Second home location; Wellington, Ocala, Aiken?

[TooManyBays]

Every year I think “wouldn’t it be nice to have a piece of property down south so I can escape for a bit?” And every year I don’t do it. But this mud with no freezing to provide relief has REALLY got me dreaming.
So, which place would you choose? Why?

Wellington: So many great shows and an Amazing atmosphere. I spent quite a bit of time down there several years ago and have a small friend group. I love the area. However, property wise I’m looking at an empty lot, no utilities yet, for 120-140k for 1.5-2 acres about 15-20 min from Wellington proper.
Cons: it is doubtful I could do the trip in one day, so I would need to spend extra $ to have the horses somewhere overnight. Also hay and feed is expensive. And, hurricane insurance.

Ocala: I drove through once! I have no experience with the area except I know of HITS (which the HITS shows up here kind of suck, so not a huge selling point for me) and the new WEC going up. I can get a 5-15 acre property for 100-150k about 10-15 min from the new WEC. One is actually even riding distance to the showgrounds. However, is WEC going to be all we think it will be? And I have heard they plan on doing summer shows only, which is the exact opposite of when I would plan to be there.
Cons: I might be able to do the trip in a day but it would be rough. Again, insurance might be a pain.

Aiken: I have spent some time in Aiken and it seems like a cute town, but I was actually there in the fall so I didn’t see the whole horse scene at its peak. I know that in the winter there is a whole mix of different disciplines going on there and many H/J shows both rated and unrated, but not quite as much as Wellington or Ocala. The cost of land is way cheaper and I’m looking at properties with 15-20 acres for 100k. I am also within a days drive of there.
Cons: not as much horse events going on, and possibility for cold weather.

I’m most likely looking for something big enough for a few horses for a few months each year. When I was doing cost comparisons it made more financial sense to have a place to have the horses and me than to rent stalls and a place to live. However, it would be nice to be able to rent out stalls for others to use (extra income) so that is one factor I am thinking about.
I should also mention, I probably won’t build a house. I have a nice RV that I will bring down with me when I am there. I’m not sure if that will shape people’s suggestions or not.
so where do you think is best?

[NoSuchPerson]

Are we allowed to include practical considerations here or is this really just dreaming?

Having had some experience as an absentee landowner, I simply wouldn’t do it. The cost of buying the property is a fraction of the overall expense. You will, for example, need a caretaker to maintain the property in your absence. Acreage in Florida takes a lot of vegetation management during the growing season. If you’re only talking about a few months/year, I can’t imagine that the total costs would be much less for owning than it would be for renting & boarding.

If we’re just dreaming, definitely Aiken. The fact that you can drive there in one day is a huge factor in its favor, as is the lower cost of property. Yes, it may get cold, but it doesn’t last, so you get a break in between cold snaps.

[TooManyBays]

@NoSuchPerson

Are we allowed to include practical considerations here or is this really just dreaming?

Having had some experience as an absentee landowner, I simply wouldn’t do it. The cost of buying the property is a fraction of the overall expense. You will, for example, need a caretaker to maintain the property in your absence. Acreage in Florida takes a lot of vegetation management during the growing season. If you’re only talking about a few months/year, I can’t imagine that the total costs would be much less for owning than it would be for renting & boarding.

If we’re just dreaming, definitely Aiken. The fact that you can drive there in one day is a huge factor in its favor, as is the lower cost of property. Yes, it may get cold, but it doesn’t last, so you get a break in between cold snaps.

Definitely include practical things.
I definitely will need someone to mow at least once a month, maybe twice depending on the weather. In Wellington I actually know a guy who does this for about 30$ an acre, so for my 2 acre lot it would be like 60$ a month.
In Aiken and Ocala, I’m not sure what would run. I may leave part of the property alone and just bush hog it once a year.

[rockonxox]

@TooManyBays there was a recent post re: Wellington vs Aiken (Ocala was brought up as well) that has some good information in it you might find helpful. https://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/forum/discussion-forums/hunter-jumper/10577239-wellington-vs-aiken

[EmilyM]

Im have a second home in ocala with 13 acres. There are so many services here that cater to horses as well as absentee homeowners. The insurance can be tricky but ocala is very agriculture friendly. I love it here. And the weather is generally great in the winter w some cold snaps and some windy days. Horses are happy here.

[mvp]

So you want bare land and to never build a house, but you will build a barn. How many horses?

