Floridian wants to be a snowbird
 

I have lived all of my life in Florida and now that I am retired I would like to fly north for the summers. I would love a Villages in the Northeast area, but I know it does not exist. Any suggestions on where I should look? I love the Maine upper northeast part, but I'm open to suggestions. I would like an active retirement community. Thanks!

Evidently you are financially able live your dream! A good furnace, thermostat, protected water pipes and a person on staff to shovel your Roof are just a few of your future expenditures! Go for it, life is too short

If you plan to be somewhere north for 3-4 months consider renting instead of buying. This would give you the opportunity to see if you enjoyed the area and determine if it would justify the cost of purchasing vs renting.

Our neighbor rents on a lake in New Hampshire. Weather is in the 70s.

I’m from PA - I wouldn’t but a single family home - too much to worry about when you are down here. Buy a condo or rent an apartment.
OR, just rent a place for the summer.
As far as where - all depends on what you like to do. Golf/boating/fishing/etc.
There are no “villages of the north” - but plenty of good alternatives.

The great Chesapeake Bay in Virginia! Country living, boating, beaches and golf. Check out some properties at Northern Neck & Chesapeake Bay Realty | Horsley Real Estate | We handle all of your Real Estate needs. Never hurts to take a look.

Rent, its not worth worrying about another house while you're down here, especially during the winter months.

Thanks for your replies, but only a few of you have mention where. That is my question, don't worry about my finances I have worked since age 12 and have no children. I'm also used to stress. I owned several businesses and strive quite well from it. Where is my northeastern Utopia?

Another vote for you to RENT. I only know the East Coast and homes are at a premium right now.

I would suggest you try renting through one of the Suite Hotels, i.e. Embassy Suites, Raddison, and there are more. You will get a decent room and kitchenette, probably a balcony or outside sitting area, a pool and maid service.

If you want to be on the water you have to book way ahead.

I’m also a Floridian which is why i bought in the Villages. My parents live in Lake County, outside of TV. I wanted to be closer. Why don’t you rent in areas that look interesting to you. Like the upper northeast part of Maine for a summer, then try another place maybe Vermont? For a summer. And so on…. Until you find your place. I personally love NYC so I’d be looking for something close so I could train into the city when the urge hit me. Good luck!:welcome:

There are at least 2 locations that are similar to TV, but not quite in the Northeast. Lakeside Chataqua in Lakeside, OH and the Chataqua in Western NY state have lifestyle & activities very similar to TV but on a smaller scale. My sister goes to the Ohio one every summer and I just visited there. You can rent. Other Villagers (don't know their names) live there during the summer.

LOL! a post about where and the responses are about how. . .

Although the Northeast is a place, there are many, many places for a snowbird summer
We are from New england, both families here since the 1630's . . .

Maine is nice, choices are along the ocean, very cool water, Moody or Old Orchard, or rural wooded and lakes inland
New Hampshire is nice, choices are less rural wooded and lakes inland, some hiking, very small ocean front
Vermonth is the same as New Hampshire but less lakes and more trees and less people, land locked
MA has Cape Cod, ocean, sandy beaches, option of warm or cool water, Bay side warm, Atlantic side cool

I don't know exactly for what you are looking, however, I would also look at

Prince Edward Island, Canada,
Michigan for lakes and fishing, golfing,
Upstate New York 1000 islands
Utah/Colorado mountain /Park City, Sun Valley, ski towns, white water rafting, hiking
Montana/Wyoming camping in Yellowstone, much more rural

For three months, I would pick one of these options per year. . .

Our summer snowbirding is in an RV trailer, to visit NE relatives/ grand children/neices/nephews and then onto the Canadian and Western locations as this country has some wonderful National Parks. . . pick up a book on National parks, and read about them and pick a few around the country to visit the area. . . and living there for 3 months JUL through SEP would be ideal to learn about most of the area. . .

Yes, I have done the RV with and without kids for 4 weeks and 2 weeks. . it was wonderful to see many parts of the country very, very different than either FL or the NE

travelin guy

Google Del Webb communities. They are all over. Connecticut has a Del Webb community. Delwebb.com good luck!

We know what you won't find up north: the Villages, or anything like it. You know this too.

No one can answer your question, since you don't mention a single detail about what you DO want, and what you ARE willing to do.

The north has snow in the winter. It has ice storms, power outages, wind damage to property, branches that need to be picked up, driveways to plow/shovel. In some areas, it needs the oil tank to be maintained, and in other areas you might need the septic company to drain the tank every so often. And then the well water might need service. Access from the street to your utilities even in 10 feet of snow drifts is required.

Those are all things you need to either be willing to do, or willing to hire someone to do as needed.

Now that you have what you MUST be willing to do out of the way, what features are you looking for?

Do you want a basement? A townhouse? A senior apartment building? What kind of area? Suburb within 10 minutes of the nearest shopping mall? City where the local coffee shop is down the elevator 2 floors? A farm on the outskirts of town? A fancy double-wide modular home in an upscale senior trailer park? One floor, two floors? Do you need access to a clubhouse? An indoor pool? Golf course? Near/on the beach?

Are you looking into New England? New York? Ohio?

You need to know what you're looking for, so people can help you narrow it down.

In the early 1970a when visiting my aunt and uncle in Winterhaven I got to know a couple local businessmen in their early sixties. They had motorhomes and took off during the summer months every year. That might be a good way to start, see the country a piece at a time. It is vast, beautiful and variant. During the years my children were growing up we owned a series of three motorhomes and took them all over the country and into both Canada and Mexico. We had some incredible experiences!