Hidden Costs???? (vehicle registration, homeowners insurance, homes)

[TiggnTaz]

We are moving to the Jax area in less then one month. I under stand that Fl. doesn't have a state income tax that comes out of your pay check each week, but what sort of other taxes or hidden costs should I be aware of moving from NJ to Fl.?

[gradco2004]

None. It almost sounds too good to be true, I know .

[mawipafl]

At the moment I can only think of one thing different between PA and here (and not sure if PA and NJ are similar) -- there's a one-time $100 fee for newbies to register their cars. However, that's offset by the fact there is no annual vehicle inspection here (and one of the first things I cheerfully did was scrape those darn inspection stickers off my windshield!)

[Biggiechri]

BUT arent homeowners insurance and property taxes are fairly high?

[mawipafl]

"High" is somewhat of a subjective thing depending on location in the US. Compared to NJ, the FL property taxes are lower. FL taxes are higher than where I lived in PA, but FL has a homestead exemption that helps.

Homeowners insurance depends on location in FL. There are fewer companies who insure and the cost is higher, but for us (we live inland) our insurance is just slightly higher here than in PA. (Here we're paying about $1600 and in PA we paid $1100).

Another difference I thought of are the possible CDD fees (Community Development District) -- but it totally depends, once again, upon location here in NEFL. Some communities/neighborhoods have them and some do not.

[travelingfood]

vehicle registration (tag fees) is pretty damn cheap in FL. It goes by vehicle weight, a normal compact car is less than $30/year? Only the initial first timer fee is high.

the other hidden costs?
cost of your health drinking sweet tea every meal.
gas expense might be higher for that long commute to everywhere.
pest and lawn services if you own a home.

[apanda]

Originally Posted by travelingfood

the other hidden costs?
cost of your health drinking sweet tea every meal.
gas expense might be higher for that long commute to everywhere.
pest and lawn services if you own a home.

That made me laugh! So very true!
I must throw in....
the cost of sunscreen
the cost of wanting that new inground pool

[apvbguy]

Originally Posted by Biggiechri

BUT arent homeowners insurance and property taxes are fairly high?

depending on where you live, homeowners insurance can be very high here, property taxes are a bit lower than NJ, home values are lower too. gas is 30-40 cents a gallon more expensive, restaurants (better ones) can be expensive. Auto insurance for me is lower but that depends on where you live too. all in all the only way to save money living in JX versus FLA is to downsize a bit, that 750k home in NJ is only 500k here go smaller and you can get a nice home for 300k+ in some places.

[titaniummd]

Originally Posted by TiggnTaz

We are moving to the Jax area in less then one month. I under stand that Fl. doesn't have a state income tax that comes out of your pay check each week, but what sort of other taxes or hidden costs should I be aware of moving from NJ to Fl.?

Car and home owner's insurance is higher (when compared to the DC Metro). I suppose it is subsidized for hurricanes and 'bad driving'.

[Magnolia Bloom]

Originally Posted by TiggnTaz

We are moving to the Jax area in less then one month. I under stand that Fl. doesn't have a state income tax that comes out of your pay check each week, but what sort of other taxes or hidden costs should I be aware of moving from NJ to Fl.?

Bite your tongue- they are called FEES.....not hidden costs!