[sunshine girl]

Plan to tour dothan area soon. Any suggestions/comments about that area. Nurse looking for possible job relocation to florida panhandle or Dothan area. Taxes better deal in florida? thanks

[Criss1956]

Originally Posted by sunshine girl

Plan to tour dothan area soon. Any suggestions/comments about that area. Nurse looking for possible job relocation to florida panhandle or Dothan area. Taxes better deal in florida? thanks

I hate Dothan - even more than Birmingham.
You pay a state and city tax in Alabama. You pay no state or city tax in Florida.
Come on down to Panama City Beach, there are openings for RNs and LPNs at both hospitals in Panama City and at the new hospital in Walton County as well as at private Doctor's offices.

[sunshine girl]

thanks for saving me some time, won't bother w/dothan on your advice. Have been searching the panhandle area, but husband not convinced to stay in hurricane zone. Live in sarasota now, but have no restrictions where we have to go. He's retired, I've got 5-10 years before retirement, being RN, can move many, many different places. Am considering upper third of AL, have vacation time in July, plan to tour. Not that interested in GA, TN, NC. Too many NYC transplants there. We are midwesterners originally. Huntsville? Lake? Mountains? Much to view. Trying to convince him to look more in panhandle. I happen to love florida and the weather, but know panhandle weather different than sarasota. He wants to be high enough to have underground shelter. Anyway, thanks for the warning.

[Quilla]

Sunshine Girl,

In my opinion, Dothan is a wonderful city and a great place to raise children. No one is a stranger and folks constantly seem to be helping one another. If you'll look at this cost of living comparison, you'll notice it is considerably less expensive to live in Dothan vs. Panama City:

Salary in Dothan AL: $50,000
Comparable salary in Panama City FL: $53,229.57

If you move from Dothan AL to Panama City FL...

Groceries will cost: 5.442% higher
Housing will cost: 5.004% higher
Utilities will cost: 2.791% higher
Transportation will cost: 8.777% higher
Healthcare will cost: 21.6% higher

Source: http://cgi.money.cnn.com/tools/costo...ty+FL&x=36&y=6

Please don't pass up a visit to our beautiful city based on one negative opinion.

p.s. Have you ever driven through Panama City during Spring Break or a holiday? The traffic can be horrendous. We love to visit P.C. as it's only an hour and a half away, but it would be a nightmare to try to navigate it daily.

Good luck.

[sunshine girl]

thanks for another insight into the area. Am still undecided as to area to settle. Will know it when I see it. I knew sarasota was right for us, and it has been, but it's time to move on. We need to downsize now, and live simpler, be more self sustaining. That does not mean extremely rural. Again, will know it when we get there.

[bankercop]

I lived in Dothan for over 28 years and it is a great place to live! I would still be there if not for a job change. I plan to return when I retire next year. By the way, I live near Huntsville now and while it is nice here I would still choose Dothan.

[sunshine girl]

thanks for the information on dothan. We are a few weeks away from our area search. We plan to visit the dothan area and the northern regions also. Can't decide between land and lake. Husband and I have both gone through life changing illnesses and wish to cut back and enjoy more. So not looking for big city life, although as nurse, do wish to work some, so need access to decent sized hospital for work. I enjoy the warmer weather, husband and rest of family want cooler winters than south FL. I want the sunshine of the south, they don't care. anyway, would love to hear your thoughts and comparisons of dothan and huntsville, both cities of interest for us. We plan to visit both places during our vacation.

[homey]

Sunshine Girl,

Like it or not we are relocating to Dothan, soon, know no one there, have no family their, we are just down the road from you in Punta Gorda.

Being on a fixed income and the wife works retail and wants to cut back we can not afford the high cost of living here in FL, we were tore up bu Hurricane Charley and I just go not want to go through that again, the insurances are going to make a big difference in how we live, just can not afford it.

Been to Dothan three times, leaving again this weekend to go find a house, we too love the SW FL weather I guess we can adjust to Dothan. Pamama City would be like going to Sarasota from here, I can handle that, we would just make an all day affair of it, other draw back is boating, will have to travel a little but again make an all day deal of it.

The whole idea is to save money, and we can not do that here in SW FL, our night life will also be affected till we can get the feel of Dothan and find something, as we like to go out danceing, lots of changes but think all in all it will be worth it, and it's not all that far away that we could return for a few days of still be close to FL.

[sunshine girl]

Hey there Punta Gorda! I'm in a similar boat to you guys. We could however stay here if we really wanted to, but I no longer wish to work for a mortgage after becoming a cancer survivor. When and if we sell, we will go. Don't really have a specific city/town yet, but you know what?, neither of us is worried about it. Have become much more laid back since me and the big C and my husband having a 4 vessel bypass. But on the other hand, we're not totally naive and do wish to visit some places of interest to us before settling in. I am curious what drew you to Dothan, rather than other towns in that vicinity. He's more lured to the more nothern sections of the state and I am more drawn to the south. Also considered staying in Florida at the panhandle border to keep the tax benefits of Florida. Thanks for the info, and good luck to you both.

[homey]

Friend of ours moved there from Port Charlotte a few years back, and I asked him why Dothan, CHEAPER, it has become to expensive to live here and it is just going to get worst instead of better, we lost 20 - 25k on the sale of out house because the market here is so saturated.

Dothan, all I can say is hope we like it, not that far to go to PC for the day and the beaches, same for Georgia, least I wont have to pay Flood Ins and high rate Homeowners ins.

We have nice place here, made it very private, but the high costs are driving us out and want to get out before something happens that we do not wish to be in.

You know as I do that the high cost of living here is not helping, and the snowbirds are getting to be more and more every year, since Charley Punta Gorda and gone build crazy, condos everywhere. Charley moved out time line up, wife wants to cut back amd maybe just find 3 day a week PT job, she has gone 40 mile RT everyday for the past 6 years, taking a toll on her and the car.

We going to give up a lot but in the long run should be better, Dothan looks like the town, but only time will tell that, I have two artificial heart vlaves and a pacemaker, and they do have good Hospitals and Dr's their (I hope) anyway too late now we leave Sunday morning and going to haul the boat up.

I know a great agent that will help you find a place, need someone to party with up here.