Buy in the country or in a 2017 Florida version of Levittown?

[SheitlQueen]

Of course if its just rain move east of the Cascades and you can avoid the rain, such as Ontario Or for example. Oregon has about the greatest variablity of climate of any state at least in terms of rain from getting moldy on the coast to very dry in the Interior. For example (although it is to far in the middle of nowhere Jordan Valley is a site that shows it with lots of exposed lava flows.

True, but then you are more likely to have to deal with snow. Also, Eastern Oregon doesn't have the things nearby that I need.

 

[DrRoy]

I'm not going to judge the community. I would loath the heat and humidity of Florida, and no hurricanes for me!

 

[SheitlQueen]

I'm not going to judge the community. I would loath the heat and humidity of Florida, and no hurricanes for me!

That's why I would only go in the winter. The heat and humidity of the rest of the year would be unbearable.

 

[Ronstar]

I went there in summer. So hot and humid that my appendix burst.

So if I was OP, I would definitely want to live up north and snowbird to Florida if the urge for better winter weather strikes.

 

[Music Lover]

I'm sure there are valid reasons why people live up north and deal with snow to shovel, ice that you can slip on and break a leg, and freezing temperatures that can actually kill you if you don't have heat.

Millions do it with no problem and of course, technology has made winter living a lot easier...great clothing, heated seats and steering wheels in vehicles, you can get anything delivered if you don't want to go out. And just like with lawn care, you can pay someone to shovel if you don't want to do it.

 

[GravitySucks]

I'm sure there are valid reasons why people live up north and deal with snow to shovel, ice that you can slip on and break a leg, and freezing temperatures that can actually kill you if you don't have heat.

But to me it seems completely insane, especially for those of us who are comfortably retired and can afford to choose where to live. Friends and relatives are nice and that is why we have e-mail and airplanes IMO. People who live in the South have friends too, and relatives love to have someone in Florida to visit.

So, my "vote" among the two choices you give above, would be to sell the Pennsylvania house and move to Florida ASAP. Whether you live in a gated community or not once you are a Florida resident is another choice, that you can figure out once you are there.

Vivre et Laisser Vivre
I'd die of heat stroke where you are.
If the heat didn't get me the fantastic food would!
Snowiest large city in the US, but only takes 15 minutes to blow out the driveway. The only animal that might kill me is a very near extinct little rattlesnake.
Of course leaving for the month of January makes it go easier.

Ray,
I'd like the farm house and rent down south for a month or so in the winter. Or crash at the relatives shiney new house and save the expense.

 

[Freedom56]

Florida is a great place to live. It's a lifestyle change. You have to be careful where you buy (high crime areas, sink holes). The party is over for the super bargain real estate. We bought in 2011 and don't regret it one bit. On the east coast of Florida you really want to be east of the I-95 in the coastal communities close to the beaches. I would avoid those gated communities that are inland. I have a friend who bought a home in a gated community in Wellington. It's a nice home but boring inside the community.

 

[W2R]

Millions do it with no problem and of course, technology has made winter living a lot easier...great clothing, heated seats and steering wheels in vehicles, you can get anything delivered if you don't want to go out. And just like with lawn care, you can pay someone to shovel if you don't want to do it.

True. My car has heated seats, which have never been turned on. I had to pay for them because they were part of the package with other nifty stuff that I wanted. If I lived up there, I'd probably just stay home and have things delivered. My Amazon habits nearly cover delivery of everything already.

Vivre et Laisser Vivre
I'd die of heat stroke where you are.
If the heat didn't get me the fantastic food would!

Diabetes is a huge problem here. I should know, mine is getting worse.

Snowiest large city in the US, but only takes 15 minutes to blow out the driveway. The only animal that might kill me is a very near extinct little rattlesnake.
Of course leaving for the month of January makes it go easier.

I don't mind staying here through the heat of summer. Usually summer just ends in the nick of time, when everyone is getting worn out from the heat and cranky. Or at least, I do anyway. But if summer was even one or two months longer, I'd be outta here by the end of August and on a cool mountaintop somewhere until it was over.

It's 66F outside right now, and we are enjoying these fall temperatures so much.

