| Author |
Message |
Ross Carlisle (Rrc62)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, June 03, 2006 - 7:51 pm: | |
I posted this on MAK but though there might be someone here that can give me some input...Fred Hobe maybe?
What's the real estate market like east of Tallahassee up near the border? What's the predominant landscape like? Farmland, rural? What's the insurance situation like in this area? Impossible to insure real estate for hurricane damage? I've pinpointed this area as a possible place to relocate. I'd be looking to buy some reasonably priced land, just a few acres, and put up a good sized shop. My plan is to full time for a little while, but I may eventually decide to work the shop commercially doing car and truck service and paint and body work (something I used to do prior to writing ERP management software), so I'd also like to be in an area where this sort of business would survive. I'd also consider west of Tallahassee in the panhandle provided the insurance companies won't cut me off at the kee caps. Being closer to the ocean would be adventagious to my
Thanks for any insight. My plan is to talk to some real estate people in that area and see what is available but I though some of you may be able to give some non biased info on the area. If everything works out and I can find some suitable property, I'll probably fly down, take a peek and maybe leave land owner. The plan is to sever ties to the Northeast by late fall. |
Bob Wies (Ncbob)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, June 03, 2006 - 8:09 pm: | |
Ross, While I don't think this is the forum for your questions, being a fellow busnut I'll respect your intentions.
Real Estate values in FL are falling like a greased brick...primarily due to the media coverage of storms
etc. Insurance premiums are rising like a helium balloon.
If you wish to take your chances in this market, or talk to real estate people (who only make their money on taking yours)...be my guest.
The world loves entrepaneurs...but this ain't your day, bubba.
With all due respect,
NCbob (who lived in FL for 32 years and is happy with NC) |
Ross Carlisle (Rrc62)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, June 03, 2006 - 8:37 pm: | |
Actually, NC is also on my list. I lived in Raleigh for 10 years. I moved back here in 1990. FL was appealing because no state income tax and no state vehicle inspection, but those may not be good enough reasons to choose FL. Seems like less red tape from the state than other states.
I'd like to take a month long bus trip to FL and check out various locations along the way.
(Message edited by rrc62 on June 03, 2006) |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, June 03, 2006 - 9:08 pm: | |
Ross -
We move to Brevard County, Florida four years ago, from
just south of you (we lived near the VT, NH, Ma border).
The pay scale in the panhandle (or anyplace in Floriduh) is a
mere fraction of what you expect anyplace in the Northeast.
The cost of living near Tallahassee, Tampa, Miami, or anyplace
in Brevard County, exceeds that in the Northeast.
The split between the low and high class (pay scale) in
Florida, exceeds any other area I know of.
But... If you insist, visit the following sites:
www.unitedcountry.com
www.gibbons-realty.com
public.brevardmls.com
www.city-data.com/
There was a time when Florida offered a great, inexpensive
place to retire to. Those days are gone. Retiring here is near
impossible, unless you have hoards of cash and no-place
else to spend it.
They claim insurance will be rising this year, over 50% for
mainland homes, and over 100% for beachside and mobile
homes. My inlaw pays over $3k for insurance for a house
he originally paid less than $150k for. The home is now valued
over $500k, and his insurance will double. Taxes in Brevard
county, for a $150k home, averages $2k. You'll have to check
the stats for the panhandle.. (a $150k home in Brevard county
is usually under 800 sq ft, and most often a trailer)
If you're serious about the move, wait until after this hurricane
season (it ends in December), and see how the prices look.
The housing bubble is said to be about to burst, so you may
luck out with a combination of severe hurricane damage, and
foreclosures...
My advice? Do not rush into the move. A "few acres" down
here right now, is like a few thousand acres up there.
Enjoy! |
Ross Carlisle (Rrc62)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, June 03, 2006 - 10:24 pm: | |
"A "few acres" down
here right now, is like a few thousand acres up there."
John...You've been away too long. A buildable acre up here will set you back 50K or so. The bursting bubble is exactly why I'm thinking of selling up here now. I'm not really in a hurry to buy land, but I need to sell this house while it's still worth something. I'd like to have something else lined up before I sell, but I guess that's why they have storage areas. The only thing that makes me nervous is not having a spot to work on the bus. I don't have an indoor shop right now, but I do have all the equipment to work on it properly. |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 04, 2006 - 12:20 am: | |
Well.....
