The Snowbird Dilema: Keeping Two Homes

Most people find keeping one home a challenge, keeping two homes may just seem impossible. I am here to tell you that it isn't impossible, it is very possible and if you are like me, it is worth the extra work of having two homes to be able to balance the warm sunny winter weather in Florida with our love for our children and grandchildren who still live in the frozen north. 

Obviously one of the main concerns is financial. Can you afford to buy a second home and will you be able to afford to maintain it?  Everyone is different, in our particular case, we had money in our 401K, it was not earning a lot and taking out some of it to pay in cash for our Florida home was a good decision. Not having a mortgage is a good thing. 

You need to weigh the security of having all your money in your 401K against the benefit of investing in real estate. I can tell you that the value of our home has doubled in six years and that is a lot more money than we would have earned with our investments. Finding a good buy is important and prices in Florida are much more affordable than they are up north, at least in New England. 

Many people opt to make Florida their main residence, it is a much more friendly state to seniors than most northern states. Georgia is even more friendly. I have cousins who opted for Alabama. You do have choices and I recommended renting in a variety of locations or at last staying in hotels in a variety of areas to find out what you like and dislike. Attend the local church which if you attend church is mighty important, see where the grocery stores are located, etc.

Make sure that there is an airport convenient to the location you choose. We didn't think about this and unfortunately, Ocala does not have a commercial airport.  We have to choose Orlando, Tampa, Gainesville or Sanford, all of which are a good distance away. In spite of that, I love Ocala, it is horse country and has a different feel than other places in Florida. 

You need to decide exactly what you require in a winter home. How many rooms, bathrooms, home vs condo or manufactured home. Do you want a gated community or ungated? As a snowbird your home will be unoccupied for months, will it be safe? Do you want to rent when you are not using your winter home? Make sure that it is allowed where you are buying. Renting can help make having a winter home affordable. 

If you are tired of shoveling snow but have grandkids you can't imagine moving away from, full time, keeping two homes is an option to consider. At the end of the day, it makes better financial sense than renting. 

Why I Love Being A Snowbird

Many people ask us why we keep our home in Connecticut, why don't we just move to Florida full time?  It is tempting for several reasons.

First: We love our house down here. Having everything on one floor makes life so much easier than our three floors at home. 

Second: Taxes, yes we would pay a lot less tax if we lived here in Florida. 

Third: Great weather, lots of sunshine and warm winters. Though, summers are screaming hot. 

All of these are excellent reasons to live in Florida year round but the reasons why we don't are even more compelling.

First: Family. While we do have family in Florida, our children and the majority of our grandchildren are home in Connecticut. 

Second: Exercise. We have a very comprehensive schedule in Connecticut that gives Al the exercise he needs to keep his Parkinson's in check. We have tried to find some options here and we do get one day right now but that is a far cry from the 4 days at home. 

Third: Our dogs. I love my dogs, I am not willing to expose them to the chemicals that we use to keep bugs and other critters off our lawn. Supposedly it is safe for pets once it dries. It kills bugs for months, I am not willing to take a chance. 

Fourth: Our doctors and dentists in Connecticut. We have been with them for years and I am not about to change at this point in our lives. 

Fifth: Our friends. We have some great friends that I would really miss if we moved permanently to Florida. 

So, as far as I am concerned, we have the best of both worlds. In Florida, I get to see Al's family and my Brother and his wife and in Connecticut, I get to see my other brother and his wife in Vermont. We play half a year in our card league and enjoy that a lot. We plan to continue to enjoy both locations for as long as possible. 

When You Turn Off Your Water

I can't speak for other states but in Florida, if you turn off your water while you are away, it is important to take certain steps.

1. Block all your drains, sinks, shower, tub and overflow. I use metal pot scrubbers and paper towel in the tub drain covers with duct tape. 

2. Fill the bowl of your toilet.

3. Saran wrap your toilet. I know this sounds weird but I have done it for the last two years and this year I realized just what a good idea it was. When I arrived this year, my guest bathroom had a huge palmetto bug in it, when the water evaporates the bugs can get in. If I had not Saran wrapped the bowl and held down the seat with a heavy cookbook that bug would have been in my house. As it was I waved bye-bye as I flushed him down and then I removed the wrapping. 

