Florida

[Geoffs]

One for Arthur, really I suppose.

I was watching the Ch4 programme, 'A Place In the Sun', the other day. They were looking a properties on the Gulf Coast. They seem to be saying that a 4 bedroom 3 bathroom sizeable property with pool could be bought for about £150k. I thought Florida was expensive.

It's got me thinking, there's not much to keep me in the UK, a decent house and decent boat on the Gulf Coast sounds appealing.

So, are these property prices realistic, are there any restrictions on a UK citizen taking up residence. Just the germ of an idea at present. I'm sure there are loads of other things to think about, and loads of snags.

Old Chinese proverb 'Man who sail boat into rice field, soon get into paddy'

 

[byron]

<font color=blue>Can I come with you Geoff? We could be the Odd Couple.

http://www.alexander-advertising.co.uk

 

[longjohnsilver]

With the size of houses they were showing I'm sure Geoff could accomodate the whole of the mobo forum! Certainly looked good to me, and how many days of continuous sunshine, 780+, that's my type of weather. Also the £/$ exchange rate is still good, ideal time to buy.

 

[aztec]

ff you go with geoff... can i have ya' garden? /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://homepage.ntlworld.com/s.amos/index.html>http://homepage.ntlworld.com/s.amos/index.html</A>

 

[Geoffs]

Not sure about that Byron, how odd can you get!

Tell you what though, I reckon I'd find a place for Amanda Lamb!

Old Chinese proverb 'Man who sail boat into rice field, soon get into paddy'

 

[jhr]

If you want to live out there permanently, you'll need a residence visa and ultimately a green card. A lot of Brits buy a second home (I don't think there are restrictions on property ownership) and spend 2-3 months at a time in the winter out there, which is doable (no visa needed for a UK citizen visiting for up to 3 months. I think).

Not sure how easy it would be to get a green card, tho' if you are financially self sufficient I'd have thought it might make matters easier. The London US Embassy has quite a good website at http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_web/visa/visaindex.htm though I'm not sure if it covers quite your circumstances. Health care is a big issue, of course - insurance is essential and costs bucketloads of cash.

There's also rampant paranoia about infiltration from the Axis of Evil at the moment, which has certainly made business visas more tricky to get. However,you don't sound much like a terrorist, so as long as they don't get any letters from raggies, complaining about the mountainous wash from your, erm, Fletcher 19, you're probably OK

 

[Divemaster1]

Some parts of Florida are more expensive than others, but housing is generally less expensive than the UK. Looked at 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom villa in Orlando area (SW of centre) between Cristmas & New Year (good market for rental being so close to Disney). Brand new development and selling for $120 - 180K. Other developments advertising from mid $80K - $200K plus... All depends on what you want, but SW pool essential. So so the prices quoted on Ch4 appears realistic to me.

Believe there is a way you can set up recidency there if you can prove that you are financially independent ad do not need to work to afford the living.

However, if you do have to work for a living, it rapidly becomes more complicated. Getting a Green Card these days is difficult, unless you have a local company sponsoring you and you have professional skills needed in the area (nice personality is not good enough).

As a part time recident (less than 3 months as a continous stay), you should not have any major problems (property ownership appears "straight forward"). This providing that you stay away for at least 14 days after having been there for a period of more than 2 months. Immigration officers over there are looking for patterns and will clamp down on your travels if they suspect you are trying to bend or stretch the rules. (speaking from experience, but were not trying to bend or stretch the rules, just pure business reasons for the "extended" business visits).

AHM

 

[ArthurWood]

Geoff,
I think your questions have largely been answered by others, but I'll add my bit: houses are generally less expensive in FL than in UK and you get a lot more for your money. They are not nearly as solidly built tho'. There may be costs to consider, like maintenance fees if you live in a gated community. These fees cover landscape maintenance, guard gate etc and may range from $200 to $500/mo. Property tax(used to be called rates, when I was in the UK) is generally higher if you are not a full-time resident. That may be aro. $2K per year. Commission by rental agents can be as high as 30%.
Regarding permanent residence (Green Card), you can not get one even if you are financially self-sufficient. We know a number of Brits in FL who have L1 visas which allow you to work, who have set up small businesses like pool cleaning and condo maintenance and who must employ Americans.
A visitor's visa is currently valid for 6 months in any 12, but the INS will soon decide whether they will shorten this to 30 days which will really put a dent in the real estate business of non-res overseas people. That's as a result of 9/11. Let me know if you need more info. p.s. it's sunny again today and will get to a cool 22C later.

 

[Geoffs]

Thanks Arthur, and others.

As I said it's a vague idea at the moment, sparked off by a TV programme, may go off the idea next week.

If I were to go ahead it would be on a permanent residency basis. From what you are saying, this may be a problem, with difficulty getting Visas, Green Card or whatever. Is this right, or are there ways round it, L1 visa? I am pretty well self sufficient with an ExxonMobil pension.