Like you, we decided that it just wasn't worth staying in
New England. The price of fuel was rising, along with
everything else. April 4th, a year before we sold, I had
to shovel 4' of snow from our roof. That was the last time
I was going to shovel the *&%^^%$# roof.
We sold our home in Massachusetts, stuffed everything into
storage bins, had it all moved down here, into storage bins,
and full-timed down here for a couple years while looking
for a home.. The first RV was 33' and too small, too quick.
I bought and refurbished a second 37' RV to full-time in,
for our quest for a home.
A major health problem was a major setback, and the
home-hunt took a back seat to the recovery process. We
bought a double-wide as a quick fix, and sold the RVs
(yeah, we still had two). The prices escalated so fast, and so
far out of any sense, that we are now considering abandoning
Florida for our permanent home, and settling further north
in Alabama or Georgia. Florida can be a nice winter home..
and that can be done with the bus as the winter house..
Check the web sites I provided, daily. You'll get a better
idea of what's going on that way. There's nothing "cheap"
anyplace right now, but wait a few months and see what's
happening -after- the hurricanes, in Florida. |
FAST FRED
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 04, 2006 - 6:01 am: | |
"Real Estate values in FL are falling like a greased brick...primarily due to the media coverage of storms
etc. Insurance premiums are rising like a helium balloon. "
Perhaps on the somewhere coast ,although I can't find it in Naples or Ft Meyers or even Cape Coral
Here in SW Florida midstate , Ortona , a waterfront property that was $75K a decade ago is now 400K+ at resale.
Insurance is more expensive than 10 years ago , but the "replacement value" has more than doubbled for the structure.
Once you get 75 miles or so inshore the Hurricane premium is not bad at all. Just be sure the postal zip code of the property does NOT extend to the shore. Insurance co figure by Zip code , not actual location for rate quotes.
Florida has a delightfull setup, when you purchase property and become a resident , the residental property is "Homesteded" .
This means the locals can only jack your assment and property taxes up at the federal (phony) inflation rate , not by "re assessing" and nailing you for the "value" of the last house sold in your area.
The Floridians had the brains to get this in the FL Constitution , over the shreaking objections of the political class, wise Crackers indeed!
A PLEASURE to retire among such savy folks!
FAST FRED |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 04, 2006 - 9:05 am: | |
FF -
"Insurance is more expensive than 10 years ago , but the
"replacement value" has more than doubbled for the structure. "
Insurance on our $20k double-wide on rented property is
presently over $1k. They plan to raise that to over $2k this year.
FF -
"Florida has a delightfull setup, when you purchase property
and become a resident , the residental property is "Homesteded" .
This means the locals can only jack your assment and
property taxes up at the federal (phony) inflation rate ,
not by "re assessing" and nailing you for the "value" of the
last house sold in your area. "
Huh? Homestead means that you can deduct a great $25k
from the accessed value of the home, and pay taxes on that
(-$25) reduced amount.
When you buy a home, your property taxes are computed at
the inflated value (price) you paid at the time of purchase. All
"homesteading" does, is lower that "value" by $25k. It's not
that great a deal, and there's been talk about abandoning it,
since people are using their winter real estate for vacations,
and claiming they're here year round.
The notion that if you live here, you'll be spending all your
money here (supporting local businesses), no longer works.
FF -
"The Floridians had the brains to get this in the FL
Constitution , over the shreaking objections of the
political class, wise Crackers indeed! "
Good grief, man. Didn't you ever hear of "Proposition 2-1/2"?
Don't tell me you really think this was a Floridian brainstorm...??
Florida isn't the south, it's become an extension of the northeast,
politically, ethnically, and conceptually. UGH.. |
Linda 4104 FL
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 04, 2006 - 2:43 pm: | |
Fast Fred is correct about the tax assessment situation in Florida. When you buy a home, the property tax is based on as "assessed value". For some reason, this "assessed value" is not necessarily the same as the actual purchase price and usually is less than the actual purchase price.
Filing for a "Homestead Exemption" does, as mentioned by John MC9, allow one to subtract $25,000 from the assessed value for property tax purposes. It also, as FF mentions" place your property in a classification protected by the "Save Our Homes" amendment to the Florida Constitution which prevents the Tax Assessor from raising the assessed value of the property above a certain limit in any given year. However, I thought that limit was 3% of the assessed value, not the federal inflation rate. Perhaps it is the federal inflation rate, not to exceed 3%.
