[Valentina25]

Whats the least expensive County to live in.....Florida that is....

[justNancy]

That's a very difficult question to answer. However, since I've done a lot of homework for the past 2 years, I can give you a general answer.

There are 67 counties in Florida. Wherever you find an affordable house and a good job will be the best one.

The counties along the panhandle generally have lower property taxes, if that's what you mean. Sales tax is 6% or 7% in most Florida counties. By law it has to be at least 6%.

Right now there are foreclosures everywhere, but the lowest priced newer homes I've found are in Cape Coral (Lee) North Port (Sarasota) and Port Saint Lucie (St Lucie) That doesn't mean they're not available in other areas of Florida.

Cheapest isn't always better. Affordable, friendly, safe, clean, good schools, low crime....those are just as important. If you need a job, then employment is important too!

If you asked "which is the most expensive" it would have been easier to answer. Miami-Dade.

[2goldens]

My guess:

The panhandle closer to tri-state areas would be higher standards, lower cost.

[Valentina25]

Originally Posted by justNancy

That's a very difficult question to answer. However, since I've done a lot of homework for the past 2 years, I can give you a general answer.

There are 67 counties in Florida. Wherever you find an affordable house and a good job will be the best one.

The counties along the panhandle generally have lower property taxes, if that's what you mean. Sales tax is 6% or 7% in most Florida counties. By law it has to be at least 6%.

Right now there are foreclosures everywhere, but the lowest priced newer homes I've found are in Cape Coral (Lee) North Port (Sarasota) and Port Saint Lucie (St Lucie) That doesn't mean they're not available in other areas of Florida.

Cheapest isn't always better. Affordable, friendly, safe, clean, good schools, low crime....those are just as important. If you need a job, then employment is important too!

If you asked "which is the most expensive" it would have been easier to answer. Miami-Dade.

Nice response...thanks!

[beachmouse]

My guess for overall cheapest would be one of the rural interior counties in the northern part of the state. For metro areas, the five lowest housing cost MSAs in the second quarter of 2009 were:

Fort Myers-Cape Coral- $87K
Punta Gorda- $109K
Ocala- $119K
Fort Pierce-PSL- $111K
Lakeland-Winter Haven- $115K

(Resales of single family homes; data from Florida Association of Realtors press release)

As for other costs, rural areas can frequently be just as expensive or more expensive than small metro areas where there are more businesses competing for customers. We paid more for groceries at Walmart in rural Tennessee than we did shopping at the allegedly expensive Albertson's and Publix when we moved to a bigger area in Florida. Utility and gas costs were no different there than in a bigger city.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by beachmouse

My guess for overall cheapest would be one of the rural interior counties in the northern part of the state. For metro areas, the five lowest housing cost MSAs in the second quarter of 2009 were:

Fort Myers-Cape Coral- $87K
Punta Gorda- $109K
Ocala- $119K
Fort Pierce-PSL- $111K
Lakeland-Winter Haven- $115K

(Resales of single family homes; data from Florida Association of Realtors press release)

As for other costs, rural areas can frequently be just as expensive or more expensive than small metro areas where there are more businesses competing for customers. We paid more for groceries at Walmart in rural Tennessee than we did shopping at the allegedly expensive Albertson's and Publix when we moved to a bigger area in Florida. Utility and gas costs were no different there than in a bigger city.

You are right about rural areas being more expensive - we paid more for groceries, etc. when we lived in the small town of Dade City than we pay here in "supposedly expensive" Sarasota/Bradenton. They don't sell enough volume in those smaller areas to make profit.

[mango23]

Originally Posted by Valentina25

Whats the least expensive County to live in.....Florida that is....

That is a subjective question, depends what you are looking for. A county that is cheap also doesn't have the dollars to provide services. You will find counties in Florida that have few police, no hospitals, maybe a volunteer fire department, no public water works or sewers and so on. If it's cheap there is a reason, you have to give up a few things.

[mango23]

Originally Posted by gypsychic

You are right about rural areas being more expensive - we paid more for groceries, etc. when we lived in the small town of Dade City than we pay here in "supposedly expensive" Sarasota/Bradenton. They don't sell enough volume in those smaller areas to make profit.

A lot to consider though. I pay around $1300.00 a year for water and garbage where I live in Fort Lauderdale. I was told my health Insurance would drop by 30% if I moved to north Florida, same with my car insurance. This is not just a guess, I asked when My agent was at the house and he ran the figures for me. Insurance would save me, $6000.00 alone if I made the move. Even if I had to make a small drive to a larger town it would be worth it.

My car that should get over 30 mpg averages like 21 because all I do is go from stop sign to stop sign and traffic light to traffic light. It takes me a half hour just to make a 2 mile round trip visit to my bank and forget it if I want to go across town. I think the few dollars more you may pay for some groceries are easily off set by the high cost of living in a place like Fort Lauderdale or Miami. I have to say, the insurance thing almost knocked me out of the chair when he gave me the figures.

I pay a lot of money to live a place I don't even want to be in anymore. I want some "Damn" space finally. Well, I am off again this weekend to the north to look around. I keep getting drawn to the north of Tallahassee to Liberty county around Bristol. Pretty rural and not for everybody but what I have been looking for for years. I don't need a job all I need is a post office, UPS and my home office and I can live pretty much anywhere.

[kshe95girl]

Originally Posted by beachmouse

My guess for overall cheapest would be one of the rural interior counties in the northern part of the state. For metro areas, the five lowest housing cost MSAs in the second quarter of 2009 were:

Fort Myers-Cape Coral- $87K
Punta Gorda- $109K
Ocala- $119K
Fort Pierce-PSL- $111K
Lakeland-Winter Haven- $115K

(Resales of single family homes; data from Florida Association of Realtors press release)

As for other costs, rural areas can frequently be just as expensive or more expensive than small metro areas where there are more businesses competing for customers. We paid more for groceries at Walmart in rural Tennessee than we did shopping at the allegedly expensive Albertson's and Publix when we moved to a bigger area in Florida. Utility and gas costs were no different there than in a bigger city.

Ocala has ridiculously low wages, 2nd highest unemployment in the state, COL is very high. Ocala Electric boasts the highest rates in the state.
The county commisioners just tried to jack up property taxes, which they backed off from, but they will try to do it again.....last but not least, the good ole boy network is still alive and well here.

[JeepGirl118]

Originally Posted by kshe95girl

Ocala Electric boasts the highest rates in the state.

Incorrect. Thought I would give you a heads up on Fort Meade. It's been all over the news the past couple months. Businesses have closed down due to it.

Fort Meade struggles with highest electric rates in Fl. - Bay News 9


St Lucie County has the 2nd highest unemployment rate in FL:

http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/realt...ounty-tops-10/
http://www.tcoasttalk.com/2009/07/30...port-st-lucie/