originally from upstate NY. I guess it was not such a good ideas for me to to buy here after all.

Thanks for your input.

You don't say where your at but you must be somewhere in South Palm Beach County, like Boca. The farther you go north in Palm Beach County the less traffic congestion there is and the friendlier the people are.

[Marble cake]

You are correct, veggienut, I'm in Boca Raton. Can you suggest specific areas?