Talk of The Villages Florida - On the fence: Calif or Florida??

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- The Villages, Florida, General Discussion (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/)

- - On the fence: Calif or Florida?? (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/fence-calif-florida-60731/)

Quote:

Originally Posted by l2ridehd (Post 557420)

Rent for a couple months in a couple different home styles in a couple different Villages. See for your self before committing.

I lived in Seal Beach for a few years so understand your concerns. CA coastal weather can't be beat and TV does not come close. Florida cost of living, cost of housing, is significantly less then CA. Florida is very affordable when compared to CA. But then there is The Villages itself. There is nothing like it. So much to do, so many great people, golf cart community, so many activities, and a great place to live.

You seem to have two major concerns and you need to weigh the pro's and con's of each. First is weather. If this is your highest priority, stay in CA. Second is cost of living. Hands down move to Florida. What I paid in state income tax covers all Florida expenses. Your state, property, sales, are all higher then Florida. Your cleaning service is close to double what it will cost in FL.

So my original suggestion of renting a couple different months will answer your weather concerns and you can make an informed decision. If the weather is OK, I guarantee the cost of living will be much lower, so see if you can be happy with the hotter summers and cooler winters.

:agree:

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldpilot (Post 557212)

I've lurked here for over a week and find your enthusiasm for TV life style very impressive! It's like the old song: "how you gonna keep 'em down on the farm after they've seen TV" or; can 90,000 people be wrong? It appears not.

I'm a single male, age 76 with fairly good health. My career was in aviation; Air Force and airline.

I'm considering moving out of CA. I would be grateful for your feedback about my considerations listed below.

1. Weather: I live a few blocks from the Ocean in Newport Beach, CA. We enjoy great year-around weather. Summers are mostly mid-seventies. Winters are very mild and seldom below sixty. We think fifty is a winter storm. Once, after a light rain shower; the local news paper showed a photo of a patio chair tipped over with the caption; STORM DAMAGE. The local TV station zooms in on water trickling down the gutter.

Could I cope with FL hot and humid summers? My main outdoor activity is walking, which takes about 90 minutes. At the end I'm perspiring even in 65 degree weather.

1-A. If you moved to TV from any Southern Cal coastal area, could you describe your adjustment to TV weather? Are you coping? Do you regret leaving CA weather?

2. Air conditioning is not needed here. Could you estimate your annual air/con costs and state the square footage of your house. I presume smaller SF means lower cost.

2-A. If purchasing new; is a/c standard or included in the house price? If standard; do you know what SEER rating & brand is used? Bigger SEER number costs more but is more efficient and quieter and uses less power to run.

3. Maids in this area are usually $20 an hour or $80-$100 for six hours work. What are maid costs in TV?

4. Do you maintain your own yards? If so, what are the labor costs for lawn service?

5. Can Property Taxes be substantially different for two equal lots/houses depending are the county or CCD?

6. A 4 mile walk is my main outdoor activity; what is the bug/mosquito situation? Can't be too bad with that many folks out playing golf.

7. If two properties were otherwise identical with one bond fully paid and the other bond mostly outstanding; would the total price be the same?

8. When I see prebuilt ready to purchase Aspen model for say $240,000; does that include the price of the bond? I'd love to know the price of an Aspen with all the maximum stretched walls.

9. What seasons do you use the lanai? How important is the lanai orientation to privacy from neighbors and from neighbor's noise? In photos; it appears sitting on the lanai means free entertainment from the neighbors air conditioning noise.

10. I have no family to look after me if my health were to fail. Not a fun subject, but I'd like to know if transitioning to assisted living is available in TV? For that reason; I might buy a floor plan that would permit a live-in assistant should the need ever arise. I'm hoping to go during sleep but it's hard to plan these events.

10-A. No one here in CA knows any of the answers to the three great questions in life. If you have someone in TV with these answers it would be helpful in my moving decision. (1. When will I die? 2. How will I die? 3. What happens after I die?) OK, some do have an answer for #3.

