Retirement sunshine ...

gmill880

You just never know where a really good idea is going to come from so I thought I would throw this out to the forum.

My wife and I will prob retire in 8-10 years . We have been talking about where we would like to do this at and what we each would like. Even though its a ways off time goes fast and if we do settle on an area we would like to get a jumpstart on looking at land or homes ( especially in this down R/E market ). Our criteria are as follows : Warm Weather is one of the most important things to us. We would like an avg temp highs in the 90's but the low's no lower than 50's . Close to the Ocean or an inlet . Plenty of things to do, good restaurants etc but not so large daily life is a hassel and crime is a factor. More of a laid back atmosphere. Decent taxes ( if there is such a thing ). Will have to be on East Coast / Gulf coast region .

We have looked at some areas around SC , GA , FLA and around the Mobile AL , Daphne AL areas .

Any observations , suggestions , or comments are all welcome . Thanks Guys .

wwhwang

I have two suggestions. Miami, FL and Biloxi, MS. Miami has the Little Havana neighborhood, it's always warm, and it's close to lots of restaurants and major attractions. Biloxi, MS is always warm and humid with a relatively low crime rate. There's many restaurants, casinos, and it's only a few hours away from New Orleans if you like Cajun food or Marde Gras. Only downside is that the B&Ms there are a bit lackluster and pricey..

xmacro

Well, gmill, you just described the coasts of Florida south of Tallahassee. A lot of Florida is rural, and there are major cities in other areas, so you can generally take your pick

gmill880

wwhwang:

I have two suggestions. Miami, FL and Biloxi, MS. Miami has the Little Havana neighborhood, it's always warm, and it's close to lots of restaurants and major attractions. Biloxi, MS is always warm and humid with a relatively low crime rate. There's many restaurants, casinos, and it's only a few hours away from New Orleans if you like Cajun food or Marde Gras. Only downside is that the B&Ms there are a bit lackluster and pricey..

Biloxi sounds like something to check out but Miami is too big, too much crime and too much hustle . Thanks whang .

gmill880

xmacro:

Well, gmill, you just described the coasts of Florida south of Tallahassee. A lot of Florida is rural, and there are major cities in other areas, so you can generally take your pick

Any area in particular you recommend ?

jhopephulle

cape coral florida. i have some family there that i visit. great area right on the gulf. plenty to do and great people. going to move there myself when i get the chance. it's south of fort meyers on gulf side.

xmacro

gmill880:

xmacro:

Well, gmill, you just described the coasts of Florida south of Tallahassee. A lot of Florida is rural, and there are major cities in other areas, so you can generally take your pick

Any area in particular you recommend ?

See, most of Florida is rural outside the cities - drive 30 min from any city and you're in the sticks, so for me it's hard to say - add to that the fact that I only moved here a few years ago, so I don't know much about the best areas outside my own experience

I live in Tampa, and in winter the nights can get down to the 50's (this is a State where 60F puts people in wool coats), and the summer can get into the 90s or 100's on a bad day.

PuroFreak

Might I suggest Texas? lol No state income tax, low tax rates overall, lower gas prices than many other states and if you move to south TX down around Corpus or Padre Island you have the beaches and warm weather. Plus a state that survives most recessions very well.

fla-gypsy

You will have to go pretty far south in Florida to get lows in the 50's in the winter. North Florida will routinely drop down into the 30's for a low during periods of cold weather during winter. There is plenty of rural areas in Florida still. Although N Florida gets chilly in the winter it still is the best of all worlds for me as it tends to be a little more rural than south Florida

gmill880

Thanks guys that gives me some places to look at . Thanks .

Mperconte

gmill880:

Thanks guys that gives me some places to look at . Thanks .

I live in Florida, Look into Jupiter, Stuart, Ft Lauderdale by A1A..

xmacro

ooh, almost forgot - Florida has no income tax, Stand Your Ground Laws, Shall-issue Concealed carry, and Castle Doctrine

firetruckguy

PuroFreak:

Might I suggest Texas? lol No state income tax, low tax rates overall, lower gas prices than many other states and if you move to south TX down around Corpus or Padre Island you have the beaches and warm weather. Plus a state that survives most recessions very well.

+1

The Sniper

Make sure to check out Charleston SC Geno. Not sure about all of your criteria, but the weather there should fit the bill, and even though its a city it has a small community atmosphere. Seems like Fla Gypsy vacationed there not too long ago, and was it cabi, or waxing moon, or one of those woodworking BOTL who moved there not too long ago - they can give you more current info than I can.

lilwing88

FL baby! Real estate is dirt cheap right now. No state income tax. They don't tax your pension (yet....). And cigars are always cheaper down there. Try to get a spot near Naples or Ft Meyers. Lots of bang for your buck in that area.

gmill880

The Sniper:

Make sure to check out Charleston SC Geno. Not sure about all of your criteria, but the weather there should fit the bill, and even though its a city it has a small community atmosphere. Seems like Fla Gypsy vacationed there not too long ago, and was it cabi, or waxing moon, or one of those woodworking BOTL who moved there not too long ago - they can give you more current info than I can.

