[BucFan]

Originally Posted by CDusr

I have been hearing of people who have bought outright not insuring condominiums they have purchased due to the high costs.

my HOA from my condo requires that all residents have coverage (replacement) w/ proof of insurance

[TampaKaren]

I recently posted the following homeowners info in the Tampa Forum but here it is again for your convenience:

I switched from State Farm to Castle Key (Allstate) in November 2010. I have $200K on the building and $80K contents. Deductibles are 2% for hurricane and $1000 other perils. My annual premium is $1492. The premium includes comprehensive sinkhole ($150). The house is block, has under 2000sf, was built in 1983, and the roof was replaced in 2002. I also added an optional flood policy in January of this year for $343. We're not in a flood zone, but our house backs up to lowlands. It's not great, but I'm pretty happy with it so far. Fortunately, a mortgage company isn't dictating coverage and requiring escrows.

In addition, we are on levelized billing with Tampa Electric. Our monthly bill is $125. There's only two of us and we have no pool so I'm sure that has something to do with it.

Both our vechicles are paid for and nothing special (Honda Odyssey and Toyota Tacoma). Each premium runs around $1100 per year and has been on the rise for the past two years... I suppose as a result of the rampant in Florida PIP Claims.

[Gatornation]

Originally Posted by TampaKaren

I recently posted the following homeowners info in the Tampa Forum but here it is again for your convenience:

I switched from State Farm to Castle Key (Allstate) in November 2010. I have $200K on the building and $80K contents. Deductibles are 2% for hurricane and $1000 other perils. My annual premium is $1492. The premium includes comprehensive sinkhole ($150). The house is block, has under 2000sf, was built in 1983, and the roof was replaced in 2002. I also added an optional flood policy in January of this year for $343. We're not in a flood zone, but our house backs up to lowlands. It's not great, but I'm pretty happy with it so far. Fortunately, a mortgage company isn't dictating coverage and requiring escrows.

In addition, we are on levelized billing with Tampa Electric. Our monthly bill is $125. There's only two of us and we have no pool so I'm sure that has something to do with it.

Both our vechicles are paid for and nothing special (Honda Odyssey and Toyota Tacoma). Each premium runs around $1100 per year and has been on the rise for the past two years... I suppose as a result of the rampant in Florida PIP Claims.

You must have some low deductibles on the cars as that is pretty high.

[TampaKaren]

Originally Posted by Gatornation

You must have some low deductibles on the cars as that is pretty high.

The deductibles are $250 comprehensive and $500 collision. I was told by the insurer the higher premiums are because both vehicles have been in a collision within the past 2 years PLUS we're in a high claim area. Both vehicles were rear-ended and neither were at fault but because there was a repair claim, apparently grandma and grandpa are now a higher risk.

[Gatornation]

Originally Posted by TampaKaren

The deductibles are $250 comprehensive and $500 collision. I was told by the insurer the higher premiums are because both vehicles have been in a collision within the past 2 years PLUS we're in a high claim area. Both vehicles were rear-ended and neither were at fault but because there was a repair claim, apparently grandma and grandpa are now a higher risk.

This has some good tips.

How to cut your car insurance costs - Money - TODAY.com

Choose your coverage carefully
It's obvious, but worth repeating: The more coverage you elect and the lower deductible you set, the more you'll pay.

"Don't go for every bell and whistle," says Lachnit. "If you're willing to pay a little higher deductible, you can wind up saving big on your rates. Going from a $250 to $1000 deductible could save you 25% to 40% on your policy."

Set aside a portion of what you save to cover that higher deductible cost in case you ever do have a claim, and you should come out ahead.

[newyorker24]

Originally Posted by TampaKaren

The deductibles are $250 comprehensive and $500 collision. I was told by the insurer the higher premiums are because both vehicles have been in a collision within the past 2 years PLUS we're in a high claim area. Both vehicles were rear-ended and neither were at fault but because there was a repair claim, apparently grandma and grandpa are now a higher risk.

You need a new insurance company. I've had 3 not at fault accidents where my insurance company didn't pay any money in the past 8 years and my insurance premium was never raised for any of them.

[BlueyedCat]

Originally Posted by beachmouse

I'm sure somewhere in the giant box of flotsam and jetsam in the garage we've got the receipt for the $70/year in 'wheel tax' the city of Martin, TN used to extort from us every year when we lived up there. The spousal unit tends to keep stuff like that for some strange reason. IIRC, car insurance was pretty much the same here and there.

Y'all can keep Tennessee; gave it an honest try, discovered we utterly loathed it, and were out of there with the first job offer that looked like it would be more than a lateral movement of suck.

beachmouse; I laughed out loud reading your post! My husband and I feel the same way. We've been in TN for 3 1/2 years. We also gave it a try and it's to the point we too utterly loath it here. We are outta here as soon as the first opening my husband gets in another state. I was born and raised in Florida. Merritt Island. Moved to TN from California. Everything went up on us here in TN except car registration and gas. But we spend more on gas here as you have to drive so many more miles just to do your typical errands. So actually we paid less for gas in our cars when we were in Ca. Health Ins, Car Ins (both with less coverage now also). Utilities, food etc. Utilities do look cheaper on paper here, but when you figure you have to use the Central Heat/Air 99% of the time; you pay more here in TN than you do else where. Or at least what we have witnessed and lived through.
We are considering Fla if we have a chance. That's how I stumbled on your post. Thank you again for such a great post. Many of us feel as you do.

[beachmouse]

Hang in there, and know that you're plotting an exit strategy. Not every place is going to be right for every person or family. What bugs me is when someone tries to claim there's some sort of moral deficiency or something you did wrong, and that why you don't feel like a place is home. End of the day, not every place is right for every person, and there should be no sort of moral judgement attached to saying you want out of a place that's a bad fit.

Best of luck in finding a place that's a better mesh with you and your family's wants and needs.

As for utilities, our high bills actually had less to do with cost per kilowatt hour (which wasn't bad by national standards) but more to do with poor construction standards- no one made contractors build energy efficient homes, original buyers of the housing stock in town didn't ask for more insulation, so it was a case of build cheaply and let the buyers pay for that cheapness many times over with high utility bills.

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by BlueyedCat

Everything went up on us here in TN except car registration and gas. But we spend more on gas here as you have to drive so many more miles just to do your typical errands. So actually we paid less for gas in our cars when we were in Ca. Health Ins, Car Ins (both with less coverage now also). Utilities, food etc. Utilities do look cheaper on paper here, but when you figure you have to use the Central Heat/Air 99% of the time; you pay more here in TN than you do else where. Or at least what we have witnessed and lived through.

Sounds like you didn't pick the right area, either. We live in Knoxville and don't really have to travel anywhere to get errands done. Utilities are crazy cheap. End of story. Leave the windows open for about 3 months a year, at least, too. Food is definitely cheaper than FL. Car insurance half of what we paid in FL.

I guess you have to carefully pick where you move to. Tennessee, is not a small state, and there are a few distinctive weather patterns. That is why the state is split up into what they call the three grand divisions. Personally, I'd only want to live in the Eastern one, and then probably only in Knoxville. Sure that may not say much about the rest of the state but I don't care. I have found my paradise and I'm not giving it up!

[CDusr]

Well said Beachmouse.

Hey maybe that is a good idea for a tv show. Going all over US and seeing what costs are really like, environment etc... anybody done this? Maybe house swapping or maybe some other reality show w/ all the "drama"... lol