Florida Househunting

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

We're sittin' here tonight wondering what these counties down here do with all that tax money.

Lehigh itself has 150,000 lots . . . Cape Coral, Charlotte Harbor, Punta Gorda, etc. tens of thousands more. At at least $1000 each that's bajillions of dollars, mostly paid by people who are not here.

So, what are those counties doing with all that money?
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I just googled the Charlotte County budget, and for 2008 it was $1,163,190,734!!!

Lee County's for this fiscal year is $2,013,037,194!!!

Holy Moly!!!

By contrast, the county with the third largest metropolitan area in Missouri had a 2010 budget of just $98.6 Million.

What, exactly does Charlotte County do with 10 times that and Lee County do with 20 times that?

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Back home . . . with no Florida house.

We actually tried to pull the trigger on five, but the system being employed to sell foreclosures is pretty screwed up right now. One simple little one ($26000) has been trying to close since October. Because it has not, the buyer has lost their buying incentive and the agent has lost her bonus.

Houses with contracts keep re-appearing as Price Reduced or Back on Market. When I talk to the listing agents, they insist they have solid contracts.

The house we really wanted got an accepted offer while we were discussing it. It was only listed 8 days.

We're watching an online auction, but I'm guessing the house we are interested in is going to be in a little bidding war.

It's all got the RE agents a little upset and unresponsive. They are frustrtated.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

I am following 79 online auctions in the four SW FL counties, now in the third of four days. All have bids . . . as high as $295K.

In addition, there is a 5% buyer's premium on all auctions.

But only one has met it's reserve.

Having looked at many of them in person, reserves are set too high.

So far, much to-do about nothing.
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We are not alone in our pursuit of a SW FL winter home. We saw many similar couples doing the same thing. License plates from up north.

[rapmarks Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close rapmarks]

the News press has an article today about a couple looking for a second home in Fort Myers and it will be on House Hunters.
they originally wanted a home on the beach with pool and ready to move right in for $200,000 but found out tht wasn't possible. The newspaper dfidn't say when it would be aired.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

the News press has an article today about a couple looking for a second home in Fort Myers and it will be on House Hunters.
they originally wanted a home on the beach with pool and ready to move right in for $200,000 but found out tht wasn't possible. The newspaper dfidn't say when it would be aired.

That Bonita Beach foreclosure on the bayside I posted went for over $400K.

The last time there was anythng for $200K on the beach was 1996.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

We're sittin' here tonight wondering what these counties down here do with all that tax money.

I just googled the Charlotte County budget, and for 2008 it was $1,163,190,734!!!

Lee County's for this fiscal year is $2,013,037,194!!!

Holy Moly!!!

By contrast, the county with the third largest metropolitan area in Missouri had a 2010 budget of just $98.6 Million.

What, exactly does Charlotte County do with 10 times that and Lee County do with 20 times that?

The entire Missouri state budget is $20 Billion. Lee County's alone is 10% of that and Charlotte County's alone is 5%. Charlotte County does not even have a major city.

The sheer size of their budgets makes them suspect, makes you wonder what they are doing to warrant $1000, or $3000, a year tax on thousands of vacant lots.

[longtimer Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close longtimer]

That Bonita Beach foreclosure on the bayside I posted went for over $400K.

The last time there was anythng for $200K on the beach was 1996.

I can't believe these are the prices for foreclosed homes! Now imagine what the taxes are on the property.....
People who are looking for bargains are going to be quite disappointed.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

I can't believe these are the prices for foreclosed homes! Now imagine what the taxes are on the property.....
People who are looking for bargains are going to be quite disappointed.

As I have previously posted, that Estero Bay/Bonita Beach house had a previous value as high as $800,000.

Taxes are what I have been posting about. It appears you would agree that high property taxes are a deterrent, and, thus, part of the problem in SW FL.

The last governor came and went on a promise to correct that.

I have checked at least the 10-year sales and tax history of every house we might be in interested in. At least you can do that online.

Taxes are adjusted down based on the lower selling price if you buy a foreclosure, but that is an unknown. We feel it makes more sense to buy something that has had a lower tax history.

The auction on the only one we would consider this go-around ends in 2 hours. It's taxes have been lower than vacant lots.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

The house on Country Barn goes to auction 12/13.

With 2 hours to go in the online auction, that one is up to $130,000, but has not met the reserve.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

I've been given permission to bid.

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

I've been given permission to bid.

Good luck. I hope you get it.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Martin Dr Englewood, FL
You are the highest bidder.
Sold Subject To!!!

I'm waiting for a phone call.

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

Martin Dr Englewood, FL
You are the highest bidder.
Sold Subject To!!!

I'm waiting for a phone call.

OMG! I can't believe it.

Now don't chicken out.
Your place in the sun is callin' ya.

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

Martin Dr Englewood, FL
You are the highest bidder.
Sold Subject To!!!

I'm waiting for a phone call.

Terrific. Now I know which house to TP.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Not too fast. Beware of the dog. It is there four days a week.

The rules of the auction said that winners would receive a confirmation phone call and email within 10 minutes. When I did not, I contacted them by Chat. "Patricia" said I had won the auction, Congratulations, and I should have received an email.

Now it's been an hour now and no word.

The reserve was not met, but the lady who runs their blog told me earlier today that that does not mean the "bank" won't accept it.