Winter in Florida

[ApS]

Consider buying a lakefront property far from either coast—west and south of Disney World.

​​​•​ Central Florida is subject to a rare "ice-event" overnight, and daytime temps in the 40s and 50s can happen: but the "swing-months" of October, November, March and April, can be downright balmy. To get a rough idea of the difference, add an average of 20​º above New England's temperatures.

​​​•​ Florida lake properties are promising as investments, IMHO; for example, a neighbor has built a stone-walled castle, complete with a huge round turret!

(No moat or drawbridge as yet).



Because of mandated updates necessary since the original purchase, a realtor said my ¼-acre lakefront real estate would only raise $30K in today's market: But what a great spot for peaceful enjoyment of abundant wildlife surrounded by a clear rainwater-filled lake! Weekenders—most hail from Florida's west coast—are only a blip in the quietude.

It's not for sale!

​​​•​ Have an entire lake to yourself to set up a slalom course!



​​​•​ Catch two Bass with one cast!



Here's a 49-second scan of the lake on a typical April weekday:





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[Winnisquamer]

Originally Posted by ApS

Consider buying a lakefront property far from either coast—west and south of Disney World.

​​​•​ Central Florida is subject to a rare "ice-event" overnight, and daytime temps in the 40s and 50s can happen: but the "swing-months" of October, November, March and April, can be downright balmy. To get a rough idea of the difference, add an average of 20​º above New England's temperatures.

​​​•​ Florida lake properties are promising as investments, IMHO; for example, a neighbor has built a stone-walled castle, complete with a huge round turret!

(No moat or drawbridge as yet).



Because of mandated updates necessary since the original purchase, a realtor said my ¼-acre lakefront real estate would only raise $30K in today's market: But what a great spot for peaceful enjoyment of abundant wildlife surrounded by a clear rainwater-filled lake! Weekenders—most hail from Florida's west coast—are only a blip in the quietude.

It's not for sale!

​​​•​ Have an entire lake to yourself to set up a slalom course!



​​​•​ Catch two Bass with one cast!



Here's a 49-second scan of the lake on a typical April weekday:





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Watch out for them gators!

[Mr. V]

Originally Posted by Winnisquamer

Watch out for them gators!

And snakes.

And red necks.

[8gv]

While in FL don't forget to visit Sonny's BBQ!

[Happy Gourmand]

I'm headed down this Friday to scope out 2 places me wife found 2 weeks ago. 55+ community...I hope there aren't too many OLD people there!

[dpg]

Sure central Florida is cheap because nobody wants to live there. 100 and humid every day for 4 straight months in the summer, bugs, gators, snakes and everything you can imagine. No thank you...

[8gv]

Originally Posted by dpg

Sure central Florida is cheap because nobody wants to live there. 100 and humid every day for 4 straight months in the summer, bugs, gators, snakes and everything you can imagine. No thank you...

This has not been my experience.

My time in FL has been spent in community called Tierra Verde which is a group of islands on the extreme southern tip of the St Pete / Clearwater peninsula.

Humid? Yes, it is surrounded by water on three sides.

100*? I've yet to experience that. Typically the highs are 86-92 and the lows 76-78 during the summer. Yes, that is rather warm but boating and a/c seem to make it ok for me. Several times each summer it is hotter at my CT home than it is on Tierra Verde.

Being on the edge of the salt water environment we have zero gators and see only the occasional harmless snake.

We haven't had any mosquito or "no see em" bites but there are Palmetto bugs. The Palmetto bug looks like (and probably IS) a big roach. They live outside but desire to come in. Good weatherstripping helps keep them out.

Oh yeah, boating all year!

I don't expect to live there full time but it fits well as a compliment to the beauty of the lakes region.

[Winnisquamer]

Originally Posted by 8gv

This has not been my experience.

My time in FL has been spent in community called Tierra Verde which is a group of islands on the extreme southern tip of the St Pete / Clearwater peninsula.

Humid? Yes, it is surrounded by water on three sides.

100*? I've yet to experience that. Typically the highs are 86-92 and the lows 76-78 during the summer. Yes, that is rather warm but boating and a/c seem to make it ok for me. Several times each summer it is hotter at my CT home than it is on Tierra Verde.

Being on the edge of the salt water environment we have zero gators and see only the occasional harmless snake.

We haven't had any mosquito or "no see em" bites but there are Palmetto bugs. The Palmetto bug looks like (and probably IS) a big roach. They live outside but desire to come in. Good weatherstripping helps keep them out.

Oh yeah, boating all year!

I don't expect to live there full time but it fits well as a compliment to the beauty of the lakes region.

DPG was commenting on central Florida being miserable.. Not the most southern part of Florida. I think the two are very different from my experience and I would agree I wouldn't last 10 days in central Florida.

[Paugus Bay Resident]

Originally Posted by Winnisquamer

DPG was commenting on central Florida being miserable.. Not the most southern part of Florida. I think the two are very different from my experience and I would agree I wouldn't last 10 days in central Florida.

