Snowbirding

[HuskyHawk]

It's off season, despite the ongoing pace of portal activity, with a couple of huge signings this week. That said, I've been meaning to pick the minds of the best and brightest on the Boneyard about splitting living across two locations. It seems we are about to take that plunge. We've decided to get a place in Bluffton, SC and plan to live at least six months and a day there and the rest in Mass (will downsize/move in Mass later).

For anybody who has done this or who has friends or family that does, any tips, suggestions things to think about? That can range from expenses to logistics of filling two houses with clothes and furniture etc. How you manage cars: 2? 3? Also, how you manage leaving a house essentially empty for 5-6 months (security, other issues). I have a good sense of the tax implications and how to best manage those, and Beaufort County SC has some unique wrinkles on property taxes. Things like Doctors came to mind as well. I'd welcome any information anyone has to share.

Looking forward to maybe watching UConn storm through the 2025 NCAA tournament outside on a screened in porch.

 

[Chin Diesel]

I know people from up here in MA who bought houses in South Carolina and North Carolina. Serious question, what is the attraction? They still have winter down there but obviously it's much less severe and much shorter than up here. But December through February, the major amount of time you're down there for the winter, isn't exactly beach weather.

One of my best friends retired 5 years ago and bought a house on Cape Cod and one down near Charleston, SC. He just texted me last month that they're selling the SC house because it really wasn't what they expected. He said, "It's kind of Third World down here." It's just much different than what we've experienced around here and in CT our entire lives. As an example he was telling me how everyone litters down there and the side of the roads and highways is gross. That would bother me. He said there are days during the winter where it starts out chilly but then warms up into the 70s. But if I'm going to go somewhere in the winter I don't want to wake up and it's in the 30s or 40s. I also want more consistent warmer weather. Not a high of 75 one day and then 53 2 days laters.

I'm trying to talk my wife into renting some place in Aruba for 3 months during the winter to see what it's like. 80s and sunny everyday and at night it's in the high 70s. That's more my speed if I'm trying to escape the Northeast winters. Plus Aruba is safe and doesn't really have poverty. I have a friend whose sister-in-law owned a house in St. Thomas but that also comes with some issues since some Caribbean islands like that aren't the safest places and can feel Third World also.

I'm on the far western panhandle of Florida and one of my favorite things is the illusion of four seasons. In "Autumn", which is late October through Mid-December, hardwood trees lose their leaves and grass go dormant. Turn off the spinklers.
Winter is Mid-December through end of February. We actually get frost and you have to find your hoodies, beanies and some gloves. Socks with Crocs or Hey Dudes are perfectly normal for guys and girls throw on some knee high leather boots to go with the yoga pants.
Spring is kinda short but it's March and April. Cool temps in the morning and warm in the afternoon. The jokes of heated seats for you car in the morning and using AC in the afternoon is a meme and it's also true.

I say all this because May-Sep can be brutal and you get so many days for the beach and being outdoors, you don't mind the break. I could never live in south Florida. I've done Christmas at 70 degrees and done it at 35 degrees. It's like a box of chocolates.

Also, July and August are insufferably hot and humid. The jokes and memes are all true. You literally just try to find a way to get from air conditioned location to air conditioned location. It's the exact opposite of really cold winter locations in January and February.

Overall?

To each their own. Find out what you love to do and find out where you can do it the most.

 

[Chin Diesel]

My parents have been in the Beaufort, SC area since the 90s. So I'm familiar with the weather. I don't want hot. I want a mix of short sleeve, long sleeve weather. I want to be able to be outside almost every day and I hate winter. 60's and 70's is fine for walking, tennis, golf, pickleball. In winter up north I'm inactive and it is unhealthy. I don't want hot summer in winter, I just want our fall/spring. There are tax and other reasons not to stay in Mass full time. We've been in our house 20 years, but most friends have moved away or will soon. So we won't keep this house much longer.

As for "3rd world" I don't know where that comes from. Beaufort, Charleston and Savannah are all lovely old cities/towns. Bluffton is mostly brand spanking new except the old downtown. Vastly more modern than anything in New England. Roads that actually work, my wife was amazed by the "infrastructure". As for littering, you seem some in rural areas, but Bluffton is made up of perfectly manicured communities for the most part. If anything the complaint might be that it's too clean. The Lowcountry area is gorgeous with live oaks, palmetto trees and water everywhere. The food is tremendous too. @Storrs South many places have stay packages where you come check it out for a week. Go look on YouTube lots of stuff there. Savannah is actually a little more affordable, could check it out at the same time.

Another plus for us is obviously my parents being 40-45 minutes away to the north. But when we picked Bluffton it was also because Hilton Head is 20 minutes away for beaches and even more stuff to do, and downtown Savannah is 20-25 minutes away to the south. We love Savannah, so having it as an easy day trip is appealing. We considered Amelia Island, which would be a bit warmer in winter and more beach focused as well as doing something in Orlando, which is certainly warmer if not Miami warm. But I think we'd be bored there.

