[SleepingDragon]

Hello to all. I have enjoyed reading this forum and appreciate all of the helpful information. I am preparing to escape from horrible Maryland and join y'all in the Sunshine State! Those of you having trouble selling your homes in Florida, take heart as a mass exodus from looming abject poverty is at hand and headed your way. The decline in property values and glut on the market here is just in it's beginning stages but the difference here is that even a nominal "starter home" costs upwards of $350,000! In MD and DE, they have just raised the cost of gas and electric by 70% as well, throw in the cost of gas and 16 straight interest rate increases and a good many of us are cooked. (Hat tip to YOU, Mr. Greenspan! What were you thinking???? )

Will the last family out of the D.C. corridor please turn off the lights, LOL!

[Jammie]

Wow, 16 interest rate increases? Are you serious? Well, you may have expensive living in Fla, too, but at least you'll be warm.

[iamcrzymom]

We welcome you with open arms! [CUT]

[SleepingDragon]

Jammie, those mtg. and credit card rate increases hit you guys too, but for
many of us it is a $2500 mortgage payment v/s a $900 mtg payment down
there for the same or a BETTER property! It is a catch 22 as I make a living with my craft stand at fairs and festivals. (also Real Estate, can't cha tell? ) In addition to ever higher costs of living, the show revenues are declining respectively. We also have a different demographic with fixed residents v/s tourists and snowbirds + there are few show opportunities in the winter months here. I am so "pumped" and excited to be coming down! My son and his family live in St. Pete.

Crazy mom, is your home in or near Homosassa? Citrus County has stolen my heart

[iamcrzymom]

Nope sorry I'm in Palm Beach County, although if you do craft fairs you might be familiar with the South Florida Fairgrounds. We are close to that. St. Pete is very nice, I've been there a couple of times!

On another note, any idea why the edited my previous post? Seems a little odd for a statement which was purely comical....

[SleepingDragon]

Crazy Mom, prolly was over the house mention.
Actually I'll be a full-time RVer 'til my husband can come down, anyway.
Any other full timers on the board?

[sami]

I said this on other threads, but I will repeat: A good/great place is one you can afford AND want to live there. Also, you will not leave unless pushed out by force (economically or otherwise). The good points for most people in Florida are the weather, plenty of things to do, cheaper houses than the northeast, and just the Florida lifestyle. Yes we have city, country, suburban, rural...... There is a lot to choose from......................The bad points that you may or may not know are hurricanes (and how to be prepared), HIGH property insurance, not so cheap utilities (they were raised here too), and mostly cheaper salaries. However, the more skilled you are, the better. Simply put, check out everything: forums, weather sites, city and town sites (many tell you all about the area), apartments for rent and homes for sale sites, etc. Talk to different real estate people, people who live or have lived in Florida recently. I am from NJ--hi neighbor--and both up North and down here in sunny Florida have good and bad points. However, if you can get a good job, the total cost of living IS cheaper. Just check out car insurance, no state income tax, homestead exemptions, etc. Make sure you want to try living here.....and give it your best shot. You may like it. You may LOVE it!

[Muggy]

Originally Posted by SleepingDragon

looming abject poverty...

The abject poverty in Florida isn't looming.

[SleepingDragon]

Originally Posted by Muggy

The abject poverty in Florida isn't looming.

LOL!

I am a "tropical" gal stuck in the military hell of this place (too close to Dee Cee and a gazillion other targets like the Naval Academy) Cannot wait to get away from here. When the plane hit the Pentagon, it was a wake up call. The weather some days has been hotter than you have and it's equally muggy too. I have been telling ppl, am moving to FL for it's cooler climate! heehee So, well it may be better, hopefully not worse but definetely different. I like snow but with global warming it has pretty much discontinued to snow here so no reason to put up with nasty-winter time-nonsnow-rainy-gloom anymore.
Aside from real estate, I primarily make a living as a crafter at fairs and festivals. There is an awesome array of events going on year round in your state. I also have 20+ years in the hospitality industry. Am moving to
Florida as my job skills fit so much better. You have a completely different demographic than MD. Our craft shows fizzle out after fall and what few there are have really gone down hill recently. I ~love~ Florida anyway, always have and my son and his family live there as well, that's the BIG bonus.
See ya'll next week!!... :::: buh-bye State from hell ::: LOL!!

[2fla]

I will soon be escaping the mid-Atlantic area (Virginia Beach) too. This is something we've wanted to do for many, many years and we're finally in a position to make the dream come true. We're been working for months to get our house "show-ready" and will be putting it on the market over the Labor Day weekend. Since it's a beach house, I think it will sell quicker than most. Actually, some neighbors who are currently renting in our neighborhood have said they're really interested so I may not even have to list it. (wouldn't that be great?!)

We plan on moving to SW Florida. Had researched Cape Coral but have backed away from that plan because of the mess with the utilities and rapid growth. Now we're looking at the Rotonda West, Englewood, Punta Gorda area. I'm really hoping for the transition to be complete before the first frost.