Buying RV Lots In SW Florida

Everyone has their preferences. None is right for everyone.

For my part, I don't care if I never see the SW desert again. I want cold, snow, water and green. We fulltimed for 9 years looking for the place for us and found it.

Working outside for most of our lives in 120*+ weather killed it for us.

Each of you enjoy your chosen areas....only you know what you want.

C-Bears, we started fulltiming in Tallahassee nearly 10 years ago. He also worked in Panama City and went to PCB once and over near Cape Canaveral while there.

We don't get to choose the project location, but do site-see on day trips on many weekends.

We have done projects all over the Eastern US and so got to travel to places like Rehoboth Beach, DE, VA Beach, VA, Folly Beach and Myrtle Beach, SC, Tybee Island near Savannah, GA. But as I said, not a fan of the Atlantic Ocean. It was more beautiful to camp on Lake Erie, PA and drive up to Niagara Falls.

DH grew up in CT on Long Island Sound. We used to live on the WA Coast, moved to OR and camped on the OR Coast. Mountains on one side and Oceans on the other. That is what we prefer. We go for Peace and Quiet, not RV Park activities or crowded beaches. We had enough of California Beaches, while he was stationed at Port Hueneme, CA.

hitchup, don't know where you would spend winters, your description says "fulltiming and on the road" but your post begins "we haven't retired yet....".

Maybe because of employment considerations you have to stay put in the winter, I don't know. I spent too many cold snowy winters living/working in the north central U.S. Now, no matter what, I will be in SW Florida as close to the Gulf as I can afford every winter.

We have traveled all through Georgia, we did Rt. 101 up through California, Oregon, and Washington this year, nice area. I wouldn't spend the winter in any of those locations even if they paid me!

We have spent winters in Arizona, Alabama, Texas, and different parts of Florida. If you like 80 degree temps in the winter and a lot of activities, then you really need to try the Gulf side of Florida (south of Tampa).

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. I would take the gulf coast of Fla. any day over the Pacific but that is my choice. If you want to buy a piece of ground five minutes or less to the gulf in SW Fla. and I have lived here for ten years then you need some serious money. Then some serious money for the HOA. Most rv sites that close are in private parks. Now if you want to be 15 minutes by car then yea you can co it for less. But at that point you are better buying a piece of ground putting up a small house and paying someone to take care of it for you. It will be cheaper then many other alternatives. We pay about 650 a month at our winter resort which is my electric and water bill and we are about 20 minutes from some of the nicest beaches around. Oh you also need to know the area and the beaches not all are free or deadly accessible. I came here from them cold Ill. winters and never went back.

tinner12002 wrote:
I'm not a full timer yet as I'm waiting on my other half to retire. Just curious WHY someone would purchase a lot in an RV park for 20-30 or even $80K and then turn around and pay on top of the purchase price $1500 plus a month to stay there????? That doesn't sound very economical to me!! Can't think of anyplace I want to be to spend that kind of money. I guess if I was a millionaire then it wouldn't be an issue.

We haven't retired yet, but were looking for a cheap way to retire.

We bought an RV Lot in the N.GA mountains for $25k, but the annual HOA fee, which includes water, garbage and mowing the lawn is only $462 annually. Just got our dues via email this morning.

If I want Ocean view, I'd rather be on the Pacific Ocean in the PacNW where I grew up. Can't get excited over the Atlantic especially in flat Florida. And haven't see enough of the Gulf to decide if the View is worth high dues, either.

tinner12002 wrote:
I'm not a full timer yet as I'm waiting on my other half to retire. Just curious WHY someone would purchase a lot in an RV park for 20-30 or even $80K and then turn around and pay on top of the purchase price $1500 plus a month to stay there????? That doesn't sound very economical to me!! Can't think of anyplace I want to be to spend that kind of money. I guess if I was a millionaire then it wouldn't be an issue.

I agree with everything you just said! But just like with almost any property anywhere in the U.S., it is location, location, location.

We have only wintered once long term in Florida. However, for 30 years we have vacationed there in the winter, usually for only 2 or 3 weeks.

We understand if you want to walk outside with your morning coffee and be standing on a beach you are going to pay.

I guess what we are trying to find is a spot we can walk outside, jump on our bicycles and be on a beach in about 5 minutes having that second cup of morning coffee.

Our retirement income is pretty good, but neither one of us were Doctors or CEO's.

I'm not a full timer yet as I'm waiting on my other half to retire. Just curious WHY someone would purchase a lot in an RV park for 20-30 or even $80K and then turn around and pay on top of the purchase price $1500 plus a month to stay there????? That doesn't sound very economical to me!! Can't think of anyplace I want to be to spend that kind of money. I guess if I was a millionaire then it wouldn't be an issue.

C-Bears wrote:
jimandsue60, I guess based on your purchase price and the amount of time you spend there, it isn't a horrible price. But we have checked into a couple other parks, mainly ones that are owner/owned where you can have an RV on your lot or actually put a park model on it, and those maintenance fees run from around $1,200 a year to just over $2,500.

As far as Gulf Water maintenance fees go, I would be shocked if they were $6,000 or more, but I could be wrong.

My buddy owns his own lot at Palmetto Palms, which is on Summerlin between Sanibel and San Carlos (road to Fort Myers Beach), and he put a park model on it. His association dues, property taxes, and insurance are $3,800 per year total. You can also put an RV on you own empty lot there but the length limit is 35' which leaves us out.

I realize being on Sanibel Island would be an unbelievable location, almost unmatched in SW Florida, just don't know if we want to spend 7 or 8 months in one spot down there yet, which we would have to in order to justify it.

I'm saving your post jimandsue60, don't be surprised if I show up with a bucket of live shrimp and my fishing rod!

Sweet!, I will boil the shrimp and you can take my boat :)

jimandsue60, I guess based on your purchase price and the amount of time you spend there, it isn't a horrible price. But we have checked into a couple other parks, mainly ones that are owner/owned where you can have an RV on your lot or actually put a park model on it, and those maintenance fees run from around $1,200 a year to just over $2,500.

As far as Gulf Water maintenance fees go, I would be shocked if they were $6,000 or more, but I could be wrong.

My buddy owns his own lot at Palmetto Palms, which is on Summerlin between Sanibel and San Carlos (road to Fort Myers Beach), and he put a park model on it. His association dues, property taxes, and insurance are $3,800 per year total. You can also put an RV on you own empty lot there but the length limit is 35' which leaves us out.

I realize being on Sanibel Island would be an unbelievable location, almost unmatched in SW Florida, just don't know if we want to spend 7 or 8 months in one spot down there yet, which we would have to in order to justify it.

I'm saving your post jimandsue60, don't be surprised if I show up with a bucket of live shrimp and my fishing rod!

2gypsies wrote:
Why not rent if you're a full-timer? RV lots don't sell well, especially with park models.

That is a great question! We do not have a park model but continue to use our Mobile Suite 5th wheel. We are also long term Thousand Trail Owners, And we own a spot in SW Florida. If and when the poop hits the fan we have lots of options on where we can survive on a fairly low budget. Lots of options!