Actually, the area 8gv is referring to is "west" central FL, not south at all.

[dpg]

Originally Posted by 8gv

This has not been my experience.

My time in FL has been spent in community called Tierra Verde which is a group of islands on the extreme southern tip of the St Pete / Clearwater peninsula.

Humid? Yes, it is surrounded by water on three sides.

100*? I've yet to experience that. Typically the highs are 86-92 and the lows 76-78 during the summer. Yes, that is rather warm but boating and a/c seem to make it ok for me. Several times each summer it is hotter at my CT home than it is on Tierra Verde.

Being on the edge of the salt water environment we have zero gators and see only the occasional harmless snake.

We haven't had any mosquito or "no see em" bites but there are Palmetto bugs. The Palmetto bug looks like (and probably IS) a big roach. They live outside but desire to come in. Good weatherstripping helps keep them out.

Oh yeah, boating all year!

I don't expect to live there full time but it fits well as a compliment to the beauty of the lakes region.

"Central" Florida.....Surrounded by water isn't "central..." Go WAY inland you'll see what I mean.

[Greene's Basin Girl]

My son lives in Ft. Lauderdale thus I spend a great deal visiting him. I do not have any big problems with the drivers. Traveling in the area is not very stressful.

[Lakeboater]

Originally Posted by Greene's Basin Girl

My son lives in Ft. Lauderdale thus I spend a great deal visiting him. I do not have any big problems with the drivers. Traveling in the area is not very stressful.

We know just what you mean! We spend a great deal when are sons visit.

[Billy Bob]

Originally Posted by 8gv

This has not been my experience.

My time in FL has been spent in community called Tierra Verde which is a group of islands on the extreme southern tip of the St Pete / Clearwater peninsula.

Humid? Yes, it is surrounded by water on three sides.

100*? I've yet to experience that. Typically the highs are 86-92 and the lows 76-78 during the summer. Yes, that is rather warm but boating and a/c seem to make it ok for me. Several times each summer it is hotter at my CT home than it is on Tierra Verde.

Being on the edge of the salt water environment we have zero gators and see only the occasional harmless snake.

We haven't had any mosquito or "no see em" bites but there are Palmetto bugs. The Palmetto bug looks like (and probably IS) a big roach. They live outside but desire to come in. Good weatherstripping helps keep them out.

Oh yeah, boating all year!

I don't expect to live there full time but it fits well as a compliment to the beauty of the lakes region.

I live on the same island , it!s fantastic , going fishing tomorrow ! Regarding winter, it doesn't sound like fun so we don't have one just a cool summer from October to April.
I own a few franchise real estate offices and understand the market here well. The improvements in the economy coupled with the bad weather in the north have made vacation/seasonal rentals very hard to find . The good stuff for the coming season has been gone since spring . For the best weather you also don't want to be much north of here on the west coast and south of West palm on the east coast . Please be careful renting on Craig's list , lots of folks looking to steal your down payment . Good luck with the search , perhaps we will see you here in the islands !
C

[bigdog]

Been literally looking for a FLA rental for months.

Scourded Craigslist, contacted friends & family members who rent down therer, and even contacted several Real Estate agencies with a few leads but nothing concrete. R.E agencies have told me you really need to begin looking a year in advance !

Anyway I started searching mobile home park associations, and made a contact. The Assoc. management company of the park, put me in touch with an owner who has a rental. Making reservation plans now, location near Clearwater beach.

Plan to drive car down, but also looking at car transporters, to pickup and deliver car in FLA. I've also heard you can put your car on the train, which goes to several locations in FLA.

[Billy Bob]

The car train runs from Virginia just outside of DC to Sanford which is close to Orlando , it's Amtrack and rather big bucks and you still have to drive the worst part to DC . I have shipped cars ( and boats ) and that's cost effective , should be about $600 bucks . You will find a bunch of brokers on line that represent trucker . Clearwater is a great spot and a lot of the mob home parks are active in winter . Sounds like a great winter , go snowless !

[bigdog]

Thanks Billy Bob about the info on the train, much apprecaited !

I contacted truck broker carriers last year for pricing and got a quote of about
$800 from NH to Tampa/Orlando area.

So all things considered and the cost, 'trucking' the car may be my best option. Definitely would save the drive to D.C. for the train option, then I'd still have to take a plane from there to Tampa. That's got to be another $200
Checking car brokers for pricing again.

I've only driven to FLA once, and that was Mass to Ft Lauderdale, a really longgggggggggg ride ! Swore I'd never do it again.

Anyone know how long it would take to drive from MA to Tampa ?
I figure I could do it in 2 days, with maybe one overnight stop ?
I think I could get to the N Carolina border the first day.

Thoughts?

[Newbiesaukee]

You could do it with one stop but it is two long driving days.

