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Old 01-29-2008, 01:00 PM
 
40 posts, read 64,308 times
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I am thinking of relocating from the DC area, which is horribly expensive and horribly gridlocked with traffic. Even though I have a good job here, I just can't stand my quality of life (cold weather, constant gridlock, even on weekends, high prices, etc.). I want to move to Tampa to IMPROVE my quality of life, with lower costs and less traffic.

I have been researching and running the numbers on a small house (1600 square feet) in So. Tampa (around 350k) and I am thinking that maybe Florida and Tampa are not any better than DC. The property taxes in Fla. seem to be outrageous (6-7k a year as opposed to 4k in DC); my car insurance will double in Tampa; and I know that running the AC all year is probably more expensive than the heat I pay for a couple of months.

My question is: How much is homeowners insurance in South Tampa? I know it varies, but can someone give me a ballpark?
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Old 01-29-2008, 02:21 PM
 
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Most likely you'll have to go with Citizen's insurance, which a state run insurance organization. You'll pay way more with them, but it's your only option, since private insurers won't insure houses anymore.

Ballpark figure would be around $3000 for a modest home.
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Old 01-29-2008, 02:27 PM
 
Location: FL 33774
367 posts, read 1,681,282 times
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I think that 7000 for a 350K house is a bit steep. Where did you see that? St Pete Guy is right about house ins tho. Try to keep it away from flood zone to avoid flood ins. Reassessments for downward housing costs may help in a year or so on taxes, but don't hold your breat
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Old 01-29-2008, 02:46 PM
 
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I pay $1,900/year for my 2,000sf house (built in '89) in S Tpa through a private insurer. Luckily, the area I live in does not require flood insurance
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Old 01-29-2008, 03:12 PM
 
Location: South Tampa - Bayside West Neighborhood
1,824 posts, read 8,348,672 times
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I pay $2100/yr for my 1600 sq foot house(built in 49) is S Tpa. I require Flood Insurance which adds on another $980/year.
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Old 01-29-2008, 04:06 PM
 
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I live in DC and have been researching homes and I was given a quote of $1500 for a newly built 1600sf non flood area home ($260k) in Pinellas.

But that was only a quote.
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Old 01-30-2008, 06:06 AM
 
Location: FL 33774
367 posts, read 1,681,282 times
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quotes are usually pretty accurate tho
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Old 01-30-2008, 05:24 PM
 
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I live in NW Tampa, no flood insurance, and pay about $1400 on a house they say is valued at $350k. My taxes are about $4400--but we've lived here a while and it's homesteaded. The new tax law won't help newcomers much.

Living in S. Tampa, well, yeah, you're probably not going to feel a huge improvement on quality of life. I lived in DC. I love its feel (DC proper, not the burbs) and history. Hate the traffic and cost. FL has no history pre-1950 to speak of but some great neighbhorhoods that are "historical" and pretty....but they're very expensive.

You can get a bigger house for less money, or less house for less money, in other areas of FL and have low traffic, nice winters, etc. But if you're sure you want S. Tampa, you might not have a better quality of life if $$ is the main issue.
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Old 01-30-2008, 05:31 PM
 
Location: O-Town
1,781 posts, read 6,937,457 times
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[quote=annesg;2675160]. FL has no history pre-1950 to speak of but [quote]


What about St Augustine?
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Old 01-30-2008, 07:06 PM
 
Location: Tampa FL
3 posts, read 17,032 times
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Default Tampa Homeowners Info online

Check out the Hillsborough County property appraiser website. You can check homes by street address and recent home sales prices The tax collectors website will estimate property taxes for you. Like the DC area, Tampa driving is by time not the distance to reach your destination.
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