In any event, it does indeed provide some protection from taxes over a period of time. We have owned our home in south Florida for 22 years and our assessed value is substantially below the market value. The catch here is that if we sell to make a killing on the value of the house, anything we buy (unless we move completely out of the area to a place with less expensive real estate -- hard to find) will undoubtedly end up with a much higher assessed value than our current home, and thus increase our tax costs. This makes similarly situated property owners less likely to move.
I've not heard talk of abandoning Homestead Exemption, but there has been some talk of possibly proposing to amend the Constitutional amendment to allow some degree of portability for a portion of the "protected" assessed value. |
FAST FRED
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 04, 2006 - 3:45 pm: | |
As in Kaliforina the property tax Homesteading lock down does prevent folks from mooving to preserve the low taxes.
However its mostly retired folk that are SELDOME looking to "moove up".
As the property "value" has gone up by 700% in a decade its great that the taxes have'nt budged.
Most folks would have a hard time with taxes went up 700%.
At 2K to insure an old house trailer , frankly I would "self inshure".
Just put that 2 grand in the bank , and hope for the best.
In a decade your WAY ahead, if a hurricane comes thru , used trailers only need a cursory inspection and seldone cost $20K (most are 5 to 10 , so the self insure risk is only 2 or 3 years.
Although actually if the respones of FEMA with the last hurricanes will continue , youre FAR FAR ahead if you have NO insurance. Grant money went to the uninsured , nothing but paperwork went to the rational , who HAD insurance.
The Canadians can not get the homestead exemption and are the loudest screamers about paying "Fair Value" taxes.Dont know why , they even pay sales tax on postage stamps in Canada to pay into the failing "health care" con.
Homesteading doen NOT require you to LIVE year round in FL, only to register the car, get a FL drivers license & Vote Early & Often.
Senator Harris anyone?
Works for me!
FAST FRED |
johnwood
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 04, 2006 - 5:54 pm: | |
FF;
In the trailer scenario, where it is not worth insuring, perhaps the way to work this would be to buy renters ins which covers the contents.... which in many cases are what is really valuable! Just hope for the best if there is any liability suits against you steming from injury on yer property.
The nightmareish situation with prop taxes is happening in MT with codgers who bought land in the 30's and 40's for beans now paying more than the original cost of the land every year in tax! |
Bob Wies (Ncbob)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 04, 2006 - 6:21 pm: | |
FF;
One of the items you didn't mention in the "Homestead Exemption" is that it doesn't apply until you've owned the home for which you are applying for that exemption for one year before the State's next calander year. Then the 'exemption' only allows the tax credit to apply for the first 25K of assessed valuation. Too, it exempts the owner from seizure (for tax purposes..from the Federal Gov't) should you owe them monies).
I've read your posts from time to time and generally speaking you are a very articulate individual. Mayhaps you'd indulged in a 'touch of the grape' when you posted your last offering or perhaps not up to your usual standard.
Oh, don't worry about it...they won't put it on your tombstone......
NCbob |
John Jewett (Jayjay)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 04, 2006 - 11:26 pm: | |
Here's a new twist. Lee County,FL has computerized their tax rolls, so as home sales skyrocket the system automatically raises taxes to match the new "local tax valuation" My cousin bought a house on the Caloosa River a few blocks from me. Within 3 years the tax valuation went from $185K to $350K and the taxes are currently over $750 a month! Each time a total of 3 houses sell within 5 blocks of them their taxes increase automatically. I moved to Texas--"Effem." ...JJ |
FAST FRED
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 05, 2006 - 5:07 am: | |
the system automatically raises taxes to match the new "local tax valuation"
This is ONLY true for non Homesteaded property, the Homesteading was designed to stop this windfall profiting by the local tax scum.
FAST FRED. |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 05, 2006 - 9:32 am: | |
FF -
It was no different in Massachusetts, NY, or anyplace else, Fred.
If the property is your main residence, proposition 2-1/2 saves
you from exorbitant tax increases. It's not a "Hoorah for Florida
Homestead" thing...
When you buy a home, you pay property tax based on the
price you bought it for.
Some trailers (or "manufactured homes", as they insist on calling
these things), are selling for over $100k on rented land. One at
an owner owned park (not rented land) just sold for $165k.
