Panama City Beach for retirement

[beachmouse]

I’ve come to really despise The South, but to each their own and all.

North of US 98 in PCB tends to be the side of town where middle class and upper middle class folks live year round, south of US 98 is tourist madness and the commercial developments along 98 is where the two groups overlap. I’d see Margaritaville’s location as a plus because it will be relatively quiet compared to south of 98 (property insurance will probably be cheaper there too) and then a Florida state parks pass runs about $120/year and St. Andrews SP or Camp Helen will typically let you have a little more sand to yourself when the free public access points are overrun.

[maybeflbound]

Hello,

We visited Margaritaville Latitudes last week. In fact, we went twice. It's really beautiful and the people we met really love it there. Looks like most of the employees live there. You will need to add about 100k to the price of the homes to account for a lot premium (average is 55K) and upgrades. That's not too surprising. We got on the wait list (no cost) and was told they would contact us in about a year to sign a contract if we were willing to be flexible on the floor plan we want and the lot (water view or not). It would take another year to build. They have 1200 people on the list and are releasing 50 lots per month. Lots of land in that area. I think the complete build out will be over 3000 homes. We were told the HOA at complete build out is less than $350.00 a month. All subject to change of course. They have a shuttle service to a shopping area across and down from public beach access. There are several pick up points on each street. Since the salesman we spoke to lives there, he was able to give us ball park figures of the average utilities, etc. No flood insurance required. The proximity to the airport is great - 6 miles. We didn't hear any airplane noise. With that said, I'm not sure we will go ahead with purchasing and moving there but it's an option. We also looked at regular new home communites in that area. I understand there are more 55 plus communities coming. We are planning another trip in December to visit our family and do more exploring. I also want to check out the weather at that time of year.

[sammythebull]

I'm intrigued by this thread, and the notion of this area for potential retirement (55+). Of course, plan to visit, but maybe some questions for those that posted here after scoping the area out -- how are the pools at Latitudes? Indoor as well as outdoor -- or are the outdoor pools just seasonal? Prefer lap pool - do they have one or is it only the "resort style" pool. How insulated is this area from hurricane/flooding -- seems less risky but not sure? Seems to be better located, and as others noted in this thread likely better for insurance. The shuttle sounds great --- am I reading that correctly that a resident can hop on that and head down to the beach, then hop back in the afternoon? Would be great to toss a bike on that shuttle if possible.

I like it cooler, but how is the winter weather? To me, high of around 50 or so is great - and definitely golfable weather if not super-windy. Doesn't have to be that way every day in January, but is that more the norm than the exception? I don't mind staying in on cold days, but not every day.

Finally, are there other communities in this area, or close or in the area that would be formidable alternatives to Latitudes?

Thanks!

[maybeflbound]

Hi,

I will answer what I can. We are still researching Latitudes Margaritaville and other areas counting down 2 years to retirement. The pools aren't due to be completed until next April but I believe they are all outdoor and resort pools. My husband mentioned that even if flood insurance isn't required there, we may still get it since it is so close to the beach (literally a 10 minute car ride) so I'm sure that community would be subject to possible damage in a hurricane. We were told the shuttle drops residents off at Pier Park which has shopping and restaurants and is across the street from public beach access. Not sure what can be brought on the shuttle bus. The website for Latitudes Margaritaville does have a chat option. It starts out automated but you can have someone return a call for questions.

There is supposed to be a new 55 plus community being built in Freeport (I don't have that name) but there already is a more built out community called Hammock Bay with new/resale homes there. We will look at those in December. I even heard about a new DR Horton community in Gulf Shores, AL called The Village at Craft Farms that we may visit (in the spirit of leaving no stone unturned) lol.

The December trip is happening to check out winter in that area so I will report on that too. If you visit, please let us know what you think of the place.

[sammythebull]

Thanks. Please report back after your visit, and appreciate the extra information. I did find numerous threads on Hammock Bay, and on the Latitudes site (somewhere), I saw that there will be an indoor lap pool. I imagine the resort pool (outside) might be seasonal.


