Relocating from CT to Florida

[Spring Hillian]

Forgot to mention. Flood insurance is not required unless you are in a flood zone. You buy it from the government Stay off the immediate coast and you wont require it.


Homeowners insurance rates are high, Citizens will let you drop sinkhole coverage and that would save you about 50% on the bill. If you dont live in a sinkhole ridden county (Hernando has a lot of sinkhole problems and so does Pasco) you don't have to worry about sinkhole coverage, but anywhere in FL is susecptible to a sinkhole.

Our homeowners insurance runs about $1,800 a year. We have Class A wind protection and an alarm system which helps. We do have sinkhole coverage. Check with your current agent and have them get you some car insurance rates

[algia]

Actually if car insurance rates would be based on someone's actual driving record, the premiums here wouldn't be this high, unfortunately your driving record and how many tickets you have is irrelevant....if it was based on tickets then my car insurance would have been $12 a month....credit score and how many cars, how old they are, (not everyone drives a 10y/old car) how many times you moved are more important to car insurance companies than how many tickets you have........that is a FACT (an unfortunate one of course) but a fact no less......also living in a sink hole area without insurance would be silly since that can cause a lot of damage and loss of life even.......that IS a pretty serious problem to have and not have insured.

But the OP will be renting so this may be an issue for him later on......

Spring Hillian: you have too many rules for people to follow once they get here....on one hand you tell them to not go out between 11am and 5pm if it too hot for them (most people are at work at those times anyways in air conditioned offices)...all tho I've been out after 5pm for the last 8 years here and it was pretty darn hot then too.....then don't live by the beach if you don't want flood insurance, actually there are areas who don't even see the beach and are in a flood zone..........most everything west of HWY 19 is flood zone....and that's a pretty HUGE stretch and it is not considerate "immediate coast".....the property appraisal website could give you the best idea as to what the elevations are.....
Hillsborough County Property Appraiser

Pinellas County Property Appraiser

Honestly tho, it would be a much better idea to have at least 1 job when moving and not waste your savings on rent.........

[Spring Hillian]

Yes, your credit score shows your acceptance of responsibility in life and sure would be included in premium calculationjs. Just give your agent a call up there in CT and surely they should be able to quote you based on zip codes in Tampa, pick one. Get a quote. Let us know if it is lower, the same or higher for you. I would be curious to know.

All home owners insurance policies have catastrophic sinkhole coverage. The additional coverage is there for non-catastrophic sinkhole damage. Insurance is a dice throw. Sometimes one can choose between what they want and what the can afford. If you are smart, you get a couple of million in coverage under an "umbrella policy" and you dont worry about anything.

BTW - I don't have any "rules" for anyone. I may have SUGGESTED that if the sun shine/heat index is a problem for someone they should avoid being out in the hottest parts of the day, usually after 10:30, 11, and up until the late afternoon. It is certainly not a rule, but you won't find me mowing my grass in August at 1 p.m. On the other hand, I've seen plenty of people doing it. To each his own.

Do you realize that it would probably take a category 5 storm, with a high tide and a storm coming in from the West to cause a flood East of 19.
Can it happen? Yes, it sure could. Would I buy flood insurance for a home on high ground East of 19? No. I wouldn't.

Originally Posted by algia

Actually if car insurance rates would be based on someone's actual driving record, the premiums here wouldn't be this high, unfortunately your driving record and how many tickets you have is irrelevant....if it was based on tickets then my car insurance would have been $12 a month....credit score and how many cars, how old they are, (not everyone drives a 10y/old car) how many times you moved are more important to car insurance companies than how many tickets you have........that is a FACT (an unfortunate one of course) but a fact no less......also living in a sink hole area without insurance would be silly since that can cause a lot of damage and loss of life even.......that IS a pretty serious problem to have and not have insured.

But the OP will be renting so this may be an issue for him later on......

Spring Hillian: you have too many rules for people to follow once they get here....on one hand you tell them to not go out between 11am and 5pm if it too hot for them (most people are at work at those times anyways in air conditioned offices)...all tho I've been out after 5pm for the last 8 years here and it was pretty darn hot then too.....then don't live by the beach if you don't want flood insurance, actually there are areas who don't even see the beach and are in a flood zone..........most everything west of HWY 19 is flood zone....and that's a pretty HUGE stretch and it is not considerate "immediate coast".....the property appraisal website could give you the best idea as to what the elevations are.....
Hillsborough County Property Appraiser

Pinellas County Property Appraiser

Honestly tho, it would be a much better idea to have at least 1 job when moving and not waste your savings on rent.........

[Maria Ayotte]

I have lived in CT for 37 years and am currently living in FL since 2008. Guess what, I am moving back to Ct in 2011. There are pros and cons for both states, but CT is definitely a better state in my eyes. I moved to the Brevard County area. I have noticed that Florida has a very high crime and identity theft, and lots and lots of homeless people and kids in foster care, foods very expensive, electricity isnt cheap. The school system is another subject, its pretty sad. I hope you research it alot. I wish I had, my biggest beef in CT was the snow GUESS WHAT HERE I COME SNOW

[Ken E]

Congratulations on your move home. I really believe if you make a good honest list of the Pros and the Cons you can easily figure out which is a better fit for you. It looks like you did exactly that.