Florida's on Fire...

[AMISLANDER]

....our sky in Sarasota is golden. Sun looks like a fireball. It smells just like forest fire down here....

Crazy! I didn't see the news yet as I went from bed to work...but it's totally weird right now...

[DeadManCrawling]

We are in Pasco County, just north of Tampa. The smoke fills the air here, and the smell has been thick, almost overwhelming.

Reminiscent of 98-99 when most of Flagler County burned.

[BKOnce]

Global Warming effects or just... too much fume from many car's exhaust system that drink too much gasoline!?..

[DeadManCrawling]

Blazing forest fires, across the state.

It looks like the fog you see along the oceanfront, thrown up from wind, water and salt.

I like the smell though-like the world's bigges bbq.

[FilingOnMyOwn]

Its been like that for a month now in jacksonville. Its weird, even on the weather channel, the condition shown is "smoke"

[robivi3]

It's pretty normal in Sunrise because of the fires in the Everglades, everything is dry. What's wiered is seeing it across the sky and hoping it ain't near your house because the landscape can make it look close when you are driving up 75!

Are all you Fla folk also on water restrictions? i guess that puts Flamingo and the hiking trails off limits.

DM what are some nice, affordable areas in Pasco? Any zip codes or names would help. I love Highlands from what i have seen but you guys no more about the Western area than i do. Thinking of buggin' out at some point.

[FilingOnMyOwn]

I think we're supposed to water lawns no more than twice a week 4 hours or less each time, thats all I'm aware of...

[DeadManCrawling]

We are allowed to water once a week. Oddly, most of our water goes to Hillsborough County due to an old water lease from 50 years back or so.

In Hillsborough, which gets 75% of its water from PASCO, there is a major uproar right now. They have just been informed that they can now only water THREE times a week. THREE TIMES. With water from Pasco, where we have been at once a week for 20 years. Sounds crazy, but it's true.

Affordable and Florida rarely seem to mean the same thing these days.

Wife is a real estate agent, if you want the inside scoop on areas that are decent and cost less than is typical. PM me and I will pass your number or email on if you want.

My general thoughts though, would be Moon Lake area if you are looking for property and willing to wait a few years for major appreciation. It sits on the most sought after ground in the Bay area, with major connecting routes to every city. However, it mostly comprises older homes and mobiles at the moment. And it has a regional reputation that used to be deserved but no longer is. Moon Lake ranked as the #3 or 4 appreciating area in the nation 2 years ago, with prices rising %214 percent annually. This is due to a few new subdivisions comprised of hundreds of million dollar homes, but the appreaciation was and IS being realized byt he other near by properties.

For a real winner, with moderate but nice homes, check out the Hudson area. It is a bit farther north, actually in Hernando County, but right on the county border, and a 5 minute drive from my house.

Anything waterfront is a good bet here as well. Mostly because you are taking a huge risk on insurance and taxes. My wife, in her real estate work, took me to look at a waterfront area the other day. One 800 sq. ft. house that might have gotten 500k eighteen months back is priced at 240k.

That would be for someone with a strong stomach and plenty of patience, I think.

Let me know if you need anything further. Zip codes: 34654, 34655, 34653 and any close by.

Love to help, and always like meeting people!

-dmc

[robivi3]

Smoke Today!!!!!!


Thick haze and smoke!!!! Train Operators were issued masks where I work, because they are on the elevated guideway.

DMC- Thanks, will do, contrary to all the jabber, prices here are holding but take longer to sell. Out-of-State friends one of whom is a Realtor are insisting I'm wrong. Thanks to Mr. Chavez Venezuelans are FLOCKING to Dade & Broward and paying the bucks, WE ARE LITERALLY OUT OF SPACE HERE. I live across from the large protected area, we are at the limit, period, NO MORE ROOM. SoFla does not go as the Nation goes, the rules are different here, we in fact seem to have driven most of the Rural land sales in other states like TN and Co.

[FilingOnMyOwn]

Hopefully with the rain it will all go away.

[SinkingFast]

When I heard about the fires on the news, I thought of you guys. My BK Forum friends in Florida.

I've been praying for the rain to blow across the Gulf to you guys from Texas.

[FilingOnMyOwn]

TY sinking. But the first named tropical storm has brewed on the east coast, and brought lots of rain. Hopefully it will be enough. But its been pouring for a while and I still smell smoke

[robivi3]

Drove from Sunrise to Marco Island today. On the way back lots of roadside fires. choppers were spotting in the morning and then on the way back we were priviledged to stop along the canal and watch from about 300 feet away as the Fire Choppers dipped their buckets in the canal and flew over to the other side to douse the fire. The spotters were circling and waiting and there were alot of water trucks spraying down the brush over the fenceline. Marco is lovely, saw new homes in Gateway Estates with over an acre going in the 270k range, tempting to bail here and make the daily drive, several guys do it.