11. Properties in TV are approximately 1/5th of prices here, but it appears that aside from a mortgage; monthly costs may be more in TV with assessments, bonds, sales taxes, amenities etc. etc. Your utilities seem higher.

If one is living off fixed income with virtually no safe Return On Investment available; my consideration is that should I live ten years with eventual inflation or hyper-inflation I might not be able to pay the bills.

If you got this far; God Bless You. My possible 2500 mile move from a 40 year residence is, you will appreciate, a major decision.

One might surmise from lurking on this forum that you are very much like my older brother; wonderful, outgoing, congenial, never met a soul who didn't already seem like a 20 year friend. Alas, I'm a quieter more private person. Slower to make friends. Decent to be sure, but not a glad hander.

Many thanks in advance for your comments.

The one thing you would be escaping is the threat of earthquakes.
My brother in law lives in L.A. and they are always getting something; our friends live in San Diego , ditto as far as earthquake tremors......

Our son and his wife were just visiting again in La Jolla near San Diego where he said the weather was beautiful this past Sunday.

You already are aware of the high price of real estate in California.

Prices in TV are quite low compared to other parts of the nation.

We live in Vermont and cannot tolerate the humidity here, thus have been wondering the same thing you are wondering..........

From what we just heard, this has been the hottest summer on record ever......all over. Luckily, our nights are starting to get down into the 40's and 30's which is very pleasant. However, the mornings till early afternoon are still humid. As they say, it isn't the HEAT, it's the humidity.

Our son said California was indeed hot but a lot more green trees than Colorado has. The West has been extremely hot , not to mention all the forest fires.

Each place has "something". The Villages was beautiful last time we visited. My husband would have bought a house right then and there.

We were there in October and November and the weather was PERFECT.
We are not sure if we could tolerate the summer months and do not want to maintain a northern home and a southern home (meaning to escape the summer heat and return to Vermont).

We figure going through one more winter should do it and help our decision making process along..........that and the fact that homes are beginning to sell again up here..........after quite a stagnant real estate market.

Good luck and best wishes in coming to your decision.......

p.s. Send for the video and the home plans; call the Mercantile Store for the $5 street map of all the villages..........

Oh boy, can I relate!!!

Hi Mr. Pilot.... I lived 30+ years in Los Angeles in various locations and the last was 1 mile from the Pacific and 1 mile from LAX. I had the same dilemma and sometimes still do.

1) The weather - first of all, you will never find better weather than southern CA so it goes without saying that I struggle with the humidity and summer heat and the cold winter weather (which thankfully doesn't last long) but for us with thin blood, its hard to cope with below 40 degrees (sometimes colder) for even a few days.

2) Bugs - they are horrible here. 2 months during the year, we have love bugs which I loathe. Otherwise, lots of mosquitos, no see-ums, red ants and blind mosquitos. I must admit I'm getting used to them but lovebugs do make walking outside almost impossible just don't wear white.

3) A/C - didn't have any in my last house in LA but I thank God we have it here cause I couldn't live without it, it also helps with the humidity in the house. It runs for probably 8 months of the year but believe me, the cost of electricity in FL is no where near as expensive at CA.

4) Let me lessen your concern about having no one to take care of you in the event of illness, let me assure you as one single person to another, there is nothing better than the friendships here in TV. We have a network of married and single friends that are there for you MORE than your own family would be. When we hear of folks in need, esp if they are single, its almost like a network that goes out to everyone that this person needs help. I had an operation last year and between my single friends and married ones, I was NEVER in need of anything, they were totally there for me. Have no fears where this is concerned.

Let me bottom line it, I still have thoughts of returning to LA but when I do a list of pros and cons, I wouldn't have the wonderful network of friends I have here, I wouldn't be benefiting from a lower cost of living, I wouldn't have the opportunity of so many things to do whether its daytime or nighttime activities (I'm a nighttime person), and I still can go see the ocean or gulf in a day's trip.

I agree with others, which is what I did, I rented houses 6 times before I moved but after the first two times I knew this was home. I still took more visits to be sure because it is such a difficult decision and I haven't regretted it (except during lovebug season), LOL.