4. Don't forget to cover your garbage disposal as well. 

The first few years I didn't turn off the water, but I realized that the potential for damage to the house from water pipe issues or a running toilet can add up to big charges. 

Getting Things Turned Back On

The first two years we were in Florida, we didn't turn off the water when we left. This turned out not to be such a good idea as the toilet was flushed by a visitor and it didn't stop running. Luckily the water company noticed the severe increase in our water usage and we were able to get someone back over to the house to check it out. It cost us an extra $150. We now pay the turn-on fee to get the water shut off right after we leave and turned on right before we arrived. It worked perfectly.

What didn't work perfectly was the cable. We have extended basic and Internet when we are living here. I called in December to arrange to have it turned on January 4th. We arrived on January 6 and we had no cable. Not even the basic we are entitled too as part of our HOA. I called the cable office but of course, no one got back to me until late Monday morning, after I had already gotten through to the office. Oops, they didn't do what I had requested. 

I did learn one thing, however, if I had attached the wire directly from the wall to our TV we would have had Basic. They disable the box and of course, the TVs are connected to the boxes. 

This year I have also arranged to have the newspaper delivered every day, I like the local Ocala newspaper and when I tried to buy one Monday at CVS, they were already sold out. 

I do know that some people also turn off their electricity as well when they leave. I don't want to do this since if there is no AC in the summer, we are more likely to have mold and mildew growing in our home. Yes, it costs me on average about $45-50 a month but to keep my house safe, it is well worth the cost. 

We also have pest control. We get four exterior treatments each year and then we also get termite treatment and a once a year inspection. Do we find bugs, yes when we get here we always find bugs but they are dead, they have crossed the perimeter and been terminated. 

These are just a few of the things that snowbirds need to know and deal with but I figure that all told, including monthly lawn care and our HOA, insurance and taxes, it costs us just slightly over $5,000 to keep our home in Florida. Of course, we will need to replace our roof every 15-20 years and maintain and eventually replace the AC system but it is not nearly as expensive to have a winter getaway as you may think. 

Again this year we are considering whether we want to rent our house out while we are gone. It is a hard decision and we have not decided yet what we prefer to do.  

This Snowbird is Heading South

We left the frozen north on January 1st and the first two legs of our journey south were quite uneventful. Had I been more alert I would have known that I really should have driven twice as far each day so that we could get south before Grayson hit but of course, I wasn't paying attention and we realized when we got to Mooresville, NC that we would not be able to continue to head toward Savannah which had been hit with a record-setting cold and snow event. If that wasn't enough, Charleston was also pounded so I-95 was a nightmare as only snow and ice in the south can create. 

We hunkered down for an extra day here in Mooresville but since the cold seems to want to hang around we have decided to change our route and go by way of I-85 from Charlotte to Atlanta and then I-75 home. Which brings up a good point, knowing the alternative routes. We usually just go the same way with the big decision coming once we are on I-10 in northern Florida. 

So, instead of Friday, we got home on Saturday. It is only one day late and since we spent the night at my brother's, we didn't end up spending more money but it is the uncertainty that was not a lot of fun. I should have planned better for contingencies. I have to say too that our hotels have been very cooperative in allowing us to change dates without penalty. Thank you to both Candlewood Suites and Fairfield Inn for their generosity.  

Snowbird Heads Back Home

Some snowbirds may fly back home, this snowbird drives home. Having a car that remains in Florida isn't in the cards for us yet but in the future will be. 

It is always sad saying goodbye to your winter home, winter friends and winter life but with the advent of spring, the snowbirds head home until next year. 

Goodbye house, goodbye home, goodbye warm sunny skies.

Oak Run Ocala

I feel like it is about time that I introduced you to the place that we chose, Oak Run. It is a 55+ golf resort community. It is complete now, no new homes are being added so it is all resale. 

