Tampa, Florida Econominc Indicators (Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood: neighborhood, buy, living in)

[mustgetoutofflorida]

Originally Posted by fort lauderdale

Once again, why did you move to Sarasota and expect a stellar economy and banks open on saturdays?

I moved to Sarasota County because I hated Fort Myers and Cape Coral and my husband's offices that he manages are in Fort Myers and Sarasota.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by mustgetoutofflorida

I moved to Sarasota County because I hated Fort Myers and Cape Coral and my husband's offices that he manages are in Fort Myers and Sarasota.

Oh, SW FL really is a place to go die in general, not live. You should of moved to a place like Tampa, somewhere in Palm Beach or Broward County, or Jacksonville.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by mustgetoutofflorida

First of all I don't live in Sarasota....second of all the reason I have lived in 4 houses is because of slumlords or landlords letting their homes going into foreclosure although you have paid them rent plus security and last month.
The first house was in a gated community in Fort Myers, not only were my kids getting shot by BB guns the HOA allowed it, plus they wouldn't fix anything and had mold problems we were not told about and the gates were always broken.
Second house moved into ac did not work for the entire summer even LCEC did a home study and said it needed serious repair, once again we had put down first last and security. House was in Cape Coral
Third house paid rent on time, brand new house NY investors had 4 altogether and they got foreclosed on.
4th house presently in, on a canal with a pool, gave her tons of money too, she did not replace the fridge like she said, the smoke detectors did not work we had to replace them all, she did not resurface the pool like she said and it is horrible, we had to fill the pool on our water bill because she was too cheap to put it in her name. The ac her does not work properly neither does the dishwasher, I have to hand wash dishes in a house that is over 80 degrees, and many other issues that we could not tell at the time.....what can I do it's not like there is an agency to complaint to that will actually do anything, if you withhold rent they put you in evictions and the court makes you put rent on hold with them and the landlord can clain financial problems and that money can be turned over to them and if you ask the courts to give you a hearing without turning over the rent and then having them make the judgement, they refuse. I have been like most people waiting for the market to fall more before I buy but since I am leaving, very glad I didn't buy now, would be stuck here longer. We have paid for many repairs out of our own pocket and she will not pay us back.

This is why I would NEVER in a million years, be a renter, especially of a single family home. Not criticizing you, just making a statement here, since there are so many on this forum who are CONSTANTLY saying people should just rent instead of buy.

[mustgetoutofflorida]

Originally Posted by fort lauderdale

Oh, SW FL really is a place to go die in general, not live. You should of moved to a place like Tampa, somewhere in Palm Beach or Broward County, or Jacksonville.

Yes but I have been trying to be a supportive wife and my hubby really loves his job, but after the hassles we have had and we keep having to move due to things that are beyond our control. I loved this area in the beginning and if I had just bought a house maybe my views would be much different, but I am burnt. It is hell moving an entire house and four kids every 6 months or so because there is no one to help you. I am usually the most optimistic, easy breezy kind of person, but now about to snap.
It's just not landlords either....another example Embarq give you an install date an show up 2-3 weeks later. Once again, no one to complain to, they are the only phone carrier...too bad so sad.
It also seems that the people and employers don't care to get good employees that treat their customers right. The attitude is just lousy and should change.

[mustgetoutofflorida]

Originally Posted by gypsychic

This is why I would NEVER in a million years, be a renter, especially of a single family home. Not criticizing you, just making a statement here, since there are so many on this forum who are CONSTANTLY saying people should just rent instead of buy.

We were home owners in a very expensive town, but my husband wanted to move here because he has a sister in the panhandle, a brother and two aunts on the east coast and another aunt in Charlotte County. We were planning on renting for 1-2 years at most....but what do you do when the house you have rented has gone into foreclosure(yet you were giving them money hand over fist) or the ac and heating unit was junk and the real estate agent and owners did not disclose that problem nor fixed it. Somepeople may say you don't need ac but you do need heat, it does get in the 30s at night sometimes. I just can't keep moving and now don't want to buy.

[compelled to reply]

Any chance of you making it up to Tampa, since it's only 2 more up? I have a feeling you will like it much better. The reason I also recomend the East Coast is because that has a more "northeastern" mentality that you might like. People who love Tampa hate Miami/Fort Lauderdale and Vice Versa. People in Tampa claim that nobody speaks english in Fort Lauderdale and people in Fort Lauderdale claim the other way around. It's strange how that works. But in general, SW FL is universally known as a F-ed up place to be for somebody under 55. Houston may have the same "Climate", but it does NOT have the same air quality. The air sucks there. We had a crappy air day here today, but it's the first crappy air day in years. You see, I actually thing Houston is beautiful. Honestly, if I had to pick my area again, Houston would probably be my #1 choice. FL in its nice parts near the major cities are too overpriced now IMHO.

[mustgetoutofflorida]

The only reason I am here now is because of hubby's job is from Sarasota to Fort Myers. So we are inbetween. His other options is Destin, Hawaii, Outerbanks and Colorado if he stays with the company he is with. I want to go to Houston for many reasons (mostly because I love the landscape and weather here and the beaches).
I know there are a lot of nice people here, but just been taken advantage so much that I am truly becoming bitter and hate being like this.

[compelled to reply]

Well, for one thing, even if you do dislike this place, I think you should become content with where you are for now. Sounds simplistic, but just chill out for a little while! For another, The Outer Banks are BEAUTIFUL!!!!!! Why not pick that? I can understand Hawaii, it not being on the mainland and all. Destin is also a nice panhandle city, but yeah, expect a similar mentality.

Seriously, you seem like you are a good person from what little I gather on the forum. Just chill out a little bit.

[tampaguy03]

Originally Posted by fort lauderdale

Any chance of you making it up to Tampa, since it's only 2 more up? I have a feeling you will like it much better. The reason I also recomend the East Coast is because that has a more "northeastern" mentality that you might like. People who love Tampa hate Miami/Fort Lauderdale and Vice Versa. People in Tampa claim that nobody speaks english in Fort Lauderdale and people in Fort Lauderdale claim the other way around. It's strange how that works. But in general, SW FL is universally known as a F-ed up place to be for somebody under 55. Houston may have the same "Climate", but it does NOT have the same air quality. The air sucks there. We had a crappy air day here today, but it's the first crappy air day in years. You see, I actually thing Houston is beautiful. Honestly, if I had to pick my area again, Houston would probably be my #1 choice. FL in its nice parts near the major cities are too overpriced now IMHO.

I live in Tampa and LOVE visiting Fort Lauderdale(lived there two years, but couldnt see myself setteling down there..too much fun).

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by tampaguy03

LOVE visiting Fort Lauderdale(lived there two years, but couldnt see myself setteling down there..too much fun).

This is true. If you want to live in a "settle down" kind of area around Fort Lauderdale, and you wanted to after 2005, then you kind of have to be rich because of the absurd costs. Like I said, I doubt I would do it again. I'm actually NOT in Fort Lauderdale proper. Personally, I would never live in the city of Fort Lauderdale in the first place. Too crowded, too congested, too sleazy (you can buy porn on like every block even in the nice parts!). I acutally like Hollywood better than Fort Lauderdale for a crowded/older South Florida beach town. Hollywood is gritty, Fort Lauderdale is sleazy. I like the grit, DONT like the sleaze, or at least not living in it...