Moving to Florida

[Tomcal]

So the past 4 days i have been in Fort Lauderdale Florida looking for a house. A couple reasons I’m looking here is because 1) it’s No Income Tax State 2) it is only a 1-1/2 hours from my home in Merida Mexico 3) Is is about a 5 hour shorter flight to Rio/São Paulo then Los Angeles. 4) i am finally retiring and 5) I have a lot of friends here in the FTL area!( and there are 50,000 Brazilians living in FTL/Pompano beach area)!

one problem is the So. Florida market, like the SoCal market is overheated right now with most home receiving multiple offers their first day on the market!  Yesterday i was with 2 friends both residents here, and we went to look at a home and as we were walking out a car pulled in the driveway and the guy yells out “i can tell this will be a party house!” I thought who is that? It turns out it was a good friend of mine from San Diego who as also looking at homes as he is moving here too! (he ended up putting a offer in on that house!)

We then went to another friends hone who invited us over for cocktails, who has a incredible 4,000+sq ft house on the Beach just south of FTL!  The 5 of us sat there on his rooftop deck and i was really starting to fall in love with the area!  I found a house i like a lot but there is a number of logistics to work out yet but i am hoping it works out because i really do like the house!

So the reason i put this on the Latin American board is because of the various bars/strip clubs we went to, a majority of the guys working there are Latins! Many Brazilians, El Salvadorans, Puerto Rican’s, etc.

the best place with the most guys is Johnson’s in Wilton Manors!  Years ago i used to go to the Boardwalk a lot!(the last tine i was there was 2013 with OZ!) it is a shadow of its former self,  IMO!! most of the strippers should have retired  20 years ago! there was one hot latin guy about 22 and the rest could have been his father! they still have the restaurant which was ok, but we stated at the club maybe 15 minutes so to be fair maybe more guys arrived later?

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[TotallyOz]

You are just full of surprises! I love Fort Lauderdale as well. I didn't realize it was that much closer via Flights to Rio and Sao Paulo but I've never traveled from there.

Good luck with your search!

[flguy]

be prepared for extreme sticker shock when you get quotes of insurance and property taxes.  I'm getting ready to leave florida after 30 plus years as the heat, hurricanes and costs of home ownership continue to rise.  I would suggest you rent for a year before you buy as prices could fall quite a bit when the frenzy is over.  

[Docbr01]

Tom, hope you find a great house and have great time in Florida ... but can’t help wondering why , now that you are retired, you are losing time looking for a home elsewhere that is not Rio. You know a retired Tomcal living full time in Rio would become almost a tourist attraction for boys in all Brazil. 

[Latbear4blk]

2 hours ago, Tomcal said:

So the past 4 days i have been in Fort Lauderdale Florida looking for a house.

Buena suerte!

[Guest]

welcome to ft Lauderdale.  
 

Yes, there are lots of South American men in Ft Lauderdale/Broward County.  Regarding Johnson’s - you know almost all those guys are all straight ? and it’s not like Brazil where they play for pay.  I’ve been to Johnson’s many many times and know the staff and the 1 gay dancer - go for a good time, but don’t expect anything other than what you see. The boys are there to work the crowd and that’s it.  Brazilians that are actually for hire in Ft Lauderdale are same price as NY & LA. (I live 6 months Ft L and 6 months NYC and see some of the same people in both cities)

I prefer condos over single family homes - homeowners insurance is not a big deal.  

Ft Lauderdale is totally underrated - actually has many good restaurants, easy shopping and traffic is not terrible if you don’t get on I-95.  The airport isn’t great, but I’ll take it over Miami whenever possible/practical.

[fedssocr]

1 hour ago, flguy said:

be prepared for extreme sticker shock when you get quotes of insurance and property taxes.  I'm getting ready to leave florida after 30 plus years as the heat, hurricanes and costs of home ownership continue to rise.  I would suggest you rent for a year before you buy as prices could fall quite a bit when the frenzy is over.  

the markets are overheated in much of the country. But I agree that checking on those other expenses is important. I was just visiting my mom in St. Pete. Over the years she has had issues finding insurance coverage. I think there's a state run program of last resort for people who cannot find any companies willing to cover their property. Of course coastal areas in hurricane zones will be problematic. 

