About Ready To Move To A Warmer State. Texas vs. Florida?
 

As much as I love the Great Lakes I am getting older and getting tired of the long winters. I've never been to Texas but it seems to be a place that I would like. Florida is also an option but how does it compare to Texas in overall living quality and housing affordability? California is pretty much ruled out! Of course I'd have to be near the water and wondered if anyone here is familiar with the Houston area? How about Corpus Christi? I could wear my cowboy hats in Texas too, lol. Snowbirding will not work financially for me. Any input will be appreciated. Thanks.

This just hit the market, it is 2 doors down from Tiger's house:

https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...5_M66704-48660

okie I'll cut a check today! lol

Oh, I don't need to be on the water but within about 20 miles would work.

with inflation that will seem like a bargain in a year

Let's see, 22K/yr for taxes, 4-6K/Mo in Maint/Utilities, 15-20K for insurance. House on salt water, about 5K/year in throw aways. (grill, outdoor furniture, door handles etc) OK, I'll take it... LOL

I don’t know much about Texas but for FL, you might look at Bradenton, Palmetto, Ruskin along the bay and river. For 30-40 minutes inland, Parrish, Myakka City etc. Personally, I like the “Old Florida “ landscape you see just east of 75. But you might find that you dislike the loooong hot summers as much as the winters in Mich.
One other area I don’t know much about but might be interesting are the small towns along the St John’s river in N.E. FL.

I would look at Florida. But that’s because I like wahoo, yellowfin tuna, mahi fishing. The keys, homestead, winter haven.

I spent a decade in secure logistics. Spent quality time in fort meyers, Tampa, New Orleans, Houston, I have friends from Houston, it’s like anywhere else I suppose. I’d suggest figuring out if you want to be in gulf or ocean side and let that direct you. Gulf would be Houston or panhandle.
decades ago my wife and I honeymooned in ft lauderdale area. Don’t remember the name of town (found it, it’s Weston) but it was nice. Boca and Jupiter are nice. Problem will be ramps in Florida. So crowded from the people I talk to here. When we go to the ramp, 3 boats in line is nuts… most of time it’s all yours. So just throwing it out there. Kailua-Kona HI. I’ll probably buy a condo in waikoloa and store my boat in Kona.

I’ve heard you can catch my kind of stuff in the gulf. But I’ve heard it’s better in open ocean. No clue as I’ve never fished those waters. I prefer quieter areas (country ) near suburbia. I don’t need big cities anymore.

Don't give away the secrets of N.E. FL😎

If you are used to inland boating the St Johns is a great place. But be ready to buy. As soon as something hits the market it is gone quick.

Couldn't take it, moved back to New England.

I'd need a gps to navigate the property.

Actually, if you can swing any kind of deal, go for it. I am pretty much planted in place at LOTO. But, if I had a chance I would likely hit the NW part of Florida or the SW coast of Texas. My brother has a nice mobile home, covered boat slip within 100 yards from the front door, in Port Isabel, TX. It was very reasonable price and pretty low maintenance for a Winter place.

Monthly Payment
$376,112
Loan
30-Year Fixed loan at 3.210%

• Principal & Interest $311,770
• Property tax $30,592
• Home Insurance $33,750

This was for the 90mm house..........few glitches in the math. Once it sells the tax bill will skyrocket (Tiger pays like 900K a yr for his 12 acres). Insurance will also jump based on the new higher value. The other nice insult is the likely 5% deductible on the insurance. So a 50mm house (insured value) will have a 2.5mm deductible before the insurance company even comes out to take a look at your damage. So your blowing 400K a yr in premiums yet you still have a monster deductible if you do make a claim. At some point people just decide F it, no insurance and self insure.

Move to Hawaii. For someone living in Hawaii and telling you to move to Florida you have to ask yourself one question. Why isn't he there?

Did you stay three years? You have to stay three years for your blood to thin out, or maybe you just get used to it :). I moved to FL from CT and have been here 15 years, I tried to move back one year and made it through 1/2 a winter and moved back, its not for everyone either way. Also I'm in Northeast FL, we get cool days and the hot hot months is really only 4, mid may to mid September. Unfortunately the secret is out for our area, houses are on the market a day, sometimes not at all.

1. He asked between Texas and florida
2. I did recommend here- but it’s not for everyone. I see lots come and go. Double digits ea year. Cost of living is quite high. Culture is hard to learn. Healthcare is beyond bad.
3. Work brought me here. Don’t know if I’ll ever leave. If I did, it’d be Florida or Texas. I grew up in IN and travelled for work.

One year, that's all it took. I enjoy the seasons, winter hockey and skiing, fires, the occasional snow. It's the humidity, it's just frickin gross, not for me, when the weather turns cool I feel like I can breathe. I like the landscape of New England too so I fine here. To each their own, if everyone liked the same place there'd be no room!!

I'll be monitoring the weather in Houston and northern Florida. When we drove to Florida quite a few winters ago it was quite cold in the north part. I have some friends who moved to Las Vegas and they hate it for many reasons but summer temps there are around 115 for a couple months with unrelenting sun and only Lake Meade for any water relief. Also we will be taking a trip to either south Florida or south Texas this winter. I will be 70ish when I take on this move and ready to downsize a bit. I'd also sell the Donzi and get a more saltwater friendly outboard boat. Maybe the Jax metro area would be a good choice but I've always been intrigued with Texas.