A good hunter/jumper scene. Do you need that exclusively, or do you want other kinds of horsing?

You can/want to spend up to $150K in land costs alone? How much do you want to have, all in? Do you need this to function as an investment, or would you be OK if it appreciated more slowly?

How far do you want to live from a town, 10 minutes? 45?

How much sophistication or proximity to that do you need?

A couple of thoughts off the bat:

Be careful about deciding to build a barn-only thing. Those buildings and infrastructure will be surprisingly expensive to build and appraise for very little. Whether you’d mortgage this or not, go see if you can find a bank that would lend on this plan. That will tell you if “conventional wisdom” says your money is well-invested or not.

The absentee thing is a PITA, no matter how you slice it or dice it. For example, I can’t imagine you’d keep it mowed for $30 and acres. Would you load up your mower on a flat bed and take is somewhere for 2 acres of work and $60 once a month? You might be able to get that done in an area with lots of little lots like yours-- think of an urban landscaping service, but bigger, But as parcels get bigger this kind of service and job will get more expensive.

It sounds like if you want to bring an RV down, you’ll still have to make two trips, right? One with the RV and car and one with the horses? I can understand wanting to make that whole thing short. The good thing about any of these places is that you can find lots of shippers (pro and semi-pro) taking horses your way at your time of year.

I think Ocala sounds exciting because of the new development there. Either, way, I’d spend a couple of weeks in each place before I bought.

[mellsmom]

So, I actually did this! I spent 5 years looking for the place in the Aiken area that I could afford, It’s in Windsor, which is 15-20 min from Aiken Much less expensive. PM me if you want a realistic view of what this really means. I added a 30 amt and a 50 amp hook up to my place immediately. I debated on the RV scenario… My place already has power and septic, so I added a septic cleanout to my tank for RV’s. I had a little cabin on my place that I did reno on. I am down there about every three months and am planning to relocate there in the next 6 months full time for about 2 years or so. This is our second home that may end up being the retirement plan… IF I decide I love it there. I am lucky that I have some KICK ASS neighbors in SC or this would be much more stressful.

[fair_judy]

As a former Floridian I would never go back. Wellington is really not my cup of tea. Ocala used to be nice but I CANNOT believe the prices now. I looked extensively at Aiken and love it. Lots of history, great dining, diverse ( but not politically) , four season fun with every possible horse sport, and affordable. Aiken also provides trail options… HITCHCOCK WOODS omg.

[Virginia_Horse_Mom]

There was a really amazing ad for a hunt box style property near Aiken a few years ago online that kept on getting pushed into my feed. It was the wrong thing at the wrong time in life for me… but did look super adorable. I think a 4 or 6 stall barn, with a really lovely apartment over it. A few nice paddocks. And trails directly from the property to more substantial ride our and a neighboring facility with an arena. Great parking onsite for cars and a horse trailer.

It looked like an awesome full time home for retirees with 2 or 3 horses. There was great potential for winter boarders for decent $$$.

I’m with others… I find the concept of owning two homes… much less two horse properties involving even minimal acreage insanely stressful and prohibitively expensive to even think about. But I understand hating cold mud at this time of year. And limited riding.

[TooManyBays]

@mvp

So you want bare land and to never build a house, but you will build a barn. How many horses?

A good hunter/jumper scene. Do you need that exclusively, or do you want other kinds of horsing?

You can/want to spend up to $150K in land costs alone? How much do you want to have, all in? Do you need this to function as an investment, or would you be OK if it appreciated more slowly?

How far do you want to live from a town, 10 minutes? 45?

How much sophistication or proximity to that do you need?

A couple of thoughts off the bat:

Be careful about deciding to build a barn-only thing. Those buildings and infrastructure will be surprisingly expensive to build and appraise for very little. Whether you’d mortgage this or not, go see if you can find a bank that would lend on this plan. That will tell you if “conventional wisdom” says your money is well-invested or not.

The absentee thing is a PITA, no matter how you slice it or dice it. For example, I can’t imagine you’d keep it mowed for $30 and acres. Would you load up your mower on a flat bed and take is somewhere for 2 acres of work and $60 once a month? You might be able to get that done in an area with lots of little lots like yours-- think of an urban landscaping service, but bigger, But as parcels get bigger this kind of service and job will get more expensive.

