We started out thinking we could spend
about $400k and be able to be on one of the barrier islands (Gulf Islands) Anna
Maria Island, Longboat Key or Lido Key and within walking distance to the
beaches of the Gulf. However, we found
that you don’t get a lot for your money and that insurance and taxes out there are
high, and when there is a hurricane warning you are in the first evacuation
zone. We also realized that while we liked the elevated houses, it actually
separates you from the nature that we are trying to get close to. Also $400k is a stretch and would mean we
would both be working for quite a while.
Here are a couple of our ‘affordable’ favorites from the islands..
http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/312-57th-St-Holmes-Beach-FL-34217/2131525990_zpid/
We considered trying to build on the
islands but all of the lots are in excess of $200k and building is expensive on
the islands. Here is one nice lot on Longboat Key..
We then discovered the Northwest Bradenton
Area (west of 75th St West and north of Manatee Ave). This area is very close
to the beaches (even biking distance) and there is also the Robinson Nature Preserve
and Palma Sola Botanical Garden to provide hiking and biking in a large natural
area of mangroves and bayous where the Manatee River meets Anna Maria Sound and
Palma Sola Bay. Great bird watching and
sunsets!
In this area, it looks like we could
get much more house and land and be closer to $300k. We have even seen some
pretty good things under $300k.
We have come to understand that we
are looking for a combination of house, landscaping, neighborhood and location
that has some special ‘wow’ factor for us. We both like unique, and therefore
the new or tract neighborhoods feel a little ‘Stepfordish’ to us. Sometimes, even funky feels a little better
than a more upscale but uniform neighborhood.
These three houses are a good representation of what we’ve seen..
http://www.yellowkeyrealty.com/property/m5832651/306-nw-73rd-nw-street-bradenton-fl-34209/ (nice floor plan and landscaping)
http://www.michaelsaunders.com/properties/property-detail/9206-18th-nw-dr-bradenton-fl-34209/M5828312/ (great location and neighborhood)http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/8509-19th-Ave-NW-Bradenton-FL-34209/82392202_zpid/ (nice house - similar to Evergreen floor plan (below) – same builder)
Lot prices are much more reasonable
in NW Bradenton than on the islands, and we are discovering that building costs
are much lower here in Florida than in Washington. Therefore we are likely to
consider buying a lot and building a house. The good news is we don’t need or
want a big house so it might be possible to get the things we want without the
price getting too out of hand. But building is a big uncertainty, so we are
considering a house plan with a development home builder, but since it would be
on a large lot in a different neighborhood it would not seem as
‘cookie-cutter’. This is one of the lots we are considering.
These are three of the floor plans we are considering.
http://www.homeplans.com/plan-detail/HOMEPW07702/three-bedroom-
http://nealcommunities.com/model.html?SubivisionID=122&SubdivisionModelID=600
Any feedback, thoughts, ideas or insights you might have will be welcomed and appreciated.
We will keep you posted…
