Monday, October 16, 2006

Considering a Move to Florida?

For those of you who are "on the fence" on your decision as to making the big move to the Sunshine State, I've compiled a list of highly compelling reasons for taking the risk and moving here. After reading this, I'm quite certain that you'll come to the right conclusion: Florida is going to be your NEW home state! So come on down!!!!

8 Considerations On Moving to Florida

1. After tourism, the #2 industry in Florida is construction. So remember, the only way this state continues to grow is to mow down the trees and EXPAND.

2. So, please, please, please move here! We need your money to keep our contractors employed and this economic engine running at full speed.

3. Florida is a cheep place to live. Okay, not really - houses actually cost much more here than advertised. The FAR (FL Ass. of Realtors) has reported the median price for the following towns, and in every case they have under-reported. The Actual median prices for these towns are shown in bold RED.

Tampa-St. Pete-Clearwater - $237K, Actual: $295K
Orlando
- $261K, Actual: $289K
Melborne - $220K, Actual: $250K
Miami - $379K, Actual: $399K
Jacksonville
- $202K, Actual: $252K
Tallahassee
- $175K, Actual: $216K

4. Okay, so the houses are more expensive than ever - big deal. Please, please, please move here! Our developers need to keep current on their payments for their jet skis, extra-large SUVs, and waterfront homes.

5. You get to pay more in taxes than everyone else. The "Save Our Homes" tax has set in place a system whereby the existing home-owners pay for less than the actual value of their residence. You, however, as the latest Florida purchaser, get to pay the FULL amount. Result: you will pay more in taxes than the majority of wealthier people who have lived here longer. And until they die or move, you always will.
-> For example, you can expect to pay around $5G/yr for a 3 bedroom home in any of the major metro areas, $6G for a 4 bedroom.

6. Okay, so you have to pay more in taxes than the rest of us who already live here. So what? Please, please, please move here! We need your tax money so we can keep ours.

7. And remember, like any "pass the buck to the new guy" tax scheme, if people keep moving here, eventually the newer people will pay more in taxes than you! Isn't that great? Just wait your turn - it might be awhile.

8. Home insurance might be a tad more expensive than what you're used to - if you can get it, that is. 2 years of record hurricanes (2004-05) has left the welfare version of homeowners insurance, Citizen's, as the #1 policy holder in the Sunshine State. By law, Citizen's has to charge the highest rates in order to not compete with commercial insurance companies. By the way, after 2 years Citizen's is already awash in red ink - they will cover their costs by adding a surcharge to all other policy holders in the state.
-> Expect to pay upwards of $1-$2G/yr for most homes.

8. Okay, enough said. Housing costs are higher than advertised, your taxes will be higher than everyone else on your street (unless you live in a brand-new subdivision), and your insurance costs will be much higher than where you currently reside. But hey, it's a "quality of life" issue. We haven't mentioned traffic, pollution, sub-standard schools, geezers constantly screaming for more state subsidies, OR the red tide - but should we have to? Please, please, please move here! We need your money. Seriously.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

We vacated Palm Beach County last year because of congestion, taxes, and insurance....NOT to mention schools[?]

Last summer the median price for a home in P.B. County was $421,000...
Taxes would run you approx 2.5% on the purchase price = $10,500 approx. [taxes]...

Hurricane insurance could EASILY run you $5000, [""IF""] you can find someone to write you a policy....Citizens [the insurer of last resort is essentially bankrupt], and hasn't paid off some of their claims from 2 years ago....
Then you couple it with the other insurances crises....Car insurance $1000/ car....Doctors quiting practice because of insurance crises..
|||| NOT ONE neurologist on call at any of the hospitals..."""PERIOD"""|||||
Ob/gyn's bailing as fast as they can get out.....

THE BRIGHT SPOT IS, THE SUN DOES SHINE MOST OF THE TIME!!!!!

Other than that....PBC IS A POS
[translated..Palm Beach County is a Piece of &HIT]

Anonymous said...

I've been to PB several times - my greatest memory is the plethora of "older" folks, driving 10 mph BELOW the speed limit, clogging up the already overloaded roadways.

Can you say, "Sit at the red light through 3 cycles before actually passing through the intersection."?

Sure. I knew you could.

Anonymous said...

