Port St. Lucie ?? (Fort Pierce: houses, unemployment, construction)

[stevep111]

I have shown that only a relatively small percentage of people travel as far as Palm Beach County for employment that live in PSL, and that the average commute time is about 25 minutes.

May be I misunderstood what he was saying but it sounded like he was saying the commute to Palm Beach county was 25 minutes.

[psouth]

Originally Posted by stevep111

I have shown that only a relatively small percentage of people travel as far as Palm Beach County for employment that live in PSL, and that the average commute time is about 25 minutes.

May be I misunderstood what he was saying but it sounded like he was saying the commute to Palm Beach county was 25 minutes.

A lot of people commute to Fort Pierce and Indiantown and other places besides Palm Beach County.

With a 25 minute commute I think they are referring to Stuart possibly. You can make it from Stuart to Northern Palm Beach County in about 30 minutes.

Jobs have gone fizzle with too much Chinese drywizzle in the pizzle.

[Js81]

Guys I have to side with our OP here a bit. I, too, have lived here in the Appalachian Mts. my whole life - I'm from east KY, right near the border of WV. I understand COMPLETELY wanting to leave and come to Florida - I'm in the same boat myself. After you've been here all your life, you just want out. I understand the job situation, but there are no jobs here (east KY or WV) either, unless you're a coal miner (I'm not and its sounds like our OP is not, either). So yeah, to us "poor life-long mountain folk" Florida does look a bit like the promised land... or at least something NEW and EXCITING. Those of you who've always been there (or at least have been there for years) don't see it the way we do...

[psouth]

Originally Posted by Js81

Guys I have to side with our OP here a bit. I, too, have lived here in the Appalachian Mts. my whole life - I'm from east KY, right near the border of WV. I understand COMPLETELY wanting to leave and come to Florida - I'm in the same boat myself. After you've been here all your life, you just want out. I understand the job situation, but there are no jobs here (east KY or WV) either, unless you're a coal miner (I'm not and its sounds like our OP is not, either). So yeah, to us "poor life-long mountain folk" Florida does look a bit like the promised land... or at least something NEW and EXCITING. Those of you who've always been there (or at least have been there for years) don't see it the way we do...

That is fully understandable. All I am saying is do not expect Florida to be a dream come true or Shangri-La. It is a very tough place also if you do not have a good job and plenty of money. The cost of living is extremely high in all aspects. Not like it used to be where anybody could get by on a lousy store job. There are much more affordable and better places to be than Florida. Maybe check out big cities in Texas or possibly Atlanta. Much lower cost of living with real jobs that do not exist in Florida.

[Js81]

Originally Posted by psouth

That is fully understandable. All I am saying is do not expect Florida to be a dream come true or Shangri-La. It is a very tough place also if you do not have a good job and plenty of money. The cost of living is extremely high in all aspects. Not like it used to be where anybody could get by on a lousy store job. There are much more affordable and better places to be than Florida. Maybe check out big cities in Texas or possibly Atlanta. Much lower cost of living with real jobs that do not exist in Florida.

I understand completely... I can't speak for the OP, but I've been doing my research. According to City-Data, the cost of living is pretty much equal in the areas I am considering. As for jobs, I'm a teacher, so that should be there (I know its down some right now - hiring freeze and all) and my wife's an R.N., so that's pretty safe, too. When the time comes, our destination will most likely be decided by where I can get a job - she should be able to just about anywhere.

Times have changed here, too... where we live in the mountains, there is very little good, (FLAT) property so housing and lands costs are OUTRAGEOUS - 1.5x the Kentucky average. I know that on both our salaries now with two modest cars and a modest house, we barely make it. I just finished my Master's, so I'll get a good raise next school year...

I'm ready for it - I'm researching... we'll be prepared when the time comes.

[LingLing]

Originally Posted by psouth

All I am saying is do not expect Florida to be a dream come true or Shangri-La.

If you are not into wildlife, Shangri-la is not as nice as PSL. I lived in Shangri-la for a very short period. I decide that PSL is a better place for me.

