Best Place For Second Home / Stuart,SW FL, or Keys? - The Hull Truth

mbenzing · 11-24-2008, 02:51 PM

Hey all. It's been awhile since I have been here, but a few days out of Cudjoe has refueled my need for fishing after a couple of years nonstop at the helm of the business. Anyway, I have always wanted a house in Florida on the water. I would like to find a canal home with good access to open water. Getting there is one of my biggest concerns. My regional aiport (10 minutes from my home) services Tampa, Fort Myers, and Fort Lauderdale directly and usually fairly cheaply. It is also a relatively easy trip through Atlanta to Key West. I am young (ish) and single, so an area with a decent nightlife would be good. Nothing crazy, just good restaurants, etc.

Please give any opinions on where you would choose and why. I picked the three areas with convenience in mind and also because I have spent some time in the Stuart area and the Key. Also my dad recently moved to Sarasota, so it would be nice to get relatively close to him.

Budget is 500 to 600K. Thanks in advance for any advice you give. Who knows, maybe one or two of you know of a good deal out there that meets my needs.

bstnsportsfan · 11-24-2008, 05:40 PM

I will speak up for the area in which I live Stuart and you can get a lot of home for 500-600k with the market the way it is. But then again, anywhere in FL the market is in the buyers favor. There are a lot of foreclosures in the area and you may be able to find a waterfront gem in your price range. Stuart is a very nice town and also known as the Sailfish Capital. Fishing is excellent, night life may need some help but your only 25 minutes to West Palm Beach which does have some night life. SW Florida is also very nice and I am sure members will be able to tell you about that area.

mbenzing · 11-24-2008, 05:47 PM

Thanks Chris.

lobsdiver1 · 11-25-2008, 03:13 PM

Hard to say. I live near Stuart in Jupiter and have a second home at Ramrod Key. SW Florida is also very nice. I think you will get more for your money right now in the Lower Keys vs. Stuart but hard to say what the longer term real estate will do in each area. Definitely, a lot more industry around Stuart. Sounds like you are talking a vacation or winter home. I would pick the Keys if fishing and diving are your number one activity. Regardless of the weather, you have the ocean side and gulf side. You have Key West for night life and some good local places throughout the Keys. In Stuart or SW Florida, you have a lot more options for activities outside of fishing. Tough Decision. Good Luck. I don't think you will go wrong with any of those choices. Either way, 4 hours drive can get you to the Keys or vice-versa.

gofish36 · 11-25-2008, 09:46 PM

I would have to agree with lobsdiver about the Lower Keys. There are endless options from offshore to back country fishing and some of the best diving in the Keys. Key West is a short drive and alot of great resturants. I had a place in Palm City and now a place in Little Torch Key as a 2nd home and IMO no comparison.

mbenzing · 11-25-2008, 11:45 PM

Definitely talking about a Winter home. I am in the bridge construction business and it slows a little here in the N.E. in the winter. With technology nowadays I can work Jan/Feb remotely and still be effective- and FL is close enough to get home if a major problem starts brewing.
gofish36- that is the PERFECT Keys house. Very nice. I may have interest in renting for a month in January into February if it is available. You can email me at mbenzing@benzingco.com with openings.

gofish36 · 11-26-2008, 07:21 AM

Thanks- January and the 1st week of February are all ready rented, another point is you can rent the house when you are not there and have it pay for itself if you like. I would suggest renting in both areas and see which you prefer.

29 NORTH · 11-28-2008, 01:36 PM

If you want a winter home, I would seriously think of a water front Condo with dockage or with easy access to a high and dry marina, you will need a place to keep your boat when you are not in FL any way. There must be many and I do mean many such Condo's available right now, every where in the state. For night life Miami come to mind along with Ft Lauderdale, well it used to be good, years ago, and I'm sure there are housing deals there or close buy. Biggest problem with my suggestions is finding a Marina, many have or are being sold for condos. I love the Keys, but unless it is Key West, not a great deal of night life and driving after a few or too many adult beverages on US 1 could be hazardous to you health. Miami, etc. will have cabs readily available for those evenings.

I might add the Tampa area also but the fishing is just SO SO much of the time. Still the Keys for fishing is the best.

billinstuart · 11-30-2008, 06:35 AM

The Stuart area doesn't have the crime problem most of south Florida is burdened with. If you want "old Florida", Stuart still has that feel. If you want "new" Florida, look elsewhere.

mbenzing · 11-30-2008, 07:24 AM

Thanks Bill. Old Florida or the Keys is what I am looking for. I really like the Stuart area. I think it is between their and the lower keys right now. Is there a particular area within Stuart that you feel is best?

sanchoco · 11-30-2008, 08:28 AM

There is no old florida left. All the Yanks have destroyed that.

billinstuart · 11-30-2008, 02:43 PM

Benz, depends on what water you want to be close to. Ocean, it's Manatee Pocket or Rocky Point. St. Lucie River, it's Palm City. I'm on willoughby Creek, but there's nothing available here right now.

