Looking to settle in western FL or Myrtle beach or?

Go Aweigh2452

Go Aweigh2452

Active Member
Aug 8, 2007
1,163
Olalla, WA
Boat Info
its in my signature
Engines
6.2 Horizon MPI w/guardian system
We are tiring of the rain up in the Great PNW and looking at probably renting out our home up here until the housing market improves, then sell... we want to move someplace warmer and sunnier during fall, winter and spring... We would be up here in the PNW for the summers... maybe 6 or more weeks at a time...

Because we enjoy saltwater boating, its not in stone but we are looking at the north area of St Petersburg (Richie/Hudson?) as well as the Fort Meyers area for a canal home. We then plan to travel north to the Myrtle Beach-N Myrtle Beach area and check that area out as well.

We lived in Daytona Beach and Jacksonville as well as Pensacola in FL but have never lived in SC or the western side of FL. We plan to travel to SC and FL in Jan or Feb to check both areas and any others that sound pleasing.

Suggestions welcome, especially from locals in both or other areas...

Some important info:
We are not anticipating working full time except to feed our boating habit if necessary. I may decide to teach at a local community college for fun and some profit... We plan to take our boat cross country with us since 75% of our time will be in other than PNW. We plan to keep her trailered if we cannot find a nice canal home for rent or lease as well...

We would rent first in what ever area we end up in before we decide to settle down and buy... rentals could be furnished or unfurnished...

We are planning to rent an RV or trailer and tow with our truck for this 30-40 day road trip...

thanks in advance...
 
Doug, I have a friend that owns 2 houses in the Ft Myers area .

One of them is up for sale would you like his contact info.

Maybe I could get it where you can stay there to check it out .

He only goes there for 45 days out of the year. :wow:
 
I moved to St. Pete from Ohio two years ago, I love the salt water, fishing, beach and weather but the (car) traffic is terrible. If you look north of Pinellas County you may find a deal on waterfront property (and the traffic is not as bad as St. Pete). My wife and I do love it here even with the traffic.
 
Wow a big move for you guys. I know you've been down that way before so I'm sure it won't be new, but we'll miss you here.
 
joenofish said:
I moved to St. Pete from Ohio two years ago, I love the salt water, fishing, beach and weather but the (car) traffic is terrible. If you look north of Pinellas County you may find a deal on waterfront property (and the traffic is not as bad as St. Pete). My wife and I do love it here even with the traffic.
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I live on the east side and originally from the Tampa Bay area. This coast is for fishing and the west coast more for cruising, which is why I am trailering my boat as well. We will go spend several weeks a year in the Clearwater area. They have a lot of restaurants tiki bars and much more entertainment up and down the ICW than we do! Plus I find that it rains longer in the summer time up here :(
 
The whole Tampa Bay area is great IMO. I have lived here most of my life (50 + years). My in-laws are from Ohio and live in New Port Richey (Gulf Harbors) on the Gulf, water front property is available at reasonable cost (they were in real estate and know everyone in that area).

Many marinas around, we stay at Home Port in Palm Harbor. Clearwater has a new city Marina that is nice, so is Dunedin Marina, St Pete and Marker One.

Multiple islands like Caladesi, Anclote, Three Rookers, Egmont Key to visit with nice beaches. Great fishing as well.

This is the place to have a boat, MarineMax headquarters and many dealers and service shops local.

The summers are very hot and humid, which take some time getting used too.
 
Think about Punta Gorda, FL which is a little North of Ft. Myers. The majority of homes here are reasonably priced canal homes. I've lived on the water in St. Pete and Clearwater as well as in Boca Raton and consider the move to Punta Gorda the smartest move I have ever made. The people are much nicer and the stress levels are much lower here than other parts of FL. Summer anywhere in FL is still pretty much like a super-nova though.
 
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Interesting comments on the east vs. west coasts of FLA. I've only been to the west coast a few times, mostly to Naples or St. Pete Beach, but go to the east coast and Keys a couple of times a year. I've always been partial to the east coast but that's likely a result of it emulating home waters (Ocean) more than anything else (oh yeah and it seems too many Red Sox and Patriot fans on the west coast). For those of you who have lived on both coasts of FLA, which one is a better 3 season (W,S and F) boating and living area? Summer will always be for Long Island.
 