Wife loves Charleston and def will be a place we check out .

gmill880

xmacro:

ooh, almost forgot - Florida has no income tax, Stand Your Ground Laws, Shall-issue Concealed carry, and Castle Doctrine

Hmmmm ... sounds good to me !

gmill880

lilwing88:

FL baby! Real estate is dirt cheap right now. No state income tax. They don't tax your pension (yet....). And cigars are always cheaper down there. Try to get a spot near Naples or Ft Meyers. Lots of bang for your buck in that area.

Will check it out .

Redtailhawkoz

gmill880:

You just never know where a really good idea is going to come from so I thought I would throw this out to the forum.

My wife and I will prob retire in 8-10 years . We have been talking about where we would like to do this at and what we each would like. Even though its a ways off time goes fast and if we do settle on an area we would like to get a jumpstart on looking at land or homes ( especially in this down R/E market ). Our criteria are as follows : Warm Weather is one of the most important things to us. We would like an avg temp highs in the 90's but the low's no lower than 50's . Close to the Ocean or an inlet . Plenty of things to do, good restaurants etc but not so large daily life is a hassel and crime is a factor. More of a laid back atmosphere. Decent taxes ( if there is such a thing ). Will have to be on East Coast / Gulf coast region .

We have looked at some areas around SC , GA , FLA and around the Mobile AL , Daphne AL areas .

Any observations , suggestions , or comments are all welcome . Thanks Guys .

While reading this I had to Laugh , because I am watching the news and the weather in the south east has been brutal, ice and snow in atlanta, frost and deep freezes in florida, I have friends all over floriday and they are all like WTF is going on, freinds in Ft Lauderdale wearing winter coats some days NUTS .. Good luck and Congrats!

Theedge

Not sure if you have any interest, but it would be fun to look into something like Belize or Panama.

gmill880

Theedge:

Not sure if you have any interest, but it would be fun to look into something like Belize or Panama.

Yeah I have a lotta interest. I have a co-worker from Costa Rica and have done some research there. I'm always checking the weather for Nicaragua as well . There appear to be some really nice places in Nicaragua to live .

gmill880

Its 88 degrees in Managua Nicaragua right now ... damn ...

JCizzle

PuroFreak:

Might I suggest Texas? lol No state income tax, low tax rates overall, lower gas prices than many other states and if you move to south TX down around Corpus or Padre Island you have the beaches and warm weather. Plus a state that survives most recessions very well.

+1

JCizzle

What about Thailand? Cheaper than dirt and you can live like a king there.

gmill880

JCizzle:

What about Thailand? Cheaper than dirt and you can live like a king there.

Just did some looking on the web and it seems Thailand has a lot of problems right now. Doesn't seem like a very safe place for westerners , I may be wrong but looks like a lot of safty precautions are recommended as far as where to go or not go and what to do or not do .

Poker Slob

Mrs. Slob and I have been looking at Puerta Rico, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua. We want some place that is tropical, inexpensive, safe, and american friendly.

gmill880

Poker Slob:

Mrs. Slob and I have been looking at Puerta Rico, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua. We want some place that is tropical, inexpensive, safe, and american friendly.

Sounds like what we are looking for as well

shawtd

Poker Slob:

Mrs. Slob and I have been looking at Puerta Rico, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua. We want some place that is tropical, inexpensive, safe, and american friendly.

Having recently lived in Puerto Rico, I wouldn't recommend it as inexpensive. It's the direct opposite. Everything is expensive. And you will pay double taxes....because PR is a commonwealth of the US, you will pay US taxes and PR has it's own taxes.

JCizzle

gmill880:

JCizzle:

What about Thailand? Cheaper than dirt and you can live like a king there.

Just did some looking on the web and it seems Thailand has a lot of problems right now. Doesn't seem like a very safe place for westerners , I may be wrong but looks like a lot of safty precautions are recommended as far as where to go or not go and what to do or not do .

I'm going to do some first-hand research in a few months, I'll let you know how it is.

gmill880

JCizzle:

gmill880:

JCizzle:

What about Thailand? Cheaper than dirt and you can live like a king there.

Just did some looking on the web and it seems Thailand has a lot of problems right now. Doesn't seem like a very safe place for westerners , I may be wrong but looks like a lot of safty precautions are recommended as far as where to go or not go and what to do or not do .

I'm going to do some first-hand research in a few months, I'll let you know how it is.

sounds good man let me know

nails

I friend of mine from Annapolis,Maryland retired 5 years ago and moved to St.Simons/Jeckle Island.I visited her for two weeks in February 2007.She was still learning the area.Savanah was a short drive and the North border of Fla ws about an hour drive.This area was developed by the rich from the NorthEast around 1900.Apparently this location and it's shape doesn't get the hurricanes.Something to do with the way the land is dished out.You can clearly see this on a map.I'm retired, 64 years old and live near harrisburg,PA.St.Simons is on my sights-maybe next winter.Housing prices were very reasonable when my friend moved I bet they are much lower now.We used to have a lot of fun meeting the shrimp boats when they returned to the docks around 1PM.Sometimes we would get fish for free.Usually two nice fish-2 1/2 to 3 lbs would go for a six pack.The shrimpers are fun people-fresh shrimp with the heads on is a real treat.Good luck.