Tiger's yard is a golf course. lol
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TX folk didnt like last years winter.......nor we in KS

3 years my butt, 1 week was all it took. Moved down here 8 years ago in november. It must have gone down to 50 overnight, thought i lost a toe from frostbite and was afraid to take my socks off.
right now its 72 degrees inside and i got the chills, probably even a touch of pnuemonia.
Still haven't learned tho, only have 1 pair of jeans 4 pairs of socks 2 long t shirts and zero jackets.
The heat humidity are just fine, but those 3 weeks of only 60 degree highs are rough.

Dude, thats funny but true. It really takes like 2-3 years to adjust. People just need to learn and understand, its completely normal to sweat thru your shirt.... Gone back to Pennsylvania on a few occasions and didnt take a jacket because here its 70 degrees and when I landed realized it was November and cold at night then basically said f-this. not coming back unless its August...

FWIW, people saying they like "the seasons" is total BS.

Nope. Love it. Have to go find something you like with each season. Not too hard. I Just don’t care for mud seasons when it happens.


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As far as to OP, there are so many nice places Inland and coastal from fl to Texas. Fresh water and salt water. Many coastal people don’t realize all the inland water fun snd vice versa.

Sorry Keith ^^^ but I miss the seasons a little bit……
I moved to a hotter tropical climate and after 14 years, I’m still happy but the heat can get to you after time. May be a bit hotter here than Florida but imagine 90 degrees every day.

Never sleep without aircon
Never wear long sleeve shirt or long pants
Owning only one pair of shoes and socks, they’re for golf
Sweating through your sun hat after 5 minutes outside
Paying someone to clean your Donzi because you need to stop for a drink every 5 minutes
Having a sunroof in your car and never opening it.
Jumping in the pool and not climbing out refreshed, because it’s 90 degrees in the water
Cannot sit on a vinyl boat seat without a towel
Dark colored cockpit carpet too hot to stand on

These are all small things we get used to but it’s every day, relentless. Sounds great for those in colder climates planning a vacation but living permanently somewhere is not a vacation.

I love living where I am and will never go back (to Australia) permanently but like anywhere, it’s not perfect. Anyone planning such a move should have a 6-12 months trial period first, with a simple escape plan to return if they’re not happy.

Just my20 cents worth, don’t expect you’ll all agree with me. 🙂

RR

I am thankful for the seasons more and more these days. Keeps the freaks and riff raff away

[QUOTE=

Never sleep without aircon
Never wear long sleeve shirt or long pants
Owning only one pair of shoes and socks, they’re for golf
Sweating through your sun hat after 5 minutes outside
Paying someone to clean your Donzi because you need to stop for a drink every 5 minutes
Having a sunroof in your car and never opening it.
Jumping in the pool and not climbing out refreshed, because it’s 90 degrees in the water
Cannot sit on a vinyl boat seat without a towel
Dark colored cockpit carpet too hot to stand on



RR[/QUOTE]


Sounds like FL from May- Oct. Water/Air same temp. When I was a kid my G parents had a place in Brevard NC and a ways down the road was this place called sliding rock. We used to spend hours there and the water was so cold it would turn your lips blue.



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They got a Quaint little Jail in Isable also. Spent 36 hrs there once. Don't Pizz off the Harbor Master there. Fun Times :lolhit:

Really beautiful SB, I've given thought to moving to NH for retirement, wife is interested too. Many of my friends and some family are all going to retire in VT, NH, & Maine.

I'm not wealthy. I can't afford Hawaii. Believe me, that would be paradise to live there and have a big fast boat for island hopping but it ain't gonna happen.
You can keep your winter seasons. I will not miss the snow and ice and sub 20* temps.
Jax area looking very attractive with the St. Johns River and the ocean nearby.
Some research shows average summer highs in the low 90s there and average winter highs in the upper 60s. That sounds like paradise to me!
Now to research housing costs in the area.

I am born/raised in (North) Florida (Jacksonville). There are at least 4/5 Floridas:
1) Northeast-Jax. to Cocoa Beach
2) Southeast-Miami
3) Keys
4) Southwest-Tampa and south
5) Panhandle-Destin to P'cola
Each has its own flavors/cost/+/-...

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Typical morning on a day off. Hop in the boat, cruise downtown for coffee.
Wait, what am I saying, NO don’t come to Beaufort SC, it’s horrible, you’ll hate it!

I don't think Florida would be a bad choice.

Which is most affordable? I will have to be able to pay cash with what I can get from the sale of my current home. Don't want a mortgage payment. I will do some research obviously but real life input is appreciated.

I think the last "affordable" water in Florida is in the armpit (which I did not mention) from Apalachicola to Crystal River. I always dreamed of boating in the salty Gulf and then cruising up a fresh water spring-fed river (washing/flushing the boat) as I headed to my dock. I think this is a fantasy...but it is my boating nirvana.
The Redneck Riviera (Panama City and west) has skyrocketed (as I am sure other areas have).

Don't move to California unless you are a multi-millionaire or an illegal alien.

WE have been on the West coast of Florida in Punta Gorda for 22 years
and really like it here. 2 boats right behind the house. 40 foot Sea Ray in the water and a
15 Whaler that is kept on a lift.

I'd go to Florida in a heartbeat if I could. Although living on the water in Louisiana isn't bad either. I know it's getting cold up north when my flock of geese show up every year
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I was stationed at Pearl for about a year when I was in the service..... The first couple of months was incredible, the next couple months we ok, after the next couple months after that, I have been everywhere and done everything 6 times, I live on a phucking rock in the middle of the ocean, I need a drink !!!

Well, I'm in Pensacola (Perdido Key) and its not much different from Louisiana...:-)