Relocating to Palm City Florida from NY
May 8th, 2011, 04:20 AM
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Relocating to Palm City Florida from NY
We're considering relocating from NY to Palm City Florida. We have a 20 month old and a 3 month old so the schools are very impt to us. I heard the schools were very good in Martin County so that's why we're targeting Palm City. We want to buy a 4 bedroom home in a gated community. I am trying to figure out a budget and was wondering if anyone who has done this could give me a little guidance on how our our monthly expenses might change. How much should we expect electric to increase or decrease? Property taxes? I heard they were much much lower than NY. HOA fees...what does this include? Any help would be appreciated.
May 8th, 2011, 05:58 AM
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I lived in Florida as a full time resident as a child, twice, and owned a winter condo for five years.
Are you coming from Manhattan or Upstate? How important is your religion to you? Are there local religious organizations for your denomination? Ditto with politics.
What do you do for a living? What will you do there? Have you found a job?
Have you been to Florida in July-August-September?
Why Palm City instead of Stuart or somewhere else?
How do you feel about exterminators spraying monthly for mosquitoes, roaches, etc?
Do you have actual knowledge about schools or is this something someone told you? Were they knowledgeable? How?
Why a gated community? You do know that statistically they are no safer than non-gated communities and have many regulations on how you can use your property? Is the Association financially sound or will owners be assessed for major repairs and improvements? How old are the sewers and waterlines?
Is your family going to drive you crazy second guessing your decision? Lots do, esp if you come from a close-knit ethnic NY-NE family where everyone gets together for the holidays.
Good news:
Your real estate taxes should be a lot lower.
If you own and can sell a house in NY State, you should be able to buy in to a better house in FL.
FL is a great place to die, tax-wise, and fairly reasonable even while you are living.
Utilities will be about even. What you now spend on heat you are likely to spend on airconditioning and dehumidification (most newer properties have dehumidifiers built in because of the mold problems).
You will save money on clothes and shoes.
People who are happy in Florida like hot weather. My mother was from Michigan and loved August!
People who are happy in Florida have good (and "spacious")relationships with family and friends.
Think, learn, visit, find jobs before you move. There is plenty of property still to buy!
Are you coming from Manhattan or Upstate? How important is your religion to you? Are there local religious organizations for your denomination? Ditto with politics.
What do you do for a living? What will you do there? Have you found a job?
Have you been to Florida in July-August-September?
Why Palm City instead of Stuart or somewhere else?
How do you feel about exterminators spraying monthly for mosquitoes, roaches, etc?
Do you have actual knowledge about schools or is this something someone told you? Were they knowledgeable? How?
Why a gated community? You do know that statistically they are no safer than non-gated communities and have many regulations on how you can use your property? Is the Association financially sound or will owners be assessed for major repairs and improvements? How old are the sewers and waterlines?
Is your family going to drive you crazy second guessing your decision? Lots do, esp if you come from a close-knit ethnic NY-NE family where everyone gets together for the holidays.
Good news:
Your real estate taxes should be a lot lower.
If you own and can sell a house in NY State, you should be able to buy in to a better house in FL.
FL is a great place to die, tax-wise, and fairly reasonable even while you are living.
Utilities will be about even. What you now spend on heat you are likely to spend on airconditioning and dehumidification (most newer properties have dehumidifiers built in because of the mold problems).
You will save money on clothes and shoes.
People who are happy in Florida like hot weather. My mother was from Michigan and loved August!
People who are happy in Florida have good (and "spacious")relationships with family and friends.
Think, learn, visit, find jobs before you move. There is plenty of property still to buy!
May 8th, 2011, 06:11 AM
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Agree to look into a couple of things carefully:
How good are the schools (in comparison with good schools in NY - not typical NYC schools?)
What would your property taxes be - they can be much more for new buyers than current residents
What will your home insurance be? (In NYC this is a minimal cost - in parts of FL this is an enormous cost)
Finally have you looked at job opportunities and salaries - FL is nothing like NY and you need to allow for a potentially significantly lower income
And if you haven;t been there in midsummer do visit before making a decision. We had quite a few elderly relatives who bought small houses in FL - but cam north every summer to stay with family for the hottest months.
How good are the schools (in comparison with good schools in NY - not typical NYC schools?)
What would your property taxes be - they can be much more for new buyers than current residents
What will your home insurance be? (In NYC this is a minimal cost - in parts of FL this is an enormous cost)
Finally have you looked at job opportunities and salaries - FL is nothing like NY and you need to allow for a potentially significantly lower income
And if you haven;t been there in midsummer do visit before making a decision. We had quite a few elderly relatives who bought small houses in FL - but cam north every summer to stay with family for the hottest months.
May 8th, 2011, 09:34 AM
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Info on schools from the State DOE: http://schoolgrades.fldoe.org/
What services HOA fees will cover vary by HOA. It can be bare bones or it can cover insurance, landscaping, pest control, roofing, security, common recreation areas, etc.
> True, BUT expect a lower level of services, especially now when cities and counties are having to drastically cut services due to lower budgets (caused in part by lower property values). And you really need to understand that Florida has odd property tax laws. You may buy a house or condo that is exactly the same as the one next door, but the property taxes you pay may be 2 or 3 times higher. Why? Because Florida property tax laws favor full-time, long-time property owners.
As has been pointed out above, Florida salaries are considerably (one-third to one-half) lower than salaries in many other parts of the country. Also seconding the considerations about heat, humidity, bugs, and insurance that were mentioned above. All those things said, we've been happily living here for nearly 15 years.
What services HOA fees will cover vary by HOA. It can be bare bones or it can cover insurance, landscaping, pest control, roofing, security, common recreation areas, etc.
> True, BUT expect a lower level of services, especially now when cities and counties are having to drastically cut services due to lower budgets (caused in part by lower property values). And you really need to understand that Florida has odd property tax laws. You may buy a house or condo that is exactly the same as the one next door, but the property taxes you pay may be 2 or 3 times higher. Why? Because Florida property tax laws favor full-time, long-time property owners.
As has been pointed out above, Florida salaries are considerably (one-third to one-half) lower than salaries in many other parts of the country. Also seconding the considerations about heat, humidity, bugs, and insurance that were mentioned above. All those things said, we've been happily living here for nearly 15 years.
May 8th, 2011, 11:07 AM
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Forgot to mention - if you haven't already posted your questions at the city-data Florida forum, you should. There's usually a fair amount of local posters who can answer these relocation questions.
http://www.city-data.com/forum/#u-s-forums
http://www.city-data.com/forum/#u-s-forums
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