The listed property tax the former owner had been paying,
was $1,250 per year. The new owner will be paying a lot more.
And yeah, it indicated that the former owner was homesteaded.
Anyone that thinks Florida is a retiree's paradise, isn't up to
speed with what's been happening down here for the past few
years. Maybe in the swampland of the Glades there's a hut
with a great price (I couldn't even find -that-), but Brevard
county, Ocala, etc., house prices are out of sight.
Houses we turned down for $130 - $180k three years ago,
are now selling for $330 - $480k (and up). A friend bought
1-1/2 acres with a mobile home in Ocala two years ago. He
can make over $200k just selling his property today. (He won't
sell, because he can't afford to re-buy there).
Times have changed here, Fred. You gotta' get out more. |
Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 05, 2006 - 10:02 am: | |
If I recall properly, California was one of the first with the Homestead Exemption and the Proposition 13 that kept the taxes from escalating.
Richard |
Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 05, 2006 - 10:14 am: | |
Hello tax payers.
Well, we're way off buses, but its interesting.
In order the explain why, how about this line of thought, paraphrased below?
There won't ever be a cheap place to live again because the "system" has been out of balance since at least World War Two.
When was it that a working family could behave like a rich family?
Home ownership, cottage ownership, multiple vehicle ownership, vacation travel, excess money in savings. This was not the lot of working families back through history.
Through history, working families all worked until they couldn't anymore, both daily and until they were too old to be able, barely scraped by, could not dream of retirement, worried where the next meal was coming from.
Can the present generation of single child rearing parents exist on one income?
If not, can they expect the retirement that they see today's golden agers enjoying, remembering that the golden agers did raise their large families on one income?
And what awaits those children?
Is there a correction in play?
Wow, we may be victims!
None the less, it's a fascinating story.
happy coaching!
buswarrior |
FAST FRED
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 06, 2006 - 5:34 am: | |
Interesting how homes were sold before the credit boom, and tax subsadized financing.
Pre WWII the purchaser would pay 1/2 down and have a no interest 5 year "baloon".
Works ot that without interest most folks owned the home after 5 years, rather than pay 3X the cost of the home to a morgage co over 30 years.
Most of the retirees I find in FL have sold a northern home at almost the same inflated prices as FL was asking last year , so have little troubble downsizing , and keeping some cash to boot.
Many of the ASKING prices were way out of line in 05 , but the actual selling prices have been sorta rational here next to nowhere.
(were not in nowhere , but its across the canal & easily seen from the Eastern porch.)
In our area there is no question the Waterfront is premium priced , but many 10 to 40 acre "ranchettes" are avilable at less than insane pricing.
House trailers have 2x4 construction, "Manufactured Homes" use 2x6, otherwise mostly the same.BUT the tax scum can charge more as the Mfg home declines in value slower than the trailer.
FAST FRED |
FAST FRED
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 06, 2006 - 5:41 am: | |
"One of the items you didn't mention in the "Homestead Exemption" is that it doesn't apply until you've owned the home for which you are applying for that exemption for one year before the State's next calander year.
This is NOT true in our county.
Or in the local area.
If you own the home at the begining of the year (bought it Dec ) you are fine to register for the exemption in January , most counties will let you get the exemption any time before 1 May, IF it was YOURS on 1 Jan.,
Have no idea where your attempt at personal character assination comes from, if you have a "problem" with an opinion of mine, state it.
FAST FRED |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 06, 2006 - 10:18 am: | |
Fred -
(I'm not sure where the "personal character assination"
comes from? Not from me! I -do not- throw stones, they would
much too often hit me on my own head )
A "manufactured home" is a mobile home; a trailer by any
other name. They may use 2x4 construction in some models,
but usually do not use more than the absolute minimum needed.
A "Manufactured home" is a trailer; it is built on a trailer frame.
It can be made in two, three, or more sections, each built on
a separate trailer frame (complete with tongue and wheels).
Local ordinances and regulations may prevent placing a
"manufactured home" on a particular piece of property, where
any "normal house" may be permitted.
A "Modular home" is built in sections, just as a "normal home",
and delivered in sections to the site, to be assembled. They are
not built on a chassis (as a manufactured home is), they are
built as a normal home would be, complete with sills and joists.
For more detailed explanation, go Here.
