[Shores9]

Originally Posted by dig02

I'm a school teacher here and can't afford to buy a house even though my husband works and I work after care and private tutoring as well. We live simple lives with our two kids (No overly expensive cars, clothing, etc etc). So we're Leaving to eihter GA, or NC. It's a shame because my family is here and I truly love Florida.

I agree and I’m truly sorry you may need to make such a move. With all the money the state and local governments have been collecting (and spending) it’s a shame they don’t value our teachers (and first responders police/fire etc) more than they do. They can spend millions of our dollars campaigning for us to vote the programs they would like to see passed, while increasing the operating budgets yearly (10-13-18%) on wasteful unnecessary programs rather than roll back taxes and yet teachers are barley recognized.
We really need to change this and the ballot box is a great place to speak your mind.

[shannon94]

[quote=josephhawkinson;132698]hey according to some realtors you just dont work hard enough. they think house prices should go up 20% a year, and people should work three jobs to afford a home (aka slavery), because they think it is fair. Me think not


Welcome back joe!! Where the heck is Muggy now? lol

[BigJimSlade]

Hi, Big Jim here:

Well I definitely loved reading all this, so I had to sign up and add my 2 cents.

I have lived in Florida more than 95% of my life and have been here since 1979. There is alot of truth in what people say here. The state is not what it used to be. On the other hand, I guess not much is like it used to be in 1979.

I would love to pick up myself and move somewhere where the hustle and bustle is not so much. Unfortunately, the money for me is here now in Tampa, and I personally think it is still better than driving into NYC or DC. I can't wait though to join the ranks of the departed and purchase a piece of land up in Georgia to hold onto....just in case things do get much worse.

Also, my wife is a teacher at a local elementary school, and I have to say this:

1) The kids are not as smart/patient/obedient as they used to be (good stories with this one)
2) The kids are more violent (I've got good stories here too)
3) The kids are packed in like sardines
4) After hanging out with all of my wife's teacher friends for a few years, I can tell you that Florida will hire anyone willing to take mediocre pay as a teacher.
5) At least in this county, kids get 30 minutes of physical education once a week.

I have no knowlege of schools in other parts of the country, but the above doesn't paint the prettiest of pictures for people interested in enrolling their kids here in the Sunshine State.

Also, growing up in Miami, I share some of the feelings expressed concerning people/employees attempting to converse with me in Spanish in, for example, the grocery store. If I moved to say Mexico and lived amongst the natives, the first thing I would do would be to learn Spanish as fast as possible. On the other hand, I wouldn't be working in a grocery store the rest of my life. I guess I can't expect everyone in the world to be able to do what I know I could do if need be. Unfortunately, what happens more often is people who do not speak English run away from me or try and ignore me because I look extremely non-Hispanic. It makes people look rude when in all actuality I am sure they just know that we cannot communicate and they don't want to be troubled.

I would like to point out though that anyone who tries to work through something with me, I am ALWAYS happy to help them out with their English (or my ok Spanish) or even just figure things out with gestures. My problem comes from the many people who just can't be bothered learning English and let you know it. That is South Florida today, and it is creeping Northward.

[NYLATINQT]

I think they're all moving here to GA. I don't know why either because GA is not that much better, but still cheaper.

[mk1116]

When I Ever Sell My Home I Am Moving To Sc For Numerous Reasons, But The Main One Is If I Stay Here I Will Have To Work Until I'm 65. If I Leave I Can Retire At 62.
The Wages In Pbc Are Poor Compared To The High Cost Of Living. Unless You Are Self Employed It Is Difficult To Stay Here. For Nurses And Teachers It Is Next To Impossible.

[SPLIT]

Gang; After 12 years of central Brevard co, we left for Eastern Tenn mtn. Enjoy being a "HALFBACK" when the housing,, insurance, utilities are 1/3 rd of what summer 2006 budget payments. Three months of new house, central air, etc average electric is $ 30 / month with TVA even lowered 5% with lower gas prices. Today $2.02 around town. Town water is $15 / month .2300 gal Min ($13). House ins $335 / YEAR -Travelers, lower auto also. Being early retired much more value. Fishing ? Boating ? Just as nice on the Tenn river as the Indian river, however no Dolphin right next to boat. Many Great Blue Heron on rocks as we Kayak in all the coves. All roads are perfectly Paved, not one dirt road here in Hamilton co. No state income tax,as Fla. Twice as much LOTTO game with PowerBall, Megamillions. Only offset is 9% food tax , encourage to go on diet or buy from farmers, grow own, church suppers. Neighbors are great. Many are from the pan-handle area. Brand new custom 3bd-2bth, split plan ranch, one acre dead end, hill top 40 mile views, heavy wooded, full brick front, with covered front & back porches, 2 car attached garage- $130K. 2 miles to boat launch, where river-front $2 million re-sale house listed.

