Florida beachfront retirement home
Sep 6th, 2016, 09:07 AM
#1
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Florida beachfront retirement home
Looking for a beachfront retirement home in Florida for under $200,000. Would be nice to be in a retirement or 55+ community and with on sight pool. Want low maintenance fees, low flood dangers.
Sep 6th, 2016, 11:38 AM
#7
I live on the beach in Fort Lauderdale and there are a lot of beaches in this state and many of them have either private homes or condominiums.
There is NO beach here which has what you are describing as "low flood dangers" since we are talking about rather large bodies of water and structures which are at ground level so that is the first part of your wishlist you need to re-visit.
IMO condo and other maintenance fees tend to be high in at least some parts of this state but you often get what you pay for.
For just about anything habitable and which is truly beachfront, your price range is very unrealistic I am sorry to say.
There is NO beach here which has what you are describing as "low flood dangers" since we are talking about rather large bodies of water and structures which are at ground level so that is the first part of your wishlist you need to re-visit.
IMO condo and other maintenance fees tend to be high in at least some parts of this state but you often get what you pay for.
For just about anything habitable and which is truly beachfront, your price range is very unrealistic I am sorry to say.
Sep 6th, 2016, 11:54 AM
#8
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Try www.city-data.com - it is a relocation site, this is a travel site.
Sep 6th, 2016, 12:02 PM
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Even though this is a travel forum, not a relocation forum, you've received lots of helpful information on your other thread.
Regarding your latest question - you are being totally unrealistic about finding a beach front home with on site pool, low maintenance fees and low flood dangers for $200,000. At best. you might find an older tiny condo in need of major repairs/upgrades that's blocks from the beach.
You might want to do a few internet searches for Florida Real Estate to get a feel for what beachfront hhousing costs. Try such topics as "Beachfront Home For Sale in NAME OF TOWN"; "Florida Real Estate Prices"; etc. Or, try contacting or visiting websites of Real Estate Agents in areas of interest to you. Most will have listings with asking prices and photos of homes that are currently on the market. You should be able to get some idea of what your $200,000 budget will buy.
From what you've described about your current home in your other thread I'm guessing at the very least you'll have to triple or quadruple your budget to find a beach front home that suits your needs.
Regarding your latest question - you are being totally unrealistic about finding a beach front home with on site pool, low maintenance fees and low flood dangers for $200,000. At best. you might find an older tiny condo in need of major repairs/upgrades that's blocks from the beach.
You might want to do a few internet searches for Florida Real Estate to get a feel for what beachfront hhousing costs. Try such topics as "Beachfront Home For Sale in NAME OF TOWN"; "Florida Real Estate Prices"; etc. Or, try contacting or visiting websites of Real Estate Agents in areas of interest to you. Most will have listings with asking prices and photos of homes that are currently on the market. You should be able to get some idea of what your $200,000 budget will buy.
From what you've described about your current home in your other thread I'm guessing at the very least you'll have to triple or quadruple your budget to find a beach front home that suits your needs.
Sep 6th, 2016, 12:12 PM
#11
Oh -- just read your other thread.
I may be wrong but get the impression you collect all sorts of info/advice and then sort of ignore all of it.
It wil be HOT, Humid and much pricier than what you want to pay.
You didn't think much of the idea, but IMO/IME since you've not lived there before, you really REALLY should rent a place for 6 months to a year or more before you decide to buy anything
I may be wrong but get the impression you collect all sorts of info/advice and then sort of ignore all of it.
It wil be HOT, Humid and much pricier than what you want to pay.
You didn't think much of the idea, but IMO/IME since you've not lived there before, you really REALLY should rent a place for 6 months to a year or more before you decide to buy anything
Sep 6th, 2016, 12:14 PM
#12
I think it's OK to ask the question here on Fodor's.
I agreeing with others that your budget is drastically too low and not realistic for a condo in Florida anything like what you describe - perhaps you can find something at such a low price IF it isn't on the beach, doesn't have a pool, does have high monthly dues, an so on.
I agreeing with others that your budget is drastically too low and not realistic for a condo in Florida anything like what you describe - perhaps you can find something at such a low price IF it isn't on the beach, doesn't have a pool, does have high monthly dues, an so on.
Sep 6th, 2016, 12:22 PM
#13
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This gets curiouser and curiouser. The lady claims to have visited in FL for a number of years and now wants to retire. I wonder what she thinks these houses sell for--or if she has thought to consult a real estate site.
Sep 6th, 2016, 12:26 PM
#14
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"In a community with waterfront access" might -- might-- be doable for $200K. Your own beachfront property (walk out the door and onto the sand) isn't.
Everywhere in Florida is subject to floods because the state is sinking and the ocean is rising and it gets hurricanes, though none for the last ten years. If you fly over Florida, you see long straight watercourses that used to be called "drainage ditches" and now seem to be called canals. You need drainage ditches to make the land dry enough to build on. If you give the ditch an outlet to salt water somewhere and build houses on it, it becomes a canal and an amenity.
There are adult communities of manufactured houses, ie., doublewides, here and there that might meet your needs in a price range you can afford if not $200K. I remember some on the road between Punta Gorda and Burnt Store Marina. A friend had a studio condo in an older but fairly charming building in the historic part of Venice across the street from the beach. There can be things out there, but as you gather from the other replies, they would be rare.
