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Originally Posted by Cookie Princess
We expect to retire to TV in about 5 years. We have visited a few times (probably about 10 days total) as my parents rent a house each year in April/May.
We want to start doing our research now with a visit this coming spring. Should we plan to do the Lifestyle Preview now or rent a house for a week and do the preview in later years? We would like to try out different areas and different seasons over the next few years.
Our goal is to sell our house, buy a condo in Maine and a house in TV. We are not adverse to buying a home early and renting it out (in a few years).
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Great idea. I disagree you have to wait. At a conservative 4% price increase, a $300,000 house becomes $365,000 in 5 years. That is what we looked at when we bought 4 years ago and glad we did. However, a house is a big responsibility, and if you have $300,000 in the bank, you may be able to do better than 4%. Personally, we look at it as diversification.
As far as lifestyle - if you want Jan-Mar you almost have to do a lifestyle visit. You will not find anyone renting one week. You might be able to get a week in April, but I doubt it. You can easily get the first week of May - in fact I have a house in Hillsborough I would rent you for a week next may.
I think you need to come down at all times of year. the weather does change. I would say make sure you spend time in July and August, because what you will find is it is NO WORSE THAN THE MIDWEST. One of my pet peaves is how people in Wisconsin say they couldn't live in FL because of the summer heat. Then it is 95 degrees and 95% humidity hear for the whole month of August. It is actually nicer in TV because of the daily summer rainstorms. Believe me, we spend a lot of time there in the summer, because our house is rented all winter.
However, if I was going to buy, I doubt I would by in Fenney/Desoto - I would buy a resale between Brownwood and Lake Sumter. Not sure how houses down in Fenney will rent.