Debating between Nevada or Florida to retire

[FlaGator]

I did not know that.

Someone told me that the Sanford airport used to be a military base as well. Anyone know if that's true?

Welcome To Orlando Sanford International Airport - Central Florida's Simpler, Faster, Better Solution for Air Travel

Looks like it. Was also the case for Tamiami. Had a friend who trained there in WW II

 

[CoolChange]

My Thoughts on Weather vs. Friends & Family

When people constantly discuss weather in the absence of the context of where their friends and family are..... i wonder.
Stick with your tribe!

I have to deal with or get to enjoy the weather every day.

I can count on my fingers, with a few left over, the number of friends and family members that I see in person more than once or twice a year.

 

[ShokWaveRider]

Weather to me is way more important than being close to family. In this day and age one is never far from where one "has" to be if the "need" arises. But there and then, we have no children or grandchildren, by choice. Only siblings and related family. We have lived more than 1500 miles from our family as long as I can remember (since I was 25 and moved abroad for work). Going to see them for the very occasional visit. They actually visit us now more, as they all live in the Frozen North.

 

[FI by 2024]

Other than San Diego, Florida has the best weather in the continental US. Come.February,.you'd be glad you're.there.

Having lived in seven states, including Nevada....traveled to more than 35...and visiting Florida regularly....I have no idea what you are talking about!

 

[Blue Collar Guy]

I have to deal with or get to enjoy the weather every day.

I can count on my fingers, with a few left over, the number of friends and family members that I see in person more than once or twice a year.

The thought of certain family members fill me with dread, I' ll take my chances on the weather.

 

[ZenMaster]

Nevada vs. Florida is the same decision for my wife and I. Initially considered Lake Tahoe/Zephyr Cove but the downside is the high housing cost and the possibility that we'll get bored if we want to work part-time. Currently considering St. Petersburg, FL and will be visiting some friends there in a few months.

 

[kcowan]

I am thinking there might be some steaming buys on Houston RE these days! Any opportunists among us?

 

[REWahoo]

...steaming buys on Houston RE these days!

Having lived there I can attest all Houston real estate is "steaming" at least seven months out of the year!

 

[Fermion]

I was actually wondering about going down to the Texas gulf coast this winter to escape the eastern Washington snow, but now....

 

[beeboy]

Nevada vs. Florida is the same decision for my wife and I. Initially considered Lake Tahoe/Zephyr Cove but the downside is the high housing cost and the possibility that we'll get bored if we want to work part-time. Currently considering St. Petersburg, FL and will be visiting some friends there in a few months.

St. Pete has really had a nice transformation over the last few years. Vibrant downtown, close to some of the best beaches in the U.S. (St. Pete Beach is awesome). Really fun, up-and-coming town. I have a place on the East Coast (Ft. Lauderdale), but I really think you will like it St. Pete.

 

[aja8888]

I am thinking there might be some steaming buys on Houston RE these days! Any opportunists among us?

It reminds me of Florida without the blue hairs. In six months, this storm will be all forgotten.

 

[meierlde]

I was actually wondering about going down to the Texas gulf coast this winter to escape the eastern Washington snow, but now....

Actually the way to do that is either to buy an RV or rent a place, then spend the winter in the coastal bend and go north in April, and come back in late Oct. or early Nov.

 

[Doc0]

Sanford airport was a Naval Air Station back in the 60's. 20 miles south was NTC in Orlando one of the Navy's 3 training centers plus nuke school, now closed. I was at NHO the Naval Hospital in Orlando which served active duty and retired in the area. When I came to NHO I stayed at the Navy Lodge/BOQ which were Old Air Force ww2 Quonset huts. Orlando has a pretty rich Military history, pre Disney

Best

 

[Katsmeow]

Ha ha, love it. You can't make this stuff up. BTW Scorpions and poisonous spiders will get you in Nevada and Arizona. At least you can see a gator coming....

Maybe it is the devil you know. I already get scorpions and spiders here in Texas... So, that I am used to (although I sure don't love them).

 

[utrecht]

Ive lived in South Florida for a little over 2 years now.

Ive never seen an alligator and I live walking distance to the Everglades. I take that back. When I was a tourist I went on an airboat ride in the Everglades and saw some gators). Do people actually think they are walking around loose like stray dogs?

Ive never had a bug fly into my ear or anywhere else on my body. In fact, I lived in the Dallas area for close to 40 years and the bugs are WAY worse there.

For 7 months a year the traffic is normal. When the snowbirds come, the traffic is heavy but if you're retired, who cares? It easy to avoid.

Its humid as hell during the summer, but the extreme heat in Texas was worse IMO. For 7 months a year the weather is absolutely fantastic. We have a convertible and have the top down all the time. Nobody in Texas has a convertible. Its too hot or too cold 10 months out of the year.

Hurricanes? Pfft. We had way more tornado and hail storms to worry about in Texas. In fact, just a few months after we moved away, a tornado destroyed the very neighborhood we lived in. It was a mile wide and wiped out 1/2 the suburban city we lived in. We have relatives who have lived in S. Florida for 20 years and they have evacuated only once and when they got back home they had no damage at all.

So much of this stuff is just exaggerated.