I visited Gulf Shores many years ago, and liked the slower, laid back pace there. However, might be too close to the potential hurricane, depending on the location.

[heallytim]

Have things changed for the better in PCB in the last 2 years?

Originally Posted by slduvall

Rosemary Beach and the Destin area are different from each other and both are very different from Panama City Beach. Rosemary beach is basically a very expensive group of houses (very close together) with a town center of some resort shops and restaurants. It is located on the very expensive state road 30A, along the gulf. It is gorgeous, and you can visit if you aren't staying, but can't get to the beach. Destin is a city with your regular stores, (Walmart, Target, grocery stores, schools etc) but lots of condos and resorts tossed in, so crowded with tourists, but tons of people live there year-round as well.

PCB is an entirely different place. The main drag is Hwy 98, but the condos etc are located on Front Beach road, it is much wider separation between the two which allows for more single-family homes, etc to be built. But as it was much cheaper back in the day, many of those homes and trailers remain. I'm noticing more new construction starting to replace the old stuff, but there is plenty of the old. Margaritaville is not on the beach, it is up 79 and there is very little there now. I doubt it will have deeded access to the Gulf (meaning a place dedicated for residence with parking etc) So you are fighting with everyone else for space on the beach. It isn't far, about 10 miles to the beach. The closest large hospital would be over the bridge in Panama City proper. There are some ER type places in PCB.

PCB has a nice Target, Walmart, World Market and Lowes, HD etc, and a nice outdoor mall area Pier Park. It can definitely get very touristy.

It was 32 this morning..and is about 48 right now, but it was 75 on Sunday, so kind of hard to describe the weather. It is very humid and moist all year, so the cold can reach the bones even when it's only 45!

I have lived in Panama City (before the hurricane) and absolutely hated it. There was basically no zoning and only a few very nice areas. It was pretty gutted by the hurricane, so hopefully, there will be better zoning etc on the new builds. PCB sustained very little damage during hurricane Micheal but has been hit pretty bad in the past, so a lot of the older condos were torn down, and replaced with much larger ones. Not to offend anyone but the whole PC area is very Blue Collar, both the area where locals live and the rental areas. Prices are going up there, but doubt the face of it will change much in the next decade.

I recommend taking a "drive" using google maps and see what the brochures aren't showing you.

[Lizap]

Originally Posted by heallytim

Have things changed for the better in PCB in the last 2 years?

PCB, while adjacent to Panama City, is much nicer. Panama City is one of the most run down towns I’ve ever seen. Our daughter lives in PCB and it is very nice. Lots of very nice retail nice beaches, nice parks for kids, etc...

[RMESMH]

Originally Posted by Lizap

PCB, while adjacent to Panama City, is much nicer. Panama City is one of the most run down towns I’ve ever seen. Our daughter lives in PCB and it is very nice. Lots of very nice retail nice beaches, nice parks for kids, etc...

My mother (as an adult, in a portion of the 1950s before she met my dad) went on a lot of vacations all over the U.S. with my grandparents (we are SF Bay Area natives).

While I was growing up, she always said that the two worst cities in the U.S. for bugs were Panama City, FL and Lafayette, LA.

In my experience in those two cities, I didn't find that to be the case.

[Lizap]

Originally Posted by RMESMH

My mother (as an adult, in a portion of the 1950s before she met my dad) went on a lot of vacations all over the U.S. with my grandparents (we are SF Bay Area natives).

While I was growing up, she always said that the two worst cities in the U.S. for bugs were Panama City, FL and Lafayette, LA.

In my experience in those two cities, I didn't find that to be the case.

We’re in PCB now visiting, and come down several times a year. I haven’t noticed any more bugs here than anywhere else along the Gulf coast.

[slduvall]

Originally Posted by Lizap

We’re in PCB now visiting, and come down several times a year. I haven’t noticed any more bugs here than anywhere else along the Gulf coast.

When I lived there we couldn't go outside past 5ish because of the gnats or what we called noseeums!

I live 45 minutes away now and we rarely have them.