Given all the problems going on in Mexico, we are changing our retirement plans to move there and are looking into SouthWest Florida.
We are looking for winter sunshine and water to kayak.

Does anyone have any experience purchasing a lot in the Class A Resorts???
Can you give us any advice about what to look for and watch out for?

Thanks in advance for your input.

We own a lot and also homebase in a chalet home in TGO (The Great Outdoors) in Titusville, Florida (east Central Florida). This is a class A resort. For all the particulars go to the realty site http://www.tgoresort.com or the CSA (Community Service Association) site http://www.tgocsa.com for information.
Titusville has near us not only the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian River (estuary of the ocean) but also the fresh water St. Johns River. There is even a group of kayakers/hikers who have events in and around TGO. So that fills the water part of your request.
Pros and Cons
Pros first:
      1. Since Brevard County is so far "undiscovered" compared to farther south (West Palm Beach, Ft Lauderdale, etc) we have low property taxes, car/RV insurance rates, house insurance rates, vehicles tag costs. Florida has no state income tax. No yearly car or RV inspections.
      2. Near TGO is a WalMart, a Lowes, a Home Depot. There are other shopping areas and restaurants. Orlando has great shopping and medical facilities. Melbourne also has great shopping.
      3. There are at least 18 or so Beavers or former Beavers living/homebasing in TGO.
      4. TGO is safe, active (lots of activities) if you so desire, has pools, workout room, etc.
      5. Weather great. We are just on the subtropical line so rarely get a freeze. Cooler in summer than Orlando due to ocean breezes.
      6. Lots of activities nearby including the Space Center. You can watch launches from your yard.
      7. Yearly maintenance fee takes care of lawn care, water, sewer, cable TV, 24 hours live security at the gate (this is a gated community), etc.
      8. Lots of wildlife and wilderness areas in the park. We see deer and turkeys all the time. Lots of birds. Sandhill Cranes walk down our street.
      9. You have a condo association for your area and a Board which runs the community.
   Cons
      1. You have a condo association for your area and have a Board which runs the community. That means rules. And there are always a few trouble makers in any association or community who don't like the rules, or the manager, or whatever.
      2. There are rules about the outside of your home or storage shed. If you want to paint it green and blue, that's not allowed. So you have to accept some rules about outdoor plants, color of housing, outside decorations etc. If you want to be away from everything and see no one this really isn't the place for you. It's active, alive, busy. But there is plenty of time for you to go inside your unit and just chill out alone. No one is forcing you into anything.
      
We really like living in TGO. I have lived in the Titusville area for a long time. I graduated from Titusville High. Peter worked in the area for many years also. We like the area. We like the lack of nasty traffic like Orlando or farther south. We are aware it's not perfect but it works for us. We live on Windsong and have a great Condo President and group of people who live on our street. We have Thursday 4 o'clock socials in the pavilion on our street. We have impromptu driveway 4 o'clocks in the winter. We talk to each other frequently. We like our neighbors. It is like being in a friendly RV park where you know lots of people. Fawn Trail is also very social and is a street of lots only. Windsong is both lots and chalets.
What I can tell you is you might want to look TGO over as a possible candidate for your homebase. We would welcome another Beaver in our midst.
I don't know much about other class A resorts in Florida. But there are other Beavers in Florida who you might contact (ex Marty and Ellen Baluski are in Mount Olive Shores). See the Beavers Directory for some ideas. We know that George and Donna Harwell have stayed at another resort in our area, Willow Lakes RV and Golf Resort and could give you an opinion about that park.
                                            Good luck and hope this helps. Connie Bradish