florida considerations
 

If considering a move, what are some pros and cons of living in various parts of Florida?

City data forums are excellent for relocation questions

Jobs, heat, housing, and giant cockroaches (AKA palmetto bugs by the locals)

I live on the beach in Fort Lauderdale and guess what? Ninety degrees here in the beach with humidity actually feels cooler than that <B>exact same</B> ninety degrees and humidity we endured for 40+ years in Northern Virginia in the summer. Cooler because we have a nice breeze every day so the degree of heat depends (a lot) on exactly where you live down here.

Jobs? That totally depends on what you are trained to do and where you decide to live. There are ads for jobs down here, especially MEDICAL jobs, all the time, as one example.

I have yet to see any of the giant cockroaches Gail has apparently experienced but yes they are here.

What is ALSO here:

higher (than in some places) auto insurance rates
higher (than in some places) home hazard insurance rates
higher (than in some places) property tax rates
lower (than in some places) sale tax rates
lower than most other places state income tax rates (there isn't one)
an absence of state inheritance taxes
potentially lower costs for clothing (since not as much is required)
lower (than in some places) utility bills depending on which of the MANY DIFFERENT utility companies in this state supplies your electricity

Please, be serious. It's a huge state! Pros and cons of living in Florida would fill volumes, not to mention that your list depends entirely upon you and your circumstances.

Palmetto bugs are a non-issue, what a ridiculous thing to list as a reason not to move here! I can't remember the last time I saw one in my house.

OK, my cons:
--weather, including heat and hurricanes. Heat varies a lot depending on where in this huge state you choose to live.
--high property taxes, somewhat balanced out by no income tax
--an older population on the whole, which IMO is what leads to mediocre-to-bad local governance and a resistance to spending on education and infrastructure

Pros:
--awesome weather! No winter, which means an outdoor lifestyle year round
--endless beautiful coastline
--plentiful healthcare options
--my family is here


To me, everything else is much the same as in other parts of the US in which I've lived--mostly good, some bad.

As a follow-on, it actually can get cool if not actually cold in some parts of north and northwest Florida in the winter.

OTOH this past winter it actually got down into the high 40's overnight and for a few hours here on the beach a couple of times. People acted as if they had been transported to Siberia but we still never had to turn the heat on.

And that "older population" also depends on where in Florida you live, too.

Notice that despite NewbE and I both living in a "huge" state we both talked about the weather and the property taxes? Figure it out.

My brother lives in south Florida. In the summer he complains it is too hot. I live in Boston. In the winter I complain it is too cold. I think the 2 balance each other out, so to me weather is almost not an issue unless you are especially heat-intolerant.

(The palmetto bug reference was supposed to be ridiculous - although they are disgusting. I currently hate northern deer ticks more than palmetto bugs)

But I think no one can give you specific answers without more info on why you are moving to FL and what you are seeking. Job, retirement, beach, financial efficiency, schools?

My only comment here is that every morning, EVERY morning last winter when I exited my condo in south Florida to pick up the newspaper, I could barely control my delight in the glorious weather...cool, sunny often with some clouds. I would stand there and breathe in, and rejoice (I am not religious!) in the good fortune that allowed me to be there during the winter months. And I am far inland, not in an area that one would dream about....about 20 minutes west of the ocean....in a planned community similar to a thousand others.

We spend December through mid or late April in Florida and I never remember being uncomfortably hot or cold. I saw a few ants, quickly dispatched by the pest person, and no large bugs. No rodents. One snake in the garden which caused a minor upset for me.

The big skies, the clouds, the lack of humidity (Yes, true)..winters in that area are really quite glorious.

ekscrunchy, how well said!. When we sit outside in February, eating lunch, or at our favorite watering hole listening to a jazz band, we think, why doesn't everyone live here??

As for hot humid, summers, I agree with Dukey, DC summers are FAR worse than they are in many parts of Florida. I would add that Minnesota summers, Kansas summers, and Virginia summers were about comparable, and yes, we've lived in all of those places. And yes, it does depend on where you are in the state.

gail, oh, good, I'm glad you were joking! Palmetto bugs are actually a kind of beetle, outdoor only--they get inside only by accident, not to infest your home, and they do not carry disease like the much smaller German cockroaches so common in cities. Deer ticks are scary!

