Thinking of relocating
 

I now live in Illinois...after this last winter I really think I would like to sell here and move to warmer clime......am retired so income is not macmansion size, am thinking maybe mobile home park, or condo, townhouse...low outside maintenance as now have large ranch house with lots of landscaping, pool.....want someone else to worry about this stuff, yet want a nice secure living area close to " things"... Need three bdrms - 2 baths....have relatives in Tampa and Sedona......so maybe Arizona or Florida.......so tell me about where you are......need some guidance here other than real estate agents......

Check out The Villages in Florida! 😃

I like north Alabama or north Georgia. Florida and arizona are too hot for me. That said I don't recommend Atlanta, the traffic is horrible.

I've loved in AZ now since 1976, and know that Sedona is pretty priicey, but just north of Phoenix about 1hr, 30 min. is Prescott - it is a very nice town, runs cooler that Phx in summer and it can get a little snow, but it never lasts. We live in Flagstaff during the summer months, and if we ever leave there we would buy a place in Prescott. I don't know anything about Fla, except that it is very humid. Humidity just does me in, so that would never be a place I would choose to live. Good luck in your decision:)

I would suggest relocating to be near a younger member of the family. I am in a senior low cost housing and it is so nice not to have to worry about any maintenance.

We snowbird in AZ, we're retired and older, and we chose a town where we knew people who lived there already - friends and family by marriage. When you are older, having people nearby that you know is really a good thing. We live in a mobile home park, lots of activities, lots of interaction, very low maintenance.

I would chose one of the places where there are people you know. I don't know about the weather during the summer in Tampa but I assume it's humid. In AZ it's not humid but it gets really really hot. If you don't mind running your errands late at night or early in the morning and staying in during the day for a couple months, than AZ might be a good choice.

I live in Florida, between Tampa and Orlando. I have been in Florida for about 15 years. As long as you are not concerned about the occasional hurricane, Florida is nice and warm most of the year - the temperature varies by about 20 degrees for the most of the year. However, I recommend that you seriously research and talk to people who live coastal in Florida who have lived through hurricanes in mobile homes. Having worked in insurance claims for over 26 years, I don't recommend that particular scenario. Even though it might only be occasional, the one time it occurs can be devastating. I might be jaded from being in that business for so long - otherwise, Florida is an AWESOME place to live! Come on down!

I'm sure it's changed a lot since I lived there, but I would second Prescott as a great place to live.

I live in coastal Florida north of Tampa - Citrus County - where the threat of hurricane is minimal. They just never come to this part. It is rural with horse and cattle farms, smaller towns. It is called the Nature Coast because of the springs, rivers and wildlife. Tampa is about an hour away. Traffic is non congested even in the winter. I do not live in a flood plain area so not only don't have to worry about floods but I don't have to buy flood insurance. It does get hot in the summer but that's what air conditioning is for. Housing is affordable. There are planned communities that include lawn care etc, mobile home parks, senior housing, condos and such but you won't find high rises or high density like you find in other areas.

You might want to consider renting for a few months in each area to see what you are most comfortable with. There are plenty of furnished places to rent by the month.

Go to where to where your youngest, most loved, friends or relatives are. If you end up with older folks, you could end up a caretaker before you know it. I want to be with younger folks that could end up taking care of me, but you got to love them and them you.

Next, compare homes near (within 15 to 20 minutes) where they live with prices of real estate. Zillow is a good website for that. http://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sale...ct/10_zm/1_fr/

I'm sure the areas where you are going have websites. Check out all the good things they say about their areas. Then read the local papers or find the local news to find out the bad.

Next, go visit for a week or two in the summer and in the winter. While there, ask some very pointed questions about utility costs and taxes. Being with your friends and family for two weeks will tell you how busy they are and if you will see them as much as you thought you might.

Check the quilt guilds and quilt shops in the area you thinking you are relocating in. Might give you a chance to make extra money or a great place to make new friends.

I live on the Gulf Coast. We get colder winters than most of Florida, but have the heat & humidity in the summer. Some of the bugs we have down here will make a grown man scream and panic. There is always yard work here, even in the dead of winter. Mild climates make very good weed zones and let you have a longer growing season for beautiful flowers or vegetables, if that's your thing. A lot of Florida has a breeze all the time, which makes everything tolerable. I've been to several areas of Arizona in the summer. Down in the desert is just plain HOT. Up in the mountains is delightful in the summer months but can have a lot of snow at times.

