Hoping to Retire to Florida

[christinejo]

Hi all, hope some of you may be able to help.
I understand although it is impossible to stay longer than 6 months in every 12, my partner and I are trying to look into buying a mobile home in Florida and escaping the winters in the uk. We are in our 50's, and can't bear the thought of living out our time in the grotty english winter. Has anyone out there done the same? Any advice ?, have been on a number of sites selling units, ranging from as little as $20K to $200K. I think they also make monthly land rent/service charges in the gated communities. So any advice from the lifestyle to the pitfalls would be welcome. Many thanks - Christine

[Bevdeforges]

Hi, and welcome to the forum.

The fact of the matter is that you also have to be careful about doing "the six month splits" between the US and anywhere else. I know of a couple who had problems with a multiple entry visa because two six month visits within 18 months was considered "excessive." (This was for an American married to a Brit - and only the husband was refused entry.) Unfortunately, it comes down to the particular agent you are dealing with each time you enter the US.

On the other hand, lots of folks do this successfully - especially in Florida. The trick seems to be to maintain your "strong ties" to your home country - property, any business interests, anything that shows that you have no reason to stay in the US year-round.

You mention your "partner" - you are aware, I'm sure, that you'll have to qualify separately for visas unless you are married (and the US doesn't recognize same-sex marriages). That includes being able to "prove" that you aren't going to overstay your visa. They won't just assume that because one of you has sufficient business interests back home that the other will go back, too.
Cheers,
Bev

[twostep]

Have you been to FL? Where in FL are you looking for property? Are you familiar with fixed costs of owning property here especially insurance, taxes, utilities ....? What specific requirements do you have?

[christinejo]

Hello Bev

Thank you for your really quick reply, the partner, is my man, who I don't really want to have as husband, quite yet!!! So yes you are right it would be two seperate visa's. I was looking at renting for the 6 months over there, which worked out at a 1/4 of the total purchase price of buying a good sized mobile home - or so it seemed. I know there are utilities/lot rent to pay and some parks are age restricted, some not, although unfortunately we are in those horrible 50's now!!! We both own property here, so one will still be here, even if I sell mine, but as for business interests, ha with luck we will have more or less retired, with luck!! Once again thanks for your reply, very very helpful. Christine

[christinejo]

Hi - Thank you very much for your reply. Well this is where it all gets complicated eh? Well I have been to alot of the Florida areas, west coast, central and north, and funily enough, not too much in the tourist areas (thankfully). So I was thinking of somewhere inland - but within easy reach of the Gulf Coast - a couple of hours wouldn't be too much. Yes you are right, I know nothing of the taxes, ground/lot rents required, how they charge for utilities or services, its a minefield. I suppose the intial option for a mobile home was the relative economic cost. Up from that I guess is a condo or manufactured home. Any thoughts on that yourself? We will of course make a long visit to search properties and areas before making any big decisions. I am just trying to prepare the ground for a 'grand plan',which I hope to be able to put in place in about 2 years. If we do settle on the states, I know we will have to have a base here aswell for the 6 months we need to be out of the usa. Thank you so much for your quick reply. Christine

[Bevdeforges]

Hi Christine,
Making an initial 6-month visit to check things out is a good idea. You'll have to make the trek into the London Consulate for your interviews for the visa anyhow - and you can ask about a multi-entry visa when you're there. They used to be fairly common (for business people) but it's hard to find much about multi-entry visas on the State Dept. website lately.

If the Consulate folks can't advise you, there are any number of immigration attorneys in and around London who might be able to advise you on the best type of visa and what to carry with you to "prove" your good intentions.

Also, one caution on mobile homes (I lived in one - in Indiana - for several years) - they do attract tornadoes and hurricanes. Not literally, but in the event of severe weather (which they do have in Florida now and then), trailers tend to take the brunt of the damage. (Locating inland, away from the coasts is probably a pretty good idea.)

There are condos in Florida where you can hire the management company to handle the various bills while you are back home. Or ask any of the real estate agents you talk to in looking at property. It costs a bit extra, but in your situation would probably be well worth it to have someone handling the various fees while you're away. There may also be the option of renting out the property when you're not using it, to cover some of the costs. (Hey, you won't find out if you don't ask!)
Cheers,
Bev

[christinejo]

You are brilliant - thank you so much for the advice. I used to have a multiple entry - years ago, me thinks also they have phased that out these days. Still, although I am planing ahead, all may change again, within two years. As for the windy weather stuff, yes coastal never the best bet, and I am quite happy with inland, seems condo, or mobile is big money nearer the coast. Some sites I have been on for mobile homes, which thankfully are nothing like the tin cans they produce over here! For I have to say simular prices! I am amazed by the size of the homes compared to here. Another good point in favour of relocating for the winter months. Its a big step, but I am determined to look very seriously into it! The other side is to sak some direct questions from sale agents on taxes and fees at the parks etc. Maybe I will get some replies from people already doing this!!! Must be some out there taken the plunge!

Christine

[twostep]

Everything in the FL market is handled by county. Check Google for some potential locations and then play with numbers. Property tax runs 10-20+% of assessed value per year.
You may not be able to get insurance on a trailer due to risk.
How will you finance the reminder of purchase price/closing costs after your anticipated down payment?
If you sell your UK property what ties will you use to prove your intend to return? Please do not rely on six months stays. The duration is up to the immigration official at point of entry.

From the moderator:

Taxes in Florida run about 2%, not 10 or 20%. I'm a Florida resident. I don't think there is any place in the US with tax rates much higher than 2.5%.

I'm adding this because even though I pointed the error out in a later post, the number seems to have stuck in people's minds.d

[synthia]

Property taxes run 1-2%, not 10-20%. The people having problems getting property insurance are those along the coast, especially those in the panhandle.

I'd be concerned about a mobile home park, just because where I live in St. Petersburg there aren't any nice ones at all. I here there are some, I've just never seen one.

Being within two hours of the coast is no problem. And you would have a choice of coasts. Florida is narrow. I can see the shuttle with my bare eyes from St. Petersburg, which is all the way across the state from Cape Canaveral.

[twostep]

I stand corrected. Here you go:
Pinellas County Property Appraiser