Rent, don’t buy anything.
Live within 20 miles of work. Traffic not too bad if you avoid rush hour driving.
Some areas of Florida are very scummy (First 48 TV show).……. other areas of Florida are nicer but more expensive.
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Florida residents, should I move there?
- Thread starter e36andy
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Rent, don’t buy anything.
Live within 20 miles of work. Traffic not too bad if you avoid rush hour driving.
Some areas of Florida are very scummy (First 48 TV show).……. other areas of Florida are nicer but more expensive.
Such a pain for my wife. She has license in TX, FL, Hawaii and MA. Most just accept another , she got one recently in NH where we live total hassle/process.
edyvw
$50 site donor 2026
Besides the obvious reasons why insurance is expensive, the regulatory environment, or lack of it, allowed various scams, especially when it comes to roofing. Our friends entered the roofing business 8yrs ago as it was quick money, and insurance companies just passed the cost on to the rest of the people. My good friend lives in Pensacola, and his premiums are close to $15,000. If he weren't divorced, 4 kids, and stuff that goes with it, he would be long gone.
We got kids late too (I had my first kid when I was 36, and my third when I was 45). I lived in Alabama, 2hrs north of "LA" (Lower Alabama) or "Redneck Riviera." I lived in San Diego, too. Kids-wise, I would choose CA over FL anytime.
But that is me. When kids come, priorities change drastically. I would focus on kids to evaluate whether Florida fits your priorities.
There are other states to the north, such as Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina, that have good beach areas, but generally, those areas on the beach have become expensive, too.
The OP would get a tad more honesty if he asked: "Florida residents, my wife and I are big fans of Governor Newsom and Mayor Bass. Should we move there?"
Other's mentioned it I'll mention it again, make sure you get insurance quotes. You want accurate quotes, not ballpark figures because a lot of brokers throw out ball park figures for a different ballpark. Find a house you like, walk into an insurance agency and get quotes for homeowner's insurance and auto insurance using the address for a house in an area you like. Living on L.I. over here in NY we're accustomed to paying high insurance. My insurance here with better coverage is considerably cheaper than Ocala Florida, which IIRC has low rates compared to other parts of Florida. Do your own homework, don't find out the hard way.
I live in Jupiter Farms, FL. North of the zoo that is Ft Laud/Miami/West Palm metro area. At the Northwest tip of the chaos. I live in an acreage community and back up to the Everglades.
Just an FYI, the Miami, Ft Laud and West Palm Beach area is a concrete jungle and the longest city in the USA, at 114 miles from end to end. One can't tell where one city ends and the other begins. A drive from one end to the other at 3AM Sunday morning, the only time there is not a traffic jam, takes 2 hours. Otherwise it's 3.5 hours. And 6-7 hours to Key West.
I'd choose anywhere in FL but in that city. I absolutely love FL, but the city has become too much. If you want to work professional careers, being just North of the chaos is a great place to live.
Note: Lake Okeechobee in this pic is 36 miles N/S. That's how big the city is. Bigger than NYC and LA.
My home backs up to the NE Everglades natural area. It's not a swamp behind, but pine woods and grass. Had I built a 2 story home I'd have an AWESOME view. My house:
The Pine Glades behind my home:
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Gulf coast of FL between Fort Myers and Tampa, if you don't mind hurricanes. Homeowners insurance premiums are rising almost everywhere, FL included. I've been a "snowbird" for 14 years and will be giving it up next year only for health reasons.
If over on that coast be sure to check out Sarasota.
A family member just bought home in a REALLY nice community with all the amenities.
They wanted to be near a city center for entertainment and dining. A lifestyle that they got used to living near NYC.
Anyway they were really impressed, other family members on that side of the family live in luxury buildings right in the city talking low 7 figure price tags. Homes can be half that price if you are 10 or 15 minutes outside the city. Then of course everything in-between. I havent been there but we will now at some point to visit..
If Miami is your price range any other part of Florida is too.
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Florida man checking in here... Been in Vero Beach then Gainesville for 42 years.. Florida has no snow. I own one medium weight winter jacket and two pairs of jeans for those 20 or so really cold (30-50*F) days here. The humidity is out of control from Mid May until the end of October. Sticky swamp like humidity that makes your clothing stick to you, and your home air conditioner run overtime just to keep the mold out.
