Where to move, Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, Fort Myers??

[movetoflorida]

Originally Posted by mrcoolmrcool28

To avoid this, you simply should not buy a house that you can't easily make the payments on. So many folks buy houses they can't afford or have done nothing to keep their payments low...rent and save save save, and then buy an affordable house and put a large downpayment on it. Way too many people want it now, and want it new, and want it big, without proper income.

Your right and I know this from learning the hard way as many Americans have. I have finally convinced my wife that we need to think "poor" in preparation for moving to Florida. Instead of: "do we have enough credit to buy this now?" our mentality is changing to: "do we really need that and we can't afford that right now" or "if we really want that we should save for it and buy it later". We are taking another 1-2 years preparing to move. I am working overtime in order to get debt free and plan on renting for a year when we get there. I will also have newer reliable vehicles paid for as well as personal and business assets. There are not only a lot of good deals for buying homes but for renting too. I am also looking at saving $5,000 or more in state tax alone with renting for a year in Florida (no real estate tax when renting in addition to no state income tax, property tax and business property tax). It is amazing when you calculate how much interest we pay on loans for that new stuff we need now too. Hmmm, not a bad business idea. If you have money, don't start a business, just invest in one that is already successful. I imagine that a lot of wealthy Americans are simply lenders instead of borrowers.