Real estate agents on this board are LYING about FL!!

[Nomoresubways]

Dude I have to totally disagree with only one point you made.

"The housing in the north is much more bang for your buck at present."

NO WAY

I just bought a house down there that is over 200k less then the house I'm selling in NY. I am getting 600 more square feet in living space, ceramic tile in most of the house (i have some hardwood but mostly carpet), the Kitchen is at least $3,000 more in real value, there is pre-wiring for surround sound in 3 rooms, built-in security, came with landscaping all done including sprinkler system (my new construction in NY included lame grass seed and 4 decrepid lilic bushes). All the fixtures (lights and plumbing) are upgrades compared to the standard brass crap fixtures these cookie cutter monstrosities usually incorporate. Came with garage door openers (again notta with this house), refrigerator (nice one at that), network cabling in every room (that is a big deal, trust me I'm a computer geek). I could keep going but I'm hoping you get my point. The bang for buck factor (including HOI, property taxes and HOA) is MUCH better in Florida for me than New York. I can prove that right here and now for you.

[Christian11]

Originally Posted by fooserjeff

Christian11......wellstated.

If you have a nestegg or can make money wherever you reside then go someplace more original than florida. Bugs are terrible, heat is real-see above, florida humidity cold is as cold as most places (not as regular).

Real estate sucks worse than the last post time frame. Foreclosure rate is off the chart due to over-inflated housing market. You will live in a box with sub-standard construction instead of the well built home you probably have in the north. On a positive note....we have had no hurricanes rip our homes apart this yea...yet (4 last yer). Crime rates are available on the web and are rising as should be expected because of the nice weather sometimes offered in florida. Florida is the lightning capitol of the U.S. , that means real nasty thunderstorms(everyday in summertime) that drive up insurance rates (along with the stuff you need for hurricane coverage). No-fault car insurance. (1 out of 5 floridian drivers don't have insurance). Tourist driving styles and local driving styles make for steady gridlock. The housing in the north is much more bang for your buck at present. If you scream when you see a cockroach you need not read any further. I am a 50 year old native(same mayberrish town) and have heard too many individuals complain about unfilled expectations (horror stories). The wealthy people that can afford to live in the nice places already are.....they're "taken", however if you want to stake a claim-howdy neighbor.

Fooserjeff, your insight is welcome. The humidity makes it feel colder and hotter than it auctually is. Unlike the dry Western US, FL has a humidity in the 80% - 100% range everyday. My sister in law from Ohio was freezing down here last March (compared to the OH snow and all). She said the cold was "seeping under her jacket".

The insurance thing is a mess. Car insurance rates are going way up too. Make sure you out-of-state folks call your insurer and get some quotes based on some address, just so you can get the feel. My mom moved from FL to Indiana and her insurance droped $600 a year with a much better coverage.

"No-Fault", to those who don't know mean that no party is ever considered "at fault" for the accident. For example, let's say you are driving your car and some drunken driver hits you. Even though you have done nothing wrong, because FL is a "no-fault" state, you will get your insurance rates raised anyway. The other guy doesn't pay for the bodily injury... your own insurance does. Google "FL No Fault law" and learn before you leap down here.

Knowledge is power, remember that! It is cliche, but it's true.

Chris

[Christian11]

Here is some FL-No fault info.

No-fault law was intended to help avoid lawsuits. Persons injured in vehicular accidents would be directly compensated by their own insurer, even if the injured party was at fault.

This seems nice, right? Well, it SEEMS like it, but it sucks.

If you are not at fault and your own insurance company has to reply your medical bills, then your own insurance had a loss, therefore the insurance company will want to raise your rates!

That is when Floridians get into wreck and are not injured, they don;t wnat to report to their own insurance companies, because their rates will go up.

It is a bad system. It is only good for the insurance companies. They lobbied the FL legislature to get this measure in.

[Nomoresubways]

Christian, just a little fyi but NY is also a "No-fault" state. We totally no what you're talking about.

[scamutz]

Originally Posted by Chicken Wing

And, I live in New Jersey and we have the highest real estate taxes in the whole country, with beaches that aren't as nice, I might add.

Yes, but you've got Taylor Ham....that goes a long way!

[kimwick]

I voted I was loosing my home to high insurance. I'm not really loosing my home but my insurance rates have went up 248% if I ever loose my job there is no way we could afford it. Our home insurance is much higher than our mort. each month. It gets me so mad something is not done.

[dreamofmonterey]

Originally Posted by Christian11

Folks:

This is a warning from a 10-year Florida resident: REAL ESTATE FOLKS ARE LYING ABOUT FLORIDA TO ATTRACT PEOPLE TO COME AND BUY. You have been warned.

The real estate market in FL is in a slump in terms of large inventory and very low sales and the real estate agents are trying to atract suckers down here.

