Georgia vs Texas vs Florida (real estate, foreclosed, HOA)

[Ericmrtt]

Currently live in Atlanta ,Georgia (Cobb County to be exact) for about 10 yrs. I found it to be more livable than New York but is there better? Traffic is bad, crime is bad (not too bad in Cobb, though), and I don't care what anybody says the south is cold! Just not as cold as the north and less snowy. And there is no indian summer here unless the rest of the eastern US is getting a indian summer. That is the reason I put Florida in there because I like warm weather. As for weather Texas is warmer than Georgia (I know when Texas gets cold it can get COLD!!! But in general it stays warmer and they actually do have indian summers in Texas). South GA has a warmer climate than N. GA but it seems like all the jobs are in Atlanta, the rest of GA is a collection of towns and small cities that I don't here anything particulary good about. Correct me if I'm wrong, though. I wouldn't mind life in a town away from the big city (less traffic and rat race is a good thing) as long as I can find a decent job, home, and not struggling with my bills. My question is quality of life, resonable cost of living, and my taste for warm weather would fit better in Florida or Texas.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by Ericmrtt

My question is quality of life, resonable cost of living, and my taste for warm weather would fit better in Florida or Texas.

Quality of life- Tie. Florida has an edge, it's major cities have less traffic and pollution than Texas cities.

Weather- Florida, it's humid, but not nearly as humid as east or south Texas. Both states are hurricane prone, and the sections that aren't get the most insane thunderstorms I have ever seen (and remember, I live in Florida!). Realize Texas is so climatically diverse ranging from bare-dry desert to temperature/almost Midwestern to almost Florida subtropical. I'll take Florida over any of Texas's climate zones.

Reasonable cost of living- Texas without a doubt. Florida and Texas are similar tax wise (both states have high prop. tax and no income tax), but Texas doesn't have the insane HOA costs, overvalued real estate, yet cities like Houston and Dallas has amazing job markets and affordable homes. Cities like Tampa and Miami don't have either.

For some reason, half of Florida seems to think of Atlanta as being "peaceful" and "safe", and decided to put their house on the market to move there (or North Carolina, or Tennessee, and many foreclosed and have to move there due to costs). Also many are moving for more relevant reasons, like the fact that they can't raise kids in Florida on 40 thousand a year, and can go make 60 thousand in Atlanta or Charlotte working the same job, paying less to live. Don't buy a home in Florida, you will LOSE!!!

[ryneone]

Lets see

ill put who has the worst.

Humidity FL
Traffic TX
Hurricanes FL (twice as many an only coastal Texans have to worry)
Job Market FL (remember it who has the worst)
Annoying Snowbirds Tie (Texas is really starting to pack them in)
Quality of Life Tie (Depends what you want)

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by ryneone

Job Market FL (remember it who has the worst)

Excuse me? Houston is second to NYC is number of Fortune 500 companies headquartered there, a real economic powerhouse. Dallas is another powerhouse (but for whatever reason I can't stand Dallas).

[ryneone]

That is why i said Fl has the worst job market.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by ryneone

That is why i said Fl has the worst job market.

I apologize, I misunderstood, I thought you were suggesting it was better and then I read the top.