Have looked on a few real estate web sites, seem to be able get something for around $200k in Tampa Bay area (4 bedrooms 2 bathrooms - why would anyone want more than 2 bathrooms), may be rubbish area, I don't know.

I'll keep on thinking and researching.

Old Chinese proverb 'Man who sail boat into rice field, soon get into paddy'

 

[ArthurWood]

Geoff - as I said earlier, permanent residence is not possible unless you are a refugee, have a work permit (H1, L1 type) sponsored by a US company as we originally had, or set up your own little company employing some Americans. It doesn't matter how much money you have. Otherwise you are limited to 6 months in any 12.
We live about 35 mi from Tampa Bay - our boat is at 27 22.3N 82 37.1W. It's a nice area. Best thing to do is come and take a look if the urge doesn't wear off.

 

[Geoffs]

Looks like a non starter as I would be looking at permanent residency, shame.

Had a look as US Embassy web site. To get a visa on the basis of starting a company, need to invest a million dollars and employ 10 Americans. Can't quite manage that.

There is the Diversity Immigration Programe (Lottery), but GB citizens can't apply. Stuffed!

Definetly got the bug for living in warmer climate to do more boating, will have to look elsewhere in the world. Now there's the Caribean, Med, Australia, New Zealand........

Old Chinese proverb 'Man who sail boat into rice field, soon get into paddy'

 

[BrendanS]

New Zealand isn't that warm most of the year. Certainly not Florida like.

They do have an incredible boat culture though, the number of residents who have a boat is incredible.

Come summertime they all head for the coast on Friday evening, go out to fish, bring the catch back and barbeque that evening. Apart from the major cities, most of the boats I saw are very practical fishing types, not cruisers.

 

[Bergman]

Arthur

I like the sound of Geoff's idea

What is the situation for living aboard in FL?

Can one have 6 months ashore then 6 months afloat - possibly renting house out for extra income.

Wish you had missed the 22C bit, here its about 2C and sleeting - bet you're a bit jealous eh?

 

[BarryH]

So, if you bugger off to the US, who is going to initiate the 300 plus replies to pointless threads that lead to a bit of a drink in the peeing rain and frezzin' cold seas of the south coast in mid december.

Sounds like your letting the side down a bit and bottleing out of the newton creek thing. Sorry it just won't do. If you've got a spare bedroom or so can we do a florida meet next autumn?

 

[ArthurWood]

Bergman - the time starts from when you enter the country so it doesn't matter if you are afloat or ashore. There are plenty of places to live aboard. In our marina eg, for a 40ft boat on an annual lease, it would cost about $7700 incl tax, excl electricity. Diesel is about a quid/US gal.
www.longboatkeymoorings.com

 

[ArthurWood]

You are right about the weather in NZ, or "Aeteoroa"(?sp)
'the land of the long white cloud' as the Maoris call it in their language.
Their summer weather seemed to be much like the UK's when we were there. There were literally thousands of boats, mostly small sailboats in Auckland. Lovely country and people, but a long way from anywhere - which might not be a bad thing in the current world political climate.
BTW we used to live in Wokingham and Finchampstead before emigrating.

 

[BrendanS]

It's a wonderful country, one of the few places in the world I would emigrate to, a little like Britain 40 years ago, though the climate varies dramatically in the different regions, even though it's quite small (you could drive from one end of North Island to nother in a day if you really wanted to) South West of North Island is almost constantly wet and overcast, while East Coast is far more sunny.

Wokingham and Finchampstead huh! Talk about different climates <g>
Dropped one of my guys of in F last night and it was under two inches of snow. Wokingham was almost clear. Rather damp in recent weeks though. I live between Wokingham and Hurst if you know the area?

 

[ArthurWood]

Hmm snow, eh. I know the area well. Worked for years at HP in the various offices there. Lived on Heath Ride, F. Came over here w/HP on 3-yr contract 16 yr ago. Now retd 5yr.
A bit cloudy here now and a little rain expected. Temp now 21C - sorry (well, not really).

 

[chippie]

Re: Political climate

You are right Arthur , A couple of years ago there was quite a fuss about talented kiwis leaving the country, sort of a brain drain.
Recent events have seen quite a reversal of this trend. Most of the returnees say that the things that made them want to leave now seem pretty attractive.
I live in the far north , and today's temperature is probably a few degrees warmer than yours, but this is summer. There are a wide range of temperatures from one end of the country to the other. I wear shorts most of the year. Many people here have a couple of weeks up in the islands [Rarotonga, Fiji, Noumea etc] come winter. I think the climate may be a little bit better than Britain's.
How wide is public support for Dubya's plans?

Cheers from Aotearoa

 

[Geoffs]

Don't worry Barry, it wouldn't have happened over night, certainly not before this coming summer. Newtown is OK.

Anyway, the US immigration laws have put the mockers on the idea. Thought it was too good to be true, otherwise everyone would have done it

Fancy somewhere like Menorca now, but winters not as good as Florida. I've got the moving bug.

Old Chinese proverb 'Man who sail boat into rice field, soon get into paddy'