[firemed]

It sounded like easy money, a no-brainer.

Hundreds turned out to a Long Island Marriott Hotel to hear one of several presentations that led many northeastern investors into perhaps the biggest financial catastrophe of their lives.

So many people showed up for the monthly meeting of the Long Island Real Estate Investors Association that staff at the Melville, N.Y., hotel had to remove two partition panels to convert the banquet room into a ballroom.

As the historic 2003-05 Florida real estate boom peaked, Seashore Resorts LLC, and its agents regaled investors with stories about Southwest Florida's magical climate, its low unemployment, its booming demographics and most of all, the potential for 30 percent annual returns on residential real estate.

Seashore pitched "100 percent spec investor pre-construction loans" requiring little or no money down so long as the investor had good credit: a score of 680 or higher.

At that point in the market cycle, the tales of easy money were likely true, but fleeting. By the time most investors were brought aboard, the music had all but stopped, along with the work on their homes. By 2006, the days of easy pickings of low-hanging fruit were over. anyone been to one of the several presentations ?

[VBmom]

Come on down to Vero Beach, we offer : Great schools, beaches, good restaurants, friendly people. The town is also very safe.

[actordad]

where are you looking

[HockeyMom72]

[quote=wanditapa13;363192]Honest pros and cons would really be appreciated here.

I realize that the biggest con is the weather/hurricanes. Should that be the biggest reason not to move to Florida? We have been there during the hot rainy season and that does not really bother us. Realistically speaking, most Floridians I know go from air conditioned home, to the air conditioned car and into an air conditioned anywhere else during this season. The thought of having the opportunity to be more outdoors in Florida is very appealing. I love it there and can see myself living in that environment.

I am also aware of the not so great public school districts but that can apply to pretty much any state. I would definitely want to move to a good school district (Jupiter, Aventura, etc) but would like it to be in the least hurricane prone area (statistically speaking since you can not control weather).

I used to work as a TA on Long Island. I knew 3 teachers who moved to Florida and came back. First of all the salaries are going to be almost half of what they are here, but the teachers said the conditions in the schools were horrible. I worked with one teacher who came back and the school district called her about every six months asking her if she had changed her mind and wanted to come back. Now, granted she had been teaching about 25 years and was making top dollar here ($70,000), but she said it wasn't even the money, but the conditions of the schools.

No, I have heard nothing positive. Sorry. My daughter justed graduated with a BS in Education and is looking for a job in NYC. The starting salary is $51,000. Even if the conditions in the schools may not be "ideal", at the the end of the day at least the MONEY makes it worth it.

[RELOMIAMI]

Hello:

Just saw your email . I am selling my beautiful Florida home in great school district. Are you looking for a Florida home in a great neighborhood??