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Vol II Issue 33
September 3, 2007
Previous Issues
Retirees Find Sand, Surf and
Affordable Real Estate in Laid Back Largo, Florida
Cost of Living: Below the National Average
Written by Edith Weiss, daughter of Largo
retirees
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If Florida is your retirement destination,
the town of Largo (not to be confused with Key Largo)
deserves a look. Largo is in the heart of Pinellas
County, the Tampa Bay area peninsula between mainland
Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. There is a large airport
in Tampa, twenty miles east of downtown, and a smaller
one in Clearwater/St. Petersburg, six miles east of
downtown. Largo hasn’t seen the sprawling growth of
its neighbor Clearwater or St. Petersurg, but it’s
close enough to take advantage of the amenities these
cities have to offer. One third of Largo’s population
of 74,000 are over 65 years old, and the median resident
age is 47. These numbers ensure a healthy retiree
culture.
Largo was incorporated in 1905, and in
1916 residents drained Lake Largo to make way for growth.
Today, the bed of what was once a lake is now wetlands in
Largo Central Park Nature Preserve.
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Let’s start with the weather. It’s
Florida. Summers are very warm and humid. Very warm, indeed.
See how I’m trying to avoid saying hot? Well, of course it
gets hot. That’s why you go to the beach. In Largo, you
are minutes from dozens of beaches. The beaches of Indian
Rocks, for example, which border Largo, are clean, have free
parking, and are never crowded. From the beach you can walk
to shops, restaurants, and ice cream parlors. The fall, the
winters, and the spring are beautifully mild and sunny. The
days when it’s too cold to go outside are few and far
between. The typical low temperature in January goes into
the low 50’s.
Other outdoor activities include hiking, fishing, boating, and
lots of golf. The Largo Golf Course has had a total renovation,
completed in April of 2007. The Highland Recreation Complex sports
trails, softball, basketball, and tennis. Hosting the grandkids?
Take them to the Highland Family Aquatic Center, which has the
tallest municipal water slide in Pinellas County. Heck, don’t
wait for the grandkids; there is no age limit to a water slide.
The Largo Community Center is a vibrant place for active
retirees who wish to participate in line dancing, card games,
yoga, and fitness. They also offer adult education classes and
trips and are the home of the nationally recognized Tutterow Dance
Program for youth and adults.
The intimate Largo Cultural Center is home to a resident
company, the Eight O’ Clock Theater, voted "Best of the
Bay" by the Tampa Bay Magazine. The LCC’s Broadway and Off
Broadway series brings shows such as "An Evening With Groucho",
"Beehive the Musical", and "Say Goodnight,
Gracie" to their stage. They also host national and
international acts such as The Kingston Trio, Sha Na Na, Richie
Havens and the Orlando Opera.
Those of you that need a good library to keep you
happy will love the new and improved Largo Library; with one of
the user-friendliest websites this writer has ever seen. In
addition to books, audio books, DVDs, downloadable digital
software and C.D.s, the library offers community services such as
a weekly lunchtime series for small business owners, where a
gentleman from the Chamber of Commerce is available to answer the
questions or help prospective small business owners get started.
There are author reading series, book clubs, and a good genealogy
department as well.
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This is an interactive map.
Click on the arrows in the upper left hand
corner to move the map to the East, West, North or South, and
click on the +/- signs (more than once if necessary) to zoom
in and out.
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On a personal note, my parents
live in Largo. To get to their middle-income house I drive about a
block on a semi dirt road, which I love. Their quiet neighborhood
is within walking distance of a community garden. The huge Spanish
oaks around their property invite owls and birds of all kinds, and
hummingbirds are a regular visitor in their backyard. In a less
than five-minute drive, after crossing a drawbridge, I can be
lying on Indian Rocks beach. There are days that the seagulls and
pelicans outnumber the people on the beach. From the beach I can
walk to the small and friendly Indian Rocks Library, which
welcomes all comers to use its computers, and search through the
free books bin. If I had taken a left at Gulf Boulevard, I
could have driven south, with the sea on my right, all the way to
St. Petersburg and visited the world famous Salvadore Dali Museum.
The annual taxes on a $150,000 home are approximately $1,845.
