Retirement in Florida

Deb213 · ‎05-27-2011

Hello all - I am looking for some help here. I am hoping to retire sometime next year, (can't wait!), and am interested in moving to Florida for a variety of reasons. There are so many retirement communities in Florida and I am trying to parse it all out. We are not opposed to a 55 and over community, but also could live in a regular all ages community, as long as there are amenities and some community activities. We are looking for a single family home, not a condo just yet.

For those of you who have retired to Florida, would you kindly provide some info as to why you like it or what you don't like? Were there mistakes you made that you wish you could take back? Maybe the names of your communities or city/town if you have recommendations?

We are currently living in the Northeast and will probably visit Florida to begin our retirement home search in the Spring of 2018.

Any help you can provide is greatly appreciated! Such a big move and decison...

Thanks!

deedledeedeedle · ‎05-27-2014

Congratulations for being able to see the light at the end of your tunnel. You can find many resources on your retirement decisions, @Deb213. Your financial planner may be able to help.

The idea that stands out to me is to put your current house in mothballs and go live in your intended place of residence for a year if for nothing else than to experience the seasons in real time, not a two week vacation. Hopefully your home is paid for and you are able to pay a one year apartment lease in Fl. Whatever you do, best wishes to you, and by all means, enjoy!

dee

Laura14 · ‎06-09-2014

No personal experience but my mother has bought two homes in The Villages near Ocala. I've only been once but if you want plenty to do and don't mind driving a golf cart everywhere, it's huge and never boring if you want entertainment and golf all around you. Her only mistake was not buying a big enough house for all the guests you get. Hence, the second home.

Good Luck with your search and congrats on retirement!

conlt · ‎03-16-2010

I am not retired yet but moved to Florida from Massachusetts in 1981. I live in North East Florida. I like that we still get a change in season, the winter being like fall in New England. October through May is really pretty, I like not having to deal with the snow and the ice, no state income tax, I love that I can get to the beach in 10 minutes, and that there is always plenty to do here. I don't love the heat in the summer months, although when the afternoon clouds roll in, as they usually do for the summer storms, the weather is tolerable. Last year, we experienced hurricane Matthew, which was as close as a hurricane has ever got to our town since I lived here. I have had to evacuate 4 times in all of these years, and I don't like that. I also love the people here, I have met many nice people from Florida and multiple other states. We also have the grocery store Publix which is very nice to shop in. I like NE Florida because of the change in seasons, any more south and the temperatures become warmer. I do not like the Orlando/Tampa area because it is very crowded. My town used to be small with little traffic but in the last few years it has started to get crowded to. I love visiting New England sometimes but because of the beautiful weather in Florida most of the time, I prefer to live here.

lrbrb · ‎07-05-2010

I live in a 55+ manufactured home community that boasts 2 championship golf courses, 2 clubhouses (one with a restaurant), tennis courts, bocci ball, a gym, and 2 pools. It's called Cypress Lakes and is located just north of Lakeland which is between Tampa and Orlando. We have an activities director and there's always something going on. The only drawback is that lot rents are fairly expensive. There are a couple of sections that are land owned but we do pay a monthly service fee. I agree with another poster who said that The Villages would be a good place to visit. You should live in Florida for at least one summer before deciding to sell your northern home. Summers in Florida are very hot! I lived there full time for 4 years before I finally talked my husband into coming north each summer. I just can't deal with the heat. I hope I've given you some information that will be helpful to you.

tansy · ‎01-02-2011

@Deb213 wrote:
Hello all - I am looking for some help here. I am hoping to retire sometime next year, (can't wait!), and am interested in moving to Florida for a variety of reasons. There are so many retirement communities in Florida and I am trying to parse it all out. We are not opposed to a 55 and over community, but also could live in a regular all ages community, as long as there are amenities and some community activities. We are looking for a single family home, not a condo just yet.

For those of you who have retired to Florida, would you kindly provide some info as to why you like it or what you don't like? Were there mistakes you made that you wish you could take back? Maybe the names of your communities or city/town if you have recommendations?

We are currently living in the Northeast and will probably visit Florida to begin our retirement home search in the Spring of 2018.

Any help you can provide is greatly appreciated! Such a big move and decison...

Thanks!

Have you checked out the City Data forums? Definitely do a search on the Florida forum and maybe in the Retirement forum.

brandiwine · ‎03-11-2010

Congratulations. Retirement is the best!!! D2 just gave you the best advice you will ever get. Live there a full year before you decide. We have friends there and the one huge negative for them is the bugs. Have to have a service to control them. They aren't crazy about the humidity either.

151949 · ‎03-09-2010

I would highly suggest coming down and renting for a few winters in different areas to see what you like. There's every option one can think of somewhere in Florida. We live in Sarasota County , in a small beach community, which means we have the advantage of the gulf of Mexico near but the disadvantage of tourists and snowbirds and the crowds & traffic they bring with them.

Our biggest mistake was buying a villa (duplex) in a very small community. There are way too many people crowded into a very small area and we have found we don't like this much. We plan to sell this fall and build a single family home in a much less crowded plan.We do love our small town though,and want to stay in this town.

Since you seem to be interested in community activities I would suggest you look into the Villiages as they offer a lot of that sort of thing.

Congratulations on your upcoming retirement. Good luck - have fun in your search.

151949 · ‎03-09-2010

@brandiwine wrote:
Congratulations. Retirement is the best!!! D2 just gave you the best advice you will ever get. Live there a full year before you decide. We have friends there and the one huge negative for them is the bugs. Have to have a service to control them. They aren't crazy about the humidity either.

Not to be arguementative but every state has bugs. We are on vaca in Pa. and I was just sitting out enjoying the pretty day but after it rained here for 3 days - there are mosquitos everywhere - I had to come inside. I put Off on but they were biting me anyway.

Kachina624 · ‎03-10-2010

@151949 wrote:
.
Not to be arguementative but every state has bugs. We are on vaca in Pa. and I was just sitting out enjoying the pretty day but after it rained here for 3 days - there are mosquitos everywhere - I had to come inside. I put Off on but they were biting me anyway.

@151949 @Deb213 True, every state has bugs but not like the Gulf Coast States and especially not like Florida. Also alligators and mutant boa constrictors, in addition to the native poisonous snakes.

New Mexico☀️Land Of Enchantment