[sergio]

Originally Posted by Dee2e

I couldn't have said it better!!! I'm sick of people trashing our state. If you don't like it, leave. We're glad you're gone because it's one less complainer and moaner to deal with! I hope you enjoy your cold, snowy winter while we are basking in the sunshine on the beach!

If your sick of all the people trashing your state, doesnt that tell you there is a problem. I didnt like it and I did leave and I didnt need narrow minded people like you to tell me to do it. I just needed people like you living around me to make me decide to do it. Enjoy your sunshine. I will enjoy my low cost of living, nice people, cheaper gas, cheaper homes, insurance and hurricane-less summers.

I know that sunshine isnt worth all that too me. You can keep it.

[sergio]

Still have doubts? Read the Time Magazine article about your paradise:

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/ar...561128,00.html

[tallrick]

Please don't take the bubble money from Miami and overpay for your homes elsewhere. Be a good sunbird and show that those of us leaving Florida are the good guys. This way we can make room for the corrupt dirtbags to live in south Florida and be in the path of the next big wind. As long as they don't follow you to your new homes the good life will last.

[dreamofmonterey]

Originally Posted by NYLATINQT

What the heck is happening to America? Everybody is trying to do the state hop song & dance in hopes of finding affordability. It seems like everywhere has gotten too expensive for the average middle class family. I moved from NY to Florida to GA. How many times do we have to relocate just to survive? I think it's ridiculous and not to get political, but something has to give. What happened to the American dream?

The American Dream - here's a start-No $500.00 per month electric bills. With TVA my electric is $60.00, and I live in a city, with a few acres. My property tax is 1/10 of what it was in So Florida. That's a good start!. I am not living to pay off banks and utility companies.

[lindalu]

Well we have seen home prices go down but it is still not enough to help those with lower paying jobs. Our family has lived here for thirty years. My parents own their home but want to retire but with their property taxes being $5,000 a year and insurance $3000 they need to work. $700 a month is a lot of money for those on a fixed income, just for taxes and insurance. And their taxes are based on their home they purchased before the big real estate boom. A $200,000 condo will have condo fees, taxes and insurance so I do not think that is cheap for the wage we earn here. My home was purchased before the boom too and I thought it was alot of money. Now with taxes and insurance going up, it is getting bad.Also its gone down hill here. As a 30 year resident, i have seen the changes here. Alot more crime and bad neighborhoods have sprouted recently.

[Floridasunshine]

I love Florida, will never leave, no where is going to be better, or warmer.
I hope you all find what you are looking for, one week of vacation in cold I am ready to come home. I have been here 40 yrs, own a home now for 15mos, struggled to live here. but will never leave.
There is no paradise anywhere, look at your situation go where you have to.

[miper70]

I've been here my whole life also and with the rising costs, we're ready to leave. We have nothing left over anymore....can't even save a penny because everything's going up, up, up......everything except our pay that is. Florida is nice, but it's not this nice. Give me a small house in Tennessee and I will be a happy camper.
My Dad, who has also been here his whole life and is ready to retire, also has to keep working because of hte rising costs......sad world when your seniors have to work until the day they die.

[vpcats]

Well, I'm not reading through all 15 pages here because I assume it's a lot of the same over and over comments.
My question is.... if you can't afford to live in Florida and are moving to find cheaper housing, cheaper utilities, more land, less traffic, less crime, etc.,
if you have to work in the new place, how do find a job? Take any job or move only after you have a job? Will the salary there allow you to live any better off? If cost of living is so much lower, won't the salaries also be so much lower so you're really just back in the same boat and therefore will be just as miserable there as you were here?

[MotleyCrew]

We will probably never even get to enjoy living in FL which was a dream of ours. We did find a great place in AZ and since you all are used to the heat, come on over. You can google www.vistancia.com or if you are over 55, www.trilogy.com. Our airconditioning bill last summer was around $200 the highest. Heat bill is nothing. Peoria has to be one of the cleanest cities we found in our search. We have a 2,064 sq. ft home, new build and the insurance is $2,100 a year, homeowners, $500 a year. We have met a few floridians here. In Vistancia, we have many builders building homes so you don't have the same old look everywhere. We have a millionairs row with its own private golf course and award winning clubhouse/ restaurant right up the street. Across from us is Trilogy's golf course and restuarant which we use frequently. We have lit/ paved walking trails, 3 pools, tennis and a gym and our HOA fee is only a whopping $75 a month. You would all be most welcome.

[MB2]

Originally Posted by Need_affordable_home

I too am leaving Florida for the reasons you mentioned. Even if I had the money to stay in Florida, why would I? The costs arent worth it and I can live a much better life elsewhere.

That exactly IS the reason for us to move away, ASAP. My husband and I COULD stay and keep on paying those inflated prices, but, we are not WILLING to do that anymore. Good luck to all.