[stevep111]

There are plenty of jobs in PSL as long as you are willing to work. Now are these high paying jobs that you can make a carreer of? Some yes, some no. It is just like anywhere else. You check out the industies, find out if your job skills fit the market and if they do you go. If not you have three choices. Stay where you are, get a new skill set or move to where your skills will land you a job.

Isn't that a new hospital going in down by Tradition? (could be wrong) something is being built by the Home Depot (jobs there) The key is are you willing to work in an area that you would not normally go in order to survive until the economy gets back on track.

Speaking of wild life I see that our 4ft tall sword wielding Sand Hill Crane friends are back. They are not afraid to poke you if you get too close to one of their chicks so watch out.

[psouth]

Originally Posted by Js81

I understand completely... I can't speak for the OP, but I've been doing my research. According to City-Data, the cost of living is pretty much equal in the areas I am considering. As for jobs, I'm a teacher, so that should be there (I know its down some right now - hiring freeze and all) and my wife's an R.N., so that's pretty safe, too. When the time comes, our destination will most likely be decided by where I can get a job - she should be able to just about anywhere.

Times have changed here, too... where we live in the mountains, there is very little good, (FLAT) property so housing and lands costs are OUTRAGEOUS - 1.5x the Kentucky average. I know that on both our salaries now with two modest cars and a modest house, we barely make it. I just finished my Master's, so I'll get a good raise next school year...

I'm ready for it - I'm researching... we'll be prepared when the time comes.

It sounds like you have it all together since you both have two great careers going. The timing is bad right now in Florida with ground zero for the housing bust as well as teachers losing their jobs. Many teachers are moving to Texas for much higher salaries and because they are hiring. Dallas was the number 1 city last year in growth with over 160,000 people moving there. They need many more teachers and nurses to cover this population explosion. The cost of living is much lower as well. You can buy a very nice 3/2 home for well under $200K or even less. You still won't get much for that in a decent area with jobs here in Florida. You might get one in the high foreclosure areas but there are no jobs to be had either. The good areas are still expensive. By the way, Florida is losing population for the first time in its history also. That says something. It is tough going here. Lousy jobs and very expensive. Right now Port St. Lucie is cutting teacher and city jobs. It is only the beginning as more foreclosures hit.

I would not just move to Florida without a job first. If you can get jobs say in Texas or Georgia or elsewhere and then later on try to land a job in Florida before you move you might be better off. I would not believe all the data on here either or fall for the Florida paradise hype. If you can land a job first and do your homework on housing and other areas of Florida then I would say go for it. Right now I would go where the jobs are and money is.

[Js81]

Originally Posted by psouth

I would not just move to Florida without a job first.

We definitely won't be coming without jobs lined out first. Its not a "have to" move - its a want to. And obviously, we won't want to leave our long-time home where we have at least most everything we want to live like a pauper in Florida. We don't want it THAT bad... I'm hoping that in a couple years the job situation will straighten out some and I'll be able to find a teaching job - I don't think my wife will have a terribly hard time finding a job as an R.N., though. We don't plan on even trying this for at least two years, maybe three. Its just a dream - and we've talked about going "somewhere else" - no way. Its Florida or stay put. Hey, you gotta have a dream and a goal, right? And if the time's not right, we'll just wait here until it is.

[psouth]

Originally Posted by Js81

We definitely won't be coming without jobs lined out first. Its not a "have to" move - its a want to. And obviously, we won't want to leave our long-time home where we have at least most everything we want to live like a pauper in Florida. We don't want it THAT bad... I'm hoping that in a couple years the job situation will straighten out some and I'll be able to find a teaching job - I don't think my wife will have a terribly hard time finding a job as an R.N., though. We don't plan on even trying this for at least two years, maybe three. Its just a dream - and we've talked about going "somewhere else" - no way. Its Florida or stay put. Hey, you gotta have a dream and a goal, right? And if the time's not right, we'll just wait here until it is.

Sounds like a great plan to me. When the time comes I wish you the best and I'm sure it will all work out fine. There's nothing wrong with having realistic goals and dreams. I worry about the people moving to Florida who do not have any. They are the problem here.