Nailed the Low Country high points of Bluffton and Beaufort. But don't kid anyone. July and August in the Low Country are brutal.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Nailed the Low Country high points of Bluffton and Beaufort. But don't kid anyone. July and August in the Low Country are brutal.

Which is why I'll be on Cape Cod from about mid May through mid October most likely. That's the whole "snowbirding" thing. We migrate with the birds.

We might get old enough to need to choose one place. Maybe if we have grandkids or something. But even up north Cape Cod is about as cold as I'll go (somewhat temperate in winter compared to inland areas).

 

[Edward Sargent]

I'm on the far western panhandle of Florida and one of my favorite things is the illusion of four seasons. In "Autumn", which is late October through Mid-December, hardwood trees lose their leaves and grass go dormant. Turn off the spinklers.
Winter is Mid-December through end of February. We actually get frost and you have to find your hoodies, beanies and some gloves. Socks with Crocs or Hey Dudes are perfectly normal for guys and girls throw on some knee high leather boots to go with the yoga pants.
Spring is kinda short but it's March and April. Cool temps in the morning and warm in the afternoon. The jokes of heated seats for you car in the morning and using AC in the afternoon is a meme and it's also true.

I say all this because May-Sep can be brutal and you get so many days for the beach and being outdoors, you don't mind the break. I could never live in south Florida. I've done Christmas at 70 degrees and done it at 35 degrees. It's like a box of chocolates.

Also, July and August are insufferably hot and humid. The jokes and memes are all true. You literally just try to find a way to get from air conditioned location to air conditioned location. It's the exact opposite of really cold winter locations in January and February.

Overall?

To each their own. Find out what you love to do and find out where you can do it the most.

I'm in the Clearwater area and find July bearable as long as the sea breeze forms in the afternoon and you are out of the sun. September in my mind is the worst month down here because you just want it to end as its been hot and humid for so long

 

[uconnfan68]

Which is why I'll be on Cape Cod from about mid May through mid October most likely. That's the whole "snowbirding" thing. We migrate with the birds.

We might get old enough to need to choose one place. Maybe if we have grandkids or something. But even up north Cape Cod is about as cold as I'll go (somewhat temperate in winter compared to inland areas).

Where on the cape? You mentioned Falmouth before. The outer cape gets too muggy sometimes. Only a mile or two between bay and ocean will do that.

My favorite place to live was San Diego. For all 12 months. Near the ocean, never over 90, and never under 40, mostly 50-75.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Where on the cape? You mentioned Falmouth before. The outer cape gets too muggy sometimes. Only a mile or two between bay and ocean will do that.

My favorite place to live was San Diego. For all 12 months. Near the ocean, never over 90, and never under 40, mostly 50-75.

Anywhere from Falmouth to about Dennis/South Yarmouth. I'm not going farther than that. It's a little humid at times but cools down at night and you have sea breezes. That same effect means it doesn't snow much and melts quickly. If I had to, I could probably live with that, but there are other reasons to head south anyway, at least part time.

I lived in San Jose, winter was a bit wet at times, but even then plenty of 70 degree days. Could hit mid 90s, but we could head to Santa Cruz and the temps would plunge. California has great weather, it's everything else I don't like.

 

[NJHusky]

I'm in the Clearwater area and find July bearable as long as the sea breeze forms in the afternoon and you are out of the sun. September in my mind is the worst month down here because you just want it to end as its been hot and humid for so long

We are in srq and usually leave late May early June. During early Covid we stayed through July…I now know what hell will be like.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Have a call with my soon to be Realtor on Monday. Seems we're really doing this thing. We've been so cautious for years and years about buying a second house, and it has almost always been a mistake. Many options on Cape Cod are out unless the RE market crashes. So trying to be a little more aggressive this time.

 

[NJHusky]

I can definitely see the pull of the Carolinas. Its temperate, somewhat affordable and offers a wide range of landscapes and activities.

According to friends in NC, lots of 'half backs' coming in resulting in prices continuing to go up...

FYI...'Half-backs' are those folks that come to Fl, don't care for the heat, etc and go half way back...NC

Never heard that term until I moved to fla

 

[HuskyHawk]

According to friends in NC, lots of 'half backs' coming in resulting in prices continuing to go up...

FYI...'Half-backs' are those folks that come to Fl, don't care for the heat, etc and go half way back...NC

Never heard that term until I moved to fla

The Carolinas and parts of coastal Georgia just went nuts with Covid and "work from home". The island my parents live on had low demand, houses not selling in 2018-19. As soon as work from home happened, the market exploded and prices are up 100% or more. Same in Hilton Head, Bluffton, Amelia Island, FL, Myrtle Beach, etc. Most of Florida went up as well. Greenville SC, Ashville NC, the Clemson area, those all went up massively too. Anyplace that has a resort/relaxed feel plus things to do.

It's not hard to see why. If you lived in a place like Philly and commuted to work, you could sell you house, buy a bigger house in a gated island community, maybe with a dock, plus a golf course or two, for half what your ordinary suburban home cost. And your taxes would go down.

My only trepidation about buying down there right now is that work from home is being rolled back at some companies (including mine). I opted to stay remote, it was a one-time choice that limits my career, but at this point I don't care.