Come on over here and get in touch with me and I'll have a meet and greet for ya so you can get to know as many people as I do, and that's a lot of people... You can't beat the friendships and the life style.

California vs The Villages

Spent years in southern Ca. and then years in Northern Ca. Yes it is hot here. That's a given but if there is the slightest doubt I would not move due to the heat issue. As for me and my wife? I don't care if my head bursts into flames every day I walk out of our house. To be free from all the 'nuts' on the West Coast and be planted here with these wonderful people makes every minor problem, well..... a minor problem.

Norcal has better weather and other better things than Socal.

.

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckinca (Post 557483)

Norcal has better weather and other better things than Socal.

.

:boxing2: :boxing2:

We are moving from Seattle where we have NO bugs, mild summers, and a hot day is considered 80 degrees. Of course we have rain but overall we have a mild climate. We spent a week in August at our new home in The Villages which we will be in permanantly in November. Yes it was very hot and the humidity was profound if you were doing any outdoor activity. I can see golf is a morning or last thing in the day sport but I could not personally imagine being out on the course in mid afternoon. So it was very different that Seattle in regard to summer weather. However, the sunshine was magnificent, the people delightful and upbeat, driving with a golf cart was breezy, and going out to do activity and then coming in an air conditioned house to take a break, get a bathing suit and go to the pool to me was unbeatable. It is a happy place, not congested, lots of open spaces, no hills so easy for walking and biking at the right times of day in summer, and lots of people to make friends and care about you. If you are unable to cope with humidity, bugs, and limited times of day when you could be out in the heat and sun and active, it may not be a great choice. Living in this climate requires some personal adjustment and scheduling for maximization of the activities you enjoy most, but everything is so beautiful and peaceful and pleasant. We cannot wait to be on our way!

I agree with most of the posts here. It is hot, but overall cooler in summer and warmer in winter than we had in S Central AL. Humidity is a concern, but most seem to adapt. Monthly costs are not too bad, and if you're selling in CA, I bet you'll have lots of cash left over! :a040:
KathieI said the bugs are bad, I say NOT! Love bugs are nasty on the car, but not bad for us overall, they don't bite. The other bugs she mentioned, I'm not too sure where she is coming from on that ....... I am a mosquito magnet and I've had NO issues with them. TV does a great job of spraying and bugs, in general, are not an issue. Red ants? Just don't step on a mound. You should never see them in your lawn, if you do .... call your bug company and have them re-treat your lawn.
It really is a great place to live. We are new-ish here, but rented 7 times over 5 years before I finally retired. No regrets.
Don

Ps. come back and talk with us.

Many Thanks for your replies

Many, many thanks for your excellent advice and insights. You can't imagine how helpful your words are and how much I appreciate you taking the time to share.

I'll be checking in daily to see if there are additional posts.

One gent said there were lots of military in TV.

Are their any F-100 or F-105 pilots out there?? (We who flew those birds have a kind of special bond.) The conversation usually starts with: when and where did you eject and how many times?

We have enjoyed every visit we have made to California. We've recently visited the Santa Cruz, San Jose, and Half Moon Bay areas between our journey to Hawaii. Actually departing California today heading east to TV to look at homes and and visit my father in Ocala.

I would visit The Villages in the summertime. It can be really hot and humid here for a person from California. Maybe you would like to retire in the San Francisco area, where it is always nice and cool and low humidity.

I got the later ones, the F-111. :smiley: Saw lots of F-100's and F-105 but was never a driver.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkrhardy (Post 557693)

I agree, I have had more mosquito bites in one day in Maine, than the 15 winters and one summer I have spent in and around TV.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PJOHNS2654 (Post 557324)

Lived in So. Cal. 41 years. Now live in TV 6m and 6 in New England (best of both worlds) Don't miss Ca. except for friends and family. Did spend one summer near TV. You get used to heat and humidity and take care of exercise or outdoor activities before noon. After So.Cal. The Villages is like moving back to the USA.

Take The LS Tour and after you fall in love with the LS. rent for a year before you make the final move.

I am thinking of renting for 6 months to a year, thanks for the advice