Does anyone have advice for a couple considering purchasing a townhouse/condo/manufactured home in Florida?

We plan to retire in 3-5 years and would only use it sporadically until then. After that, we' use it a few months each year.Does anyone have advice for a couple considering purchasing a townhouse/condo/manufactured home in Florida?
I have worked with many people who want a maintenance free, WORRY free, stress free vacation property in Florida to enjoy now and retire to later.





Most of them rent the property during high season (mainly January through Easter) to help cover their own costs - and then enjoy it themselves when it is not rented.





Others rent it during the off-season (for less) so they can enjoy it during the winter months. It's up to you.





But, to do this, the property must be turnkey furnished (down to the spoons in the drawer and the linens on the bed). The good news is that many properties are sold this way, and are investment and renter-ready from the start.





I would figure out:





1. Your preferred location in Florida.


2. Your budget to spend.


3. Have a local realtor help you with real estate tax, insurance, association fees and local rental rates, so you can factor that in.


4. Talk to your accountant about how much you can write off on your taxes, if you rent it (and that will depend on how often you rent it, and/or how often you and friends and family members use it).


5. Sleep on it. Pray on it. Go for it.





Feel free to use my search engine at www.searchforvenice.com to check out ANY properties listed in South Florida - it's free and does not require registration.





And, email me if I can answer any other questions for you.Does anyone have advice for a couple considering purchasing a townhouse/condo/manufactured home in Florida?
If you decide to move to Florida, always rent for a year to make sure you'll like in Florida. My wife and I moved to Tampa and bought a house. We found out later that it was a bad area of Tampa. It took 6 different agents and a year to sell. Best of luck.
Stay away from manufactured homes if you think you might ever sell it. They're like cars: they start depreciating from minute one and hurricanes can spell their doom.





Townhomes and condos are a good investment in the right areas. Right now the real estate market here is a buyer's market as long as you're not coming in with a sub-prime loan. If you're coming in with 20% or more down payment, this is definitely the time to buy. The southwest coast (from Ft Myers to Naples) is fabulous. High seasonal rental rates (if you want to rent when you're not using it), stable prices and taxes, great amenities, wonderful year-round conveniences, etc. My personal favorite is Estero, second is Bonita Springs. Get a good agent to help you. John Woods Real Estate is well respected. (No, I don't work for them - don't even work in the industry.)





Good luck!
buy a home made with brick, so that it is hurricane proof
Venice is right, fine tune your area first, then budget. Then work with a lender that you know and trust. Or at least TRUST. Provide then with the information about your plans and time frame.





Work with a banker you know and trust, or at least TRUST


Good Luck and WELCOME to FL (usually the Sunshine state) =)