[ajbrown]

Originally Posted by Rag ******

Another thing to keep in mind if you buy in TV and decide you really don't like having a Florida home selling here has been fast and financially painless. This is one of the few places in the country you can still make money on a recently purchased ( 2 or 3 year old) home.

That's just my observation, no proof available from me.

The street I live on has 16 homes and has no rentals. There are 11 full timers, 2 snowbirds (including us at Oct - June), 2 snow flakes and one for sale. There was one time this year where not a single abutting neighbor was here, including across the street, but the neighbor hood still bustles. Lwns mowed, people walking and talking......

As far as renters? Would I like a new neighbor every week? Hmmmm, I do enjoy meeting folks and would not mind. The down side is you never get to know them. I enjoy knowing someone more than people coming and going, i.e., picking up on a conversation from a week ago, knowing their interests, families, etc is more fun IMO. That said, if I had a nasty neighbor I would change my mind

As far as real estate holding its value, I wish that were true and I am sure folks have real data but I can tell you from my direct experience. My neighbor bought a larger home in TV and has his home on the market. Like us they bought in the spring of 07. They paid $257 and added about $16 in enhancements (pavers, closed in lanai, landscape, etc)

It is not selling at $229. I tell people, if you wish to invest well, just watch me and do the opposite!

Financial hindsight being what it is, I am still very happy to own my home in TV. IMO now is great time to buy, or upgrade to a larger home. Before you do, please see my comment about about my financial opinion.

[Annabelle]

Thanks again to all who replied. I appreciate all of your comments. They are helping me learn more about TV.
I can see that hubby and I really need to spend more time in TV as well during various seasons of the year.

This way we will be able to decide if we want to live full time in TV or maintain a home there for winter vacations and keep our current home for the summer months.

A big decision especially if we want to live in TV year round. So many things to consider. Glad we have a few years before we make the decision.

I am looking forward to visiting TV this October (2010) for a few weeks and I will be a more frequent visitor on this forum over the coming months.

Annabelle

[sschuler1]

Annabelle - my hubby and I were going through the same decision making process that you are going through about two years ago. We couldn't afford to keep two houses, but we didn't know if we wanted to keep the house in Michigan near our daughter and grandchildren and rent in Florida during the winter months. Or buy in Florida and rent in Michigan during the summer months. We are soooo glad that we decided to sell the house in Michigan and move here full time. (And our summer expedition up to Michigan will probably be for only a couple of weeks instead!) We were bored at our house in Michigan. Everyone around us was working and there was nothing to do. We maybe got to see the grandkids on the weekend if the daughter didn't have something better to do! We were becoming couch potatos! Not here!!!! Our calendar is so full.....we have never been this busy just playing. Now we see the grandkids every week on Skype, and then we can go back to our fun!

[2BNTV]

Annabelle:
I don't believe a saw at thread that mentioned a lucheon held every third Friday of the month at Crispers and people from TOTV meet there.

As usual, you got great advice. I don't think anyone who makes an effort at making friends will ever feel disconnected from their community.

Best of luck.