Moving to Tampa From the richest state CT where we are all poor! (Clearwater: mobile home, transfer)

[markhunt]

Originally Posted by susannorth

Hello, My husband and I are in our early 50's and he is planning to transfer from CT to Tampa. We are looking in the clearwater area because we have vacationed in the St Pete area for 10 years(parents had lived there). We own a home in CT and are planning to sell it to relocate. It is impossible for middle class people to live here anymore. Heating oil and gas prices combined make it so hard to do anything but work to maintain what we own. We are looking to downsize and we both will continue to work but would like to enjoy life after work. Here in CT with the winters it is nothing but cold and dark. We will leaving everyone here (family) 4 children (young adults) and elderly parents-but my husband feels it will be a better opportunity with his company and a better life. We will rent for about a year until we know which area we would settle in. I have been reading this forum to get as much info as possible and would appreciate any info as to which areas would be best for us. We would like to be close to beaches as we do bike, and are at least a little familiar with the clearwater, tampa and st pete areas. I am a nurse so I don't think I would have trouble finding a job. Husband's job will be in Tampa. Thanks for any info or advice on moving south! Susannorth

This is a thread from the CT forum which I frequent to get a taste of home until I can sell my house to go back.

List Of Things To Do and See in CT

I miss everything that is in this thread and more of CT. As you said CT is one of the most expensive states to live in, but in my opinion has a very high quality of life. I will gladly pay the high taxes again and deal with 3-4 months of winter.

[susannorth]

Loved the last two posts re moving to Tampa/Clearwater area. To the one moving back to CT. I agree with you about a lot of things inthe north. The problem with moving is that I don't hate CT and will miss the change of seasons.but...we are having the worse oil and gas crisis right now. It will cost at least five thousand dollars to heat the house and it's not that big for this season coming. Oil has doubled and people are really worried this time because jobs and stores are closing right and left here. It is the end of Aug and it is down to fifty degrees at night already. Summer is shorter and shorter and winter longer and longer. I am using the posts mainly to find a place to live that would suit us at this time in our life. Moving within CT is easy because you know the areas around here, and usually have become familiar with an area before you buy or rent. But moving out of State to unfamiliar areas is a little scary so the postings really help with info. I don't know how people moved thousands of miles away before the internet! My husbands company is all over the US so when this opportunity came up for a move to the Tampa office we decided to take a chance. Grateful for all the advice on areas. Good luck on your move to CT, I'm sure you'll be fine. Meanwhile I'll keep reading and hope to find what we are looking for in FL -mainly sunshine!!

[susannorth]

thanks to you for input. may need your help soon!

[Erick F]

HI ,
We moved here ( Clearwater-Palm Harbor) from CT , six years ago. Love it and glad about no snow and ice and bleakness.

[susannorth]

Thanks for input, we live in North Haven and would like to rent something on the water or close enough to bike or walk for about a year. We are familiar with Madeira(spelling?) Beach areas, anywhere all along the gulf blvd area. Not sure if we want apartment or townhouse depends on location. Thanks for any help, . Susannorth

[JeepGirl118]

Just thought I would help with a correction for a moment due to the title of the thread. The richest/wealthiest state is not CT, it is MD who has been leading in the US. Read this a few weeks back (since I just got back from a trip to MD 4 weeks ago) and dug up the info to put here. You can find more all over the web.

Maryland knocked New Jersey out of the top spot this year, while Mississippi and West Virginia were the poorest states in the Union.

Maryland is now the wealthiest state in the union, as measured by median household income, according to the latest stats from the Census Bureau.

The typical Maryland household earned $65,144 in 2006, propelling it past New Jersey, which came in second with earnings of $64,470, but had led the nation in 2005. Connecticut finished in third place both years, recording a median income of $63,422 in 2006.

http://finance.yahoo.com/real-estate/article/103432/The-Richest-(and-Poorest)-Places-in-the-U.S (broken link).

Recent 2008 info:

While Maryland continues to be ranked as the richest state in the nation, according to estimates released by the U.S. census Tuesday, the state's poverty rate showed a slight increase.

In the Baltimore region, the increase in the rate of poverty was great enough to be statistically significant only in Harford County, according to state demographers.

Md. still richest state in the nation -- baltimoresun.com


Connecticut is 3rd in the US.

Sorry, it was just bugging me, had to share the info.

Oh, FL is the 4th richest.

Seriously. No joke.

Ha-Ha-Ha!

Blah - Ha!

[susannorth]

Sorry, should have said one of the richest states, which really doesn't matter if it is or not, if you're not one of the rich people living in it! Just that housing market is out of control like every where else I'm sure. CT taxes are insane, state taxes and gas taxes, too. Any state where you have to run heat from Oct-almost June is what people are complaining about. Oil heat last year ran about 2,000 a month to heat a average size house now will be at least 4,000. Everyone is scrambling to find alternative heating, pellet stoves, ect. Gas came down a little this month, can find it for under 4.00 a gallon in some places. It's all what you are looking for in quality of life.

[dgfan13]

Florida is a great state with many beautiful beaches and places to live; however, from someone who has lived here I can say that Trinity, Florida is one of the nicest places to live.

The reason why I say Trinity, Florida is because it's 35 minutes from Tampa. It's 10 minutes from the the closest beach, 20 min from the 2nd closest beach which is Clearwater beach. Trinity also is known for its middle to upper middle, even upper class families and luxury homes. There are great schools in the area for children, private schools and high rated public schools.

The town is still growing. There are approximately 4,000 residents in Trinity, but by the time the Town is done growing there should be around 10,000! The approximate income of Trinity families within a mile radius is around 98,000 a year. 3 mile radius of Trinity family income is around 77,000. A new Trinity Towne Center is being built in the heart of Trinity which will carry even more high end restaurants and boutiques.

There is already man great restaurants and shopping plazas in the area, including malls in every location you can imagine. The famous international mall is in Tampa holding the top boutiques in the world. Another peaceful thing for the mind, the new Trinity Hospital is being built. Many doctors are beginning to move into the area because of the hospital and other businesses which will bring great value to the homes and community. The value of the homes in Trinity haven't faced major decreasing in prices like many homes have around the country. They have actually faced one of the minimum losses in value because of the strong surrounding.

Give it a look around. What's great about the Trinity area is that surrounding counties also have mainly middle-upper middle-upper class families. It's a very safe area and growing rapidly.

If you have any questions feel free to ask, my dad's a real estate agent. He knows the area very well, even areas outside of Trinity. If you want any of his information just let me know! Good luck with everything!

[susannorth]

dgfan13 thank you, will keep you in mind, will check out trinity.

[deevee]

but...I find that people who DON'T sell their NY,CT, NJ property and then move to FL just about always return. I think it makes it too easy for them not to really give the new place a real try.

Moving is scary. Im in the process right now. (I sold my Long Island home)

There are always ppl who bad mouth the new place and bad mouth the old place. Remember everyone has an opinion...make your own choices.