Theory about those who dislike Florida (Miami, Tampa: real estate, housing, rent)

[oceandreams94]

Originally Posted by established

There are some things I haven't brought to light about being a long term resident in Fl.

A few years ago, I was watching TV and hear this 'bomb' sound go off. I went outside, circled my home, found a 2" rock lying underneath a bathroom window that tore the screen, but did not break that window, Unnerved, I called 911 requesting an officer out. Was told "to report it to my ins co". Yeah, right. What about requesting an officer here to catch what have might been a person moving on trying to break another dozens of windows. AND, I had not, nor would have reported that to my homeowners, to be dropped. My homeowners ins has doubled twice in the last 3 yrs, as many other's have.

And a poster here bitched about police officers putting their life on the line? Raking in double tripple funds? LOL, too chicken **** to follow up on vandals? Pathetic! They all but admit their JOB is to ticket innocent people for a traffic infraction (that, BTW was nearly $300 2 decades ago, while some northern states were charged $75 for a speeding ticket). There are SWAT teams for that, which more of our tax dollars 'support', why dont' THEY stop the drugs?

Fl just had a 'storm' come through. For those who have lived here long term, it is a 'rain'. The idiots on TV whipped out their 'classes' on hurricane preparedness. And notoriously, these lecture show, over and over, HOME DEPOT. Home depot should be as rich as the pope on playing on ignorant out of staters. We had a f'n low pressure rain storm!!! Normal weather (but welcomed). Then they ***** about northerners not taking hurricanes seriously. Let me tell you people, if a cat 3,4,or 5 hits us, no amount of supplies, plywood, etc., could help.

Florida has been sucked, used, manipulated until I could puke.

And on crime. I lived in an area, with many suspicous activites that might have saved me had it not been for my doberman(s). Local news? NEVER reported 6 women murdered (one stuffed down a sewage drain) within a -1 mile radius of my home. I learned that from an out of town newspaper. GOTTA keep the tourism (dollars) coming in.

STAY the hell out of Fl unless you like bending over!

What area did you live in where there was a woman stuffed down a sewer drain??!! I will steer clear of that area!!

[macguy]

Originally Posted by 121804

Then why are you still here? It isn't like all of what you have mentioned happened overnight. You could have left if you are/were so miserable. It's not impossible if one gets off the soapbox, dries up the tears, & does something productive to make their life more productive.

And have you done anything publicly to help all the situations you mention?

It did happen almost over night. The taxes and insurance rates came like a punch in the stomach. People who had lived here for a while and decided to sell their houses and move got caught in this mess with a house they can't sell. The crowding did come pretty fast. The change in only ten years was unbelievable.

Many people who have left or are planing to leave if you told them they would be doing this just a few years ago would have said you were nuts. People leaving jobs they have had for years or closing businesses they have had that no longer will even support them. If you told me a few years ago I would sell my house to a developer and watch it bulldozed I would have told you no way.

Yes, for many it did change over night and not for the better. People don't pick up and make these kinds of changes in their lives for no reason. A lot of the unhappy people have plenty to be unhappy about.

[121804]

Originally Posted by macguy

The change in only ten years was unbelievable.

That is a long time, though. But I understand it wasn't easily laid out for residents to "see".

I see what you are saying & am not going to challenge you on those specific points b/c I have not been here for years & from what I have heard & read since being here, there is a lot of unjust things that have happened. But, life is life & it happens fast sometimes. IMO, there are valid points & things that are "blame everyone else".

My husband & I are coming from a lifestyle where there is no forewarning & we have just been programmed to roll with the punches. I could lay out our laundry list of issues, but no one is going to clean the things up except us. Truthfully, I think there are a lot of worse things in life that could be happening. If people are so unhappy with their civil servants, they need to do something positive to make a change. But, it is easier to complain than do something b/c that takes time & effort.

Just my opinion.