<And that "older population" also depends on where in Florida you live, too.>
As far as who you see around day to day, true. I was talking more about the sun belt phenomenon I observed in Arizona as well: retirees are not interested in long-term investment, for obvious reasons, so they tend to oppose tax increases for infrastructural projects and education. And they vote, which younger people need to do if they want their voices heard.

Of course I am speaking on a macro level.

The pros and cons of living in Florida are not that much different than the pros and cons of living in any other state or country, for that matter. They are based upon a person's perceptions, circumstances needs and desires and they can differ greatly from person to person.

Weather, for instance, can be a pro or a con. People who live in areas of extreme cold might perceive the warmer weather in Florida to be a "pro" but it you happen to be intolerant of the heat or you love snowmobiling and skiing, then you might view the Florida weather as a "con".

Likewise, jobs and employment opportunities - if you happen to be employed in a job you love or you have a skill set that is in high demand then it's a "pro" but if you are unemployed and can't find work or if the only skill you have is mountain climbing or igloo making then it's a "con". I realize this examples are extreme but you get the idea.

As others have mentioned, Florida is a big state, with several big cities and nice suburbs, plenty of small towns and some rural areas. Which one you'll classify as "pros" or "cons" depends on YOUR lifestyle.

You really need to make a list of what YOU why you want to relocate and what think is important to your lifestyle only then will you be able to determine if living in Florida can fill that bill and, if so, which areas tick off most of the things on that list.

My parents rented in Florida for a year when they retired.That gave them the information they needed to choose where to buy.

25 years later, my Mother still lives in the townhouse they bought and tells me constantly how perfect it is.

That was very smart, elberko, good for them! Florida real estate is tricky, because hurricanes and defaults on second homes inject extra volatility into the market. Best to take the time to figure out where you want to live before committing your money!

A big con for me is the presence of several in-laws I'd like to avoid.

I don't entirely agree about the weather. IMO, Florida in uninhabitable from May until October -- and then you're in hurricane season. While DC, NY and even Boston have their horrible, hot and humid spells, they are much shorter. But I admit that is personal -- I dislike hot weather and don't mind the cold.

I was going to object to sharing a state with he Disney Corporation, but realized that only a mile or so away <i>in my own city</i> Disney has a few shows running. Perhaps there is no escape.

I have to say I enjoy natural Florida, where it still exists. The Everglades, various swamps and sloughs, rivers and forest. Also the coast, away from the high rises.

Well, Fra, you've already said that I live "in a swamp" so I can fully understand your feelings about the weather down here.

70- fully retired.
My questions are really

- inland versus coast
-north versus middle or south- we have intered in sarasota quite a few times and loved it there
- senior community versus multi- age
we want to find a warmer climate than PA, live someplace totally different- lived in a small pa town all of our lives
enjoy the company of other seniors, play games, swim, relax, garden

not too much work

'Well, Fra, you've already said that I live "in a swamp"'

Dukey, didn't you say you lived near swamps in the "skeeters thread"?

Regardless, I'm sorry I ever said it.

If you liked Sarasota, why not go back there?

It does not have great airline service, but it has a lot going for it otherwise.

What did you like? Dislike?

Rent year round for a year or two, then make the decision.

Well, do you want to be on the coast? Inland is cheaper, and inland up north is very different from central Florida. You could also live near the beach, as I do in Tampa--near enough for me, but wouldn't be for some people. I don;t now how to help you decide that! You either have a passion to be on the coast or not.

Sarasota is pretty great all around, although the point about airline service is a good one.

Will the budget allow a few trips, maybe a week each, to the northern and southern parts of the state, respectively? If not, you could rent in or near Sarasota, since you know you like it, and then spend the year traveling around the state to see if something strikes your fancy.

That is a great idea.trying out the state. And we love the gulf?
Doesnt the sarasota/bradenton airport suffice?

The trouble with Sarasota/Bradenton airport is the expensive expansion it underwent about 28 years ago. Since then, they have charged very high user fees to the airlines, which have responded by cutting service and raising fares. It can be difficult to find a non-stop. Many times when my parents were alive I would fly into Tampa and rent a car. It would be cheaper and more convenient.

