Where should I explore for a cycling condo?

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Originally Posted by IBrakeforPastry

Goldfinch - are you based somewhere? I have a feeling you're RV'ing. I was looking at the Sarasota area for a late winter break to start exploring.

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Yes, I rv. I like bringing my own home with me where I go. I bring two bikes as well. It works out well. But, the problem with rvs is that they depreciate. Mine is a 2004. At some point it will begin to have issues. I don't want to buy another one when this one gets tired. At that point I will probably buy a condo somewhere.

I am traveling around Florida this year, exploring birding and biking. Some places have been tremendous. Florida has some lovely state and county parks. Fort DeSoto was absolutely wonderful, with great biking. But you can't stay there for more than a couple of weeks and it is hard to get reservations.

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Originally Posted by IBrakeforPastry

So much fun reading all these suggestions. I feel like I need to quote and to respond to almost everyone! I do think just finding a rental unit is a good idea. I can go someplace different each time and no ownership/resale worries. But I like having my own place where I can keep my own stuff (read: bicycle ;)) and a familiar neighborhood to return to. Some places have professional management to help rent it out when the owner isn't there.

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Yep -- some of the VRBO condos we are looking at in Tucson are not available to rent in Jan/Feb, so that is when the owners use them. The rest of the year they are managed and provide rental income. So owning a condo that you intend to rent out could work if you really want a base. I'd just make sure you really like the area before you buy. Maybe rent the first winter at least. Speaking from experience here!

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Originally Posted by IBrakeforPastry

I think you can be both a mountain person and a beach person. There are more mountain activities that I enjoy. I'm not a sunbathing beach bum, and I don't like many water sports (I need shade!) But I like the openness and visual beauty of the open water. I just love the outdoors.

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This is me. We live in a beachfront condo in Belize at the moment, and while I LOVE the views of the beautiful turquoise water, I much prefer walking and sitting in the shade. The only time I "lay out" by the pool is just to warm up for a few minutes after swimming. I get plenty of sun just living life and riding my bike here so don't need to sunbathe. There are more activities I enjoy in the mountains, namely hiking, birdwatching, and kayaking, which is one reason I realized that living at the beach is too limiting. Most people who own condos here are big beach people, do lots of sunbathing, fishing, boating, and (some) diving. That's just not me.

We recently bought a weekend home that is only 2.5 hours drive away from us, but seems like a different world once you cross over the Cascade Mountain passes. We live during the week in the land of clouds and rain and on the weekends we go to the sun.... we are outdoor people for sure. Last weekend we snowshoed both Saturday and Sunday and the high temp was 18F. Back here at our weekday home it was mid 30s, but rain, rain, rain. The summers on this side of the state are spectacular, but the winters are dreary. One good thing about living in the Willamette Valley of Oregon is that a couple of hours either way makes you feel like you are in a new place --- the coast one way, the high desert the other - in the middle is the green of the valley.