We bought a Florida condo! Here’s the story of how that came about…
My husband retired a few years ago. I was thrilled to have him home with me; he worked 70-80 hours a week, and traveled a great deal. I truly missed him when he was away from home. I thought it would be wonderful for us to spend more time together.
I also got old. And tired of dealing with the wind and cold. I actually like snow, and if it fell at 50º instead of 30º, my area in the winter would be wonderful! Alas, I live in one of the windiest areas in the country (all those MAs are Boston area, then there are a lot in OK, then the NY areas around Buffalo). The wind is fabulous in the summer months! Since it seldom gets above 85º here in the summer and that nice lake breeze comes through air conditioning the 80º summer days, the summer in western New York is about the best to be had in the US.
But, those same wonderful summer breezes suck in January and February. Big time! There is little worse than a 20 – 30 mile an hour wind coming straight at you when it is 25º out and snowing. Blech.
So, a few years ago after Hubby retired, I talked him into going to Florida for a month in February. In 2012 we were down in the north Miami Beach area on Sunny Isles. It was nice, but a little too congested for my taste. In 2013 we ended up in the St Augustine area which we like tremendously!
We discussed buying a house on the beach, using it for ourselves in January, February and possibly March, and then renting out the house the rest of the year to Florida inlanders that travel to the ocean in the summer months to escape the heat. Our beach house stay convinced us that the constant upkeep required to stay ahead of salt corrosion would be difficult for us to deal with. While we could hire a competent property management company, it is the little details that make a house feel homey. Not only that, but only with constant attention could the owners of the vacation property see the constant corrosion caused by the salt air and immediately fix the problems before they escalated out of control. Owning a beach house for rental is, in our opinion, better suited to those that live close-by who can constantly monitor the property for nature’s damage and make immediate repairs.
Then too the people owning the houses along the ocean in that area are smoking something when it comes to what they think their property values are! There is a reason nearly every other house is for sale with nary a sold sign in sight: they are all priced way too high! These people apparently think the crash of 2008 (and counting in Florida) never happened.
When we factored in the ludicrous pricing of a beach house along with the constant updates, we decided a condo would be a better way to go.
We ended up buying across the street from the beach. There are no buildings in front of us however, and we have an unobstructed ocean view and beach access is through a direct overpass. Other condos have direct beach access through tunnels.
This is the patio view. Why the patio isn’t four times as large I do not know! Possibly something to do with structural issues or hurricane threats? In any event, it is a shame it is not longer because…
This is the view from the master bedroom! (The window actually extends the length of the wall.) If that balcony was extended, it would have been in front of this room.
The balcony, living-room, master bedroom and kitchen all have ocean views. The other bedrooms do not. We ended up with a three bedroom condo figuring we could use one of the spare bedrooms as a guest suite, and one as an office. This also came with garage parking (important to us), two bathrooms, and a host of HOA amenities.
The unit needs some work including new windows (factored into our price), the usual painting and updating, and we will need to furnish it. I look forward to exploring the shopping in the St Augustine, Jacksonville and Orlando areas. I have some ideas in mind, so it should be interesting to see what we end up with!
Tamona Valentine says
OMG it looks so serene and peaceful. Oh I wish I had known about the St. Augustine area. When were going to move to Florida, it was South Beach and OMG there is no way!
admin says
I can’t believe Dian didn’t convince you! She grew up in Jacksonville and loves St Augustine!
Ann
Gail says
There’s a great outlet mall in St. Augustine as well – check it out if you haven’t already.
admin says
We went to two, Gail. Once was mostly empty storefronts (the high end mall), the other one was pretty full with only a little bit of empty space. I think we dropped a decent chunk of change at that outlet mall. It is funny, we have a hopping outlet mall in Niagara Falls, and I seldom go. Yet when we are OOT, I go outlet shopping whenever possible!
Ann
Debb F says
Congrats Ann and you go girl! ENJOY! It is a beautiful area or so my momma says. God Bless.
admin says
Thank you, Debb!
Ann
Donna says
NOW you’re cooking Ann!!! Congratulations! You’ll never regret it! I spent the first 21 years of my life in central Illinois. And now live on the gulf coast of Alabama. No more snow for me! (Except that once a year trip at Christmas.) I don’t miss snow, never will! Flip-flops are my go-to shoes, and I only own a coat for those winter trips to Illinois!
Let’s get an over/under on how many years before they take the full-time plunge to the sunny south???
admin says
Noooooooooooooooo! I don’t really want to move to Florida full-time, Donna. I am not kidding when I tell you that summers where we live are beyond belief fantastic! And now Hubby has some land up by Lake Ontario, which could make things even better in the summer. We shall see,
Ann
liz says
Congrats Ann!!! 🙂
Florida – that would be so nice. It’s one of my favorite places. 🙂
I hope you two enjoy it!!
admin says
Thanks Liz!
Ann
MichelleK says
So – Just so we are clear – My first job as GC is overseeing the new windows…? I am going to need that company credit card now… Thanks!!!!!!! WhoooHOOOO it looks amazing!!!!!!!!!
admin says
Sure Michelle, let me email you that information right now. /end snark
Ann
Litsa Jackson says
Wonderful news! Upkeep on any home away from home is so much work…..a condo is wonderful! We have a family home in Greece that we go to every summer in the village of Zitsa. My parents built it and are still able to arrive before us to clean, prep, and maintain repairs on it——and we enjoy joining them! If only it was driving distance.
Enjoy your place in Florida and all the peaceful views. I’d love a place overlooking the ocean one day……..
I love reading your work! I’d like to come take blogging lessons from you!!
Ursula says
Ann, the view from your St. Augustine condo is fantastic! There are not even any other buildings blocking your view. Doesn’t the salt air damage affect your place there, since you had mentioned it in one of your posts? I have friends who live in Maryland and winter in their condo near Kisseemee (sp?) Florida for part of the year. I live in Arizona and I heard it is pretty humid down in Florida, but I guess NY is humid also, so it wouldn’t bother you then.
Ann says
Hi Ursula,
If we left anything metal out, it would start to corrode immediately. Plastic was made for Florida!!
As far as humid… right on the ocean, the ocean breeze mitigates the humidity. As soon as we get away from the ocean you can feel it. My area of NYS is humid, but not terribly humid. It is different when you live in/near a desert, that is for sure! (My MIL lives in Las Vegas, and we can tell the difference the second we get off the plane.)
Ann