Housing Bubble
Survey: 61 percent say may flee Northern U.S. after record winter
BOCA RATON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 19, 2003--The winter of 2003 was so bad, 61 percent of those living in the Upper Midwest and northeastern U.S. say they may become snowbirds, escaping south for the winter - most likely to Florida, according to a survey released Wednesday.
Florida was the warm-weather home of choice, selected by 41.6 percent of the survey takers. California was second with 12.5 percent; followed by South Carolina, 10.6 percent; and North Carolina, 7.1 percent. Arizona was the biggest write-in candidate with 5.6 percent. Georgia trailed with 5 percent.
The winter of 2003 was so bad, even Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog who forecast another six weeks of winter, received hate mail. The powerful storms of President's Day dropped record-breaking snows in many cities, including Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Clarksburg, W.V.
"The record-breaking winter of 2003 could be the decision maker for people considering purchase of a second home," said Kyle Reinson, a spokesman for WCI Communities, Inc., a Florida homebuilder. "Florida is the second home capital. According to 2000 figures from the Census Bureau, over 480,000 homes in Florida are second homes and nearly 50 percent of the homes we sell are second homes."
The Internet survey, taken between March 5 and March 18, found that 15 percent considered themselves polar bears at heart - willing to ride out the winter. It was commissioned by WCI Communities
