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No, Folks Are Not Moving Because Of The Hurricanes, But Rather From The Increase In Crimes Perpretrated By The Insurance Industry And Property Tax Appraisers And Our Legislators Whose Pockets Are Always Filled Our Hard Earned Money And The Developers Money.
My husband is on disability. We are native Floridians who left north Florida because of the high taxes, insurance, etc. that we were starting to experience there. We started out in Central Florida after graduating from college in 1971. The population growth there chased us up to north Florida (where I was born). It was wonderful for about 7 years. Unfortunately, the condo market discovered our sleepy little fishing village of Steinhatchee and we could no longer afford to live there. We looked around in Alabama and settled in Sand Rock on Lookout Mountain. We are on 3.18 acres in the country with a brand new home. It's been a little hard not knowing anyone up there except our next door neighbors, but everyone we've met has been friendly and helpful.
I did a comparison of tax rates for a friend of mine who lives in NM. She pays personal income tax and property tax there in NM, combined they run about $2600/year. If her house were here in Tampa, with homestead exemption and no personal income tax, her tax for the year would be around $2600. Gee, what a surprise - total tax burden is the same.
The DIFFERENCE is that due to the housing bubble, her very nice house in NM that she purchased for $140,000 wouldn't be $140,000 here - it would be $240,000 or more - and therefore, the taxes higher.
Given that we have no personal income tax, our property taxes RATES really aren't that bad - the problem is the housing values went way, way, WAY too high, way too fast, and wages can't keep pace.
Back on topic. Part of the insurance crisis in the panhandle is due to the state legislature, at the urging of developers, EXEMPTING the panhandle from the coastal building code in 2000. Damage from Ivan & Katrina might not have been so costly had the new construction been built to coastal code.
I can see Florida soon facing a lose of tax revenue as the value of homes drop. I going to challenge my tax assetment this year. If I could sale I would. When my p&i is the same as my taxes and insurance, I think something is wrong.
I can see Florida soon facing a lose of tax revenue as the value of homes drop. I going to challenge my tax assetment this year. If I could sale I would. When my p&i is the same as my taxes and insurance, I think something is wrong.
Talk about timing....one of tonight's lead news stories was the anticipated 1.5 BILLION state budget loss looming on the horizon. They're blaming lower home, retail and car sales.
Well after that summer that we had three hurricanes I knew tons of people that were moving right after that hurricane season. They were all freaking out. Now I think a lot of people are moving because the cost of living here is outrageous and a lot of people are struggling. On the other hand, I know a lot of people that are moving here so I guess everyone has their own reasons.
Hurricanes are not the problem in Fl. mother nature does different things in different places. Investors are the problem in Fl. so many people thought they could get rich flipping homes, that they were buying them by the dozen, then could not make the payments and flooded the market. My husband and I do home renovations and have watch too many investor over reach. Fl. has always been a good place to live due to the weather, where else can you work outside in Jan. and not freeze your behind off! As for high insurance Fla. was not the only state hit, the insurance companies have gotten greedy with their billion + profits.
No, Folks Are Not Moving Because Of The Hurricanes, But Rather From The Increase In Crimes Perpretrated By The Insurance Industry And Property Tax Appraisers And Our Legislators Whose Pockets Are Always Filled Our Hard Earned Money And The Developers Money.
I hear Cuba is nice Comrade Putee.
Seriously though, um....the insurers are trying to leave the state and the state is now insuring most of the homes.
I'm obviously missing something in the economic analysis where businesses that are alledgedly making a lot of money are trying to write less (or no) business.
I'm really struggling with the whole concept of the state having to force insurers from leaving. Please explain this to me?
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Why We Left Florida
