Community Forums

Teamfoxy · 03-20-2018, 07:01 AM

In our area of Florida, you can rent long term RV space for about $500-600 a month. One or two months in high season can be more like $1000 a month. In a park in the area where the lots are owned, the asking prices are running in the ranges of $70-80k. Taxes, utilities and HOA would add another $7k per year.

In our town, we are allowed to store an RV along side the house and there are plenty of places in Florida that allow you to do that. We stay in FL for part of the year and travel several months at a time. We used to have an RV that we had to keep at a storage facility and it was a lot of hassle to go work on it, not to mention the cost. Much better to have it along side the house.

Having a home base is essential. I have seen too many friends that sold everything to buy a cruising boat or a larger RV when they retired. When one of the couple has health issues they are in deep trouble.

boyland · 03-21-2018, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teamfoxy

In our area of Florida, you can rent long term RV space for about $500-600 a month. One or two months in high season can be more like $1000 a month. In a park in the area where the lots are owned, the asking prices are running in the ranges of $70-80k. Taxes, utilities and HOA would add another $7k per year.

In our town, we are allowed to store an RV along side the house and there are plenty of places in Florida that allow you to do that. We stay in FL for part of the year and travel several months at a time. We used to have an RV that we had to keep at a storage facility and it was a lot of hassle to go work on it, not to mention the cost. Much better to have it along side the house.

Having a home base is essential. I have seen too many friends that sold everything to buy a cruising boat or a larger RV when they retired. When one of the couple has health issues they are in deep trouble.

I do not agree with this, just because you sell does not mean you cannot buy in the future.

Roger G · 03-21-2018, 06:43 PM

We own a lot in coastal Alabama. We use it as a second beach home. We both still work so hitting the road for an extended time is not currently an option for us. Our plans are selling out at our current location and using the lot as a home base once we retire in a few years. Lots in our park have appreciated over 10% per year since we have owned it even though we didn't buy for an investment. We want to travel for a few years and see how we like it but we always have the option of buying another home and can always sell the lot. If we settle in that area, I feel like we will keep the lot as long as we have the MH. If we settle elsewhere, it likely will still be a vacation destination.

nothermark · 03-22-2018, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boyland

I do not agree with this, just because you sell does not mean you cannot buy in the future.

It does if you use the money from the sale of the house to buy the boat or RV because you do not have the funds otherwise. A few people manage to sell for more than they paid, most take a loss. That leaves them in trouble if forced off the road for health reasons.

Eastham · 03-22-2018, 03:36 AM

We had friends sell everything. They bought a motor home lived in it full time in a park in central fl..the husband had a heart attack and died the wife was sitting out in a field with a motor home she couldn't drive 10 feet. Not a pretty situation to be in. She finally practally gave the motorhome away and moved in with her sister..

Teamfoxy · 03-22-2018, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eastham

We had friends sell everything. They bought a motor home lived in it full time in a park in central fl..the husband had a heart attack and died the wife was sitting out in a field with a motor home she couldn't drive 10 feet. Not a pretty situation to be in. She finally practally gave the motorhome away and moved in with her sister..

This is a very common problem and why I say that you must have a home base in addition to the RV. Of course buying either a boat or an RV that either the wife or husband can't operate on their own is not a smart move.

Face it, both boats and RV's depreciate like a falling rock. If you sold everything to buy either one, you are going loose money, while the cost for fixed houses usually climbs.

docj · 03-22-2018, 07:49 AM

At the moment we plan to live in our MH on our own RV site indefinitely. If we become unable to drive it, there's no reason we can't continue to live in it. On our site we have a large "outdoor living space" as well as a casita (out-building) which is both a living area/sewing room and a storage shed. It has everything we need for comfortable living. If the MH was no longer being used as a vehicle, it would last indefinitely and insurance costs could be reduced by reducing some of the coverage.

Whirrlly · 03-22-2018, 08:50 AM

we are game for whatever comes our way

right now we travel. we want to move.
when we want to set down in a fab location we love thru our travel and enjoy that area to no end, then yea, we might buy into a resort, or we might just buy an acre of land and maybe do a park model, or our rv, or build a tiny home. Who knows what path we will follow but beauty of it all is ya can do what you want to do when you feel it is right for you.

I don't see bad sides to any of it. If you want it and love it, then do it. If you are still in travel mode then no amt. of 'whatever' is gonna get ya to buy a lot just yet.

everyone loves travel mode til one day things turn and you think, hmm, I might just change up the old routine again and we all got that luxury mostly of doing what pleases us as we go thru this adventure.

if ya buy and don't like you can always sell
if ya stop while traveling and don't like, you can always fire up and move down the road.

I love having tons of options open to us in this life

twogypsies · 03-22-2018, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eastham

We had friends sell everything. They bought a motor home lived in it full time in a park in central fl..the husband had a heart attack and died the wife was sitting out in a field with a motor home she couldn't drive 10 feet. Not a pretty situation to be in. She finally practally gave the motorhome away and moved in with her sister..

This was poor planning. If traveling as a couple both should know how to drive and do the connections. We took turns driving and both enjoyed it. Even for weekenders both should know how to drive. It's easy to break something or to get ill.

RichR · 03-22-2018, 01:24 PM

If ypu have years around access- yes

SkiSmuggs · 03-22-2018, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildtoad

Same reason I didn’t by a timeshare. I didn’t want to go back there every year. But as above if you want a permanent place to spend the winter or several months at a time it might be a good idea versus having to find a spot year after year.

BTW, I have a brother in law, niece and nephew who live in Midlothian, and spent a few days at a state park near there. Nice area.

That would be Pocahontas State Park. I haven't been since I used to tent camp and lived in Richmond. I'm not sure it could handle my fiver but we moved to Vermont to get away from heat, humidity and congestion.

Back to the OP: We met a native Vermonter at a VT campground who had a fifth wheel there and left it there. He also owns a site in FL where he has another fifth wheel. He had sold his Vermont home, changed his residency to FL, but lives in Vermont from May through October, then back to FL to miss the snow and Vermont taxes. And he does't bother towing anywhere as he was in his 80s.

StevL · 03-22-2018, 06:28 PM

Question, if I bought a lot in Florida can I then register my coach in Florida even though my home is in South Carolina?

The alone could buy the lot with the property tax savings.

Steve

Eastham · 03-23-2018, 04:02 AM

Twogyspes you are absolutely correct poor planning. But for about 10 years they did just what they wanted. Both should be able to drive the rv.and I would bet over half on the road that would not be the case.Either way you also need a exit plan for when the time comes to wrap it up.

Whirrlly · 03-23-2018, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twogypsies

This was poor planning. If traveling as a couple both should know how to drive and do the connections. We took turns driving and both enjoyed it. Even for weekenders both should know how to drive. It's easy to break something or to get ill.

X2, agree on this. Planning is important the older a couple gets for sure. One thing so many say is the EXIT strategy is just as important and entering into the rv lifestyle. The exit strategy should definitely be about 1 person passing and the other left to contend with the future alone.