[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Move in. Make friends with your neighbors, or at least be on friendly terms with them. All of them - front and back, each side, across the street. Learn which one (or two) you can trust the most with a key to your home, and leave them a copy in case of emergency (like if your water heater springs a leak) They can be your home watch, and it doesn't cost you a dime. Also leave at least one of them with a list of contact names/numbers. Yours, your landscape people, pesticide people, and an emergency contact in case you can't be reached. Also include your expected return date.

Keep your thermostat set to 84 when you're not home.

I don't know about all of them, but some internet services let you put your service on hold while you're away, and you don't have to pay for service or there might be a minimal charge just for continuation of the contract during that period of time.

Yard maintenance is mandatory, so you'll need someone to keep up with the lawn, shrubs, weeding, tree-pruning right before hurricane season, and outside pesticide.

Shut off the water inside your house, but don't cancel the service since you still have to water the lawn. Replace the batteries on your doorbell (if needed) and smoke/co2 alarms a month before you leave for your summer home.

[C. C. Rider]

Originally Posted by AZ SLIM

We own a rental villa in the village of Richmond. I keep detailed records. Annual expenses run about $14k. Includes taxes, bond, amenities, utilities, insurance, internet with streaming tv, and yard maintenance. It does not include a mortgage or a pool. It also doesn't include increased utility cost caused by the renters. The $14k is close to what it would cost if it sat vacant all year. I agree with the person who said that prices of everything are rising, even faster than inflation, so you might want to add some for future estimates. Bond payments vary greatly. You can view them somewhere on the CDD website. Your realtor should be able to provide the bond info by area.

It appears that you are not including the cost of "lost interest on your investment." If your house has a value of say $400,000 and it's just sitting unused, then it's costing you $16,000 per year (at 4%) just by having your money tied up in the house.

This "loss of interest" cost is in addition to all your other costs like taxes, maintenance, utilities, insurance, bond payments, etc. The only consolation is that your house MIGHT be appreciating in value at a rate that MIGHT offset your costs, but this is certainly not guaranteed.

Buying a house as a place to live and provide shelter for your family is a "no brainer" for most people. However, owning two houses and living in only one at a time is like having one sit empty all the time even if you move back and forth between houses. The only "saving grace" is if both houses continue to appreciate in value.

If we have a housing recession, which does happen from time to time, it can get quite expensive carrying the costs associated with having your money tied up in two places PLUS the cost of maintaining both places. With all the inflation we've had in housing in the past several years, a housing recession soon is certainly not out of the realm of possibility.

.

[Velvet]

Having a summer home and a winter home is not an investment in finances to some people. It provides an increased quality of life. Just as you would spend money on a trip or a vacation and not expect a financial rate of return from it, you can invest in a second home and not look for a rate of return on it. In my case the annual cost of my TV home is less than what I have spent regularly on winter vacations. Except I can actually live here.

And the question comes up, why the constant interest in making more money? Is it not that you get to spend it on a better life? Well, the better life for me is being in TV - this is what I have been saving my money for. I have been in many places in the world (perhaps too many) and this place happens to be my choice.

[Two Bills]

Originally Posted by Velvet

Having a summer home and a winter home is not an investment in finances to some people. It provides an increased quality of life. Just as you would spend money on a trip or a vacation and not expect a financial rate of return from it, you can invest in a second home and not look for a rate of return on it. In my case the annual cost of my TV home is less than what I have spent regularly on winter vacations. Except I can actually live here.

And the question comes up, why the constant interest in making more money? Is it not that you get to spend it on a better life? Well, the better life for me is being in TV - this is what I have been saving my money for. I have been in many places in the world (perhaps too many) and this place happens to be my choice.

I am convinced that the aim of quite a few posters, who seem to have a never ending passion for investment, returns, house values, is to be the richest person in the cemetery.
Personally, I hope I die owing a fortune to the banks and taxman, with absolutely no assets.

[MX rider]

Originally Posted by Two Bills

I am convinced that the aim of quite a few posters, who seem to have a never ending passion for investment, returns, house values, is to be the richest person in the cemetery.
Personally, I hope I die owing a fortune to the banks and taxman, with absolutely no assets.

Hell yeah!
My thoughts exactly. I joke with our kids that I hope the last check I write bounces. lol
We're not rich by any means but we have enough to live a fun and full life, which is exactly what we're doing. Making more money is nice, but not high on our list.

Snow birding for us was strictly a quality of life decision. Now becoming fulltime villagers will be the same.

[Ohiogirl]

Originally Posted by Smalley

I know folks have good reasons for continuing to be snowbirds. It took only one year for us to decide that we hated it. Having an empty house 12 months of the year; (either FL or VA), the hassle of travel back and forth, closing up the homes etc. So we sold our house in VA and we're now fixing up our villa here in TV and very pleased with the decision. I admire all the snowbirds who seem to do it effortlessly. Some enjoy the drive up north, stop to visit friends, for example.

Have been doing it for 14 years now, still enjoy best of both worlds. We are Florida residents so get homestead benefits but car insurance more in FL. Condo up north and courtyard villa (no grass) makes it easier. We make a vacation of it driving back and forth and also visit kids that we probably wouldn’t see as often otherwise as our kids are scattered. Lots of interesting towns in between that we make a point of searching out. Sometimes one or both make flying trip in between

[ElDiabloJoe]

Originally Posted by Ohiogirl

Have been doing it for 14 years now, still enjoy best of both worlds. We are Florida residents so get homestead benefits but car insurance more in FL. Condo up north and courtyard villa (no grass) makes it easier. We make a vacation of it driving back and forth and also visit kids that we probably wouldn’t see as often otherwise as our kids are scattered. Lots of interesting towns in between that we make a point of searching out. Sometimes one or both make flying trip in between

Have you considered bifurcating your residency? One of you remains a Florida resident and enjoys all the benefits to which that permits, whilst the other remains an Ohio resident and avails you to lower car insurance and any other benefits. Just a thought...

