Obviously, personal preference will play a role in this decision. My husband is not a condo kind of guy, he likes to own a freestanding home. For me, a condo makes good sense and might be easier to maintain but I will be honest, when it came time to make the decision, I just fell in love with our house and I didn't care that it wasn't a condo.
Home
When you own a free-standing home you have more responsibilities. You need to arrange for lawn care when you are not at home. This has not been an issue, we have a very good lawn man but it is something you need to think about. You are also responsible for your roof and air conditioner. With some condos, you may also have this responsibility so don't think that you are off the hook on this one especially if you chose a townhouse style.
Condo
A condo can be in a multi-story building or it can be a townhouse style. either way, you will have neighbors on at least one side of you. I hate having people over me, I invariably get under a tap dancer!! lol I prefer not to have to hear my neighbors but that is just me, it is why I don't live in an apartment.
HOA
Another thing my hubs hates is HOA, me not so much. In my opinion, it offers us great value. For our $114 we get basic cable, garbage pickup and access to terrific amenities including the gate which makes me feel much safer both when I am here and especially when I am away back in Connecticut.
So, while I can't tell you what will work best for you, I can suggest that you look at both options and consider all things including cost.
For many people, the dream is a beachfront getaway. Somehow, Florida, in particular, is seen as one long beach. Well, that is true, it is one long beach. From Jacksonville on the east to Pensacola on the west, if a beach is what you want, you can certainly find it.
The beach, however, is accessible to everyone in Florida with just a short ride. We are about an hour from the gulf coast. If you are looking for a 55 plus community, they are available all over the state and gated communities as well.
I am a big fan of the website www.55places.com. It works not just for Florida. It tells you about the different communities and also lists all the available homes or units for sale. It is a very good place to start your search.
I think it is important that you visit and actually stay in the area you are considering. Renting for a season is a good idea, this way you can see if the beach is as important to you as you think or if you are willing to drive a little farther.
Once you have decided to be a snowbird, have chosen to buy a home and have decided on a freestanding or condo home style, the next thing to consider is do you want a gated community.
To me, unless you have a caretaker or a friend who lives in the same building and even on the same floor, your home will be unoccupied and alone for at least part of the year. If you have someone who can keep an eye on your home every day, then you don't need to be in a gated community.
In our particular case, Al's brother does keep an eye on our house, which means they come over occasionally. This is all right since we are in a gated community. If we were just in a neighborhood, our home could be broken into and it might be weeks before anyone would know.
In our community of Oak Run, two of our three gates are manned 24 hours a day and the third gate closes at 10 p.m. You need an up to date barcode to get in without stopping to register. While I realize no place is completely safe, this does make me feel much safer when I am in my home and when I am away.
Do we pay for this feeling, certainly, it is part of our HOA fee which is very reasonable.
