FLORIDA NEWBIE QUESTIONS
 

Hi Everyone,

Just in the process of purchasing a property on the Gulf Coast and I've got a couple of quick questions which are probably terribly repetitious for old hands on here but would help me a great deal.

The property is initially an investment with tenants in situ for some time but eventually we hope to be spending a few months of the year there as well as renting it out.

It's a cash purchase and my first port of call is setting up a bank account to transfer the money - does anyone in the Tampa/ St Petersburg area have any recommendations ?

Should I go for a big one like Bank of America, Wells Fargo or a smaller one such as Regions or Mercantile.

Are their services, fees and benefits pretty much the same and are they all online banks ?

And can I open an account initially with a UK address ?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Re: FLORIDA NEWBIE QUESTIONS
 

Can't really help with banks, but you'll probably have a hard time opening an account. However, the statement above is a scary one, I hope you have really looked into it and know how bad the market is right now.

Re: FLORIDA NEWBIE QUESTIONS
 

Absolutely.

The property is on the water, is 70% below its peak price, with a rock-solid HOA and has tenants paying a good rent for at least the next 18 months.

It's certainly a better return than I'm currently getting from bank interest rates.

As a long-term capital investment which I'll also use extensively I think it represents good value.

He who dares wins, Rodders, as they say.

Re: FLORIDA NEWBIE QUESTIONS
 

Are you with someone like HSBC in the UK, who has banks in the US? That would probably help you with both setting up the account and transfer of funds in both directions.

Re: FLORIDA NEWBIE QUESTIONS
 

If you have over $25K (cash or stocks) Wells Fargo have a premier package called "PMA checking". We just opened such an account - my wife likes to have a bank with a physical presence close by.

So far the service has been excellent. I recommend them.

We also use a credit union.

Re: FLORIDA NEWBIE QUESTIONS
 

Worst "I've got $25k" posting, ever.

Re: FLORIDA NEWBIE QUESTIONS
 

They are not even close to rock bottom yet
You never buy near water ..have you checked that you can even get insurance

tenants dissapear overnight everyday in Florida

Still its your money .. I dont mind ...

Re: FLORIDA NEWBIE QUESTIONS
 

Further, I know a thing or two about US macro economic factors. Well put it this way, given my profession I come across forecasts on house price index, unemployment, double dip recession possibility etc.

I strongly believe - I rather pay 15% more in a growing economy vs. buy now and 'hope' that we have seen the bottom.

As Ray says though it’s your money and looks like you have some research behind your investment proposition.

Re: FLORIDA NEWBIE QUESTIONS
 

You can get insurance you just have to call around. We live on the ocean and have both FEMA flood insurance and house insurance. It is the land that is valuable not the house, so who cares if it floods?

Re: FLORIDA NEWBIE QUESTIONS
 

:rofl: Yeah. You have to call around and take whatever price you're given, you mean?
As for who cares if it floods? Actually, I would if it was me. A landlord that's based in the UK with no renter and therefor no income due to any flooding would too, I'd imagine.

Re: FLORIDA NEWBIE QUESTIONS
 

Makes me wonder exactly where on the gulf coast.

Re: FLORIDA NEWBIE QUESTIONS
 

True that.

Re: FLORIDA NEWBIE QUESTIONS
 

It could be slightly different up in CT but the FEMA flood insurance prices are fixed depending on whether you want structure and/or contents coverage and what type of flood zone you are in. We'll get significant flooding at my house with a 10ft storm surge. We flooded last year not from the ocean but from ground water levels rising above the surface.

A reputable national insurance company was found at an affordable rate and it was necessary to do it in order to get a mortgage.

Judge as you may, but it has been my mother's dream to live on the ocean.

Re: FLORIDA NEWBIE QUESTIONS
 

Not judging at all, just making a point as it might affect a person relying on rent to pay a mortgage.

Not sure why you mention CT unless that's the only place it's different?
I'm in Florida. I know how the system works. Personally I'd probably still rather live inland, the gulf coast beach holds very little appeal to me.

Re: FLORIDA NEWBIE QUESTIONS
 

Insurance agencies do have different policies by state and are licensed on a state level so I'm assuming that it might be more/less difficult/expensive to get insurance in some states rather than others.

Is there something wrong with beaches on the Gulf Coast? I've never been on that side so I wouldn't know.