I will say again that it is not a good idea to move to Florida, Arizona, or anywhere else without renting there for a year, both seasons. Rent your house where you live and use the money to rent in your intended location. Spend your time crawling through the Sunday paper. Drive around a lot. Think of this as your job for a year. Find the section of the state, the towns, the neighborhoods, and the properties where you will feel happy.
Look at economics. Can you afford to buy? Should you buy? There are lots of reasons not to; your condo fee can be raised just as your rent can. Will you have enough savings to live on or will you work? So much to think about, and if you are wrong, you can lose your shirt.
Everywhere in Florida is subject to floods because the state is sinking and the ocean is rising and it gets hurricanes, though none for the last ten years. If you fly over Florida, you see long straight watercourses that used to be called "drainage ditches" and now seem to be called canals. You need drainage ditches to make the land dry enough to build on. If you give the ditch an outlet to salt water somewhere and build houses on it, it becomes a canal and an amenity.
There are adult communities of manufactured houses, ie., doublewides, here and there that might meet your needs in a price range you can afford if not $200K. I remember some on the road between Punta Gorda and Burnt Store Marina. A friend had a studio condo in an older but fairly charming building in the historic part of Venice across the street from the beach. There can be things out there, but as you gather from the other replies, they would be rare.
I will say again that it is not a good idea to move to Florida, Arizona, or anywhere else without renting there for a year, both seasons. Rent your house where you live and use the money to rent in your intended location. Spend your time crawling through the Sunday paper. Drive around a lot. Think of this as your job for a year. Find the section of the state, the towns, the neighborhoods, and the properties where you will feel happy.
Look at economics. Can you afford to buy? Should you buy? There are lots of reasons not to; your condo fee can be raised just as your rent can. Will you have enough savings to live on or will you work? So much to think about, and if you are wrong, you can lose your shirt.
Sep 6th, 2016, 12:37 PM
#15
To answer the question above as to what I think is a "reasonable" price for an oceanfront CONDO. Depends on where in Florida you are but not too far from where I live you can get an oceanfront condo for less than $1,000,000; you can also easily pay 3.5 million or more depending on the building.
For many, those prices are hardly "reasonable" so it is a somewhat difficult question to answer.
Miami Beach places tend to be pricier. Hillsboro Beach just to the north has the single most expensive spec home in the US on the market right now at I think 150 Million.
My place is cheap compared to that i can assure you.
Yes, it will be hot and humid and that's what people expect. It will also be a hell of lat nicer when those other people are freezing their butts off, too.
For many, those prices are hardly "reasonable" so it is a somewhat difficult question to answer.
Miami Beach places tend to be pricier. Hillsboro Beach just to the north has the single most expensive spec home in the US on the market right now at I think 150 Million.
My place is cheap compared to that i can assure you.
Yes, it will be hot and humid and that's what people expect. It will also be a hell of lat nicer when those other people are freezing their butts off, too.
Sep 6th, 2016, 12:46 PM
#16
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Start at zillow.com . I think a lot of the above is mean spirited, and comes from people who don't know Florida, but some is very good advice indeed.
"beachfront" and "low flood dangers" are mutually exclusive. But perhaps a high-floor condo unit would work for you? There are a LOT of condos on or near beaches in Florida. You might be able to find a unit in your price range if you're OK with something small, or something with dated decor, or a foreclosure sale, and not in a fancy community...you get the idea.
But my main issue is still which part of the state you'd prefer. I know you're not sure, but I think you need to decide if you want the southern half of the state, which is warmer, or if the northern half would be OK with you, because *in general* the northern half will be less pricy.
Then try zillow, filter for all your preferences, and scroll through the list.
"beachfront" and "low flood dangers" are mutually exclusive. But perhaps a high-floor condo unit would work for you? There are a LOT of condos on or near beaches in Florida. You might be able to find a unit in your price range if you're OK with something small, or something with dated decor, or a foreclosure sale, and not in a fancy community...you get the idea.
But my main issue is still which part of the state you'd prefer. I know you're not sure, but I think you need to decide if you want the southern half of the state, which is warmer, or if the northern half would be OK with you, because *in general* the northern half will be less pricy.
Then try zillow, filter for all your preferences, and scroll through the list.
Sep 6th, 2016, 01:42 PM
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Sounds like you need to visit a few cities and see what you prefer. Mom and I did that when we were looking for a place for her and Dad to retire to. She liked central Florida so we took a road trip. The economy in Florida is still recovering but I really don't think $200K for a beachfront home is realistic. A condo, sure. A non-beachfront home, yep. Posters who suggest renting first are very wise.
Sep 6th, 2016, 02:53 PM
#19
Sep 6th, 2016, 03:17 PM
#20
Here's another thing which some of the people "above" have failed to mention: there are parts of Florida which have received a great deal of stimulus from South American money which was moved here to safeguard it.
This is one of the factors which has driven the somewhat booking Miami real estate development and there's more than a little of it here in Fort Lauderdale as well.
I'm not sure just how much "recovery" some of this economy needs since I am retired but to think that you are going to get anything directly oceanfront, "dated" or not, for your proposed price remains very unrealistic.
And IMO, the only "mean spirited" comments on this thread are the ones which are leading you to believe otherwise.
This is one of the factors which has driven the somewhat booking Miami real estate development and there's more than a little of it here in Fort Lauderdale as well.
I'm not sure just how much "recovery" some of this economy needs since I am retired but to think that you are going to get anything directly oceanfront, "dated" or not, for your proposed price remains very unrealistic.
And IMO, the only "mean spirited" comments on this thread are the ones which are leading you to believe otherwise.
