Attention Floridian transplants! (Fairview, Smithville, Baileyton: house, vacation, salary)

[MB2]

Originally Posted by TeeJayMaJay

We, too, are wanting to leave FL - we live in one of the fastest growing counties not only in FL but in the NATION - we have been listed the last 2 years in the newspaper: USA TODAY as such (FLAGLER COUNTY - just south of Jacksonville and north of Daytona) We were unincorporated and became a city as of 2000. TERRIBLE DECISION! We had a neat little town - all county but now we have council "people" everywhere - you ought to see the fancy-schmancy golf carts WE AS TAXPAYERS bought to have the folks pick up trash along our streets I think we have at least 8! Don't get me started!!! My heavens we grew so fast - Now get this.....as of this year we are STILL LISTED IN THE USA TODAY but are no longer the fastest growing county but listed as one of the highest (#3) counties with UNEMPLOYMENT! GESH!! What a mess. Florida is no longer the paradise we once had 17+ years ago. Our business was great - now it barely squeeks by. So sad. So we, too, are looking for a little slower pace - friendly people once again (like we used to have - AND we still are BTW! ....<grin>) This thread was beneficial to read. Thank you to you all.
I thought perhaps it was just ME who was not liking FL any longer...but as I read these postings I am shocked I am reading my own thoughts. Sounds like the TRI-CITIES is a good area. Any comments about that territory? What is the difference between all of the cities up there? We are not suburbia folks (90% of FL, so it seems, is one big SUBURB!)-we enjoy "country" yet want to know our neighbors....is that possible still is USA? Thanks for any help on this!!!!!

Hi
Yeah, we've just put FL behind us....and have no clue yet on where to go. Coming to think of .......I am literally HOMELESS right now (living with my in-laws here in PA )
We were pummeled with the aftermath of the hurricanes, and the rising and out-of-control costs that came with it. We sold our home on May 4th (listed with the second realtor for just 5 months), and moved back to PA (Hazleton).
Well, this area here changed so much (for the worse), that we came to realize that this won't be the place for us to be happy.
So, we have our little dilemma here, because I love TN (I am very familiar with the Knoxville area), my husband loves NC ( he's very familiar with the Mooresville area). So, since we can't come to an agreement on where the heck to move to, I suggested SC. (But we haven't been there, nor have any clue about it).
So, I will have to keep you posted,and let you know where we will move to.
All I know, it better be perfect this time around, because I will NEVER, EVER MOVE AGAIN...unless I am DEAD!!!! LOL

[backtofla]

shareff: all the things you mentioned, for the most part (of course it depends on where you live) are accurate. but i dont think it will stay that way much longer. things are changing drastically already. everyone is moving there from all over. when i lived in the nc area, close to the tn border, you could see it. many new residents from all over. ppl looking for the next cheap place to live i guess. i like fla better, so i moved back, but i used to hear about natives moving out due to all the changes. this was in nc, but tn seems to be more popular than nc (imo) now.

[lr1228]

I retired from Tampa..moved to Middle Tennessee..needed a change from crime and people..also my family lives in Ohio

[lr1228]

I think if you could get here now...the building market is still good..but its all about the market..we have people coming here by the groves every day...so Im in Middle tn..still good

[lakeprop]

I moved to a little town called Smithville, TN (www.smithvilletn.com) in October' 06. I had lived in South Florida (Margate/Coral Springs, to be exact) since I was a young girl from 1971 until October. I cannot begin to express how glad I am that my husband and I made the move. Florida has gone through some radical changes over the years, from the influx of foreign nationals to the crime rates going through the roof. But the biggest reason we decided to make the move was inflation. We felt it had gotten to the point where we were working just to survive, no longer being able to enjoy life. The property taxes and insurance rates are driving people out by the droves. I was able to secure a job here in Smithville in a real estate office and you would NOT BELIEVE how many inquiries we get from Floridians. One elderly gentleman who lived in Sarasota said they had to move because even though their house has been paid for many years now, they cannot afford the taxes and insurance on their fixed retirement income. How sad. I imagine many of the elderly are feeling the same strain.

