magnumpi

So we are thinking of leaving Canada for the warmer climate of the USA maybe Jan thru to the first week of April

Anyone have any insight into this or experience snowbirding?

We are unsure if we should buy a place or rent a place? And would like to keep the cost down to a minimum so a trailer park would suffice for a starter snow birding experience

Former Lancastrian

For the 1st time I suggest renting as buying property in some states for foreign owners differs. Which state(s) are you looking at as a recent article today shows most Canadians buy property in Florida, California and Texas.
Canadians Are Taking Over U.S. Real Estate At Record Speed

Lots of Canadians also choose Arizona & Nevada.

Numerous choices for Rent By Owner or Trailer Park Rentals as well.

Try this for basic info
CSA Publications - Canadian Snowbird Association

bats

In my exoerience snowbirds are usually people who rant on about how wonderful Canada is then they eff off for the winter and live in another country

magnumpi

Lol, very helpful thanks Bats

BristolUK

Go into joint ownership of an RV with Howefamily. You can have it for winter, them for summer.

Someone has it for crystal blue for the rest.

scrubbedexpat091

For western Canadian sbow birds the Palm Springs area is very popular. My mom lives there and winter it becomes a mini Canada.

Those in Palm Springs area seem to own rather then rent or live in an RV.

In various areas of Arizona there are RV parks nobody uses most of the year, come fall and they fill with Canadians. Some are very random spots off interstate but basically middle of nowhere.

I am sure other California locales see snowbirds as well but not on the scale Palm Springs region sees.

Florida would be cheaper but not as nice. But I dont like Florida.

Almost Canadian

Paging Simon Legree

magnumpi

Some how I believed Florida would be more $$. I have been doing some research but it's hard to get an actual price online for rentals.

Also we just got back from touring the east of Canada (loved it BTW) this gave us the idea that if driving 4,400km is so much fun here then why don't we just travel away for winter, but this time stay away while it is winter here !

Jerseygirl

Spending winters in Florida is something we keep considering. We would probably rent a condo first before buying. We usually drive down for several weeks...then book last minute cruises from Ft Lauderdale.

magnumpi

750$ a month sound good

http://www.villageflorida.com/pricing.html

bats

You're welcome

But it's true though. I see and hear much chest thumping and preening by "proud Canadians" about how wonderful it is to live here but those same Canadians own property in the US and head off from November to April. It annoys me. About a third of the people in our street are snowbirds. Florida, Texas, Arizona.

I don't get it though, you're young, you don't have too bad a winter in Ajax, certainly better than ours. I thought you liked all the toys and sports? Skidoos etc

Siouxie

I have an aquaintance who bought a house in Florida with her parents, her parents live there for 5.5 months a year during the winter and she has the use of it the rest of the year.

Pitfalls would be making sure you have sufficient health cover and that you don't inadvertently become liable for taxes in the US.

(It would appear that the parents of my acquaintance could be liable for US taxes, based on the amount of time they spend there - but I doubt it's occurred to them to file for one of the exemptions).

https://www.snowbirdadvisor.ca/us-re...bird-must-know

BristolUK

It's something I could see me doing but it needn't be for 'the winter' just a part of it. Split in two. And it could just be taking a break and staying somewhere you don't have to think about it. Even if it was somewhere else in Canada

magnumpi

Summer toys, no winter toys :@(

Work for me dries up in winter, most quiet time is Jan to March, rather than scramble for the odd job to stop me getting cabin fever I thought why not just have a time out for them 3 months. Just browsing ATMo

scilly

My daughter's in-laws have gone to Florida (from NS) every winter for the last 10 or 11 years. They rent a mobile home in a park from beginning November to end of April, and book it for the following winter before they leave. They take 3 or 4 days to drive down and the same to drive back, and make sure they are not out of the country for too long (medical plan).

They love it, have a much more active life down there than they do in NS.

I did make the mistake of saying "trailer park" to them ............. oh boy!!! Were they ever mad at me

However, the park where they stay seems to be populated largely by snow birds (from Canada and northern US) over pensionable age

They get offers of very cheap cruises on flyers in the mail ......... $100 or $200 each for a 4 or 5 day cruise if they can leave "in 2 days", all found except alcohol. They abstain from drinking for the cruise

We have younger friends who retired early, and rented a cottage in Borrego Springs, CA .... they did that for about about 4 - 6 weeks 3 years running, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I believe they used it as a base for touring around AZ and CA.