Please do some research and learn for yourself! Here is my ten cents on FL after 10 years (copied from my other thread):

Since FL is becoming Southern California (and we are begining to see signs of that with skyrocketing violent crime, 42 muders in Orlando this year alone (2006), high home prices, absurd insurance costs, massive traffic jams and road rage, wages that are not keeping up with cost of living), then why stay or move here?

If you are moving or staying here for the "nice weather", yeah, you will enjoy it from Early-Dec to Mid-April. Dec - April is WONDERFUL in Central FL, but the rest of the year sucks. The rest of the year is 90 - 100 degrees every day. Don't believe me, ask around. If you are from like Phoenix or south Texas, yeah, FL weather will feel like home, except it is humid as heck.

Humidity is usually no less than 90% almost every day, so you sweat like an animal. It starts off at 75 degrees around 7:30am and it goes up to the sky from there. Usually the highs are in the 90s, but with the humidity (heat index) is around 101... I have seen it go up to 110 degrees! Nights are not too bad... except the humidity keeps the temp on the upper 80s and low 90's. Oh, don't forget the rain from May - Sept, which is twice a day (usually from 10am - 11am and from 3pm-4pm). That will get annoying too... folks drive at 5 MPH when it rains... you will love it.

Interstate 4 (I-4) will be your best friend! You will spend lots and lots of time stuck in traffic on I-4. Oh and if you get hit by one of our thousands of illegal aliens with no license, no insurance, they will bolt on you, so make sure you get the guy's plate #, if you can. My wife works Personal Injury and it happens all the time. Too often... Americans are dumb and refuse to force the government to enforce Immigration laws. Corporations will love the "guest worker" amnesty. So will the illegals, who steal people's identity, rip-off welfare and overuse our public services. Not to mention the heinous crimes the illegals commit. Anyways...

I know, you say "I prefer that than to deal with the crazy heat than snow 3 months of the year". We will see about that when you begin complaining about the heat every single day and night, sweating and getting angry at people on the streets cause of the heat. Think Orlando hit #1 of America's angriest cities for no reason?

[mod url cut [/mod]

Believe it not, but Orlando has been voted the US angriest city by Men’s Health Magazine – it’s interesting that four of the top 10 cities are all in Florida, and here’s you, thinking that Florida was full of jolly Disney characters and thrilling theme parks! Oh, the illegal aliens are great too. Nobody speaks English and they sell crack near public schools. It is lovely.

Good luck moving down here Moderator cut: cut I hope you will all enjoy it. I am out of FL March 2007! 10 years in Orlando is long enough, I am tired of it. Had a house, sold a house, rented an apt, worked, gone to Disney (twice), gone to the beach a few times... time 2 go! Thank God we are moving!

Do some serious research and see what the Florida reality is like. Do it BEFORE you move down here. Homes are very expensive, so is insurance, property taxes, and rent is outrageous. Wages are not keeping up with the cost of living. Not even close. My wife got a $3,000 raise last year, but it got sucked up by the rent increase and costs of renter's insurance. Car insurance went up too (no accidents and no tickets in last 6 years - what gives?). If you think it is the sugar-coated Disney and International Drive dream is the reality in Central Florida, you will wake up on day to regret it.

If you like all this crap, Florida, here you come and here I leave! WHOOOOHOOOO!

Chris

I agree with alot of what you wrote- My husband's cousin paid 750k for a new house in Orlando and the market took a dive this year----I had a great house in Boca- cashed out- the job issue was THE worst- it is like the great hidden secret of south florida- it may be different on the gulf coast, but unless someone is retired and living on the beach- I would not recommend moving there!

Sincerely,
sunny

[Christian11]

Originally Posted by sunnyhelena

I agree with alot of what you wrote- My husband's cousin paid 750k for a new house in Orlando and the market took a dive this year----I had a great house in Boca- cashed out- the job issue was THE worst- it is like the great hidden secret of south florida- it may be different on the gulf coast, but unless someone is retired and living on the beach- I would not recommend moving there!

Sincerely,
sunny

OMG $750k house??! Oh wow, this dude is toast! I cannot even imagine his insurance and taxes!! Yikes!!!

Good luck to you folks moving down to South and Central Fla!! LOL

[dreamofmonterey]

Originally Posted by Christian11

OMG $750k house??! Oh wow, this dude is toast! I cannot even imagine his insurance and taxes!! Yikes!!!

Good luck to you folks moving down to South and Central Fla!! LOL

It is my husbands cousin and we were just talking about him-my husband said he moved from LI bought that big house to "impress" his mother-lol- also his wife- Chara- has relatives still in P.R. so I guess he had to move closer-lol- He was injured from the LIRR and got a big settlement- but still- he complains 24/7 about his neighbors, etc;

Thanks for making me laugh-

sunny