[Robyn55]

Originally Posted by mrviking

Your house paint will last longer.
Concrete holds up well to the Florida sun.
Termites hate concrete.

When we built our house - the stucco over the block was impregnated with the "paint color". The color has faded a bit since we built (in 1996) - but we haven't had to repaint.

FWIW - the biggest % of our "windproofing" homeowners insurance discount is because we have an almost total hip roof - no gables. Robyn

[sware2cod]

Block is a much better choice versus wood for reasons stated above. Plus:
*Block is isn't going to burn like wood.
*Wood can warp and rot over time.

It's a hassle to hang blinds/curtain rods into the insides of the block walls. But it's just something you have to deal with because it's a good thing to have a block home.

For resale value....some people will not consider buying a wood frame home. So you lose a pool of potential buyers.

[chopchop0]

Originally Posted by sware2cod

For resale value....some people will not consider buying a wood frame home. So you lose a pool of potential buyers.

Very true. I crossed off all frame homes when I was looking. Insurance agent also told me that all other things being equal, you will pay more to insure a frame home.

[bigh110]

if you remodel the home and want to change around electrical and plumbing that's be a lot harder to accomplish versus a wood framed home. My neighbor wanted to move a sink in his kitchen and had to jackhammer up the concrete floor to make the changes in the drain pipe. he ended up running his new electrical for new outlets/fans on the outside of the interior wall because it was concrete block with grout poured in the cavities.

[HarryWho?]

Must be an older block home. The newer ones are studded out and sheetrocked on all the interior walls. As for the drains, if a frame home is built on a slab, as most are in Florida, you'll have the same problem.

[StreetSmarts]

Originally Posted by mrviking

Your house paint will last longer.
Concrete holds up well to the Florida sun.
Termites hate concrete.

Not sure about insurance rates, I no longer own.

Concrete block homes hold up better in FL.

[lynxville]

My house has sheet rock over the block, so the r value is higher. Easy house to heat or cool.

[anniebrowns]

Here are the benefits of concrete block construction benefits:

1.) Foundations and basement walls are strong.
2.) Cannot be attacked by termites and even temperatures.
3.) It is a soundproof and it depends on the construction quality.
4.) It provides insulation for cold and heat.
5.) Lastly, it reduces home's energy usage.

[newdude05]

Thank you guys for all the useful info.

Just a general response on the reason I am considering taking a 30% pay cut is because of the housing cost in north nj. A decent renovated house in nnj in a good school district is around 700k minimum with a 12-15k annual tax. Looking at Tampa I can get same property for around 400k with a 5k tax, not to mention no state income tax.

The nice weather and tropical feel is also a draw since I lived in nyc/nnj my whole life, but mainly it's the housing cost. But it sounds like many of you think it's not worth it, I am surprised by that, maybe I don't have my numbers right.

[newdude05]

sorry ignore above, i posted this in the wrong thread doh