They're just rebuilding all the houses previously wiped out by hurricanes. :)

We live in an older 50's home and got dropped by State Farm last year. Although we don't live near the water we had a hard time finding insurance mostly due to the age of the electricals, shape of the roof etc. So now we are with a company I've never heard of. On the good side it's way cheaper than State Farm. So I guess my advice is when you get to the point of purchasing a home make sure the house you are looking at doesn't need expensive improvements to make the insurance company happy.

This is a HUGE reason to get out of here ASAP.

One of the locations we are looking at survived the Katrina almost unharmed. Garages were flooded and filled with lots of sand, but the buildings were fine. Some of the free-standing houses next door were completely wiped out.

My mom is in Jacksonville. I will have to give you a heads up when I head down.

I'd rather pay no state income tax too. Who wouldn't? But personally it's worth it to me to pay the extra amount to live in coastal San Diego.

I looked at a sand sample from the Sarasota area yesterday and it was nice. Very white with a lot of fines.

No, Florida is a perfectly fine state -- if Alabama was too classy and Mississippi was too rich, Florida is definitely where I'd move. They even have a decent football team -- almost beat NC State this year!

(In all seriousness, congratulations on the move. And there's some decent riding to be had in neighboring states, if those flat beaches ever start getting old. Georgia's mountains may not be what you're used to in California, but they're not too bad.)

this.

I just left Florida after being there way too long. I'd rather spend/pay more to live elsewhere. Anywhere.

although I was in SW Fl, and I admit northern Fl is nicer...

One thing I have learned after 43 years of constant moving is that everyone loves different places. I have always wanted to settle down in Pensacola. I lived in Havelock, NC and HATED it. Some people love it there. Some people love Beaufort, SC, and some people love California. Heck, some people even love Yuma, AZ.

And some people are just never happy. :)
The old sergeants had a saying: "There's only two good assignments in the Army... [pause for effect]... where you were before, and where you're going next after you leave this $#it#ol3." ;)
Between my father's military career and my own, I've lived all over and traveled plenty; I'm always glad to get back home (which is two miles from the beach and gonna be paid off this June. http://www.calamarichris.com/smiley/ohyeah.gif)
Good luck!

Nice! A paid-off place in Carlsbad is a great deal.

It's just a one-bedroom condo, but it's also right across the street from the C'bad library and 1.5 mikes to work.
I hope you're as happy in FL as I am here. Gonna be in the high-70's this weekend, and everything is so green & fresh after the rain we've had!

Good luck man, nothing like following your dreams, heck I live 4k miles from where I was born, be spending 3 month a Year in FL in a few short Years myself.

No income tax, but they sure like to stick it to us inlanders to insure all the uninsurable homes on the coast...

I have not ridden Pensacola but I have ridden west from Panama City Beach to Seaside and Water Color FL. It's a beautiful ride.

Man, you are set. A deal like that would make me consider staying. But five years of paying $2700 a month in rent (20 miles from the beach), $3-400 in electricity, $180 in water, and driving 36 miles one way to work has defeated me.

Hey, just try not to fall in a sinkhole. That is problem that will continue to worsen as Florida continues to exceed it's aquifers water recovery.

Merlin...since you quoted the huge disparity in state taxes...any idea how FL can sustain its balance sheet with no income tax? Are there other taxes that FL has to compensate?...Sales tax?...gas tax?...etc?

Mostly socking it to Tourists.

Sales tax is reasonably high; 6% state, and up to 1.5% local, for a max of 7.5% (7% in Jacksonville)

We're high on Gas tax, but not the highest (35 cents a gallon ranking 10th highest)

Property Taxes seem high to me, but don't approach many places in the country. In Duval County it's $18 per $1000 of assessed value, with a $25,000 homestead exemption, and a 3% maximum annual cap on increases in assessed value. So annual property tax for a median priced home in Jacksonville is going to be about $2500.

I think a big part of the equation is a fairly vibrant economy and growing tax base. We get businesses relocating to Florida to get out of high tax states like California.


Another part of the answer is that State government doesn't spend a lot of money compared to other states. For example secondary education funding is very low (49th) Ironically, Florida ranks much higher than 49th on education outcomes. http://www.floridatoday.com/content/...nk-in-us.shtml

If you've seen my post in the "empty road ahead" thread you'll notice I spent a good amount of vacation time in FL State Parks. The degredation to the springs and lakes over the last 5 years is sickening.

Thanks for the explanation. My elderly Mom lives in Florida and I have been there many many times over the years and done a fair amount of cycling there as well. A good possibility I will move there in the next 5 years...gulf side...because midwestern winters are just too long and I want to ride my bike more months out of the year. Ironically my brother is considering moving from the Chicago area out to California to be closer to his daughters. I believe he is a bit conflicted however because of the high taxes as many are moving out of CA for that reason.
Cheers.

We outsource our public education. And it shows.

OP, given your rent/utilities/commute situation, I can see the need to leave expensive SD. For me, the humidity, mosquitoes, flatness, and Bubba population of AL/Northern FL were too much; left in '85 and haven't looked back. I do sometimes think what the equity in my CA home would buy out there, though...

That area has changed a lot since 85. I love it over there and I live in Jacksonville. I've looked at buying another house for retirement in that area and let my kids fight over the one I am in now. That will be fun.