The mobile home manufacturers fought long and hard to get
the stigma of "mobile home" and "trailer" removed from their
products, by getting the FTC to allow the nomenclature to
be changed to "Manufactured home". It's still a trailer, by
whatever, whoever desires to call it.
We presently own and live in a fairly new double-wide.
When there's a hurricane 50 miles away, we're forced to
evacuate. Modular home dwellers are permitted to stay.
Manufactured homes were originally designed to be
inexpensive, portable housing. The manufacturers have pushed
the envelope to the point of doing harm to those that are
unaware of the pitfalls of trusting their life, limb and
personal property to a manufactured home. Their quest for
better marketing, exempted the concerns for human safety.
Many of the features and building techniques incorporated in
the construction of a Manufactured home, are similar if
not identical, to the construction of the average recreational
camping vehicle. Much of the materials used in the construction
of a Manufactured home, are the same as what is used in
a common camper.
I am not berating the Manufactured home, but noting the absolute
differences between those, and the Modular homes. |
niles steckbauer (Niles500)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 06, 2006 - 11:11 am: | |
John is wrong on every count - for the proper info see the following for HUD code manufactured homes:
http://www.builtstronger.com
For the differences in HUD code homes and DCA Modular Homes see the following:
http://www.dca.state.fl.us/fbc/committees/product_manufactured/ModularvsMobile060305.pdf |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 07, 2006 - 12:20 am: | |
Niles -
Try submitting some documentation regarding chicken coops
from other than the Fox's headquarters.
Fact: A "Manufactured Home" is built on a trailer chassis.
Fact: A "Modular Home" is built with sills and joists, the
same as any other house.
Fact: The "Manufactured Home" is towed to the site on it's
own chassis and axles, and is set into place by the driver of
the tow vehicle.
Fact: The "Modular Home" is delivered by flatbed, and a
crane sets it onto the foundation it will set upon.
Fact: "Manufactured Homes" are not constructed to any
particular locale's specifications, and may not be permitted
to be placed on property that does not allow "trailers".
Fact: A "Modular Home" is built to meet local specifications,
just as any normal home does, and can be placed upon any
property it was destined to meet.
You can twist it anyway but loose, Niles... Sometimes, a
cigar is only a cigar. |
niles steckbauer (Niles500)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 07, 2006 - 1:22 am: | |
Try submitting some documentation regarding chicken coops
from other than the Fox's headquarters
>>> The info provided is from the actual EXPERTS and regulators - who would you have provide the info? I guess doctors should disregard the JAMA as it is promulgated by the FOX'S in the medical field
Fact: A "Manufactured Home" is built on a trailer chassis
>>> Manufactured Homes (of which all homes are basically manufactured) both HUD and DCA can be built and installed/erected on I-beam chassis although neither have to be
Fact: A "Modular Home" is built with sills and joists, the
same as any other house
Not necessarily - both DCA and HUD can be engineered to be installed/erected on stemwalls or frames and even other foundation systems - both types of homes use sills and joists except for some homes which actually had monolithic concrete floor systems
Fact: The "Manufactured Home" is towed to the site on it's
own chassis and axles, and is set into place by the driver of
the tow vehicle.
>>> Both DCA and HUD homes are delivered on a chassis and axles and either can be installed permanently on that chassis or removed from the chassis and installed on an engineered foundation - NO DRIVER 'sets' the home - they merely deliver it
Fact: The "Modular Home" is delivered by flatbed, and a
crane sets it onto the foundation it will set upon
>>> Not necessarily true - as I said both types of homes can be installed/erected on the frame itself or can be craned/rolled onto an engineered foundation
Fact: "Manufactured Homes" are not constructed to any
particular locale's specifications, and may not be permitted
to be placed on property that does not allow "trailers".
>>> HUD code homes are manufactured in accordance with Federal regulations for which each home must meet certain performance standards for the particular location of installation as delineated by The National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974, 42 U.S.C. 5401 et seq.; 24 CFR Part 3280 and Part 3282. SEE BELOW
http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/mhs/mhsmfgst.cfm
The siting of a HUD home is determined by local zoning ordinances and differs throughout the US - If you've ever been to places like Houston you'll find that HUD homes are sited next door to site built homes - though you claim not to want to "berate" Manufactured homes why do you find it necessary to reference them as "trailers" (rhetorical question - no need for reply)
Fact: A "Modular Home" is built to meet local specifications,
just as any normal home does, and can be placed upon any
property it was destined to meet.
