[JimMe]

I remeber reading a while back that Florida was gaining population at the rate of about 6000 a week. Is that still the case or have hurricanes and out-of-control home owner's insurance and the souring of the housing market dampened the in migration?

[FLANATIVE1]

There has definately been a "dampening" of the migration. In 2005, Lee County would see over 600 single family home permits issued. In April we saw 300 permits pulled (and that was 15% more than March). I should add that this was unincorporated Lee County. Ft. Myers, Cape Coral, and Bonita are all seperated from each other and unfortunately I don't have the numbers from them. The Southeast coast, from what I've noticed, has been hit the hardest by exodus. Unfortunately they are all coming to Lee County to escape Miami/Ft. Lauderdale. We have real estate companies that deal specifically with people trying to escape South Florida. I would say it depends on the region of the state you are looking at, though no area is growing at the rate we saw in 2004-2005. Most growth is concentrated on the west coast from Tampa south, and on the east coast from WPB north. Central Florida is also seeing growth as well.

[Dro420]

I still see new people coming in every once in a while, but what I'm seeing more and more is people leaving the state.

[chisoxfan]

I don't have the numbers in front of me, but one of the local papers recently had a page 1 story on the population changes in Broward -- if not for the influx of immigrants, the population actually would have declined last year as people leave for less congested, less expensive areas.

[macguy]

Originally Posted by JimMe

I remeber reading a while back that Florida was gaining population at the rate of about 6000 a week. Is that still the case or have hurricanes and out-of-control home owner's insurance and the souring of the housing market dampened the in migration?

You are making the assumption everybody who comes here is looking to buy a house, most don't. In Fort Lauderdale 64% are renters, they don't care about insurance or taxes. It may effect what they have to pay to some degree but will not keep them away.

I know a lot of people who don't want to own anymore and that is after a lifetime of being home owners. They want to just live here and enjoy the place as long as they can make the nut. If you are on a pension you don't care about saving for the future or investing. If you break even each month life is good because you know that check will always be there.

[kort677]

Originally Posted by JimMe

I remeber reading a while back that Florida was gaining population at the rate of about 6000 a week. Is that still the case or have hurricanes and out-of-control home owner's insurance and the souring of the housing market dampened the in migration?

I don't have actual numbers but it seems like people are still coming to the JAX area in droves

[Chromedome]

its still increasing. nowhere near what it was a few years back tho. in my area anyway

[sunrico90]

Originally Posted by JimMe

I remeber reading a while back that Florida was gaining population at the rate of about 6000 a week. Is that still the case or have hurricanes and out-of-control home owner's insurance and the souring of the housing market dampened the in migration?

The migrant groups will relocate to parts of the state based on availability of work. Florida still is a magnet for many to try to find jobs and housing. The cost of housing will impair the homes sales, but many will rent and some get assistance from the employer and they provide the housing. In our area we have many due to the new construction that is on-going at Pcola, Fort Walton, Destin and Panama City.

Hurricanes are a source of income due to the recontruction efforts that will happen after disasters...