I have a good friend who lived in Cape Coral and then moved to a barrier Island just to the north of there by Englewood. I also have a friend who splits time between NJ and Punta Gorda Isles. He loves that area. Here are a couple of real estate sites I visit to check out housing in the Gulf Coast area:
http://www.florencetanner.com/

http://www.greaterftmyers.com/

The former is actually my friends realtor. I have spoken with her and she is very nice. I plan on heading down in a couple of months just to recon some possible retirement properties myself. Good luck and happy hunting!
 
bmac said:
Interesting comments on the east vs. west coasts of FLA. I've only been to the west coast a few times, mostly to Naples or St. Pete Beach, but go to the east coast and Keys a couple of times a year. I've always been partial to the east coast but that's likely a result of it emulating home waters (Ocean) more than anything else (oh yeah and it seems too many Red Sox and Patriot fans on the west coast). For those of you who have lived on both coasts of FLA, which one is a better 3 season (W,S and F) boating and living area? Summer will always be for Long Island.
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We have winter and summer....what was the question?? I make my living on the east coast but my heart is on the west coast...of Florida that is! The west coast has fine white sugar sand and has more attractions.
 
bought my boat in ft myers and spent the 08 winter there
then to charleston and boated there for 3 years
great lakes too
now on the east coast in palm beach

fishing = east coast
cruising = west coast
golf = east coast
overall life management happiness =SC
SC has little traffic, the best ICW cruising and running around, fishing ok but its a 50nm+ run to the stream, but near shore is decent, golf is great, Charleston is outstanding --great everything and you can be a hillbilly and love it or go to king street and it's just like palm beach and puttering about with the collagen crowd on worth ave

sc = no traffic, not near as crowded, the boating is great. dang property taxes stink though....for boaters==extremely small sales tax, but then they get you for yearly personal property
 
Another vote from me for the Tampa Bay area... yes, there is car traffic, but the boating is awesome. Cruise down the west coast to the Keys or across the Oke waterway and off to the Bahamas. Clearwater, Tampa, St. Pete, Sarasota all are great overnight destinations too. The Tampa Bay area has an international airport, great restaurants, gulf beaches, plus much more. I am not leaving!

Brian
 
Mystic Dreamer said:
Another vote from me for the Tampa Bay area... yes, there is car traffic, but the boating is awesome. Cruise down the west coast to the Keys or across the Oke waterway and off to the Bahamas. Clearwater, Tampa, St. Pete, Sarasota all are great overnight destinations too. The Tampa Bay area has an international airport, great restaurants, gulf beaches, plus much more. I am not leaving!

Brian
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My favorite spots...Shepards (sp), Caladesi (sp) and both sides of Johns pass.. http://www.myspace.com/gatorsonthepass :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:
 
floriduramax1 said:
My favorite spots...Shepards (sp), Caladesi (sp) and both sides of Johns pass.. http://www.myspace.com/gatorsonthepass :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:
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Check out 3 Rookers and Anclote Islands. 3 Rookers is about 5 miles north of Caladesi (just off north end of Honeymoon Island) and Anclote is about 15 miles north and has an operating lighthouse.
 
Mystic Dreamer said:
Another vote from me for the Tampa Bay area... yes, there is car traffic, but the boating is awesome. Cruise down the west coast to the Keys or across the Oke waterway and off to the Bahamas. Clearwater, Tampa, St. Pete, Sarasota all are great overnight destinations too. The Tampa Bay area has an international airport, great restaurants, gulf beaches, plus much more. I am not leaving!

Brian
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Well, I'm from NY so car traffic isn't a deal breaker. How long of a trip is it across the Oke waterway and can you do it safely with the draft of a 52 or 58DB?
 
It takes roughly 12 hours to go from Stuart to Ft Myers. There are 5 locks so the variation in time depends on how long you wait on the locks. Usually no problem with water depth. Sometimes in the dry season they limit the lock openings as to not draw the water level down too much. Be sure to check with the corp to make sure there is no scheduled closure.
 
Steve Warner said:
It takes roughly 12 hours to go from Stuart to Ft Myers. There are 5 locks so the variation in time depends on how long you wait on the locks. Usually no problem with water depth. Sometimes in the dry season they limit the lock openings as to not draw the water level down too much. Be sure to check with the corp to make sure there is no scheduled closure.
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Interesting, I just looked at NOAA chart 11428. I take it the speed limit through the waterway (except for the lake itself) is 5 mph? Are there marinas along the waterway or just on the shore of the lake? Transient docking?
 
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