>>> Modular homes are not built to local specs - they are built to the same codes as site built homes, the STATE BUILDING CODE - HUD, DCA or SITE BUILT homes are all "normal" homes (what is an"abnormal" home?) and all are subject to local zoning codes
Finally I am not trying to 'twist' things - as this was an OT thread I am merely taking the opportunity to correct some misinformation and offer valid info for those inclined to avail themselves - Proliferation of conjecture and personal opinion does no justice to the any of the readers of this BBS - Sorry to those I have bored to death, but like I said this was an OT thread hijacked prior to my posts - FWIW |
FAST FRED
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 07, 2006 - 5:23 am: | |
(I'm not sure where the "personal character assination"
comes from? Not from me! I -do not- throw stones, they would
much too often hit me on my own head )
No John it wasnt youre comment , rather this jewell from NcBOB that does'nt come to the standards we expect .
"I've read your posts from time to time and generally speaking you are a very articulate individual. Mayhaps you'd indulged in a 'touch of the grape' when you posted your last offering or perhaps not up to your usual standard.
Oh, don't worry about it...they won't put it on your tombstone...... "
NCbob |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 07, 2006 - 10:21 am: | |
Niles -
I absolutely love your use of:
">>> Not necessarily true "
The comment is right up there with:
"It depends on what the meaning of is, is."
I own and live in a double-wide. After living in one for over
the past two+ years, we became very content with our
pre-owned "Manufactured home". We actually gave serious
thought to buying a brand new one about a year ago.
We learned through experience, what exactly the difference is
between a "Manufactured home", and a "modular home".
I feel taken by those that push the notion that a "Manufactured
home" is anything more than a very elaborately made mobile
home; a trailer. It is nothing more than that.
You register a "Manufactured home", just as you do any other
vehicle (in the state of Fl). When you sell it, you sign over the
title to it (one for each section of a multiple unit; a double-wide
requires two titles, one for each half; a triple-wide=3).
Insurance companies treat "manufactured homes" as trailers,
not site-built or modular homes.
They are great to live in, if you're not located in a weather
dangerous zone. They are under-insulated, if you're in a
freeze-prone zone.
I did not know the difference between a "manufactured home"
and a "modular home" prior to owning one, and considering the
purchase of a new "manufactured home".
I am not "berating" a "manufactured home", or those that
own 'em (we live in one). But there should be an awareness
of exactly what they are, and what they are not.
The manufacturers lobbied to get the FTC approval to call
trailers "manufactured homes", and continue to attempt to
call a horse an elephant. They knew well, that those that
are not fully familiar with their product, would confuse one
with a modular home. It isn't; it never will be. And presently
all trailers; mobile homes, across Florida and elsewhere, are
deemed to be "manufactured homes", regardless of age.
Niles, I guess you would have to have driven through
Barefoot Bay, Florida, after the hurricanes. Barefoot Bay
was home to over 3,000 "manufactured homes", most
less than 5 years old.
Barefoot Bay, Fl., had been one of the nicest communities
to be found anywhere. Absolutely beautiful "Manufactured
homes" on beautifully landscaped lots.
You would have to have witnessed elderly individuals,
widows, and the aged handicapped, routing through piles
of rubble they once called personal property... Pictures of
loved ones, mixed with soggy and torn construction material...
People whose lives are totally and forever destroyed, because
they believed the manufacturers when they were told that
they weren't buying a weather vulnerable mobile home....
they were instead buying a "Manufactured Home"...
Drive down, go tell 'em there's no difference with what was
once there, and that 20 year old modular home that's still
standing, down the street.
Back to topic?
Ross-
We love living in Florida, but find it too costly. It's become
difficult, if not impossible, to find a home in a price range
we can afford. The panhandle's beautiful country, especially
around Tallahassee and the surrounding area. It reminded us
of the rolling hills of the more northern states. There were
actual towns, in that area of the state, rather than the mall
towns of the east coast sections. But the panhandle is more
subject to hurricane and tornado damage... The property
in that area (see blountstown fl real estate ) is less expensive
than the areas further south.. But not by much!
Try full-timing for a few months or so, and explore Florida
before making up your mind. Brevard county / Melbourne
area, is quite nice, if you find it affordable.
We wish you luck with the move! |
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