Where are all the Floridians going? (Miami, Cape Coral: mortgage, real estate, property taxes)

[pixiewytch]

Hi, I have also lived in Fl all of my life, born and raised in Lakeland (Polk County) and now residing in Tampa. In some ways I feel like I am kicking and screaming my way out because it is my home and in many ways I don't want to leave. What I love about Fl is the weather and the beaches. However, Fl is not very native friendly anymore. The state caters more to tourism and transplants than it does modest income families who have lived here all of their lives. As more condos and luxury living half million dollar homes are being built at alarming rates the rest of us can't afford to live here, even on a decent income. Right now we are renting at what I think is a ridiculous price for an older home in a not so fabulous neighborhood. We would like to take the next step to buy or build a modest home in the country but we are already outpriced in doing that here since we live on one income.

I don't want to live in suburbs. I don't want to drive a luxury SUV or live in a fancy downtown loft or condo. I just want a modest priced home and a nice small town friendly neighborhood for my family to live in. The more Florida continues developing these ugly expensive communities which rape the wildlife and then oxymoronically rename them with some fancy wildlife or preserve reference, the traffic gets worse and the cost of living is higher. That is why I know it is time to get out. I want to get back to simpler living where people care about their community and each other more than keeping up with the joneses and driving their Hummer around town.

So we are looking at TN or the Carolinas like a lot of other people I think. We aren't half backers since we've been here our entire lives and we are much younger but we also aren't used to winter weather. TN seems like a happy medium weather wise. The west coast would be beautiful and share a lot of our ideals but is out of our price range entirely. Plus, I will always have an affinity with the South since I was born and raised here. We fell in love with the mountains on several visits to TN so that is where we are looking. Of course that could always change. We are hoping to make the big move within the next year.

[Not So Lost]

Originally Posted by pixiewytch

Hi, I have also lived in Fl all of my life, born and raised in Lakeland (Polk County) and now residing in Tampa. In some ways I feel like I am kicking and screaming my way out because it is my home and in many ways I don't want to leave. What I love about Fl is the weather and the beaches. However, Fl is not very native friendly anymore. The state caters more to tourism and transplants than it does modest income families who have lived here all of their lives. As more condos and luxury living half million dollar homes are being built at alarming rates the rest of us can't afford to live here, even on a decent income. Right now we are renting at what I think is a ridiculous price for an older home in a not so fabulous neighborhood. We would like to take the next step to buy or build a modest home in the country but we are already outpriced in doing that here since we live on one income.

I don't want to live in suburbs. I don't want to drive a luxury SUV or live in a fancy downtown loft or condo. I just want a modest priced home and a nice small town friendly neighborhood for my family to live in. The more Florida continues developing these ugly expensive communities which rape the wildlife and then oxymoronically rename them with some fancy wildlife or preserve reference, the traffic gets worse and the cost of living is higher. That is why I know it is time to get out. I want to get back to simpler living where people care about their community and each other more than keeping up with the joneses and driving their Hummer around town.

So we are looking at TN or the Carolinas like a lot of other people I think. We aren't half backers since we've been here our entire lives and we are much younger but we also aren't used to winter weather. TN seems like a happy medium weather wise. The west coast would be beautiful and share a lot of our ideals but is out of our price range entirely. Plus, I will always have an affinity with the South since I was born and raised here. We fell in love with the mountains on several visits to TN so that is where we are looking. Of course that could always change. We are hoping to make the big move within the next year.

Well said! Many of the people leaving our area have been here for generations. But like you said, the areas are being developed for tourism and retires. They are making it clear that what used to be valuable is now a nusiance. We too are looking in tennessee.

[tiredinfla]

Originally Posted by Not So Lost

Well said! Many of the people leaving our area have been here for generations. But like you said, the areas are being developed for tourism and retires. They are making it clear that what used to be valuable is now a nusiance. We too are looking in tennessee.

Isn't it sad that you have to escape the conditions that others have have created because of their reason to escape.

[AlidaRosa]

I found it great moving to Wilkes county in North Carolina. I moved here from Miami and attended college. This place is great. Check out http://www.wilkescountytourism.com/index.asp to get more info on the area. However its a great area which is growing!!!!

[scamutz]

Originally Posted by sunnydayz

I have lived in Fl, my whole life and I hate it!!! Im moving sometime next year to sc- I cant wait-- I want to see seasons! and have extra money to do things! Im tired of working so hard to pay my rent- at this rate Ill never own a home. I HATE the heat- and I have never seen snow- so I think that sc would be perfect. cost of living is low and its not to cold. Any person thinking of moving to FL DONT it will be a regret, thats why everyone that lives here is trying to get out!

Ahh, now I was see where you came up with that nickname, Sunnydayz. You are like a bright ray of sunshine gleaming into the lives of City-Data readers. LOL Hang in there man, it will be ok!

[destinolegri]

WOW
Sorry most of you guys have had bad experiences.

I live in the panhandle (Destin) and can say I love it here. Beautiful beaches, lots of casual/fine dining, shopping, lots of entertainment, quiet most of the year and a hometown feel.

While there are some things I wish would change, it is still home to me and I will stay until..well, I guess I feel like you guys.

[amberskye82]

My parents are in North Florida (really close to Georgia) having moved from the Martin County area.

I moved Indiana.

My brother is a deputy and wanting to move as soon as he can.

There are a number of reasons.

The cost of living was outrageous.
Housing was OVERpriced for what you got.
The education system was in poor shape.
They were forced to concentrate more on annual FCAT test rather than teaching kids.
The crime was increasing.
Traffic has tripled.
So many reasons why I left.

The first city I moved to in Indiana wasn't that good but I moved to a smaller city and the people are wonderful.
I am glad to have made the move.

My best friends moved their family before I did from the Martin County area as well.

[FL_TN_Nana]

Originally Posted by tiredinfla

... I think that the politicians in this state (Jeb Bush on down) need to come up with some type of plan to check the sprawl here. It is taxing every natural resource we have. More building = more people = more power plants = more pollution. Anybody that tells you that the air and water quality is fine is either lying or hasn't been here very long. I think that I'm a reasonably intelligent person. I know that growth is a natural occurence. Growth without plan is suicide. I would like hear some thoughts on my comments from both newer folk and lifers. Thank you for sharing.

I've lived in Central FL 30 years and it's not even the same place. We moved to South Lake County 14 years ago and it has probably at least tripled or maybe more in population. Building just went out of control for several years with seemingly no plans to deal with the traffic, schools, or other major infrastructure. This year in the primaries both of the county commissioners running for re-election were ousted because they've always been pro-growth, pro-developers. Hopefully the incoming Commissioners will convince the rest of the board that we the people want only SMART growth, not just fill up every piece of vacant property around with more houses on postage stamp size lots. Kudos to the voters of Lake County! (I think the rest of the board saw the writing on the wall so they will either change or be gone next time.)

[Callie_D]

I have to agree with Tiredinfla about unchecked growth with no plan being suicide. It all comes back to the greedy land developers and "house flippers" who dramatically changed the real estate landscape in FL and many other states. My father in law lives in Las Vegas and that town is ready for a huge crash in real estate due to overdevelopment without a plan. It's a shame.

[Stargazing Lisa]

Hi Lake County....I'm sorry to hear you say that - I was just beginning to look around Lake County- moving northward from Palm Beach County. Sounds though like you have the same problems in Lake County that we have here in Palm Beach...

Do you know anything about Citrus County?

I wanted to go look at Western North Carolina too for the past two years....but so many from Fl have moved to NC that the prices have gone up bigtime.