My understanding is that people generally fly in and out of Tampa instead of Sarasota, partly because of expense and partly because of availability of flights. So, basically what Fra said! I don't know what, if any, shuttle options exist. It's not a bad drive, actually, but wouldn't get any easier as one gets older. It may not be a deal breaker.

maribethp, I love the Gulf, too :-)

Both Tampa and Ft Myers (RSW) have many, many more flights than Sarasota. Life would be easier for you ( and all the friends and relatives who want to visit you) if you are closer to one of these places.

But maybe you don't want your relatives and friends with you every January to March!

, oh, good, I'm glad you were joking! Palmetto bugs are actually a kind of beetle, outdoor only--they get inside only by accident, not to infest your home, and they do not carry disease like the much smaller German cockroaches so common in cities"

That is really funny!! They ARE cockroaches (just not German, which are very nasty, small, and not all that common). My parents lived in Vero Beach and I was introduced to "palmetto bug" there, and they (that term) are common on up into the Carolinas!!
In NYC we just owned up to "cockroach".
Don't mean to turn the thread into an entomological discussion!! lOL

If you plan to buy instead of rent, check up on what your hurricane insurance will be (= "windstorm" insurance) as well as flood insurance, unless you avoid a mortgage. Re flood insurance: couple of years ago Congress almost shut down the federally subsidized National Flood Insurance Program, causing mass panic in the streets in coastal Florida and the Keys.

Also relevant for your situation: Florida has no income tax, yayyyy!

Florida is not the kindest state re Medicaid funding, homeless programs, quality of schools, etc.

Gretchen is right. Although it's a nice fairytale that palmetto bugs are beetles, they are indeed flying cockroaches and do carry disease. Many people are freaked out by roaches flying in the air toward them. A few of the bugs that people call palmetto bugs are beetles, but the vast majority are indeed huge flying American cockroaches.
http://www.catseyepest.com/pest-libr...s/palmetto-bug

"- inland versus coast"
Inland is cheaper than coast. If you buy, check insurance coverage and costs.
- "north versus middle or south- we have intered in sarasota quite a few times and loved it there"
IMO north is more like south GA/ Alabama. South Florida is more like the NE. Middle is more of a mix. You'll even find a bit of cowboy country in the central peninsula.
-"senior community versus multi- age"
Only you can decide that. Check resale activity in senior communities.
Friends of that age have chosen Deland, Bartow, Tallahassee and Mount Dora for inland options.

Gretchen and starrs are only partly right.

<just not German, which are very nasty, small, and not all that common>
Au contraire, they are THE most common infesting cockroach in restaurants and dwellings.

Palmetto bugs are indeed cockroaches--I stand corrected. But they do not carry disease, and they live outdoors or in uninhabited spaces such as abandoned buildings, so pose no threat to humans.

People are "freaked out by" lots of things that live outside, often only because they're ugly. There's a metaphor in there somewhere...

They do come inside and live in your home -

<I>"Palmetto Bugs In The Home & The Apartment

During flooding or other times when outside conditions are unsuitable, these insects will migrate indoors and that’s when you find palmetto bugs in your home. They like to hide in dark, moist spaces like basements, sewers, crawl spaces, drains and even your dirty laundry basket! You may also find them near the bathtub or garbage can.

Since palmetto bugs are rarely seen during the day, you may not notice a problem until there is a big infestation. Know the signs of palmetto bug damage so that you can catch a palmetto bug infestation as soon as possible. These pests give off a distinct musty smell. Look for chew marks on curtains, stamps, envelopes and bookbindings — palmetto bugs love to eat anything with glue or starch. You may also notice shed skins and droppings, that look like pepper flakes, in cracks and crevices around your home.

"Palmetto bugs are indeed cockroaches--I stand corrected. But they do not carry disease,..."

Unfortunately, more of a fairytale.

