Fluther: What's the best place to get a good deal on a ...

What's the best place to get a good deal on a vacation property in Florida right now?

Asked by pallen123 (1519

) March 6th, 2010
8 responses
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Anyone have suggestions for places in Florida to get a good deal on a vacation property—condo, townhouse, or small house? We love Sanibel Island on the Gulf, so especially towns on the Gulf are of interest—but really anywhere that’s warm in the Winter we would consider. Definitely on the coast though. Ideally a place with a smaller town feel, but larger cities are fine.

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Topics: Florida, beach, islands

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Just about anywhere in Florida is bargain-basement right now! I can recommend Dunedin, Florida through personal knowledge; it’s a small town near the cities of Tampa and St. Petersburg, on the coast. The town itself is very cute and appealing yet there are amenities like multiplex movie theatres and ethnic restaurants handiliy nearby. There is a wonderful state park with a beach (Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Island) that is deemed one of the best in the country.

janbb (62858

)“Great Answer” (2

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@janbb hit it. Almost anyplace is a good buy right now. I am with you on loving the West coast of Florida.

marinelife (62485

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Be cautious though about vacancy rates and association fees. Depending on the situation, it can lead to pest control problems and insufficient upkeep of the property/development.

kevbo (25672

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I second @janbb with Dunedin. It’s the town closest to my favourite beach, Honeymoon Island.

Just a quick search on Dunedin Florida Real Estate shows everything from multi-million dollar mansions to a 1br/1ba trailer a few blocks from the beach for $12,000

Seek (34805

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Just a thought, but hopefully it will be helpful. Florida has been buffeted by hurricanes the past few years, which is one of the reasons real estate is extremely reasonable there. It’s basically a peninsula, and a narrow one at that, maybe 90 miles wide at the most. Hurricanes can be hundreds of miles across. Please be certain to consider the cost of homeowner’s insurance! It can raise your monthly payments considerably.

Kevbo made an important point. Florida also has major termite problems, along with certain types of ants that are really difficult to eradicate from your yard and home.

The ladies are right…...the gulf coast is more desirable than the Atlantic side. The waters are warmer, for one thing. These are things I would consider if I were looking at Florida real estate. Oh! And your taxes are lower there due to tourist dollars. It won’t make up for what you pay in insurance premiums, but it is worth mentioning.

phillis (8633

)“Great Answer” (1

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The Tampa area hasn’t been directly hit by a hurricane in over 80 years. That’s why I still live here.

Seek (34805

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Give it time :)

phillis (8633

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