[Retiredcoach]

It has taken many years for my hometown, Pittsburgh, to stabilize somewhat in terms of the number of people living in the region. Pittsburgh lost many skilled, financially sound, educated, and young people to southern locales because of the better opportunities available. Population stability has been lost in Pittsburgh, until recently, with the loss of jobs associated either directly or indirectly with the steel industry. Fortunately, affordability and a more diversified economy have altered the immediate needs to relocate, but the city still needs to become better business friendly.

I see many parallels between the current Florida economy and the Pittsburgh of 25 years ago, with three marked exceptions. Florida is more of a melting pot of migration---- a significantly higher Hispanic population----- and, of course, an economy strongly based upon the benefits of its winter weather/tourism. The third being that Florida is virtually dependent upon other regions to sustain its fragile economy; it will live and die with tourism and construction.

Florida is/will be losing many of their young, educated, and ambitious citizens (those that generate a strong, financially stable economy) to areas that offer true opportunity and a livable wage. Even the retired northerner (the mainstay of past Florida) is much more restricted financially with the economic downturn that has lowered/eliminated the value of their retirement plans and home equity.

Who will be filling the many Florida homes available within the next ten years?

[hdfire]

Me!!!

[Dave_n_Tenn]

Florida is over populated... we actually need more to leave. It will reduce land and home values and make our northern visitors have more money to spend.

Tourism will always be a main-stay for Florida... and don't forget agriculture. The medical/bio industry looks bright, agriculture is continuing to grow, green energy looks good, aquaculture, eco-tourism as well.

Florida does not have an industrial base like Pittsburg had... were not in the rust belt... we are in the Sun belt and as long as we have warm weather, oceans, rivers, lakes, beaches, and a place to get bait... we'll be OK.

[verobeach]

Originally Posted by Dave_n_Tenn

We are in the Sun belt and as long as we have warm weather, oceans, rivers, lakes, beaches, and a place to get bait... we'll be OK.

This would make a great t-shirt! Well said. I'm told daily how lucky I am to be living in Florida by people who'd love to be able to chuck their unsalable home up north and come down here and pick up a bargain and a piece of the sun!

[TriMT7]

Maybe people like this couple, moving down from Boston?

http://www.city-data.com/forum/real-...good-move.html

Granted, they already bought in the area years ago, but I think people are overblowing the whole, "FLorida isn't the only retirement destination anymore."

Cause ya know what? You're right. It isn't. But there also have never been as MANY people about to retire as there is now (or soon) in the history of this country. There's more than enough people to go around, and quite frankly, it would be disastrous for Florida if they were ALL going to move here.

[FLBob]

Your context is a bit skewed... Florida has 3 port cities and has a strong import/export industry, Florida feeds the US, Florida leads the US in senior care, if you watch business news you may note that many of the pundits are speaking from Boca Raton and Naples, so there is a blossoming investment industry. Florida's economy is NOT just tourism.

The industry that got hit was the construction/ housing industry not so much the tourist industry. Tourism is still strong here in Florida. Seasonal residents are still coming to Florida and loving life here.

Florida has and will continue to attract people from all walks of life. There are areas where homes were built that have been historically less desirable. Price is driving the sale of these homes, and people are buying. Some are retirees, some are families. I think Florida will do just fine.

[crystalblue]

We may be like Cali. We will get more immigrants to make up for natives leaving.

http://www.census.gov/popest/countie...2008-04-12.xls

[faithfulFrank]

I do not see the sky falling. Although I'm very concerned about the practices of the current administration, I see the area where I bought to be turning around.

One 55+ community right up the road has seen it's choice of resales go down, and some prices are actually going up. People are buying.

Over 10,000 boomers are turning 60 everyday, and while many of them will stay where they are, or go to other states, some will go to Florida.

At least around our area, things do not look that bad....I'll be down there in May for the month, and will see then.

Frank D.

[runswithscissors]

I decided to move here in Nov 2007 when I took a package up North. I noticed that houses I liked in 2005 that were too high, at 220,000 for 800 sq feet in Tamarac (LOL) were down to 130 then within months to 100,000.

I had no intention of buying until next year....then Nov 2008 when Obama got elected and the bank crisis happened I bought a condo. While I was worried about my cash disappearing, my REAL concern was that Obama was going to flood the market with government money causing new (still unqualified) buyers and cause supply to go wacky. That may have been a premature fear LOL.

I think the value will go down some more BUT it was completely NEW from roof to floor and even wiring. A 1980's property built up to code now. People are buying in my neighborhood, and the supply is no greater than it was last year. There were 10 closings or so showing on Trulia for February.

I don't think there will ever be a shortage of people moving here. But I'm not so sure there will be enough people to actually BUY all those condos built out of greed during the bubble in certain areas. Then again they are getting lower and lower so owning a condo in Florida for 20,000 is something you can't resist if you live up North. Time will tell.

[Alatex]

Then again they are getting lower and lower so owning a condo in Florida for 20,000 is something you can't resist if you live up North. Time will tell.

It's even quite tempting to those of us living in the south, where a lot of us had dismissed Florida as too expensive years ago.