29 NORTH · 12-01-2008, 05:24 AM

Quote:

sanchoco - 11/30/2008 8:28 AM

There is no old florida left. All the Yanks have destroyed that.

Yes there is some Old Florida left, like Yankeetown, Swannee, Steinhatchee etc. Problem is fishing is so so, it is cool to cold in the winter, and hot in summer, and with Noseeums year round. No night life to speak of, well maybe Cedar Key has some if you can call it that. But still a little bit of Old Florida, better see it soon, after the economic crisis, it could be gone, developers had tried to get a foothold in just before the crisis.

JohnnyR · 12-01-2008, 05:45 PM

I just moved to Marco Island last month. Can't say enough great things about this place. Sub tropical, great fishing, great beaches, one hour to Fort Myers Airport, no crime at all. Until recnetly it was just too expensive to buy here. However, things have changed dramatically in the RE market here. I bought a foreclosure at about half of what it sold for a few years ago. Keep in mind if you're going North for the summer it makes a lot of sense to get as far south as you can. It's about ten degrees warmer here in the winter than North FL. Good luck with your search.

Johnny

Judd · 12-04-2008, 12:36 PM

I second that JohnnyR...I've been in Southwest Florida for 24 years ranging from Marco Island into Naples and now just north in Bonita Springs. Awesome climate, minimal crime, great fishing...and you're going to find some phenomenal deals in the 500-600K range!

Team Balla's Steakhouse · 12-05-2008, 05:30 AM

I live in Clearwater.(15 mind from TIA). I live 5 mins from the gulf. Fueldocks are right aroun the bend & Boat ramp is just only 3 miles away. There are alot of condo, townhoused are for sale & Cheap. Right around $500k with wet slips!...Yes Tampa has Alot of nightlife. Probably 2nd in line after MIA. Excellent resturants everywhere on the beach. ButEast coasts fishing is probably better for billfish.

lazydawg · 12-05-2008, 01:37 PM

Fishing - Keys
Nightlife and Dating??? The following is a quote from a local web site:

"[Body Odor] My newly single sister just moved down here to get a change after a bitter divorce. Wow, I never realized how difficult it is being single in the Keys. I appreciate my husband more each time I talk to my sister about single life. Her divorce was final in mid September and after a month of being alone she decided it's time to date again and it is tough. Guys, please, a shower will make you a lot more desirable to the ladies. Lesson two, it's not sexy to pass out drunk on the first date. Lesson three, fish bait is not a cologne. This isn't a male bashing post. I had a male co-worker who was single too and he told me many stories about the women he met here. They weren't any better. Too bad he met someone before my sister dumped the jack ass."

The next day was a response from a guy who had similar issues with meeting "regular women".

Was just in Stuart/Port St Lucie area and must say if I was single I'd be there or in the Ft Lauderdale area and not the Keys. And don't think the Keys are old Florida, as the ridiculously large size on the New Banks sign on the Corner of US1 and Key Deer Blvd that was just installed goes to show that "local" planners who allowed it don't have any idea what "TACKY" is.

mbenzing · 12-05-2008, 05:41 PM

Quote:

lazydawg - 12/5/2008 1:37 PM

Fishing - Keys
Nightlife and Dating??? The following is a quote from a local web site:

"[Body Odor] My newly single sister just moved down here to get a change after a bitter divorce. Wow, I never realized how difficult it is being single in the Keys. I appreciate my husband more each time I talk to my sister about single life. Her divorce was final in mid September and after a month of being alone she decided it's time to date again and it is tough. Guys, please, a shower will make you a lot more desirable to the ladies. Lesson two, it's not sexy to pass out drunk on the first date. Lesson three, fish bait is not a cologne. This isn't a male bashing post. I had a male co-worker who was single too and he told me many stories about the women he met here. They weren't any better. Too bad he met someone before my sister dumped the jack ass."

The next day was a response from a guy who had similar issues with meeting "regular women".

Was just in Stuart/Port St Lucie area and must say if I was single I'd be there or in the Ft Lauderdale area and not the Keys. And don't think the Keys are old Florida, as the ridiculously large size on the New Banks sign on the Corner of US1 and Key Deer Blvd that was just installed goes to show that "local" planners who allowed it don't have any idea what "TACKY" is.

Haha. Sounds like I may stand a fighting chance in the Keys!!!!!

Capt Bill Welder · 12-05-2008, 05:57 PM

My wife and I have been living in the lower keys for 10 years.
Question:
What do you call a good looking woman in Key West??

Answer:
A tourist

Judd · 12-06-2008, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Capt Bill Welder - 12/5/2008 4:57 PM

My wife and I have been living in the lower keys for 10 years.
Question:
What do you call a good looking woman in Key West??

Answer:
A tourist