4 Bedroom Home - Good Schools / Good Town - Walking Distance To Beach - Where is it in FL?? - The Hull Truth

JasonG · 05-10-2007, 12:18 AM

The title pretty much says it all. The wife and I agree that we can come down there from New England ( Just stop it right there Yankee Haters, I am a FL native originally ).

Help me out, where is this "place"? She has visited New Syrmna Beach a few times ( Bad spelling, I know ) and likes it. Seems kind of quiet, though. Job is not a concern as we work from home.

We have school age kids. Not looking for a city, not looking for a typical mass produced "on the grid" homes that no one can sell in S. Florida. Being near the beach ( 5 min walk at the most ) is a must. We like to boat so some sort of nearby boating facility, launch ramp, marina, etc.

Need a 4 bedroom home, up to 350k or reasonable to rent. No preference at this point as long as it isnt swap land, run down, trailer parks, etc. We like the Carribean / tourist lifestlye of the keys, but we know that is not a realistic location.

I am not looking for specifics, so real estate agents, please dont post all kinds of listings. I am trying to get a feeling for different areas.

Thanks for the input!

Jason

Brett1 · 05-10-2007, 12:32 AM

I live in NSB. Drop me a phone numbetr via PM and I will give you some insight!

Brett

rkatz · 05-10-2007, 01:30 AM

Check out the Naples area.

kanawshawler · 05-10-2007, 08:44 AM

Naples is certainly a beautiful area, and your wife will probably love it, but walking distance to the beach will go well beyond 350k. The median home price in Collier is 390K or so.

CaptainRob · 05-10-2007, 09:06 AM

Check out the area between Stuart and Jupiter. Great fishing, not too built up...and should be able to find a home in your price range pretty close to the beach. Maybe not walking distance, but a short car ride. Great offshore and inshore fishing...and the area is growing...so in a few years, property will be much more than what you are buying it for.

BigFun · 05-10-2007, 03:16 PM

There are plenty of older block 2BR 1200 to 1400 SF home 5 minutes walking distance to a beach on the West Coast, but for four bedrooms, double your price. You should rent first anyway. The real estate market is soft, not dead.

JasonG · 05-10-2007, 04:00 PM

That is a thought that I had, to rent. The market still seems to be coming down. But are rental prices as high as a mortgage?

kanawshawler · 05-10-2007, 04:20 PM

Its a good time to rent. A lot of people are holding spec homes/ homes for investment etc will appreciate help with taxes, insurance, and mortgage.

JasonG · 05-10-2007, 05:27 PM

I can only imagine with the way the market was over the past 4-5 years that a mortgage exceeded the cost of renting.

rstrick · 05-10-2007, 05:34 PM

Try Sebastian. A nice quiet little town. Close to boat ramps and also Sebastian Inlet for easy offshore access.

captkeven · 05-10-2007, 06:26 PM

check Melbourne beach or Indiatlantic near Melbourne and Cocoa Beach

liv2float · 05-10-2007, 06:49 PM

Well I live on an island in Ft. Myers and dearly love the water and scene here' although it is a 10 min. boat ride to the beach @ sanabel/captiva. I have a friend that lives on ft. myers beach and you could probably find the price near the beach,off the water your looking for but make sure to visit P.I. Good luck

JasonG · 05-11-2007, 04:45 PM

I have heard about Venice & the west coast..... any input there?

BigFun · 05-11-2007, 05:26 PM

On the west coast, the beach front is generally three counties, Pinellas, Sarasota and Manatee, after that its mangroves, and for the life of me, I cannot picture a 4 bedroom house walking distance to the beach for under 650k. Thre are older condos and small 2br homes around 350k in walking distance. By the way, whats the cost of a 4 BR waterfront home in New England?

Flot · 05-11-2007, 06:03 PM

My parents live in venice (and for that matter my dad is a realtor there) and the house next to theirs is listed for $400k and it is literally a 1 block walk down the street to the private beach.

Unfortunately the house is 2 bedrooms and maybe 1000 sq ft.

Also unfortunately, while it's a nice place to boat, and I love the water - the median age has got to be 70, and "not much to do" would be quite an understatement.

The mortage/rental thing is way out of whack. Most of the houses on their street should be worth an honest $400-600k but some are renting for under $1500/month.

Honestly I'd be amazed if you can find a 4 bedroom house in walking distance from the beach for 350k, anywhere. I'd be happy to find a shack on a canal for that price.

JasonG · 05-11-2007, 08:46 PM

Quote:

BigFun - 5/11/2007 4:26 PM

By the way, whats the cost of a 4 BR waterfront home in New England?

It really depends on where you are. I am in Raymond, NH, which is a on the country side. 4 bedroom, 3000 sq ft home, 1 acre is $ 350-400k new. But a 20 minute drive south to londonderry nh will tack it at over $ 450-550k. Northern Mass ( Tewksbury, Andover) , easily $ 600-700k. A million dollar home is not uncommon on a lot the suize of a postage stamp in some areas.

Jason

JasonG · 05-11-2007, 08:49 PM

Quote:

BigFun - 5/11/2007 4:26 PM

By the way, whats the cost of a 4 BR waterfront home in New England?

It really depends on where you are. I am in Raymond, NH, which is a on the country side. 4 bedroom, 3000 sq ft home, 1 acre is $ 350-400k new. But a 20 minute drive south to londonderry nh will tack it at over $ 450-550k. Northern Mass ( Tewksbury, Andover) , easily $ 600-700k. A million dollar home is not uncommon on a lot the size of a postage stamp in some areas.

Jason

JasonG · 05-11-2007, 08:53 PM

Correction - I didnt see WATERFRONT on that last post. Same type of home on Lake Winnipesaukee, easily $ 1 million + with a postage lot. With an acre, 2+ million. A run down 500 sq foot shack that I wouldnt let my dog sleep in would sell for $ 250k with a 1/8 acre.

BigFun · 05-11-2007, 11:13 PM

Exactly my point. Why should a beachfront house in Florida be such a bargain. You can actually use these beaches year round. Florida prices, especially waterfront, have finally caught up with the rest of the east coast. Now is the time to rent until you find an area you like. You have about two years to find a 4 br house or but 2 small houses, knock them down and build a McMansion. That, however, ruins the beach charm.

JasonG · 05-12-2007, 10:35 AM

Understood, but I didnt say i was looking for a bargain, but I am looking for the lesser expensive areas. Also, I am not looking for waterfront. I am looking for beach access/5-10 minute walking distance. A walking distance home to Lake Winiipesaukee that is 3000 sq ft, 4 bedroom is $ 250-325k with 1 acre. Near the ocean ( unless it is a well to do town ) is a bit more than my posts above, but not in the millions. It really depends on the region. If the lake is right, you can get a shack for $ 50k. It is all relative.

Jason