It sounds like if you want to bring an RV down, you’ll still have to make two trips, right? One with the RV and car and one with the horses? I can understand wanting to make that whole thing short. The good thing about any of these places is that you can find lots of shippers (pro and semi-pro) taking horses your way at your time of year.

I think Ocala sounds exciting because of the new development there. Either, way, I’d spend a couple of weeks in each place before I bought.

On the barn, I go back and fourth between putting in a 4 stall barn or doing individual paddocks with run in stalls in each, then having a smaller barn for tack up and feed storage. Either way I’m not putting in anything too expensive, and I expect I can pay out of pocket for it.
I would bring 3 or 4 down with me.
In Wellington I’m looking at only 1-2 acre lots so mowing is pretty cheap there. In Aiken or Ocala I agree, and I would need to look into options for that closer.
I’m not against putting a house on the land but it isn’t a thing I would immediately do.
Also, I am lucky to have a significant other who can drive RV while I drive the horses.

[Scribbler]

I have been wondering about summer getaways but I would like to rent a cabin on a ranch for a month. I can’t see having unoccupied property out of town, it’s going to either fall apart or attract squatters or both.

[ClearRound]

Probably a little late to the party here. I own a farm in Aiken. I love it. Great horse town but becoming very populated with people not as familiar with horses. I’m looking to downsize now. Still will have a family place in Aiken, but I am considering Ocala. My husband lived in FL most of his life and Ocala provides the horse community for me and a reasonable drive to the ocean for him. Prices in Aiken and Ocala are about the same now.

[wsmoak]

@TooManyBays

On the barn, I go back and fourth between putting in a 4 stall barn or doing individual paddocks with run in stalls in each, then having a smaller barn for tack up and feed storage.

The latter. This far south, (I’m in middle GA) barns are for people, horses would rather be out. Build it so you can affix corral panels across the front of the run-in if you need to confine a horse for some reason. Or leave enough room in the tack-and-feed barn that you can set up a couple of temporary stalls.

For the run-ins, if you do at least 12x24, then you can make a 12x12 temporary stall to confine one but leave a companion in the paddock.

Of the three, I’ve spent time in Ocala and Aiken. (Closest I’ve been to Wellington is the big show in Tampa when everyone used to come up for the week and the American Invitational at the stadium.)

I would also vote for Aiken.

The infrastructure (roads, water,) in Florida is a bit scary in places, and getting insurance may be difficult and expensive.

There seems to be a new (political?) organization in Aiken focusing on the economic benefit of horses, you may want to check them out and see what’s going on.

[vxf111]

Financially there’s a HUGE difference between Aiken and Wellington. This is like asking “Would you like a Corvette or a CRV?” They’re not really comparable.

Personally I find Aiken really charming and I like that there’s it’s less about $$$$, see-and-be-seen, and point chasing. I like that people are eventing, fox hunting, and trail riding. It’s not ALL centered around show. I also think being able to hop in the car and go to Atlanta is an advantage.

[TooManyBays]

Zombie Thread!
I ended up buying in Ocala. I went there and spent some time and loved it, loved the atmosphere, and loved that there were other disciplines being practiced in the area.

Sadly, i then had a bunch of bad luck with my horses and haven’t been able to spend even a week down there with them!

[Tini_Sea_Soldier1]

But the rental market probably helps!
You definitely made the right pick if you have to rent or sell. The market here is nuts and hasn’t really cooled off. We bought in December 2021 and our property value has gone up 55k in 1 year! If we had bought a year before that, our property value would have doubled.

[TooManyBays]

@Tini_Sea_Soldier1

But the rental market probably helps!
You definitely made the right pick if you have to rent or sell. The market here is nuts and hasn’t really cooled off. We bought in December 2021 and our property value has gone up 55k in 1 year! If we had bought a year before that, our property value would have doubled.

I’m glad I did it, but disappointed I haven’t been able to really use it yet. But, the property is only appreciating in value. Im about 20-25 min from WEC, out in the county. It’s very quiet and a cute little neighborhood. I ended up being able to get a bit more property than I thought I would be able to because I went to Levy county.

I do keep getting cold calls and probably get 1 letter a week with offers to buy the property. The amounts offered are always hilariously low. I hope no one would fall for those.

[Tini_Sea_Soldier1]

Oh we get them too… I just laugh and tell them to log onto Zillow… and then stop wasting my time bc we’re never selling.