dothanhomesearch.com

By: Charles Woodall


http://www.dothanhomesearch.com

Thinking of retiring or moving to Florida? Before you do, take a look at what southeast Alabama?and the Dothan area has to offer. You may find Dothan has a lot more to offer.

Six reasons owning property and living in Alabama is as good or better than owning and living in Florida.

Property Taxes

Property taxes in Alabama, especially south Alabama, are among the lowest in the nation. For example, for a three bedroom, two bath home with an appraised value of $200,000, the property taxes would be in the range of $300 - $400 per YEAR. Compare that with Florida which could be ten times that amount.

Traffic

Yes, we have traffic just like everyone else. However, you can still get around without much trouble. A trip from the southernmost city limits?of Dothan to the northernmost city limits?can be accomplished in under 30 minutes at any time of day.

Parcel size

If you are looking for space to spread out, then south Alabama has probably got it. Unlike south Florida where the only affordable piece of dirt is likely a 60′ by 100′ lot, there is a good bit of undeveloped land all around the Dothan area, and in most cases you?can find the size you desire. Acreage in the larger parcels (20+ acres) will run anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 per acre. There are smaller parcels available which might cost slightly more per acre.

Cost

The overall cost of living is lower in south Alabama.? Homeowners and auto insurance are two examples. In the second quarter of 2006, the cost of living composite rate for Houston County (Dothan) was 86.4, the lowest in Alabama.* A typical three bedroom, two bath, 1800 square foot home in our market will typically cost no more than?two thirds?the cost of a comparable home in most of Florida.

Hurricanes

Yes, we do feel the effects of the occasional storm blowing in out of the Gulf of Mexico. We are only 90 miles for the coast you know. But the effects are usually minimal. Sporadic power outages and a few downed trees and power lines are usually the worst we see. A direct hit on the Florida Panhandle by a?powerful storm headed in our direction would cause more extensive problems, but that hasn’t happened since Opal in 1995 and Eloise in 1975 if memory serves.

Recreation

See #5 above regarding proximity to the Gulf Coast beaches. You can leave Dothan and be sitting on the sand in under two hours. There are also several high quality golf courses in the area, and Alabama has the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail for the golf junkies out there.?Lake Eufaula, less than an hour to the north, and Lake Seminole, about an hour to the southeast, are wonderful fresh water impounds for recreation and fishing.

Have you retired or moved to Dothan recently and have something to add to this list? Let us know by commenting below.

*Source - Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce - http://www.dothan.com/

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