[firemed]

Originally Posted by justin3079

If any body thinks Florida is special there wrong. I was born here and this state has went to crap. The schools suck, the housing is high ,the economy sucks, there is no jobs, the taxes are high, theres no seasons, and we keep moving imigrants right in to florida. There is plenty of land in florida (look around) we are in a depression and it just started, get ready for it to get worst. My house is worth less than its original appraisal by 15000 dollars.

Yeah, Its Paradise!

[floridasandy]

Originally Posted by bmurphy

I mean no disrespect, because I know Florida is pretty hard to afford for a LOT of people now and I'm not saying you don't have a valid case.

Before the boom, Florida house prices were almost all sub $150k, it seems, unless you wanted a real mansion. Most places <$100k for a pretty nice house. This seems to have been as recently as 2002. Obviously, a lot of major areas weren't that cheap only 5 years ago.

With the boom, the prices are much higher, but most of the medians are along the national average. So, I know the boom is lamented and everyone says they cannot afford a home, but the prices are pretty much just caught up with the average now, right? I mean, most major areas don't have prices much lower then Florida anymore. It was bound to catch up sooner or later, being a desirable place.

So if you cannot afford a Florida home I take it you cannot afford a home in many places? Or is it the taxes and whatnot that make it the worst? Because it just doesn't seem that the Florida home prices are all that astronomical considering its "desirability". It's not anywhere near California prices and most major cities have similar pricing.

So is the argument that Florida is expensive and so are most places since the boom, or is the argument that Florida alone is too expensive? I'm just not comprehending. Please don't flame me. I'm honestly asking, since I have considered Florida, despite my disgust for insects and stickyness. Would northern coastal Florida be less humid and less suceptible to the natural disasters? Well, hate to get off topic...anyways, your thoughts?

i think the problem in florida is that for a lot of people florida was originally an inexpensive state to live in. i came from new jersey and taxes were a lot cheaper, as was insurance (and my car insurance was less than half). we were not prepared for this incredible jump in taxes and insurance. if you look on other chat boards there are problems across the country, both with jobs that do not pay well and housing. it is still cheaper for me to live in florida than new jersey, but it is disappointing to have the state do a turnaround so quickly. we would like some assurance that the spending in the state will slow down and insurance and taxes will get under control. i will certainly stay as long as i can afford it.