[Angelstar490]

I have been to various parts of Florida and have not really liked any of them. Recently I went to the Panhandle area and I loved it! To me it was more like the South than the rest of Florida, nice, friendly people, beautiful beaches and not all developed like the Tampa, etc. areas. I also like St. Augustine alot. I lived in California for 17 years, not LA but the northern parts.

[HockeyMom72]

Originally Posted by Angelstar490

I have been to various parts of Florida and have not really liked any of them. Recently I went to the Panhandle area and I loved it! To me it was more like the South than the rest of Florida, nice, friendly people, beautiful beaches and not all developed like the Tampa, etc. areas. I also like St. Augustine alot. I lived in California for 17 years, not LA but the northern parts.

If I could move any where in the country, it would be N. Ca. Beautiful, but unfortunately, way too expensive.

[dreamofmonterey]

Originally Posted by VAFury

Actually I think you're wrong.... That's just the thing about TN, NC and WV is that they HAVEN'T been going down hill over the last 30 years. You sound old enough, do you not remember the horrible stigmas and stereotypes of these three states??? They were earned reputation in many ways. Now they have actually gone UPhill in the last 30 years economically, educationally (though that's not saying much), and socially.

Now the whole thing is that I don't see it being too long before TN, and NC go over the peak and down the other side because they've been discovered.... I think WV still has a way to go to still improve before it sees any peak. That's why I've recommended before that WV is the place to get in on now (for those looking to re-locate) because land is still extraordinarily cheap and it's only a matter of time before people figure it out......

It is amusing that people who lived in Florida and simply state their experiences are denoted as drama queens. Tennessee is not perfect but it is not "going downhill". I for one find it a healthy, normal atmosphere with good schools, clean land and polite people. That vanished from S. Florida a long time ago. If you dont believe it take a jaunt into the Home Depot at Oakland Park , or talk to the homeless lying in 99 degree heat on Broward Boulevard, These are facts.


sunny

[macguy]

Originally Posted by 121804

That is a long time, though. But I understand it wasn't easily laid out for residents to "see".

I see what you are saying & am not going to challenge you on those specific points b/c I have not been here for years & from what I have heard & read since being here, there is a lot of unjust things that have happened. But, life is life & it happens fast sometimes. IMO, there are valid points & things that are "blame everyone else".

My husband & I are coming from a lifestyle where there is no forewarning & we have just been programmed to roll with the punches. I could lay out our laundry list of issues, but no one is going to clean the things up except us. Truthfully, I think there are a lot of worse things in life that could be happening. If people are so unhappy with their civil servants, they need to do something positive to make a change. But, it is easier to complain than do something b/c that takes time & effort.

Just my opinion.

The worst and most recent the taxes and insurance issues only happened in two years. My home insurance went from $1700 to $7200 in 12 months.

[121804]

Originally Posted by macguy

The worst and most recent the taxes and insurance issues only happened in two years. My home insurance went from $1700 to $7200 in 12 months.

There is valid & then there is plain complaining & rock throwing that has no purpose. There is also A LOT of overgeneralization. I know this is a public forum & I am just the type of person who lacks patience for complainers & overgeneralizations.

The HOI & prop tax in FL is in a sad state in many if not almost all of the the counties. That issue is one that deserves its own subforum it is so complicated & political. Hopefully, some sense will come of it all in the near future.

[INeedAChange]

you won't find any large metro area in the country that has this anymore

Originally Posted by sunnyhelena

I for one find it a healthy, normal atmosphere with good schools, clean land and polite people. That vanished from S. Florida a long time ago.
sunny

[chisoxfan]

The previous post is on target. South Florida is a metro area of 5 million people when Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties are lumped together, as I believe the statistical bureau now does. That puts South Florida behind the "Big Three" metro areas (New York, L.A., Chicago) in population and in the same league as Boston, Philly, Washington, D.C., Detroit, Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and the San Francisco Bay area. All of these areas have major urban problems. "Mayberry" left and went away from all these places a long time ago, and South Florida is no different.