Homeowners age 62 and better who earn less than $10,000 per year receive a $10,000
school tax exemption. If their income does not exceed $30,000 they may qualify for
a partial exemption from state and county
property taxes. Homeowners who are age 65 or better and who earn $10,000 or
less per year may have
$4,000 of their property's value exempt from state and county taxes as
well. There is also a standard homestead exemption. Social
Security is exempt from state income tax, and people age 62 or better may
receive a tax adjustment on income of less than $40,000 per year. Civil War era
cemeteries, 150 year old churches and 10 museums ensure that there is always
something to explore. There are ghost tours, home tours, garden tours,
trolley tours, river festivals and riverboat cruises. The city boasts a
thriving arts culture, thanks in large part to the Savannah College of Art and
Design. With 70 buildings throughout the city, SCAD makes its presence
known, and it presents the Savannah Film Festival, the Sidewalk Arts Festival
and a fashion show each year (Savannah has been named a top arts town by at
least one national publication). The school also has athletic
events. The Savannah Philharmonic Orchestra, the Savannah Theater and
the Savannah Shakespeare Festival add to Savannah's cultural identity. The open air City Market, which
dates from the 1700s, has an eclectic selection of shops, galleries, art studios
and specialty food retailers. Three WalMarts add more shopping options. Two
culinary schools offer classes and routinely send eager new chefs out into the
community (TV chef Paula Deen resides here, too). Live Oak Public Library has
three branches, one an old Carnegie library, and all have free public wifi
access. Savannah remains a port city, and the waterfront is great
fun for people watching, dining and shopping. Known as "Savannah's beach," pretty Tybee Island is
just 20 minutes east and provides sand and surf, not to mention seafood
festivals, sand art competitions, wine festivals and a celebrity or two.
Largo’s residents have a lot to be
thankful for, and they can express that gratitude in any
one of the 65 churches in the town, or in all, if the
mood suits. Denominations not found in Largo can be
found in neighboring Clearwater or St. Petersburg.
The real estate market in Florida, as elsewhere, has
slowed. Foreclosures in the state were up 71% last year
(find Largo foreclosures
here (ad) ~ use zip code 33774). Prices have
dropped, which is good news for the buyer. An online
search of the Largo real estate market showed (as of
this date) 2,067 available properties
(homes-condos-townhouses-apartments), with at least 2
bedrooms, for under $150,000.
Let’s take a closer look at real estate. There are many
choices, both in price and in life styles. The price for
doublewide mobile homes starts at $39,000. If you want to
live in a 55+-retirement community, for $78,900 you can get
a one-bedroom one-story 985 sq. feet town home with a
community pool, of course. A single-family home, two
bedroom, one bath with 921 sq. feet goes for
$150,000. For $153,900 you can get a 3 bedroom,
2 bath home with a fenced yard and a one-car garage. A
town home in the gated community of Bar Harbour, with 2
beds, 2 baths, and a carport also boasts a lake waterfront
and a dock for $159,000.
Senior housing options include many individual and
assisted living communities, as well as Alzheimer’s care
facilities in Largo and the surrounding areas.
More fun facts: there are 2,405 restaurants within 15 miles. There
are 8 museums, 73 public golf courses, and 83 hospitals (I have
found no direct correlation between the two). Largo Medical
Center, a 265 bed hospital, lies within the city limits. It is the
only hospital in Pinellas County with all private rooms. The Sun
Coast Hospital is a not-for-profit owned by a community
foundation.
The crime rate is lower than the national average. The median
home price is $155,000, lower than the state average. There is no
state or local income tax. The sales tax is 7%. The Pinellas-Suncoast
Transit Authority provides bus service throughout Pinellas County
and express service to Tampa.
And now, for facts that are less than fun. Property taxes and
homeowner’s insurance are not cheap. It’s Florida, and the
hurricanes have taken their toll. It’s difficult to
give figures because in January 2008 everything might change due
to a vote on the Florida Property Tax Reform Bill.
But, for now: the current rate is 4.2785 for fiscal year 2007
which is calendar year 2006-2007. The proposed new maximum
is the rate of 4.0100 for fiscal year 2008, calendar year
2007-2008. So for now, property taxes are above the national
average. Flood insurance is almost impossible to
get. Before you buy, ask your real estate agent about
homeowner’s insurance and what you can expect to pay. If
you want to live near the shore, it’s a price you have to
pay. I find that the sea breezes and the seagulls make it
worthwhile.
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