 

[ShokWaveRider]

We live in a gated community on the coast (1.5miles from it anyway). Honestly I prefer them. Problem with NE FLA is anything West of the intracoastal is pretty boring and the neighborhoods are iffy. Call me a snob (if you like) but I have done 10 years of research and Pretty much any neighborhood that has homes in it for <$400k are a recipe for disaster, at least in our neck of the woods. The Market for >$500/600k is very slow, but you do get what you pay for.

 

[W2R]

We live in a gated community on the coast (1.5miles from it anyway). Honestly I prefer them. Problem with NE FLA is anything West of the intracoastal is pretty boring and the neighborhoods are iffy. Call me a snob (if you like) but I have done 10 years of research and Pretty much any neighborhood that has homes in it for <$400k are a recipe for disaster, at least in our neck of the woods. The Market for >$500/600k is very slow, but you do get what you pay for.

What kind of disaster? Honest question, I just don't know if you mean crime, or people not keeping up their homes, or what.

I can't imagine not keeping up a $350K house, or turning it into a crack house or something.

 

[ShokWaveRider]

What kind of disaster? Honest question, I just don't know if you mean crime, or people not keeping up their homes, or what.

Just the Neighborhoods IMHO are very poorly kept, less pride of ownership. More delinquent HOA payments etc. At least around here. when we were looking I check out all that kind of stuff. not sure about crime as I did not get into that. Typically one or 2 drives around the area in the early AM then in the early evening tell a lot. Again, this is M opinion, I may be wrong.... This does not apply to condos or apartment complexes.

Also Gated areas seem to have some sensible rules I agree with. For example (no particular order):

1) Thou shall not park on the road at night.
2) Thou shall not have 5 cars in your driveway
3) No Sofas in the Driveway or dismantled trucks
4) Thou shall not let your grass grow out of control or your weeds for that matter
5) Thou shall not paint your house Rooster Dink Pink or Bruise Purple
6) Thou shall not have dead trees or shrubs in your yard

 

[W2R]

Just the Neighborhoods IMHO are very poorly kept, less pride of ownership. More delinquent HOA payments etc. At least around here. when we were looking I check out all that kind of stuff. not sure about crime as I did not get into that. Typically one or 2 drives around the area in the early AM then in the early evening tell a lot. Again, this is M opinion, I may be wrong....

Oh OK, thanks. I never thought about the problem of delinquent HOA payments, which I suppose could become an awful burden on the rest of the people living there. And you're right, I would not want to live in a neighborhood that is not well dept with pride of ownership.

 

[ShokWaveRider]

Oh OK, thanks. I never thought about the problem of delinquent HOA payments, which I suppose could become an awful burden on the rest of the people living there. And you're right, I would not want to live in a neighborhood that is not well dept with pride of ownership.

You need to check rentals vs ownership too. It is not practical in most cases to rent a $500/$600k home for $2k pm, which is about what the rental market can stand here.

 

[ShokWaveRider]

Hopefully I am not [-]talking[/-] typing out of my rear. We have been looking to downsize from 3500sqft 1.25 story (suite above the garage) to about 2500sqft single story and simply cannot find a neighborhood locally we like.

We have decided to take some trips to other areas such as Sarasota, Venice and Naples to check them out. But there seems to be too many folk on the Gulf side, (especially in the winter season) and we like the fact that all buildings must be 4 stories or under where we are. That makes the beach way more pleasant than seeing high rises as far as the eye can see, which is the Florida norm.

 

[irishgal]

I left my home state of California (lived in Orange County until 3 years ago), had to get where I could have some space. I’m on 5 acres of pasture- so it’s not really “out in the country” yet it’s far enough out to have breathing room.

I don’t think I could do a suburb again. And yes I left the “perfect” weather for 4 seasons and enjoy them very much.

I’m 40 minutes from a good hospital but other than the dentist and mammograms I’ve not seen a doctor in 15 years.

So— my vote is the country! [emoji6]

 

[meierlde]

True, but then you are more likely to have to deal with snow. Also, Eastern Oregon doesn't have the things nearby that I need.

Apparently Ontario Or only gets 12 inches of snow a year and 10 inches of total precip. (Or look at Boise for a bigger city with similar climate) Ontario average jan low is 21f btw.