<I>"Palmetto bugs carry a variety disease-causing pathogens from their tendency to hide in unsanitary areas like sewers and drains, and eat decaying food scraps and animals. These cockroaches can easily contaminate kitchen counters, clean dishes and food. Digestive diseases are the most common illnesses people get from palmetto bugs. Symptoms include vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhea. Some people have allergic reactions to cockroaches or their shed skins and droppings. Allergic reactions to cockroaches include sneezing, rashes and even asthma attacks."

The suggestion I have is to rent for awhile to see if you like it or not. Many older people from my state, New Jersey, either move to Florida or spend the winters. It isn't for me, but I understand why they do.

The other suggestion is one that I know from a friend's experience was a good idea. She bought in a NEW community. That way everyone else was new and she made friends immediately.

starrs, I found citations that directly contradict yours. Since you are tireless in your prosecution of pointless arguments, I say Uncle. You win. Palmetto bugs are a terrifying scourge in the state of Florida and no one should come here because of them. Happy? I sure hope so.
;-)

SusieQQ, IME, because hardly anyone is actually *from* Florida, communities are pretty welcoming to newcomers. I'm sure the situation might be different in very small towns in the center or north of the state, which see fewer retirees and snowbirds. But really, is there a part of the state that doesn't have newcomers??

I'm not disagreeing with your friend's strategy so much as I admit being biased against new communities.

SusieQQ, someone told me yesterday that there is an exit tax for those leaving NJ. true?

<I>" I say Uncle. You win. Palmetto bugs are a terrifying scourge in the state of Florida and no one should come here because of them. Happy? I sure hope so. "</I>

Classic NewbE.

But they ARE cockroaches and they DO move into homes at times and they DO carry disease.

Are they are a reason not to move to Florida?
If you say so.

Family lived in Florida since the 50s and although your fairytale sounds nice, it's not accurate.

Oh, heck with the palmetto bugs. It's the piles of spiders that are the real scourge. And they are everywhere. DH often gets bitten while mowing the lawn, thanks to those webs that appear overnight and stretch across the yard that you don't see until too late. One bite he has had for months that keeps resurfacing.

Yes, I know all the arguments about how beneficial they are. But I'm tired of shaking them out of my shoes, having one of those giant ones pop out at me inside the house, ducking one at face height when I go into my yard, etc.

BTW - inland is cheaper, but also hotter and more humid. My complaints aside, you will need to learn to live alongside insects, reptiles, and all the other denizens of our subtropical climate. (Hey, palmetto bugs strategically placed can get rid of houseguests who overstay their welcome..)

"It's the piles of spiders that are the real scourge. "

My great-aunt had a pet spider in her bathroom.
Not really a "pet" but she co-existed with it because it killed all the other spiders. One day a male relative who was visiting walked out of the bathroom and a rolled up newspaper and proudly announced he had killed a spider for her. He barely escaped with HIS life.

She moved down in the early 50s from DC and was one of the first female real estate agents in the state. She was very successful, but she was successful with everything she did. She never wanted to move from Florida and she didn't until she was almost 90.

It's a great state. Just not a Disney version of a state.

Do property taxes vary by county? One person says "yay no income tax" and another says "high real estate taxes, partially offset by no income tax". I'm trying to figure out what the property tax would actually be.

sf, property taxes vary by city and county. There is no income tax. Whether that fact truly offsets your property taxes depends on your income and how you earn it.

sf7307, you can get a ballpark idea of property taxes by accessing for sale information online.

For example, if you are shopping in the Tampa area -
http://www.realtor.com/realestateand..._FL?source=web

This home, listed for $265,000 originally sold for $209K eleven years ago. For the past three years, property taxes have been at $3600/ year.
http://www.realtor.com/realestateand...w=6&source=web

You can "shop" the state by looking at different towns and counties.

Another in Mount Dora, FL -
Listed at $279, sold in 2006 for $342K, assessed for tax purposes at $172K with annual taxes of $3289

That's a fire sale for some. If you are used to spending $700/month in property taxes, $274 a month is a big savings.

That's very interesting (and thanks) -- I was thinking real estate taxes would be like NY's, and "I" would be saving income taxes like California's. $3289 in real estate taxes would be the equivalent of a taxable income of $29,900 at California's highest income tax bracket of 11%. I'd better be making more than $29,900 or I'm not retiring LOL.