Hi. Moved from Maui to Western Washington. Ooops. Now I want to snowbird to florida

[logisnews]

I'm in my early 50's and my wife and I lived on maui for 10 years, we had a great place we'd been renting for all that time up on Haleakala... but I bailed on it because I wanted to "own" a house and Maui was just insane as far as realestate goes. So we bought a beautiful place on the Olympic Pennisula -- ski chalet type home on a hillside overlooking a valley... was was supposed to only get 29 inches of rain a year because it's every so slightly in the rain shadow of the olympics. But I found, now, too late, that 29 inches of "rain" in this part of the world is very very different from 29 inches of rain on Maui. It "never" snows here... but last two winters have seen record snowfall. Anyway, long story short, I have to get the heck out of here in winter so I joined this forum hoping to find leads on how to get set up on a "snowbird" type gig where I spent 7 months in Washington and 5 months in Sarasota (my wifes family lives there). I did some searches on the web for "Snowbird" "florida" and came up with a ton of cheezy looking websites... so I thought maybe I'd find something in here. I'm not retiring for quite a while but I've owned my own consulting business for 18 years and we can live wherever we want, whenever we want for as long as we want so we're trying to take advantage of htat. anyway, nice to meet you all, hope to come up with some resources in here. If anyone needs any advice on Maui, I'm your guy.

[Ed_The_Gypsy]

Always rent for a year first.

[socca]

There are certainly a huge number of snowbirds who flock to SRQ from December to April, so you'll have plenty of company. There are plenty of cheap properties on the market now if you're looking to buy. Renting for a season isn't a bad idea - the $6000 you'll flush down the toilet on 5 months rent is roughly the same as the $5000 you'll flush down the toilet on snowbird real estate taxes if you buy a decent place.

[Moemg]

Welcome , I live on the border of Sarasota & Bradenton . Tons of condos on the market at rock bottom prices ,if that is what you are thinking of buying now is the time .

[haha]

Quote:

Originally Posted by logisnews So we bought a beautiful place on the Olympic Pennisula -- ski chalet type home on a hillside overlooking a valley... was was supposed to only get 29 inches of rain a year because it's every so slightly in the rain shadow of the olympics. But I found, now, too late, that 29 inches of "rain" in this part of the world is very very different from 29 inches of rain on Maui. It "never" snows here... but last two winters have seen record snowfall.

Ha! You aren't the first person who thought that Washington's "banana belt" really could grow bananas.

I had a friend who lived near Carmel. She read about the "rain shadow" and figured she could move and have way more land. That part was true. But she could hardly get out of bed from November through March because it was so dark and gloomy!

If you have the money to do what you propose that should handle it. Or move to Huntington Beach, avoid the gloom of Washington and the humidity of Florida, and only have to deal with one house.

Ha

[militaryman]

You left Maui! -- Bet you miss that eh?

[Rich_by_the_Bay]

So, what are you looking for in Florida? It's a vast state with homes ranging from scary to gorgeous, rural to urban, waterfront to landlocked.

One thing to bear in mind is that the most conspicuous real estate here is in South Florida (Miami, Ft Lauderdale, West Palm, etc.) but by no means is that the only or even the best option for many.

[Ed_The_Gypsy]

Quote:

You aren't the first person who thought that Washington's "banana belt" really could grow bananas. I had a friend who lived near Carmel. She read about the "rain shadow" and figured she could move and have way more land. That part was true. But she could hardly get out of bed from November through March because it was so dark and gloomy!

Growing up in western WA could be depressing at times. Like all waking hours.

[haha]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed_The_Gypsy Growing up in western WA could be depressing at times. Like all waking hours.

Ha! Yesterday a delivery guy stopped to chat. I said, "You look a bit stressed." He said,"It's Washington!". "The weather?" "No, the people"

He went on to say that he had just come back from Asia where he and another single guy keep a condo. His dream is retire as soon as he can and spend the rest of his life with Asian women. Lot's of them.

This guy is no recent transplant, he is over 40 and was born down near where Uncle Mick hails from. No rain shadow down there, not many Californicators moving in either.

Ha

[Zoocat]

I always use vrbo.com for vacation rentals in Maui. I'm sure it could work for Sarasota as well for a long term rental. Good luck!

[unclemick]

Quote:

Originally Posted by haha Ha! You aren't the first person who thought that Washington's "banana belt" really could grow bananas. I had a friend who lived near Carmel. She read about the "rain shadow" and figured she could move and have way more land. That part was true. But she could hardly get out of bed from November through March because it was so dark and gloomy! If you have the money to do what you propose that should handle it. Or move to Huntington Beach, avoid the gloom of Washington and the humidity of Florida, and only have to deal with one house. Ha

Hmmm - having been born and raised in the shadow of Mount Saint Helens - even Kansas is just ducky. Being from the PacNW is one of my better froms - now my little Sister married to a mining engineer having lived from CA to Vermont and points in between thinks she is back 'Home' near Kent south of Seattle. I think she was dropped on her head as a child.

I toyed(still do once in a while) with the Winter Texan idea - but the Gulf is a tad muddy near in like Mississippi Gulf - but dryer.

People are strange - my youngest nephew rotating from Pensacola to San Diego misses wet Whidbey - especially winter sking.

heh heh heh -

Bye the Bye - my 45th high school re-union - Arizona was the big place for my class(Those that could afford it) to winter. A surprising number retired back near Portland and SW Washington.

[oma]

Logisnews,
curious what the Maui rental cost you -