[bigdog]

Just checked Amtrak Auto train pricing. Wash DC to Sanford FLA

Senior Coach ticket $168
Car cost $244
Total = $412

Trains leave daily at 4:00pm, arrive in FLA 9:00am next day.

Not bad !

[8gv]

With quite a few trips from CT to FL under my belt I can say with certainty that the ride down to DC contains about 95% of the white knuckle driving.

South of Richmond the going gets quite easy.

As far as the whole drive goes...

It's about 11 hours from Laconia to Ashland VA and another 15 to Tierra Verde.

For some that is two days. Others will need three. There is no future in falling asleep at the wheel.

[upthesaukee]

Originally Posted by bigdog

Just checked Amtrak Auto train pricing. Wash DC to Sanford FLA

Senior Coach ticket $168
Car cost $244
Total = $412

Trains leave daily at 4:00pm, arrive in FLA 9:00am next day.

Not bad !

We have friends who use the auto train annually, and love it. To each their own. We do love train travel, but are not snowbirds. Train travel is very relaxing.

[Resident 2B]

Originally Posted by bigdog

Thanks Billy Bob about the info on the train, much apprecaited !

I contacted truck broker carriers last year for pricing and got a quote of about
$800 from NH to Tampa/Orlando area.

So all things considered and the cost, 'trucking' the car may be my best option. Definitely would save the drive to D.C. for the train option, then I'd still have to take a plane from there to Tampa. That's got to be another $200
Checking car brokers for pricing again.

I've only driven to FLA once, and that was Mass to Ft Lauderdale, a really longgggggggggg ride ! Swore I'd never do it again.

Anyone know how long it would take to drive from MA to Tampa ?
I figure I could do it in 2 days, with maybe one overnight stop ?
I think I could get to the N Carolina border the first day.

Thoughts?

I drive from the North Shore to Bradenton, and hour south of Tampa, with our dog. We do it in two days.

I would rather do it in three days, but a second night in a motel with the dog is not something that is appealing to me. For us, it is 1,400 miles and takes 23 or 24 hours. Biggest challenges are DC and NYC. After that, it is a nice ride. Tolls disappear after DC until I get to the Skyway Bridge south of Tampa.

R2B

[barefootbay]

Originally Posted by 8gv

While in FL don't forget to visit Sonny's BBQ!

Woody's. Barbecue !

[AB_Monterey]

We head down in mid-January, just in time for Red Sox Fantasy Camp.

We're back in NH by the last day of March.

We're in Englewood, SWFL.

I can't stand much more than that. The drivers are the worst anywhere.

It's not the heat, it's the stupidity.

[TiltonBB]

Originally Posted by AB_Monterey

We head down in mid-January, just in time for Red Sox Fantasy Camp.

We're back in NH by the last day of March.

We're in Englewood, SWFL.

I can't stand much more than that. The drivers are the worst anywhere.

It's not the heat, it's the stupidity.

The Florida drivers are mostly very poor. Tailgating is a huge problem in Florida. A Lee County Sherriff told me over 90% of the collisions in Florida are rear-end collisions. If you see a driver do something courteous in Florida, chances are they will have out of state plates.

In an effort to avoid saying something that is not politically correct: Keep your uninsured motorist coverage up while driving in Florida. Many of the poor drivers do not have licenses or insurance. Feel free to read between the lines here!

On another note: The Florida Department of Motor Vehicles says that if you work in Florida and stay more than 30 days you are required to change your license and vehicle registration to Florida. If you don't, you are driving without a license and driving an unregisterd vehicle. There used to be an exemption but it is no longer in place. So if you get stopped, the correct answer is: Yes officer, I just got here last week!

[Marauder]

Originally Posted by AB_Monterey

We head down in mid-January, just in time for Red Sox Fantasy Camp.

We're back in NH by the last day of March.

We're in Englewood, SWFL.

I can't stand much more than that. The drivers are the worst anywhere.

It's not the heat, it's the stupidity.

We head to Englewood the end of October and come back the first of April!!

[ApS]

Originally Posted by Winnisquamer

Watch out for them gators!

Yes, it is said that every Florida lake has gators. I don't question it; however, Florida's lakes don't have duck itch, saltwater crocodiles or sharks!

Or SW Florida's coastlines with strong, cold, breezes, which sometimes keeps down the sand fleas and their bites.

(We're talking waterfront, here. )

Originally Posted by dpg

Sure central Florida is cheap because nobody wants to live there. 100 and humid every day for 4 straight months in the summer, bugs, gators, snakes and everything you can imagine. No thank you...

Central Florida is the headquarters for America's veterans.

Disney World assures visits by grandchildren.

Besides, it's winter weather that concerned the OP.

Originally Posted by Mr. V

And snakes. And red necks.

Every waterfront community has snakes, including New Hampshire's Lakes Region—and it's just as well.

There's no shortage of temporary help. Besides, red necks practice "economy art":





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