[riley]

Originally Posted by backtofla

as well as most of my family that has lived here for quite some time... as for those moving to tn (forgot who mentioned it), it is nice to look at for a while, but i betcha you'll miss things about fla when you get settled in in tn.

i lived in nc for a while, and i can appreciate the seasonal change, but i didnt like the cold weather. so it turns out, i really only liked the months of late arpil thru september. fla has just as many nice months ... only 3 months out of the year it is really THAT hot. i can also appreciate the less traffic and ppl, but i could find that in smaller towns all across fla. so we are back, and so glad we are back in fla. there is a reason why fla is the 3 or 4 most popluated state in the u.s.

fla also has better jobs, more diversity, the beaches, better looking women, and more things to do than the tn/ga/nc's...just my opinion, but you would probably find this to be accurate

I thought the same about Florida...I moved to North Carolina a bit over a year ago. It is so nice up here. Too bad the people here aren't too much into liking Hispanic people. I am Hispanic and a college graduate and I am still looked down on for being Spanish! I am ready to leave and ready to forget a lot of the racist remarks a lot of the people here have given me! It is a really nice place to come and visit, but as for living, at least I do not think it's for me! Also, North Carolina has a lot of taxes. When I first started working in the area, my check was 1,350 by the time the taxes were taken out I was left with a $964 check! I had to get another job that could handle the rising cost of living here!! Another bad thing is that there are a lot of small towns in the area...people commute to the RTP, traffic, believe it or not is horrible! People here do not know how to drive in rain, light ice, or fog--so if you are moving here to work and not to retire be ready to leave your home about an hour or more before you actually have to go in even if you live less than 10 miles from your job!

I would recommend West Virginia---it has gorgeous mountains plus it actually snows there---it doesn't snow in North Carolina! Unless you are in the Blue Ridge Mountains, but it isn't too much snow it's more of ice than snow! When I was in West Virginia I never got any racist comments or anything! People there were so wonderful!

However, with all the bad things I have experienced in North Carolina I am ready to go back to Florida to be close to family! I think it's better to just visit these places (NC, TN, etc.)

[scamutz]

Originally Posted by SPLIT

Twice as much LOTTO game with PowerBall, Megamillions.

Wait...this is one of the positive things about Tennessee...that there are more lottery games to play? Or did I read that wrong...

[josephhawkinson]

Though I strongly believe FL RE market is heavily over priced because of the past 5 years insane run up I also believe that FL has a lot to offer to new comers and I am pretty sure people coming in are more than people leaving FL. This is not to say sellers are entitled to ask unreal prices like they have been doing lately, it just means appreciation in FL can be slightly higher than most other places in the country in the long run. The only downside is FL has a lousy job situation tied to RE and does not have much else going to support the middle class. If this does not get resolved it may turn into another CA where middle class is fleeing and there is only the very rich and very poor left behind. I dont buy all the hype about FL when few sellers or their RE agents spit out all the BS one has to hear in order to close a sale, however this does not mean FL deserves to be bad-mouthed or talked down as if she is a plague devastated piece of land . Let's be reasonable.

[Rmoov2tx]

Good evening to all of you posting in Florida. I too live in Florida the Trinity area. I moved to Florida in 1999 after living in Pennsylvania for the first 39 years. I just came back from spending a weekend in Arlington Texas. My dh is working there since the company he works for took over some stores out there. We both considered relocated due to how much our Homeowners insurance will be in February...$5300. When we relocated to Florida in 1999 we could not believe the prices of homes(not very expensive ) of course coming from Pa this was a good thing. You could get alot of house for the money and,then the taxes and homeowners weren`t that high either. Ohhhh how things changed. We got a sink hole 2 years and month to the day...2 days before christmas. Our homeowners insurance went from $800 to $1600. Statefarm said once we were off probation(imagine that an act of mother nature and you are put in high risk ). Once the probation period ended we had increase. The insurance regulators allowed Statefarm to have an increase of 89% they wanted 139%. ( Werent we lucky )So then we are paying $3300. Now they are increasing our insurance by 53%.

Like I have said for months.......every state has a potential for a catastrophic event however, it seems only the state of Florida is paying so dearly . Now for some people they need to move. They can`t afford to stay here. What will happen to them.......they might not be able to sell their home because who will be able to buy it and pay high homeowners insurance and then again what insurance company is insuring other than Citizens?

I`m thinking that if the insurance comapnies are not going to insure everything they shouldn`t have a choice. It`s all or nothing Well for Dh and I we will have to see where fate takes us and pray for the best outcome