Citizen's Insurance - A beaurocratic mess created in the state of Florida, originally intended as a "last resort" home insurer, now the largest in the state. A combination of welfare and beaurocratic BS, it protects other insurers and does nothing to solve the problem. For reference, see also:

-> FUBAR Governmental Solutions
-> Monkey F-ing a Football
-> Short Term Thinking
-> Near-sightedness that created "Save Our Homes"

Anonymous said...

slow & low reply:

That's NOT the Palm Beach County I know.....SORRY!!!

Getting RUN OVER by a bunch of MANIAC drives is |||| MORE ||| like it....

Listen up closely NOW!!!

WHATEVER YOU WANT....LEGAL OR ILLEGAL, IS AVAILABLE IN PALM BEACH COUNTY """IF""" YOU GOT THE MONEY

Anonymous said...

Here's another for the list.

9. Florida is the last refuge of scoundrels and sexual predators. Take a look at this map of Pinellas County (home of St. Pete and Clearwater). Absolutely scary.

http://pubgis.co.pinellas.fl.us/sopview/disclaimer.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fsopview%2fmap.aspx

Anonymous said...

Insurance gone WILD!!

So there is an article in the Palm Beach Post today, about a little 86 year old lady in Lake Clarke Shores [suburb of W. Palm]....

Her home owners insurance just went up from $2200/yr to $6000/yr...

My advice is to BUY a HOME and join the CRAP SHOT....

Roll the dice, and guess what your taxes & insurance are going to be, then roll the costs back into your
pay-options mortgage...When the bank says "ENOUGH"...you say "RIGHT ON"...and head up I-95, in your new Prevost motor home, financed with the appreciating equity of your McMansion

Anonymous said...

Brilliant!

Anonymous said...

C'mon people - MOVE HERE and buy our crappy, overpriced houses. It's not hard - just do it! For example:

1. They're not making anymore land, you know!

2. In the long run, prices ALWAYS go up in real estate!

3. A THOUSAND people are moving to Florida every single day!

4. Baby Boomers are all retiring, and they ALL want to move to Florida, so your house will immediately be worth more!

5. This is the most important: Buy now or be priced out forever!

(Okay, I admit. This was actually the Top 5 LIES told by Florida Realtors during the Bubble. Truth is pain.)

Anonymous said...

Talk about schools!!!!

Just read an article in the Palm Beach Post this morning, that said school enrollment was down some 3271 students overall....

First confirmed actual drop since 1971.....
Families can't afford to live there anymore....retires can't afford to live there anymore...working people can't afford to live there anymore....

COMEON BABY BOOMERS...WE NEED YOUR MONEY ||||NOW |||||

Anonymous said...

Miami-Dade peaked enrollment, now declining.
Pinellas peaked enrollment, now declining.
Palm Beach peaked enrollment, now declining.

Who's our NEXT CONTESTANT on "PRICE IS WRONG"!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Just read a report from "THE ADEN" sister.....

Finanacial market people....

They claim 40% of the 80 million or so baby boomers have less than $60,000 total equity and will have to continue working thru retirement....

This kind of information, 'if you choose to believe it'...
DEFIES, everything you have been lead to believe about hoousing prices continuing to go UP....

Anonymous said...

I am going to buy a cheap mobile home. Sandblast the inside and furnish with $3000 worth of IKEA furniture. The taxes will be cheap, relatively speaking of course. And the money I save on insurance, I'll put into fund to use after the next hurricane. gordo nyc

Anonymous said...

Gordo - nice! Maybe you can install "Hurricane Shutters", plant a couple palm trees, setup a hammock, and then pretend you're in one of those Corona commercials.

X)

Anonymous said...

Gordo, great idea! I'll make mine a double wide!

Anonymous said...

I've decided to not save any money in my 401K.

Rather, I'm going to spend it on an overpriced POS in Florida, with accompanying overpriced insurance, and to top it all off, I'm going to go ahead pay for everyone else's property taxes - oops! I guess I don't have to do the last one - it's already been taken care of by the geniuses in Tallahassee!

Of course, I will have no money when I'm due to retire, but hey! There are PLENTY of opportunities here. I'm thinking first-shift: Wal-Mart greeter and second-shift: cashier at McDonald's.

What a country!

FlyingMonkeyWarrior said...

You cannot get hurrican insurance on a mobile home, I reckon. Already looked into it.

Jhon smith said...

Gordo, great idea! I'll make mine a double wide!