My husband and I were originally looking into NC like so many other FL transplants, but something inside me made me want to see TN (specifically Middle TN). We happened upon Smithville and were hooked. They have this gorgeous lake called Center Hill Lake that winds itself all throughout Smithville. It is the month of May now and a beautiful, balmy 60 degrees. In FL, we'd be sweating bullets by now. I am so happy we made the move!!

[brown1218]

My family and I will be moving to TN june 1st from FL. It has been something we have planned on for some time now. We have to think about our future. The cost of living is out of control. The family values no longer exist. The school system stinks, taxes, insurance. I have been to TN many times. I cant wait to move.

[kar]

Originally Posted by lakeprop

I moved to a little town called Smithville, TN (www.smithvilletn.com) in October' 06. I had lived in South Florida (Margate/Coral Springs, to be exact) since I was a young girl from 1971 until October. I cannot begin to express how glad I am that my husband and I made the move. Florida has gone through some radical changes over the years, from the influx of foreign nationals to the crime rates going through the roof. But the biggest reason we decided to make the move was inflation. We felt it had gotten to the point where we were working just to survive, no longer being able to enjoy life. The property taxes and insurance rates are driving people out by the droves. I was able to secure a job here in Smithville in a real estate office and you would NOT BELIEVE how many inquiries we get from Floridians. One elderly gentleman who lived in Sarasota said they had to move because even though their house has been paid for many years now, they cannot afford the taxes and insurance on their fixed retirement income. How sad. I imagine many of the elderly are feeling the same strain.

My husband and I were originally looking into NC like so many other FL transplants, but something inside me made me want to see TN (specifically Middle TN). We happened upon Smithville and were hooked. They have this gorgeous lake called Center Hill Lake that winds itself all throughout Smithville. It is the month of May now and a beautiful, balmy 60 degrees. In FL, we'd be sweating bullets by now. I am so happy we made the move!!

You sound just like us. We moved from Fort Myers, FL two years ago for the same reasons. We now live just south west of Nashville in the small town of Fairview and we love it here. We just wished we left Florida sooner than we did.

[brown1218]

I hope we are getting out in time. It appears alot of folks are moving. You would think someone would be getting a hint, that something is wrong. Maybe it will send a red flag when they see enrollment for the upcoming school year is down. I think it will be a nice change to actually be able to send my son to a public school and hopefully have a good relationship with his teachers.

[sliverbox]

You know, reading stories like resonate pretty well with my experiences here in CA even though I'm a TN native: Overpriced, a rather poor quality of life, and a sense that things no longer work here. It makes me wonder what good the housing boom did for anyone. For the people that cashed out and moved to somewhere else, it probably meant that they in turn helped drive the prices up there too, which means that perhaps someday, the original inhabitants will also have to move to who knows where- South Dakota?

What happened in this country? It all seems to entirely unnecessary that so many have had to uproot, change, struggle, or whatever. For what? So that a few homeowners could have higher home values?

The problem nobody sees is that it is IMPOSSIBLE to have an economy based on housing, which is what the US economy is now based in. This is known as non-capital producing economics, meaning that while perhaps one family might gain from appreciation, that appreciation actually costs an equal or greater amount of deficit in the form of additional debt the future buyers will have to pay.It is a backwards way of living where future generations will have to pay more, more, and more for their living. This cannot continue on forever and as we can see from the daily news, it won't much longer.

[brown1218]

I can tell you what has happend here in FL. Most people bought homes that were around 150k to 170k. When the market went up so did the appraisels on the homes. So alot of folks took out equity loans . Well then the market dropped back down, mtg payments went up. No one could then afford to stay and tried to sell . Well guess what. You now owe more money on your home, then what you can sell it for. So foreclosures are hitting the roof down here. Then you add the cost of Ins and taxes. Alot of retired folks have been here for ages. They no longer can afford to stay. Mix in health care. They are the ones who can no longer work. At least someone my age could go get a 2nd job if need be. Nothing is going to change any time soon. We still have million dollar condos going up and the rich get to stay here. Meanwhile the Insurance co made loads last year. They get to create different entities and claim only a lost for the FL homeowners market and profit from the other states or life insurance divisions. Everyones pockets are being filled by the average hard working person in FL. Its not just FL , I know that. Its becoming in possible for a young family to own a home or save for the future any more. Hopefully I will have better luck like my parents, when I move into a smaller community.