[lily4]

Originally Posted by annerk

Both California and Florida are large states, and the COL varies drastically in different parts of each. I don't think you can say it's cheaper to live in Miami than it is in the Redding area.

That's very true and one of many reasons why we didn't choose Miami. We're in a much lower COL part of Florida (and much cooler, less populated area).

While Redding may have a low COL for California, homes are still much more than what we paid where we live in Florida. The median cost of a home in Redding is $209K and we wanted to keep what we spent under $100K. A COL comparison tool says the COL for our Florida town is 10% below the national average and that Redding is 14.6% above the national average. So, while Redding is affordable compared to most of California, it was still too high for us.

Just for the heck of it, I checked the COL comparison site for Miami and the median cost of a home is $245K and the COL is 18.7% above the national average. Not less than Redding, but not as different as I would have guessed.

I also checked where I moved from in California and the median cost of a home there is $672K and the COL is 101.4% higher than the national average. So, yeah, you could say it varies drastically alright.

[SassySpice]

Quote:
Originally Posted by mr e
Then why do you spend so much time on the FL forums?

Originally Posted by jambo101

I spent a lot of time there and still have family and friends living there that i visit often, i feel I can give much information and opinion on my experiences in Florida.

But mostly Jambo BECAUSE YOU CAN!! End of discussion.

[8to32characters]

Originally Posted by lily4

That's very true and one of many reasons why we didn't choose Miami. We're in a much lower COL part of Florida (and much cooler, less populated area).

While Redding may have a low COL for California, homes are still much more than what we paid where we live in Florida. The median cost of a home in Redding is $209K and we wanted to keep what we spent under $100K. A COL comparison tool says the COL for our Florida town is 10% below the national average and that Redding is 14.6% above the national average. So, while Redding is affordable compared to most of California, it was still too high for us.

Just for the heck of it, I checked the COL comparison site for Miami and the median cost of a home is $245K and the COL is 18.7% above the national average. Not less than Redding, but not as different as I would have guessed.

I also checked where I moved from in California and the median cost of a home there is $672K and the COL is 101.4% higher than the national average. So, yeah, you could say it varies drastically alright.

California is a lot more open and tolerant than Florida will ever be with a much stronger, more diversified economy; lots more economic opportunity/mobility; and much more spectacular scenery. For lots of people, those are deal-breakers.

[Trigger-f]

CA = bankrupted state. Stronger economy is the cherry on the pie, for show off purposes. For people who think with their heads and not their behinds, that's a deal breaker. The future is not so bright for fiscally irresponsible states.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/1400-lif...-last-3-years/

The spectacular scenery is subjective. Some people like brown/barren environments (at least in South CA), some don't.

[tjarado]

Retired 2006.
Bought in SoFla in 2010. Sold LI in 2012.
Was a snowbird..then a sunbird, now a FT Floridian - and proud of it!
Go 'phins! Go Heat ! Come back Lebron!

Living the dream now and all I miss is Santa Claus.
I don't miss the traffic on the LIE, the the snow that turns to dirty ice or the INSANE RE taxes!

[lily4]

Originally Posted by 8to32characters

California is a lot more open and tolerant than Florida will ever be with a much stronger, more diversified economy; lots more economic opportunity/mobility; and much more spectacular scenery. For lots of people, those are deal-breakers.

Many are finding the deal breakers to be that it's far too difficult to survive in California given the COL. Spectacular scenery is irrelevant. Retirees need affordable homes and lower COL. Many younger families are going where there are jobs and affordable homes.

Also, California isn't everyone's preference in regard to scenery. Personally, I prefer a humid climate and find California too dry. I'm not particularly fond of browned out rolling hills, or tumbleweed.

[Restrain]

You want the scenery, it is an airplane flight away. Go see it, experience it, but you don't have to deal with OMG housing costs, OMG taxes, insane laws restricting what you can do, etc. And this doesn't only apply to CA, but some other states as well.

We have visited the beaches of south CA during the summer, had to wear COATS and the surfers all had to wear wet suits because of the low temps in the 70s. Here, the water is warm and you don't need to wear a coat on the beach, even in February.

The mountains are pretty, with spectacular scenery. But they get very cold and covered with snow. Nice to visit but I wouldn't want to live there (have lived in the Rockies foothills). Too cold, and snow on Memorial Day and Labor Day is too much.

Some people want to live along the Great Lakes, citing great beaches, fishing. But there were ice bergs in the Lakes in June. And the winters are OMG.

The thing is, there are reasons for people to live in all sorts of places, but if you want mild temps, sunny warm beaches, and low COL, Florida has it. And if you really have a hankering for CA beaches, Las Vegas gambling, the northeast foliage in the fall, you can get it without giving up what we have here.

For those of you who don't want to in FL, and think you live in better locations, fine. No one will make you move here. But come on down for a visit. I am sure the hoteliers, vendors at the beaches, the large amusement parks, charter fishing captains, etc will all accept your money with a smile.

[Spring Hillian]

Originally Posted by lily4

Many are finding the deal breakers to be that it's far too difficult to survive in California given the COL. Spectacular scenery is irrelevant. Retirees need affordable homes and lower COL. Many younger families are going where there are jobs and affordable homes.

Also, California isn't everyone's preference in regard to scenery. Personally, I prefer a humid climate and find California too dry. I'm not particularly fond of browned out rolling hills, or tumbleweed.

Different strokes for different folks. As we see, California is not everybody's Nirvana.

[Spring Hillian]

+10

Its a simple concept some people just dont understand. FL is a place most people like, either on a part time or a full time basis. Every place has its drawbacks but weighing them out most will find FL is the better choice.

Originally Posted by Restrain

You want the scenery, it is an airplane flight away. Go see it, experience it, but you don't have to deal with OMG housing costs, OMG taxes, insane laws restricting what you can do, etc. And this doesn't only apply to CA, but some other states as well.

We have visited the beaches of south CA during the summer, had to wear COATS and the surfers all had to wear wet suits because of the low temps in the 70s. Here, the water is warm and you don't need to wear a coat on the beach, even in February.

The mountains are pretty, with spectacular scenery. But they get very cold and covered with snow. Nice to visit but I wouldn't want to live there (have lived in the Rockies foothills). Too cold, and snow on Memorial Day and Labor Day is too much.

Some people want to live along the Great Lakes, citing great beaches, fishing. But there were ice bergs in the Lakes in June. And the winters are OMG.

The thing is, there are reasons for people to live in all sorts of places, but if you want mild temps, sunny warm beaches, and low COL, Florida has it. And if you really have a hankering for CA beaches, Las Vegas gambling, the northeast foliage in the fall, you can get it without giving up what we have here.

For those of you who don't want to in FL, and think you live in better locations, fine. No one will make you move here. But come on down for a visit. I am sure the hoteliers, vendors at the beaches, the large amusement parks, charter fishing captains, etc will all accept your money with a smile.

[OptimusPrime69]

Originally Posted by Trigger-f

CA = bankrupted state. Stronger economy is the cherry on the pie, for show off purposes. For people who think with their heads and not their behinds, that's a deal breaker. The future is not so bright for fiscally irresponsible states.

1,400 'lifers' released from California prisons in last 3 years - CBS News

The spectacular scenery is subjective. Some people like brown/barren environments (at least in South CA), some don't.

dude, there's no doubt California has more spectacular scenery. Big Sur, the Redwoods, the cliffs and mountains along the ocean, the spectacular views, there's no question about it.

The only way one can have a view in FL is if they live in a high rise building, otherwise it's a flat swamp