Buyer Beware

We've been house hunting every day since we came down. We tried the center of the state - Bowling Green to Arcadia - it will be the last to flood when the sea level rises but it is really rural, a lot of migrant workers, and is the middle of nowhere - so it's out. Then we tried the old established towns of Winter Haven and Lakeland. Nice waterfront homes and established communities so no one will put a trailer next to you, but what traffic. Just bumper to bumper and that's not even rush hour - it's out of the running also. Finally we found a horsey development - 1-3 acre lots, nice houses, access to the Little Manatee River that runs into Tampa Bay and it has a lot of houses for sale (as does all of Florida). Anyway, after casing out about 18 houses by ourselves, we called up a broker and got to look at our top four homes. This morning I just submitted an offer on a house that both Polly and I like. Nice wooded 3 acre lot, fireplace, couple of out buildings and in mint condition. Negotiations will begin tomorrow.