[djrman]

Hello. How is everyone doing? Well I hope. I have been reading these boards and figured it couldn't hurt to join. I'm currently residing in Northern New Jersey. I plan on relocating to Florida as soon as my lease is up. My wife and I are thinking of moving to Saint Petersburg, Tampa or West Palm. We plan on renting for several months before we make the move to purchasing a home. The thing is, there's so much info out there, it's somewhat overwhelming. I mean, I'm somewhat concerned of taxes, insurance, flood zones, etc. I hear Tampa is through the rough in these areas. West Palm is good for jobs, but purchasing a home on $75,000 combined income might be a strech. Plus taxes, insurance are also high. Saint Petersburg, I've heard mixed results. Does that area have to have Citizens insurance? Is there another carrier in Pinellas? I've also heard that taxes are going through the roof. I need serious advice. I would appreciate any feedback.

Thanks again.

Danny

[rkumar3]

Welcome to the board..... While I don't know much about tampa area, I can certainly answer most if not all of your questions regarding Palm Beach. I live in Delray beach (one town next of Boca Raton) and love it here. Housing is cetainly expen$ive here but as you mentioned there are more employment oppurtunities here as well. You should be able to rent a dencet condo/TH for around $1500... as for as buying there market has been stablizing recently and you can get a decent 3 bed single family for around 300K - 400K... condo /TH can be had in the 200 - 300 range. With your income you should be buy either of the two.... however renting before buying is not a bad idea either.

I personally would suggest taking a trip down here for a few days to take a first hand look at both the area and see which one seems more appealing to you. Please free to PM me if you have any more questions and I try to do my best.

[cflmmo]

Hi Djrman - as long as you live in the Pinellas - even Pasco - Counties, expect to pay high insurance rates. Based on my own experience and what I've read on these boards, you have a better chance to pay lower insurance rates if you stay AWAY from towns near the Coast and stay "inland". My taxes haven't changed much either. I live in a small town 30 miles west of Orlando (right in the middle of the Peninsula) and pay under $1,000 a year in Insurance with a private company - don't need Citizens - have a 4 bedroom/2 bath home.

[House4Sale]

Spring Hill, FL. Palm Beach is quite expensive. We've just left there. In Spring Hill we are mins. from Veterans' Hwy which connects to Tampa and one is there in 45 mins to an hour. One can get a new 3/2/3 for about 225,000 to 250,000 here. Great place for families. Schools, Wal-Marts, resturants, idyllic and woodsy. Check it out.

[Shrimp]

DJRMan,
I am relocating to Deerfield Beach, Fla. (10 minutes south of Boca Raton) on October 31. I have owned house for over 15 years but never lived there. I had to switch to Citizen's Insurance for Dwelling Insurance as old insurance stopped covering two years ago due to hurricanes. I paid $1,042 first year (2005) and $1172 (206). My roof was damaged last year. If you call them and ask, for an extra fee of $3.00 you are able able to pay one half when you receive the bill and the other half months later (maybe four months, can't remember how many months later). My entire community of 300 homes uses Citizens. When the hurricane hit us in 2005 we had to get a new roof. After the deductible which is a perentage of the worth of the house, we got a check for $4,971.00. When it was realized the roof would cost more I just resubmitted what the extra was and I got another check for $2,500. Citizen's did not argue with me, did not try to get away with anything - So much for all the bad I have heard about Citizens. The only reason it took awhile for the case to settle is because there was so much damage in Deerfield and surrounding areas.

My email is I.Skoorka@att.net. I seem to have problems figuring out how to reply to someone once I have sent my thoughts - just as I have to you.

[sunrico90]

Originally Posted by djrman

Hello. How is everyone doing? Well I hope. I have been reading these boards and figured it couldn't hurt to join. I'm currently residing in Northern New Jersey. I plan on relocating to Florida as soon as my lease is up. My wife and I are thinking of moving to Saint Petersburg, Tampa or West Palm. We plan on renting for several months before we make the move to purchasing a home. The thing is, there's so much info out there, it's somewhat overwhelming. I mean, I'm somewhat concerned of taxes, insurance, flood zones, etc. I hear Tampa is through the rough in these areas. West Palm is good for jobs, but purchasing a home on $75,000 combined income might be a strech. Plus taxes, insurance are also high. Saint Petersburg, I've heard mixed results. Does that area have to have Citizens insurance? Is there another carrier in Pinellas? I've also heard that taxes are going through the roof. I need serious advice. I would appreciate any feedback.

Thanks again.

Danny

Welcome to the Forum. Got a question, How bad is the crime in NJ? If you can post on the tread called "What has happened to Miami?.

Let’s dissect your questions:

Thinking of moving to Saint Petersburg, Tampa or West Palm: ST. P. & Tampa very similar, West Palm is not the same. Advise, make a decision on how much money you can afford. Not what you want, but realistically what you can afford. Contact a realtor and let him/her know of what you want and your bottom line max that you can afford. Go visit the area and stay within your limits. Lots of on-line services, check sell by owner.

I'm somewhat concerned of taxes, insurance, flood zones, etc: Evaluate the area tax rate, ask the realtor for a no-flood zone. Lots of tools in the web, insurance will depend on the area and previous hurricane hit rate. Evaluate the job market, also compare North Florida. Why, if you can make the same income and pay less for your home, cheaper taxes, might be worth exploring an alternative.

Does that area have to have Citizens insurance? For some areas Citizens is it, but I read some positive post. Therefore, is not all bad. I know that the Jupiter area (North of West Palm) got hit with a whopping $6K for insurance. My area I’m paying $1,200 of insurance for a $250K home. So evaluate the area.

Bottom line, research, evaluate, and make a decision that you can live with. Florida is a great state and great people are all over.