Edited to add: Being curious, I looked at the temps today on Accuweather. It's 39 degrees right now in Sedona and will be a high of 64 today. That tells me it probably has a much colder winter than I, being a very southern gal, could tolerate. It's 68 degrees here today and will be somewhere in the 80's today with more rain. I am wondering if God thinks all of us in Louisiana have duck feet, because we sure have gotten some rain lately. Seriously, what is the water bill in Sedona? My uncle lived in Pinetop which was up in the mountains. Long, snowy winters (they are milder now) and cool, dry summers. I remember him telling me his water bill was $75 a month, years ago, and they actually recycled the wash & rinse water in their clothes washing machines.

I would think about what kind of atmosphere you like. Being originally from the south, transplanted to Alaska for 10 years, I love big tress and lush foliage. The 2 years I lived in the desert were not for me. I'm now in north central Florida, where we are protected from hurricanes. I love all my big tree and plants, and my garden. Just something to think about.

Lots of good advice here, especially about renting in an area for awhile before deciding. And living near a younger relative. Many folks here have no family nearby. So age is a factor. Enjoy your search!

I like cooler weather, an oddity I know. I live outside St. Louis and hate the hot, humid summers. I don't mind the sometimes cold winters. We have two kids and a Granddaughter (like a Daughter) within minutes from us. I love having them so close.

Check out Dunedin Florida. It is a beautiful community on the gulf. There are no large corporate stores, just locals. It also has the distinction of having the largest quilt shop in the state of Florida, Rainbow's End.

I live in a 55+ community in Leesburg, FL. Have been here 3 years. We are about 1 1/2 - 2 hrs from either the Gulf or the ocean. It is halfway between Orlando and Ocala, and 20 miles south of The Villages. It is a beautiful area, close enough to shopping, but still with a country feel. I can go out the back gate and see the cows that I love. One thing I love about this community is that almost everyone is from somewhere else. It is very easy to make friends and create a new "family". My kids say that they can tell that this has been the best move for us. The bad weather seems to go all around us. Our insurance rates are lower than if we lived closer to the coast. Try googling 55+ communities in central Florida to get an idea of the many communities that are available.

The Villages aren't cheap. My daughter lives next to the Villages and while they have everything you could want they are pricey. There are areas in Central FL that are very nice but no where near as expensive. Just remember too, humidity in FL is a killer in the summer. I lived in the Orlando area for 50 years until we moved to NC about 6 years ago. Love the weather here except for the winter. But changes made to the NC income tax last year really hurt seniors. Something to consider too. FL has no state income tax.

Lots to do here in South Texas but if you want to be near family then that's where you should be. Winters are short, couple weeks may get close to freezing. Very little snow. Beautiful views of the bay. Your needs will depend on price no matter where you go. A real estate agent no matter where you go will be your best bet. They have a lot more access to properties. Real estate agents go local and to the state and Washington D.C. to help fight for the rights of homeowners. They really are your best guide.

Just wanted to let you know, we are having a cold front moving thru (they make most of our weather), so it will be normal tomorrow! But do check out the utility bills, it may or maynot be a shock. As for heat, I just consider the snow back East in the winter balances the heat we have in the summer, sometimes, you just have to stay indoors. I will take heat over snow any day.

I've lived in CA all my life but I've traveled around a bit. For me, having access to the ocean is a must, I can't imagine living in a land-locked state. I love the pacific northwest; DH & I are considering moving north, either further north into CA, or up into Oregon. I love the lush ruggedness of the northern coast, and I love wet weather; it makes my heart happy. :)

Carmen, I've wintered in Dunedin, FL for the past 3 years and it's beautiful. Where I stay, in a 55 or over park, is just 2 miles away from Rainbows End, great quilt shop. There is also Country Quilts and Bears, and also Happy Apple Quilts about 10 minutes away. Everything you want retail is within 15-20 minutes away. Big mall and theatre just down rte 508 10 minutes away from the park I stay in. Bealls outlet is right across the street along with Dollar Tree and a bag free discount grocery store, also restaurants, liquor store, etc. The quaint town of Dunedin is where all the locally owned stores are and a short walk to the piers where the charter boats are moored. They have farmers market once a week on the common and also craft faire's a few times a year so you have the best of both worlds. I'm looking to buy in that park now after being there for the past 3 years.

We are retired and live just south of Houston, Texas. We bought a mobile home in a RV park in Harlingen TX (south Texas) in November to use as a get away home. We have been very pleased with both the park and the climate. Property taxes are very reasonable and our electricity is provided by an electric coop which makes it also reasonable. You might want to try several different areas to see if you are compatible with weather, medical facilities, and people and then make a decision to pick the one you like best. Many of the RV parks have excellent activities for park residents. Don't just jump in and buy the first place you see. Often after the peak of "winter texans" the prices of different facilities drop. If you have any friends at a particular area talk to them about the pros and cons of the area.
We have a son in Arizona, but for us the temperature is too extreme.

