By Jan Bergemann 
President, Cyber Citizens For Justice, Inc.

Published January 4, 2013

Here is another example why Florida is no longer the Number One destination for retirees and snowbirds that are looking for places to live happily in warm temperatures to enjoy sunshine, white beaches and many attractions. These pictures and documents are further proof why Florida has gotten such a bad reputation. Seeing retirees and snowbirds protesting against abuses, waving protest signs instead of enjoying their retirement, definitely makes potential buyers look elsewhere to invest their life-savings.

These signs speak for themselves! Is that a way to enjoy your retirement?

Picture caught your interest? Then read the lawsuit these folks filed against the mobile home park and its owner -- and you understand immediately why all these retirees are willing to stand in the sun waving signs of protest -- after attempts failed to amicably solve this serious dispute threatening their homes.

Please read: AMENDED COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY RELIEF

In short, the lawsuit claims that the park owner is charging unreasonable rent -- rent many owners can no longer afford.  According to owners, rent increases have been so unreasonable that some folks are literally moving out and leaving their homes behind. In the beginning they were asked to pay a rent of $299 per month but only paid $99 per month the first year. Some of these owners started at $299 per month in 2006-2007, but are now paying $510 to almost $600 per month -- just six (6) years later. Nobody living on a fixed income can afford such outrageous increases.

According to the lawsuit, prospective buyers were misled by the use of words like "GUARANTEED LIFETIME LEASE" and statements claiming that they would never have to pay property taxes. And that's just the tip of the iceberg considering the long list of misleading statements, according to the complaint filed with the Tenth Judicial Circuit Court.  Misleading advertising? Just read for yourself:

ADVERTISING PUBLISHED ON THE WEBSITE OF THE WINDMILL VILLAGE

If this happened to you, wouldn't you be walking the community streets trying to show the injustice inflicted on you -- like these folks in Windmill Village Mobile Home Park in Davenport?

Is that the kind of exercise retirees enjoy when moving to Florida?

These are the stories that are being spread up North, picked up by the media where future retirees and snowbirds are saving to buy their home in the sunshine. As long as Florida 's legislators fail to create laws -- and enforcement of these laws -- that will protect homebuyers from serious abuses, we will not see retirees and snowbirds coming back to Florida . The steady stream of new retirees and snowbirds has come to a screeching halt, more or less killing Florida 's economy and real estate market.

Who wants to spend your life-savings to buy a dream home in the sunshine, only to waste your time and money on marching in protests and fighting expensive lawsuits that eat all your life-savings? Only in Flori-duh!

How do you like this sign?... WE CAME TO RELAX, NOT TO PAY OWNER'S TAX!