Traffic is dependent upon where you live. Any larger city here including Vero and Gainesville will have tons of traffic. Gainesville has 60,000 UF students descend upon the city from August until May. Students that are not on the census however clog up the roads...
Roads... are not too bad but there are some local roads they haven't paved in years. The interstates have a back up once every few days or so due to a major crash. I95 in Florida has just been named the most dangerous roadway in the entire country.
Insurance and flood zones... Homeowners insurance has doubled in the past few years and I am in the center of the state. Most insurance companies here are in favor of all of Florida being zoned a 'flood zone'. Auto insurance is off the chain, I am at $4,800 for three 8-10 year old Hyundai Kia products. Florida needs to get rid of the 'no fault' system.
There is probably more to do in California. Once you see all of the attractions here in Orlando and Tampa, there is not much left. The theme parks are super expensive. We stopped going years ago.
Pay scale is lower here than in other more expensive places to live.
Good things? No snow...No state income tax (for now).
Traffic is dependent upon where you live. Any larger city here including Vero and Gainesville will have tons of traffic. Gainesville has 60,000 UF students descend upon the city from August until May. Students that are not on the census however clog up the roads...
Roads... are not too bad but there are some local roads they haven't paved in years. The interstates have a back up once every few days or so due to a major crash. I95 in Florida has just been named the most dangerous roadway in the entire country.
Insurance and flood zones... Homeowners insurance has doubled in the past few years and I am in the center of the state. Most insurance companies here are in favor of all of Florida being zoned a 'flood zone'. Auto insurance is off the chain, I am at $4,800 for three 8-10 year old Hyundai Kia products. Florida needs to get rid of the 'no fault' system.
There is probably more to do in California. Once you see all of the attractions here in Orlando and Tampa, there is not much left. The theme parks are super expensive. We stopped going years ago.
Pay scale is lower here than in other more expensive places to live.
Good things? No snow...No state income tax (for now).
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They USED to be nice areas. Too many have moved here from your area and similar areas and brought their culture with them.
Be aware they have grown massively and a lot of the influx is the same you see in LA. Florida is now the 2nd or 3rd most populated state and closing in FAST on catching California.
Safe?
I lived in that area for 25+ years. If you think it's safe then you either live in a very exclusive neighborhood or don't live there now.
Back around 2008 - 2012, it was MANDATED that the better neighborhoods integrate Section 8 housing so federal grants were used in million dollar plus neighborhoods to subsidize section 8 mansions (no, I'm serious) so even the once "safe" exclusive neighborhoods became JUST LIKE LosAngeles and Chicago.
I moved out because I grew tired of the murders and crime and police helicopters overhead every night and day.
South Florida has become Manhattan, Chicago, Los Angeles, Baltimore etc. (especially Miami)
Forget Florida.....find a quiet place away from political influence and massive influx of outsiders.
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Florida is good, if you like high humidity and mildew.
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Utah is full up….
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It's more than made up for in toll roads and fees like title fees and registration fees.
$600 to transfer title and registration on a 20 year old vehicle valued at $3,000.
Most of I-95 in Miami Dade County is now "Toll lanes" where they have reduced 4 lanes per side to 2 lanes toll and 2 lanes free, resulting in horrendous traffic jams. It's no mistake. They knew if they did this millions would be forced to use the toll lanes just to get home before the next morning.
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If you are running to escape high living costs and crime (not to mention corruption) ....good luck. Nice dream.
It's a national epidemic problem...not just LA...but probably worse in LA. I won't get into politics.....but there's that.
Also, the above poster is correct...in South Florida you're more likely to live around foreigners such as Mexicans than white or black Americans.
It's a national epidemic problem...not just LA...but probably worse in LA. I won't get into politics.....but there's that.
Also, the above poster is correct...in South Florida you're more likely to live around foreigners such as Mexicans than white or black Americans.
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“…....find a quiet place away from political influence and massive influx of outsiders.”
And therein lies the challenge……….nationwide!
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Your home is beautiful.
You're practically my neighbor.
Uncanny but your place looks just like my guest house!
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