Buying a condo and moving to Galveston? Pros? Cons?

Do you blog? I follow some Vanlife folks as well as some people who Cruise on sail boats, and one couple setting up from a bus in Panama!!!

HEHE.

DD

 

@VooDooPope I don't have any suggestions that haven't already been provided.

I just wanted to say you always have seemed like an interesting and cool dude.

 

@VooDooPope I went down the Galveston real estate rabbit hole last night after looking at this thread. It's insane how much prices have gone up since I left in 2008. Double, triple, and even more in some areas. Less than $100k seems like a bargain now for a condo. Those HOA fees, though...

I admire this mostly because we're a 'stuff' culture, and you can't have much crap living in a 400sqft home. I have a buddy who went off on a similar path. He bought a sailboat after he got divorced. Had never even sailed before, took some classes, and just jumped in. Seems easy until you do it. Kudos.

 

This

think about being without renting it out for a year or two if a hurricane nails you. The fees involved. Don’t count on insurance covering it. Research the port aransas condos. Some of them still aren’t back.
Definitely do your due diligence. Condos and hoa’s can be a nightmare if you aren’t careful

 

I wouldn't buy the condo with the idea that it will pay for itself when you rent it -- it won't. If you are OK with that, then by all means.

 

Pull a teardrop camper with a shower and toilet in it.

Problem solved.

Ooh and get a bumper stick for your van That says, “you should ask my about my camper”.

 

Actually, vacant housing goes like hotcakes when a hurricane hits. People aren't in their homes, but they don't want to leave the area.

 

Agree with this. I think the only way you make your money back is by using it yourself every second that it's not rented.

My sister had a condo on Pirate's Beach. They rented it 10% of the time and used it every weekend it wasn't rented. They eventually ended up selling it because of the.....wait for it.....effed up HOA.

I would LOVE to get a place at The Galvestonian when we're ready to retire - that's our favorite place to stay when we go to Galveston. Would have to do some heavy math to see if the numbers would work though.

 

Am I the only one that thinks the extreme East side of Galveston is the best area...down around Beach Town?

 

Sweet van.

 

@Bandwagoner

 

What amenities does it have over other areas?

 

How much does flood insurance even cost in Galveston?

 

Stupid amounts. Flood, wind and hazard might double your mortgage. But being in a raised condo may preclude the flood insurance. The Seawall is the highest point in Galveston and houses close to it didn’t flood in Ike. I was a block from UTMB and got 4 feet.