There are 3509  homes in this community. I know it sounds like a lot but compared to other larger communities, it is small. On Top of the World has 10,000 and The Villages covers 4 counties!!

What Oak Run has to offer

Oak Run has 2 golf courses, an 18 hole course, and a 9 hole executive course. It also has a golf club and restaurant. We have a social membership so we can eat at the club. 

There are three community centers. The Palm Grove Club is located close to the golf course and offers lots of space and a large health club which is free for residents. It also has a large outdoor pool. 

The Orchid Club is close to our house and has an outdoor pool, hot tubs, gym and lots of meeting space. 

The Island Club is the newest addition and it has a health club, three pools, and hot tubs plus meeting space. 

Additionally, this is a real resort, we have tennis courts, bocce courts, shuffleboard and more. There is also an aquatic center with an indoor heated pool. 

#oakrunocala  Hot Tub 

All this is for the use of residents and their guests. 

As for the homes, prices range from about $70,000 and go to over $300,000 depending on the size of the house and the location within the community. Townhouse units are also available in either 2 or 3 bedrooms designs. 

We love this community, The location is close to stores and restaurants as well as healthcare, which as we age is rather important. 

Condo vs House for Snowbirds

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. 

To Beach or Not to Beach

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. 

Why I Believe a Gated Community is a Good Idea

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. 

Where to Buy Your Snowbird Home

If you decide to buy a cold weather home, there is one very important factor that you may not have considered. What is the closest airport? I know that since I drove down I didn't consider where we would have to fly into to get here. Ocala does not have its own commercial airport. It has a lovely airport but no scheduled flights come here, it is all business flights and private aircraft. 

What that leaves is Gainesville which is only 31 miles north of the Ocala Airport, Tampa, Clearwater, Jacksonville, Daytona, Orlando, and Orlando -Sanford. We obviously have a lot of choices, unfortunately, none of them are great. Orlando is busy with lots of traffic and $10 in tolls. Tampa also busy with lots of traffic. Gainsville is the best option but it is usually almost twice as expensive as the other two. Sanford is also a better option since there is a little less traffic if one travels in that direction. Clearwater is a nice airport but quite a lot farther as is Jacksonville. 

At this time, we are still driving so it is irrelevant but it is something we need to consider for the future. One option is to just fly into whichever airport is the cheapest and hire a driver to take us home. We will most likely opt for that when the time comes.

To Buy or to Rent That is the Question

When it comes time to be a snowbird, there are obviously two options, you can rent or you can buy. I have always thought that we would rent, perhaps even timeshares by the week so that we could escape the cold and perhaps move around during our time away. There are some good reasons for choosing to rent. 

Rent:

Less expensive up front. You will not have to get a mortgage or deplete your savings. 

You can go someplace different every year. 

You don't need to pay for repairs or upkeep. 


We opted to buy. We had some good reasons for doing this. 

Own:

You can rent the property to others to help defray the cost. 

There are tax benefits from having a rental property. 

You can have your own things around you. 

You like going to the same place every year. 

Once you decide that you want to be a snowbird, you will need to decide which way you want to go. You may want to visit and rent the first year just to see if first of all, you can stand being away from family and friends for months at a time. 

We chose to buy without doing that but we had Al's brother and his wife and all of our nieces here in Ocala so we were not going somewhere without a support system. Having said that I sometimes wish we had taken our time because I think I would have preferred to own a townhouse. Here at Oak Run, townhouses have a higher HOA but it includes lawn care which is one less thing to think about. 

The Unintentional Snowbird

Let me begin by saying, I never intended to become a snowbird. The last thing in the world we ever thought we would do was go to Florida for the winter. But, things change. When Al was diagnosed with Parkinson's we knew that it would change our lives, and so it did. One thing that it changed was his ability to tolerate the cold. This man who used to ski in below zero weather now has hands and feet that feel like an ice cube.

We arrived back to this last year!!

He should have known better than to complain to me. I started looking and got his brother and his wife involved and we found what seemed like the perfect home. We now own that perfect home and are spending three months enjoying an escape from the winter in Connecticut.

#oakrunocala