[wsforchrist]

I am thinking of moving to Florida this summer and would like your opinion of the best place to live and work?

[Mikis]

It depends on how much you make? Do you have a wife or someone else to supplement an income? I ask because South Florida has become extremely expensive over the past few years.

If you want to buy a condo, your looking at $200,000 for a half way decent area. Want a townhouse; figure $280,000-$350,000. If you want a single family home, you better play for the Dolphins b/c they go for about $370,000 and up. The houses are expensive, but the property taxes and insurance are what kills you. I rent, so I dont have great figures, but I heard you can pay about $10K a year for both (someone else chime in if Im completely off, but I think thats about average).

Renting here is pretty pricy as well. I live in a relatively good and safe suburb of Ft lauderdale and my rent is $1400 a month for a 2/2.5 townhouse (not including cable, electricity). You can get a 1/1 apt. in my area for about $1,100. I know many places where you can find 1/1 apt's for $800-$900, but the area is not as safe.

The weather is great, except for the occasional hurricane.

There are a lot of jobs, but unfortunately people who are young and just entering the work force don't stand a chance on being able to afford the cost of living (unless they have a working spouse or live with parents).

There are a lot of nice places in Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties, and there are an equal amount of cess pools (like any metropolitan area) so do YOUR RESEARCH!!! A good way is visit the citie's POLICE DEPARTMENT'S website and see the current "news bulletins". If it's covered with shootings, burglaries and robberies, that should be a red flag. If the website stresses how to fill out an accident report....you do the math.

The trick is to do your homework.

[Need_affordable_home]

Originally Posted by wsforchrist

I am thinking of moving to Florida this summer and would like your opinion of the best place to live and work?

Youll need a 6 figure income to live a middle class life in south FL and high 5 figures for north FL. Jobs dont pay well and I cant even find a job to begin with. Houses, condos and rent is way too expensive and prices are going down. Me and everyone I know is leaving FL. Unless your rich, reconsider.

[Mikis]

Yeah, I'm one of the ones leaving within the next 12 months. I'd like to stay, but just can't do it. Live with increasing crime rate, awful public schools, and unaffordable housing...cant do it anymore.

[Need_affordable_home]

Originally Posted by Mikis

Yeah, I'm one of the ones leaving within the next 12 months. I'd like to stay, but just can't do it. Live with increasing crime rate, awful public schools, and unaffordable housing...cant do it anymore.

I cant wait to leave FL myself! Too much crime, too expensive, hate the heat and hurricanes, etc, etc.

[bmurphy]

I wouldn't worry about rich. Florida isn't anywhere near California priced. If this were a Cali thread people might say you need to be rich (which isn't even totally true, there's cheaper areas of Cali too).

You do NOT need to be rich to live in Florida. North Florida/the panhandle are much cheaper then the rest of it.

[Floridasunshine]

I live in Lakeland due to all the things you said. I discovered it 2 yrs ago after doing research on homes. I live in county of polk. My taxes are 17. while my neighbers in Hillsborough are paying 27. There is no traffic like Tampa, Beaches are 30 mins further but I got to beach only few times a year.

[tallrick]

You want to live in Florida? Start out somewhere else, then retire in Florida. Or better yet, stay in a state with better pay and less expenses, save up and come to Florida for vacation. I live 200 feet from the ocean and have not been boating in years. You'll spend your life working or inside with air conditioning. Last time I went to the beach and swam I was 10 years old. If you MUST live in Florida go inland. Stay away from refugee infested areas or you'll never have a decent career.

[RedWingsFan]

There is one "best place" because everyone has a different idea of what's the best or what's even good. It's all subjective. When you read these messages and get the "best" it's just that person's version of the best.

For example, I don't like Tampa or Orlando but I love the Daytona Beach area. So for me the Daytona area is the best. But someone else will find Tampa or Orlando to be the best.

It's what's best for you.

[MoveALot]

My husband is a native of FL and I lived there for 25 years and am thankful everyday that we finally got out. If you want to raise a family you should consider another state. There is way to much traffic, no road systems to speak of, very angry drivers everywhere and good luck getting someone to speak English to you if you are south of Orlando. Sure FL is good if you like 100 degree weather and humidity all the time. We moved to OH for 1 1/2 years and now live in central MO and love the people, traffic, weather, etc. I haven't had one person shot me a bird since I left FL or try to run me off the road because I was doing 65 in a 50 and they were doing 90. People are very edgy and they show their frustration on the road. We have visited FL 6 times since we moved to take our son to Disney and have decided that we will never be able to live there again. Our property taxes are 1/5th of what they were in FL and our insurance if 1/4th of FL. Do yourself a favor and take an extended vacation and drive the roads during your working hours. I think you might decide FL is not what is once was.