Just make sure you are going in with your eyes wide open. My brother is retiring to an area between Tampa and Orlando. I'd imagine that the tax thing is a big driver of the state's population growth. I spent 4 years in Florida for university and that was more than enough for me. I can only stand a week or so at a time. :-) 

[paulsf]

I retired to Ft.Lauderdale from San Francisco when the market couldn’t give houses away.  I’m happy here.  
my biggest issue is the car insurance rates. Thru the roof.  

Most of the people that complain about the heat in summer complain about the cold up north in the winter.   It’s only mid 80’s here today. 90’s up north .   My pool and ac take care of the heat.    Prepare for few guest in summer and overcrowding in winter.  

American Airlines controls MIA.   Easy to fly to South and Central America. You will find fares higher than you expected as this is a hub.    

[msclelovr]

So @Tomcal when will you transition to @Tomflo ?

[Tomcal]

5 hours ago, msclelovr said:

So @Tomcal when will you transition to @Tomflo ?

i think i will keep the tomcat i have had it so long! :-)

As far as the pros and cons I am well aware and know that every place has them, i grew up in Minnesota hot humid dinners and -20 degree winters!  but thanks for all the advise!  Calif.is no longer the place for me but...if the house falls through i may be here a lot longer.  btw for those mentioning insurance costs,,,, they have gotten very high in Ca too because of fires i have had 2 sweep through my area with the last 5 years and our rates went way up because i am consired in a fire zone!

 

[tassojunior]

i commute to FLL a lot and have friends there who come here to DC a lot. i look at places online and notice, like many cities, the condo market has dropped. 2br/2b 1200sq ft condos for $250K around South Beach MIA or Central Beach FLL. (1br as low as $150K) Of course you have to deal with HOA's but a few are reasonable. South Florida prices, even South Beach and FLL are very low compared to DC or CAL. My friends tell me the no state income tax thingy is more than made up for with most people by the huge homeowners and car insurance and the sky-high property tax bills. Still, I'll probably get a place to save on hotels and house some of my flock, even though it otherwise is a poor investment. 

In spite of tv shows, there's not a lot of money for escorts in S Fla. Mostly tourists in season. Summer in FL is no fun. And it's so spread-out that travel for escorts is a pain. So many relax at home while there and travel for work. Hate to be mean but i don't care at all for Wilton Manors houses or condos. I was shocked when i first went there at how cheap and ugly those little concrete-block houses are. I prefer downtown Los Olas canal locations, or  "waterfront" from Sunrise up to Pompano. Places with nice restaurants and a Starbucks every mile at least. 

Hopefully Matt at Johnsons will keep expanding to other cities and maybe even DC. He was here for a while at Secrets. Johnsons has the formula down-pat.

[Guest]

Miami Beach is a literal hell hole now.  Lincoln Rd is 40% vacant w homeless people all around.  I was there 2 weeks ago.  There are 2 gay bars remaining in Miami Beach and the traffic/crime is terrible.  
Thus, the choice for most is Ft Lauderdale - not because it’s awesome.  It’s just that Ft L is the least bad place in Florida.

The guys who actually live in Miami & Miami Beach all drive up to Ft Lauderdale for evenings out.  Yes, it’s that bad.

[Tomcal]

we wept told by a very knowledgeable source that the popular guys make $8,000 to 10,000./no. at johnson’s most if not all tax free!  which is why some get big attitude with their big “muscles!” and they know who are the guys with the big pockets in the audience!

10 hours ago, tassojunior said:

i 2br/2b 1200sq ft condos for $250K around South Beach MIA or Central Beach FLL. (1br as low as $150K) Of course you have to deal with HOA's but a few are reasonable. South Florida prices, even South Beach and FLL are very low compared to DC or CAL. My friends tell me the no state income tax thingy is more than made up for with most people by the huge homeowners and car insurance and the sky-high property tax bills. Still, I'll probably get a place to save on hotels and house some of my flock, even though it otherwise is a poor investment. 

i am not in the condo market i have always bought houses and have done pretty good but i have been lucky buying when the market was low and sellling when it was high. this home in Florida is just under 3,009 da ft with.a good size lot so i will be happy if the deal works out! i should know by Weds! if it doesn’t there will be others!