 

[ShokWaveRider]

I did see this guy on a walk a few years ago where we used to live. Yes, I took the photo at about 20ft. The grounds were protected by the city, but honestly, neighbors barking doss were more of a concern. These guys if anything were some cheap pest control.

Like anything else, we share our environment with those who live there too. But I have not seen one for years in a development. We do have a society that relocates them if they get too close and looks after them. "The St. Augustine Alligator Farm". A tourist hot spot.

 

[Teacher Terry]

I have lived in WI, upstate NY, TX, KS and NV. Reno has great weather year round with a mild 4 seasons. I love the low humidity. Granted this summer was hotter then most and our winter was worst then most. My winter coat is a sweater. WE get sun over 300 days/year. The down sides are the smoke from the fires which can make the air quality not so good. However, it does not last. Housing prices have really gone up but property taxes are so cheap. OUr house is worth 300k and we pay 700/year for taxes. There is a ton of things to do here. Lake Tahoe is only 45 min's away and SF is 3 1/2 hours. KM: we have had 4 dogs for most of the last 10 years and it has never been an issue. I suppose if a neighbor does not like you and turns you in it could be a problem.

 

[MRG]

I did see this guy on a walk a few years ago where we used to live. Yes, I took the photo at about 20ft. The grounds were protected by the city, but honestly, neighbors barking doss were more of a concern. These guys if anything were some cheap pest control.

Like anything else, we share our environment with those who live there too. But I have not seen one for years in a development. We do have a society that relocates them if they get too close and looks after them. "The St. Augustine Alligator Farm". A tourist hot spot.

See your gator and raise one bear.

 

[Blue Collar Guy]

OUr house is worth 300k and we pay 700/year for taxes.

Your my hero.

 

[Teacher Terry]

BCG: before you get too excited our general cost of living is higher then in the Midwest. Our sales tax is high, food, car gas, etc also higher. Also we have less services here then in other states. Although, property taxes can be a killer in other places. The weird thing about our property tax is that it is based on the age of the home. So someone with an old million dollar home will pay less then someone with a newer home. That was so retirees don't get priced out of their homes.

 

[Brat]

If you move to FL rent, but buy a place in Reno.

 

[NookWine-n-Tinker]

We considered the Henderson area when we were looking for places to retire. This was about 10 years ago, but we looked at different developments in the area. We finally ended up in the San Diego area, started in Silicon Valley, but after visiting Las Vegas and motorcycling around NV, I am glad we passed. The area is very hot and often quite windy and once you get away from the strip, things get seedy in a hurry. I do have a former co-worker who is building a house in a ritzy development in the north part of Reno. Houses are beautiful but you will still get the heat and also snow in winter. Depends on what floats you boat.

Had parents in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. Think the TPC golf tourney at Sawgrass. Nice affluent area, but lots if old people filling the handicapped parking and going out to dinner early. And as someone mentioned, the humidity!

 

[FI by 2024]

We finally ended up in the San Diego area, started in Silicon Valley, but after visiting Las Vegas and motorcycling around NV, I am glad we passed. The area is very hot and often quite windy and once you get away from the strip, things get seedy in a hurry.

Really? If you left the Strip and went to a seedy area, you either didn't go very far or you went the wrong direction. Many parts of Las Vegas have neighborhoods ranging from "clean and friendly family neighborhood with people who have lived there 10+ years" to "does that house have a golf course in the backyard" I've lived in and visited MANY Vegas neighborhoods that I would feel comfortable in any time of day or night.

 

[courtjustshan]

Citrus County is a nice part of Florida, especially the Crystal River area. Have lived here for a number of years as a northern transplant.
What I like:
1. Low cost of living, real estate taxes are quite low, I pay 1/3 of what I used to pay in PA for a nicer house.
2. Golf: I like to golf and there are a dozen courses within 30 minutes from me, and all are pretty reasonable. I routinely play 18 with a cart for arounf $20.
3. Weather: Sure, the summers are humid, but with a pool and the typical afternoon rain, I actually enjoy the summers. October-March are just beautiful here.
4. Nature coast: This part of Florida is pretty much rural, coastal and life revolves around the rivers and the gulf. The crystal river is the same 72 degrees year round, and swimming with the manatees is fun and never seems to get old.
What I don't like:
1. Another poster referred to a term Redneck Riviera. There is some truth to this, it is not exactly the cultural center of the world, so one has to travel for some of that.
2. Economy: This part of Florida is still depressed, and there is a divide between the locals and the retiree transplants that is quite noticeable to me. People work really hard in this part of the world for very little money. Labor intensive jobs seem to cost half or less what I am used to seeing up north.
3. Lightning: Strangely enough, the only thing that bothers me about the weather is the lightning. Florida gets more strikes per year than anywhere, and I have had a few close calls with quick striking storms while out in the gulf on the boat as well as the golf course. It can get pretty intense.

All in all, Citrus County is ideal for us as we like the low cost of living, the weather, and the boating.

 

[socca]

Today I stumbled across an enormous spider inside my house - about the size of a house cat (ok, it was actually the size of a quarter). Long-story-short, I tried to put the spider outside, but it landed on my calf instead and bit me. Ouch! I was worried that I might go into shock and die from the venom, but so far no ill effects.

Moral of the story: if you move to Florida, you'll be stalked by killer spiders the size of house cats. Nevada is a far safer option. 🕷