[tophcfa]

Originally Posted by La lamy

I used to be stressed out about my home when I left it, but having smart thermometers that I can control online and security cameras, I don't stress anymore!

If only smart devices could do the little things like plow a long driveway and shovel snow, mow lawns and fields, rake and blow leaves, cut up blown down trees, re-grade a washed out driveway, clean the septic system filter and have it periodically pumped, winterize and re-open all exterior plumbing, pull weeds, clean gutters, tune up oil burners, change the oil filter, and bleed the forced hot water heating system, split wood and clean out wood and pellet stoves, change whole house water filters, re-stain a log home every 5 years, power wash decking, put in and take out screens and window A/C units, fix/replace appliances, constantly fight to control pesky mice, chipmunks, carpenter ants and bees, skunks, porcupines, raccoons, etc…, trim landscaping, winterize vehicles and then clean out mice nests and dead mice from the HVAC system each spring, juggle getting mail between homes, maintain a tractor, zero turn mower, push mower, chain saws, leaf blowers, weed wackers, ATV’s, etc…. Thats just quickly off the top of my head, the list goes on and on and is never ending, and that’s just for the northern home. The Florida home maintenance is a piece of cake in comparison.

[Papa_lecki]

Originally Posted by tophcfa

If only smart devices could do the little things like plow a long driveway and shovel snow, mow lawns and fields, rake and blow leaves, cut up blown down trees, re-grade a washed out driveway, clean the septic system filter and have it periodically pumped, winterize and re-open all exterior plumbing, pull weeds, clean gutters, tune up oil burners, change the oil filter, and bleed the forced hot water heating system, split wood and clean out wood and pellet stoves, change whole house water filters, re-stain a log home every 5 years, power wash decking, put in and take out screens and window A/C units, fix/replace appliances, constantly fight to control pesky mice, chipmunks, carpenter ants and bees, skunks, porcupines, raccoons, etc…, trim landscaping, winterize vehicles and then clean out mice nests and dead mice from the HVAC system each spring, juggle getting mail between homes, maintain a tractor, zero turn mower, push mower, chain saws, leaf blowers, weed wackers, ATV’s, etc…. Thats just quickly off the top of my head, the list goes on and on and is never ending, and that’s just for the northern home. The Florida home maintenance is a piece of cake in comparison.

That’s why you downsize to a townhome or condo up north.

[Tustin714]

Originally Posted by Two Bills

Personally, I hope I die owing a fortune to the banks and taxman, with absolutely no assets.

To steal a comment I heard somewhere (perhaps Ocean's 13 ) I plan on having my last check bounce!

[LeRoySmith]

O.o

[LeRoySmith]

In my opinion anyone who wants to saddle society with their own irresponsible financial practices thinks like an irresponsible spoiled child. Who do you think will pick up that debt you want to leave behind? If you don't pay your share of tax who picks up your share?

Some of us want to pay our way, leave no debt and help our children, other close relative or worthy cause out in life. But maybe that just me, crazy me thinking of someone other than myself.

[Velvet]

Originally Posted by LeRoySmith

In my opinion anyone who wants to saddle society with their own irresponsible financial practices thinks like an irresponsible spoiled child. Who do you think will pick up that debt you want to leave behind? If you don't pay your share of tax who picks up your share?

Some of us want to pay our way, leave no debt and help our children, other close relative or worthy cause out in life. But maybe that just me, crazy me thinking of someone other than myself.

That is noble of you and it sounds like an altruistic idea. However, many of us have spent a lifetime in the service of others and now finally retire to a bit of me time to enjoy the fruits of our labors. So hell, no! I don’t feel guilty having a bit of fun.

[LeRoySmith]

Originally Posted by Velvet

That is noble of you and it sounds like an altruistic idea. However, many of us have spent a lifetime in the service of others and now finally retire to a bit of me time to enjoy the fruits of our labors. So hell, no! I don’t feel guilty having a bit of fun.

I think you misunderstood me or I misspoke, I didn't say I'm not having fun or that anyone else shouldn't have fun. Infact if you read some of my posts it's all about having fun with your few remaining days. I have 3 houses and 1 of them is in the villages. I vacation full time. But I'm not looking to leave any debt, I'm planning to leave my 3 children as much as I can (without me or my wife having to do without). So yes, absolutely enjoy your short remaining time, but please don't glamorize leaving a bunch of debt in your wake.

[MX rider]

Originally Posted by LeRoySmith

I think you misunderstood me or I misspoke, I didn't say I'm not having fun or that anyone else shouldn't have fun. Infact if you read some of my posts it's all about having fun with your few remaining days. I have 3 houses and 1 of them is in the villages. I vacation full time. But I'm not looking to leave any debt, I'm planning to leave my 3 children as much as I can (without me or my wife having to do without). So yes, absolutely enjoy your short remaining time, but please don't glamorize leaving a bunch of debt in your wake.

I agree with Velvet. Spend it while you can and live the dream. Lifes short and we all choose our way to live it. There's no right or wrong. But I think the statement about taxes and debt was tongue in cheek.