[Guest]

I’m surprised by the Johnsons dancers “incomes” since it’s commonly known they don’t do extra services outside the bar & inside is really pretty tame.  Again - it’s nothing like Brazil, Mexico or other South American countries for those that haven’t actually been to Johnson’s - the dancers at Johnson’s are vast majority straight and don’t play.  My buddy is one of the few gay dancers there & doesn’t get why gay guys wanna see straight guys they can never have, but hey…to each their own.  In Brazil the fun is that you can have almost anyone on the spot. Not so at Johnsons.   It is clean, well run and a visual spectacle w lots of straight eye candy to appeal to a variety of tastes - no doubt about that.  Just know what you’re getting into and how it will end. If the idea is to get sex, you’re in the wrong place.  You’ll get played exactly like straight guys in a traditional strip joint. But, the place is crowded so they are doing something right.  I go frequently but always w the idea of just having fun and a few drinks like at any other bar. 
 

btw - any condo for $250,000 would be dark 60s/70s/80s construction filled with elderly people that have lived there for 30 yrs and all hate each other. Newly built highrise  condos are the only way to go (if you like condos) and they start at $500k - for something basic.  Renting might be better to get a feel for the area. All my friends said do not buy on the beach & they were right  - mandatory evacuation, flooding and drawbridges up/down every 15 minutes.  Not good.

If buying a house - check the flooding during “king tides”. Lots of multi million dollar homes have flooded in last two years at king tides in areas that never flooded before.  In a real hurricane - they will be screwed.  And not very marketable as the flooding becomes more common.

[Tomcal]

i had very interactive dances with 2 of the guys, just saying i think a lot has to do with how you interact with yhem! i admit there is a good number of them that don’t do much which it is eise timo know some of the regular patrons for advice !

[Tomcal]

i got informed today i got the house so in about a month or so i will be moving to Ft. Lauderdale!

[Guest]

congrats - you’ll like it in Ft Lauderdale…everything is easy 

[tassojunior]

side subject;

i know the strip bars are all still in FTL and the income for escorts is lower than some places. 

but in the escort market, is Miami better than Fort Lauderdale (for escorts)? i would think being so much bigger and corporate/bank HQ's it would be but idk when escort friends ask why i recommend FTL over MIA. and i notice the "big names" who go to work Johnsons (Phillip Soulier, Malik Delgaty, even Reno Gold, end up in Miami mostly. 

[Guest]

that’s a hard question. There are the escorts that permanently live in Miami/Miami Beach & Ft Lauderdale ….and then there are those that go back & forth between South Florida & NYC.  The guys that go back & forth seem to go more towards Miami and that makes the overall numbers look higher there.  Plus, Miami Beach & Miami/Dade is a very large geographic area as compared to Ft Lauderdale which is relatively small. Some of the guys on South Beach won’t even go to parts of Miami.  Most of the escorts in Ft Lauderdale are in Ft L/Wilton Manors/Oakland Park which are all very close.  I know a guy that comes up from South Beach just to work at Johnson’s for the night, so that happens too.  I’ve found the escort rates are same in S Florida as NYC which few exceptions.  I’m sure less expensive options are out there on A4A & similar…but, I’m concerned about safety/security first and always choose someone well reviewed and stick with the guys I know.  

[Lonnie]

19 hours ago, Tomcal said:

i got the house

Congrats Tom, You'll love Ft. Lauderdale and if Miami becomes important for any reason you're only a few minutes away.

 

[tassojunior]

FLL airport has been wonderful for being somewhat close in with really great low fares. (although MIA is also getting discount fares now). 

and it's a long drive but the Bourbon Pub in Key West always has plenty of fresh meat and private dances. 

my thing is going to Europe 2 or 3 times a year though and MIA service is fair to poor with higher fares. 

95 to Miami is often a parking lot.

[Tomcal]

7 hours ago, tassojunior said:

and it's a long drive but the Bourbon Pub in Key West always has plenty of fresh meat and private dances.

i agree!! 

[Lonnie]

16 hours ago, tassojunior said:

95 to Miami is often a parking lot.

Boy, that's almost an understatement...think the 495 during rush hour...but I believe you are retiring so you shouldn't be joining the 9 to 5 crowd.

[Tomcal]

 

9 hours ago, Lonnie said:

Boy, that's almost anunderstatement...think the 495 during rush hour...but I believe yoare retiring so you shouldn't be joining the 9 to 5 crowd.

your right although i haven’t had to contend with rush hour for 20 years! i have been very lucky!

[Lonely_John]

I've heard multiple times that FTL is much better retirement destination than Miami. Been to both cities and can definitely confirm.