Good advice about checking out the weather in the most extreme time of the year!
There is a very good senior "mobile" park just outside city limits of Tucson..http://www.rinconcountry.com/west-park/home/.. rent a unit there in SUMMER to see how you take the weather. The activity schedule the rest of the year is just excellent in my opinion..we rent there during winter months and we are also from Illinois. It is a quiet and friendly place with lots of park models to rent or to buy if you decide to do that.

We too live in Citrus County, and there are places here that are nice. Villages can be costly, and not sure about the yard work. A lot of the Sr. mobile home parks have most outside maintenance done and we have a lot of IL people here, including my DH. A lot of the parks have quilting groups-and while summer can be hot (it can up north too, and Ft. Worth is very hot is summer time) and some nights in winter cold, we have great AC and 85% of the time it is lovely here. Green, lakes and rivers and good Dr's, nice people and we are about -1 hour from Cargo at Tampa Airport down the toll road, we ship pups from there sometimes. We do not have much problems with Hurricanes here, do sometimes get lots of rain, sometimes it is dryer. You need to take a trip and see what it here. There are lots of mobile homes in Tampa Bay area and here, and some are good sized and have pools, hot tubs and other nice activities. You need to make a few trips and check out the areas.

We retired to a mobile home community in Dania Beach Florida(5 miles from Fort Lauderdale).there are 800 mobile homes here and you own your own land. We have a golf course,2 lakes for fishing,huge heated pool,spa,exercise room,small bowling alley,coffee shop, beauty shop, and large club room.There are a lot of activities to join.We are about 10 minutes from the airport and the port for cruise ships.We pay only $70.per month for maintenance and the taxes are very reasonable.We love it here and like living in a mobile home.Make sure if you decide to get a mobile home you are able to buy your lot instead of renting,that can get expensive and the parks are sometimes not as nice.

I agree on one thing - DO NOT move very far from your family or close relatives. It's very difficult and long travel time if you are far - worse if you have a physical ailment.
Dodee

I live in Tucson and love it. Some nice quilt shops and home are reasonable. If you want to be closer to Sedona try surprise , az. A lot to do there and close to Phoenix.

I live in Tucson and love it. Some nice quilt shops and home are reasonable. If you want to be closer to Sedona try surprise , az. A lot to do there and close to Phoenix.i am at rincon country west Rv resort and there are a lot of quilters and quilt shops in the area.

We live just south of Phoenix and love the southwest. It is relatively inexpensive, compared to many places. There are many mobile home parks and much to do nearby. It is hot in the summer, but everything is air conditioned and we don't have to shovel the sunshine! People are friendly and there are guilds and sewing groups . Come check out AZ!

oh this michigan lady would love to live someplace warm in the winter, and to be able to get out and walk in the winter would be awsome. half the kids live in n.c now. around raleigh. to me the temperature there is the best year round. a couple really hot months in the summer, but that is what air conditioning is for. and lights on the car to shop early and/or late.

Be sure and check the land rent in some mobile home parks. Most owners of parks make a killing on land rents because they are independent and not under the government's umbrella.

Used to live in central and south Ca. Weather is perfect but traffic and cost is bad.
Have lived in AZ for many years. To hot in the desert areas and to expensive in Prescott.
I live in Clay Springs AZ which is 17 miles outside Show Low. Pine tree country but not much snow. In fact the forrest is very dry for the last couple of years.
It is windy a lot but love it here. It gets cold in the winter but not a lot of snow so no problems getting in and out to the highway.

Check out South Carolina. Great climate and friendly people. Lots of history and a lot of mobile home living.

If were too move anywhere south of Wisconsin, which I never will, it would be in the Carolinas.

I live in Largo FL just down the road from Dunedin, between Clearwater and St. Pete, across the bridge from Tampa. I also recommend being near family. We vacationed out west, including AZ- some people like the dry- I'll take wrinkle reducing humidity any time! AZ was beautiful but I'm not one who could live in the desert and dry heat. Dunedin is a very nice area- there are several areas in Pinellas, Pasco or Hillsburough counties that might interest you, some more expensive than others. There are great quilt shops, guilds and quilt shows in this area and very varied areas close by, so lots to do, see and experience. Tampa airport is currently rated #3 in the world for on time flights, customer satisfaction and amenities- they are building on & shooting for #1. Classes and educational experiences of all types, art, museums, theater, concerts of all genres- churches with very active senior groups, parks, recreation, service opportunities- you want it it's around here someplace! Oh, except for snow and cold. They make manufactured snow at Christmas at a few places, and an outdoor skating rink at Christmas. It's not Rockefeller Center-but what else is? And you can always visit up north to get a fall or snow fix. Come check out the area and your family, we may just be the right fit :thumbup: