Snowbird Lifestyle, Cuisine, Entertainment and Travel
Florida features 1,146 miles of coastal shoreline and Texas has about 367 miles of shoreline. [Gulf Coast of Northwest Florida, Miramar Beach, Florida] Florida Vs. Texas A Comparison of Weather, Cost of Living Index and Ease of Travel by Vehicle This is the second of …
Florida Vs Arizona: Sun and heat are high in both states which makes each a great choice for outdoor activities [Maravilla Resort in Miramar Beach, Florida] Florida Vs. Arizona A Comparison of Weather, Cost of Living Index and Ease of Travel by Vehicle Let’s begin …
![In a competitive snowbird housing rental market, it's essential to know your top priorities [Seaside Florida]](https://midlifesnowbird.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/0_8440-60Savannah_Seaside_20250208-scaled.jpg "0_8440 60Savannah_Seaside_20250208")
This season there has been a major scramble to secure snowbird housing for next year. Don't be fooled, it's cut throat in an insidious way. A casual question, "Are you returning next year?" might be the opener for an intel mission to help someone seeking a place. Be careful not to overshare your unit info or future plans.
Years ago, I was naive and thought the owner/property manager of our beloved rental would shield us from someone else swooping in to scoop it up. Upon meeting snowbirds on the beach, I didn't go out of my way to hide the location of our lovely spacious unit, but didn't realize there was zero protection to save it for us. I mistakenly assumed we had a right of first refusal. We didn't.
It was a hard lesson after several years of returning to the same lovely unit that we learned "our" condo was reserved for the next year right 'out from under our nose' as they say. We were bewildered and angered that there were no safeguards for our loyalty. Ironically, this year it happened to my Wisconsin snowbird friends. An online third party reservation for next year ruined their plans to return to the pet friendly two bedroom unit they came to love for it's fantastic gulf view with swaying palms.
This is how it all turns into a scramble to secure suitable snowbird housing. Like a game of musical chairs, instead the stakes are much higher.
For us, the property manager offered to move us across the hall to a matching layout of our three bedroom, three bath rental for the following season. The main issue was we felt the decor was not our style. It was a mix of dated items and newer furnishings including lovely off white sofas and easy chairs. Reluctantly, we accepted the change and were pleasantly surprised to discover the western view of the new place offered stunning sunsets through the entire wall of windows. The unit we came from had parking lot views and lovely Eastern sunrises, but the sunsets were even more appealing. We stuffed the dated wall art, green and yellow throw pillows and a zebra-covered chair into an interior area where we didn't have to look at them and put them back upon departure. We returned to the condo several times until we eventually bought our own place.
My Wisconsin friends have been searching for their next rental for weeks. They've found several options, but to date they've not booked anything. Some units were priced well above market value, others were not actually available despite being promoted as such. It is likely my friends will be making several compromises to obtain a pet friendly unit in the same community as their current place. To stay within budget, they toured a larger 3/3 compared with their current 2/2, but it does not have the gulf views nor updated bathrooms. However, unbeknownst to my friend, this unit's current snowbird renewed and my friend was actually on the wait list. It wasn't meant to be and she was on the fence anyway. Another potential unit features ground floor gulf views with a patio. However, the unit does not have a way to contain the dog outdoors and it's adjacent to a very high traffic area of the complex, which lacks privacy. My friends are gambling that as the year progresses, some rentals may come back on the market.
One mistake I've personally witnessed is not being fully prepared to commit when an available unit comes up for consideration. In a competitive rental market, it is imperative to plan ahead and fully establish what your top priorities are as well as your deal breakers. If your primary objectives are Jan/Feb dates; pet friendly; decent view; 2/2 and within or near budget, then you must be ready to book immediately if the prospect covers most of your criteria. This isn't the time for hardball tactics such as insisting on personal tours, negotiating rates or asking the owner to replace the mattresses and update the decor. If the unit meets most of your desired objectives, it may be the best option vs. not having any options because of waiting too long to commit and someone else takes it.
Don't overlook the value of solid communication with your property manager or owner if you are relatively happy with your current rental and want to return again. Many snowbirds wisely develop a strong line of communication with the owner of their rental. They communicate regularly and with clarity so there's no mixed messages. If you want to return, say so. If you already know you found and reserved something else, be courteous and let the owner know so they can put their energy into securing new prospects. Whatever you do, don't get ahead of yourself and let go of your existing rental until you are absolutely sure your new contract is fully executed.
Make a thorough list of questions that pertain to each property you consider. Write down the questions, answers, who you spoke with and the date/time. It's easy to get flustered when searching something as important as housing. You may go in circles for weeks or months until you find the right place. Being disorganized will make if more difficult to commit when you do find a place that meets most or all of your needs. Your priorities may change over time as well. If you have your heart set on criteria that may not be realistic for what's available in your budget, it's time to reevaluate. Don't forget to ask for the cancellation policy. Upon discussion you might not be comfortable with it and never forget the person wanting you to book your reservation may not tell all of the facts. It's imperative to get the cancellation information in writing. Be firm, don't let your emotions get in the way of good business sense.
Finally, a word of advice to never forget this fact: if the property is sold to a new owner your contract is likely to be voided. The new owner will not have any legal obligation to fulfill it. Hopefully they would want to, but it's a scenario that could destroy your plans. Always have a Plan B and Plan C. Best wishes as you navigate your housing, it's worth it, but it does take time to position yourself for a successful future snowbird season.
--Alan Lakein, American Author
The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. We make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.
In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from or in connection with, the use of this website.
Through this website you are able to link to other websites which are not under the control of Midlife Snowbird. We have no control over the nature, content and availability of those sites. The inclusion of any links or advertisements does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.
Always follow safety precautions, never interfere with the work and compliment the efforts and results Under Construction: Thank You for Your Patience The Realities, Do’s and Don’ts When Your Complex is Under Construction Winter is the off season for the vacation rental markets that snowbirds …
Our beloved Bodie and Dan shortly before Bo’s cancer diagnosis, Miramar Beach in Northwest Florida, November 2024 The Hardest Goodbye One Last Snowbird Season with our Beloved and Terminal Golden Retriever Eight years ago we excitedly brought our strong, stubborn, energetic male Golden Retriever puppy, …
As both an owner and a guest, I've seen the good, bad and ugly for check in procedures and expectations. For example, a couple years ago our newest neighbors were standing in the hallway quite awhile with their adorable dog, Cookie. I learned they were waiting on an agent of the local rental company to come and unlock the door so they could unpack their loaded vehicle. Why? A keyless entry doesn't need anyone to let a guest in, especially if they are checking in within the allotted time. Every management company is different and you'll want to be very prepared for how you will get into the property, especially if it's before or after hours. Things happen and don't always go according to plan.
Personally, I love the road trip, the process of transitioning from our Northern home to our Southern home. It's a time for adjusting to new and letting go of the old. Part of the journey involves finding the charm along the way. A huge part of that is planning the stops, including the small town road side stands as well as the super travel centers and interstate highway attractions such as Peach Park in Clanton, Alabama.
Below is a list of useful topics that take a little time to think about and prepare for, but are worth the effort to save time and hassles later.
I thought I had just about everything figured out for our upcoming snowbird season until a couple days ago and realized I have no idea where the contract is. It's not in the usual places and we need to verify our payment information with the property manager. The amusing thing is, we are the property owners. But we need a contract and payment just like everybody else.
At least 30 days' prior to departure, locate and review your contract for policies, check in and departure times, access codes, pet fees or other fees and anything else you might need to refresh in advance. If your rental includes a golf cart, verify details that information as well.
Maybe you're super fortunate there's only one way to get to your destination. Not so much for us. Even though we spend a lot of time on I-65, there's always lane changes, river tolls, "Sunpass" tolls and construction or lane and road closures. Weather and accidents are another unpredictable problem on the interstate.
Once we exit the interstate, there's a myriad of route options that take us through the beautiful back country of Southern Alabama. We have found Waze to be a huge help to get us to our home in Northwest Florida because there are many variables with routes, fuel centers, food and more. Road trips are already stressful and anything you can do to know when, where and how you're traveling is a life saver.
By reserving and paying for your hotel as far in advance as possible, you will likely not only save money, you'll also be promised the type of room you prefer. For us, pet friendly and convenience to I-65 is most important, followed by a King bed, in-room microwave and refrigerator, reasonable price and located in Athens, Alabama, our favorite stopping point. Other considerations include ADA access, cancellation policy, proximity to restaurants and fuel centers as well as in an area not plagued by crime. During busy season, such as holidays and the start of Spring Break, snowbirds and spring breakers are intersecting at the hotels and you'll want to get your room booked before they do. Other competition includes long term hotel guests who may be in the area for their trades or special events such as weddings and celebrations. By reserving in advance, you'll dodge many of the unknowns by waiting too long to book.
Be sure to know your codes! We have a code for the gated complex, access to the beach gate, fitness center and yet another code for our property's keyless entry. Our vehicle also has a convenient keyless code that I use quite often. If I'm walking by, I don't need to
bring my keys if I need to get something out of there. We use the cargo space as a "mini garage," and store our utility bags, boxes, tools and much more.
Log your codes into your phone or somewhere that you can easily retrieve them in a hurry. At home we have a ton of codes too, but I use them more often than I do in the gaps between time in our winter home. Usually we update our snowbird codes prior to departure because they change about 4 or 5 times a year. As we drive up to the gated entry, it's less stressful to have them ready.
Never ever assume that just because you've stayed in the same place multiple seasons that nothing will change for the better or worse for your next stay. It's wise to ask your property manager or owner for any possibilities of the following:
--Planned maintenance/closure of pools, hot tubs/spas, fitness centers, sports courts, elevators, etc
--New amenities such as covered BBQ grill areas, volleyball, pickleball, tennis courts, etc
--Activities, social events and local festivals and events
--Construction or renovation of the individual unit/home where you will be staying for the season
--Construction/renovation of the complex where you will be. This could include closure of your balcony or patio area; closure of walkways and parking spaces, loud noise, dust and other unpleasant issues.
--Local businesses that may change their seasonal hours of operation. Some close for the entire month of January for various reasons, so if your heart is set on frequenting a favorite coffee shop or establishment, you'll want to know in advance if it's going to be open when you plan your morning coffee run or evening stroll to the local winery or pub.
A cautionary tale:
I met a lovely Arkansas family who selected their winter rental because it was located directly across from the elevator. They knew their elderly mother would be staying for a couple of weeks and were pleased to get a top floor unit right by the elevator. Their joy was ruined when they arrived on site to find the elevator was closed for at least a week due to being upgraded and replaced. There were other working elevators, but they were too far for the mother, who had mobility issues. So the family had no choice and went home. I felt terrible for them, but it just didn't work out. Guests with ADA needs or elderly dogs may experience a similar situation. By checking in advance, problems can be identified and hopefully rectified prior to arrival.
-- Alan Lakein, American Author
The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. We make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.
In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from or in connection with, the use of this website.
Through this website you are able to link to other websites which are not under the control of Midlife Snowbird. We have no control over the nature, content and availability of those sites. The inclusion of any links or advertisements does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.
Where to begin decluttering? Start with a surface area, a drawer, a closet, a single room, the main thing is to simply start somewhere How Much is Too Much Stuff? Edit, Organize and Downsize Your Primary Home’s Contents I’m continually inspired to write about real …
From Summerbird to Snowbird Transition from a Summer to Winter Stay in Your Warm Weather Community Many times I’m inspired to write about questions I receive seeking insight of the snowbird life. This time our repeat vacation rental guests asked about making the transition from …
If you've ever wondered what it might be like to live in your snowbird community full time, consider this case study of one mostly retired couple who relocated from Ohio to Florida. They've had three years to absorb and analyze the emotional impact of what it means to move away from friends and family. I recently spent a Sunday morning with my friend, Kaley, and we had a candid personal conversation about the challenges she has encountered by making her southern community her full time home base.
On the plus side, Kaley and her husband purchased what they considered to be a reasonably priced home with an inground pool in a mature residential area in the heart of downtown Destin, Florida. A pool in a southern climate makes sense because the weather will be warm or hot much more than the Northern climate. However, since that time housing prices have skyrocketed as has homeowner's insurance. She said it is about $6,000 per year for insurance largely due to being in a coastal area, but Kaley said so far property taxes have been relatively reasonable.
Kaley felt that having a pool would be a draw for their family to want to visit, especially her grandchildren. Yet Kaley quickly acknowledged her teen grands have a pool at their own home, although pool season is much shorter in Ohio. The gorgeous nearby white sandy beaches of the Emerald Coast don't exactly repel anyone either. There are many other attractions in the area for just about any age or ability. This is what is so appealing to tourists and full time residents alike.
Housing and the allure of pools and the beaches are just one factor of being based in your warm weather community. Kaley shared that she and her husband are seriously considering moving back to Ohio. Caught by surprise, I listened carefully.
Family and friends are hugely important and that is Kaley's biggest Achilles heel. Yes, it's typically not a problem to make an effort to get acquainted with new friends in any area and be happy with them, although it does take time to do that. Kaley didn't say, but I'm fairly certain it must be challenging to sustain meaningful friendships in a community where the majority of the population is comprised of transient tourists. Snowbird friends tend to come back every year, but then they are gone again right about the time you find your groove. There's a large gap of time in between. Close friends from home will typically visit once and they may or may not return.
Family is another thing. They obviously cannot be replicated or substituted. For many snowbirds, family and friends are two of the biggest reasons to remain in close geographical proximity. No one ages backwards and there's only so many resources be with family who live a significant distance away. Kaley has made many trips back to Ohio for various occasions, but no one can be there for every single gathering or life event. Grands are born and grow up quicker than anyone is ready. There's no price that can be established for time with family. Therefore, if either the parents or adult children move away no matter what the reason, there's pros and cons. Hence the conundrum.
Kaley researched the costs of moving back to their original home base in Central Ohio. Insurance is still reasonable because they would be land locked. However, housing and property taxes are expensive which means she and her husband would be trading lower insurance for high property taxes.
Another consideration is which one of their three adult children to be nearest? The children plus grands are located in three different cities and it would be at least a two hour drive each way if they chose to base near one of the three families.
Kaley and I both personally know of parents moving to the same city as their adult children only to be frustrated with the outcome. Kaley pointed out that her friends moved to Virginia to be near their children and grands. After a period of time the grands and their family were transferred and now the parents were in a location where they didn't have many friends and now they didn't have family either.
Another friend of Kaley's moved close to family and said they see their family and grands the same amount of time as before they moved there. Although grandparents realize teens are busy with school and their own friends and activities, it's not pleasant to miss out on a relationship with them, especially when they are in the same vicinity. Regarding the adult children, it's even less pleasant to feel your children are avoiding you after the effort made to relocate nearby. This is another subject entirely and one that is all too common.
Kaley and I didn't delve into the hurt feelings, resentment and emotional issues of moving to be closer to family only to find the significant life-changing gesture isn't exactly welcome, but that is the reality of making a huge change. If Kaley and her husband move back to Ohio, who's to say how much time they will actually have with their family? To be fair, when Kaley and her husband moved away from Ohio, their children and grands, it almost certainly had an emotional impact on the remaining family.
Whether snowbirds stay with the status quo by splitting time between two homes or permanently relocate to their southern community, there's no easy answers. For those who aren't particularly close to their adult children, whose children don't live nearby, who don't have children/grands or whose core family is no longer surviving, there's still extended family, friends, neighbors, community and the long time roots connecting anyone to a particular place.
Ultimately, each situation is personal and unique. There's several wise adages to consider before making any major life changes: "The grass isn't always greener" and "Be careful of what you wish for" are two that come to mind. No matter what Kaley and her husband decide, there's always trade offs. I believe the best option is to consider what is best for each individual or each couple, not what is best for everyone else.
-- Eckhart Tolle, German born spiritual teacher and self-help author
The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. We make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.
In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from or in connection with, the use of this website.
Through this website you are able to link to other websites which are not under the control of Midlife Snowbird. We have no control over the nature, content and availability of those sites. The inclusion of any links or advertisements does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.
Here Vs. There: The Top Question I Am Asked the Most Why Snowbirds Consciously Choose to Live In Two Places Curiosity about the choice to live in two places vs. one primary home are what I am commonly asked when the subject of being a …