The reality of moving to FL?

[diver dave]

dneal@miamiherald.com

JULY 06, 2017 3:55 PM

Combine impatience, an inability to use turn signals consistently, an inability to drive in the rain at all and a rather opaque understanding of the “Stop” sign and guess which county has Florida’s highest insurance rates.

An analysis of rates by insurancequote.com tells us what we already knew: Miami-Dade pays the highest average rates in the state, $2,457, a fat 58.9 percent above the state average of $1,546 (which, by the way, is sixth nationally).

In Miami-Dade, Hialeah drivers pony up the most each year, $2,719 on average. Then comes Opa-Locka ($2,597); Miami ($2,497); Miami Gardens ($2,480) and Homestead ($2,314). Obviously, it pays — or saves — to live in areas of greater affluence.

**If I'm not helpful, just let me know. Miami welcomes any driver who actually has insurance too!! Can't find the exact stats, but I believe near 50% of Miami Dade drivers HAVE NO INSURANCE.

[BandB]

Originally Posted by menzies

But if you are headed to Miami, then welcome new tax payer!

Tax payer? He's coming to a state with no income tax which will save him at least 3%. Also a state with no property taxes on a boat.

[menzies]

Originally Posted by BandB

Tax payer? He's coming to a state with no income tax which will save him at least 3%. Also a state with no property taxes on a boat.

Oh, he will be paying LOADS of taxes...

[Besslb]

Originally Posted by BandB

Rent or live on the boat but you don't want to pick a neighborhood you'll not like. You need time to explore.

Totally agree on this point. We would live on the boat for a few months before renting or buying property. Make sure the job sticks or we can settle into a new area and new life.

What is a reasonable commute radius for less than an hour driving?

What are options for storage units? Do you have as many as we do? Tom has more tools than will fit on the boat!

[healhustler]

I lived on Key Biscayne fron 2005 to 2008, and again from 2010 to 2013. If you like figure 8 racing on crystal blue water with a parade of silicone babes dancing to blaring Latin music, you’ll love it. Can’t recall the last conversation I overheard in English. Nowadays, I tend to avoid the place every chance I get. Enjoying the Gulf Coast though. For 200k, you’re likely to be transiting some distance.

[what_barnacles]

Hollywood was nice went I went to high school in the 70's, but the reality is unless you have lots of money anywhere south of palm bay is for them...

However dont let that stop you. Just decide if sunrises or sunsets are more magical for the two of you, then hit that coast. I love the east coast for diving and fishing but the west coast for relaxing.

[BandB]

Originally Posted by Besslb

Totally agree on this point. We would live on the boat for a few months before renting or buying property. Make sure the job sticks or we can settle into a new area and new life.

What is a reasonable commute radius for less than an hour driving?

What are options for storage units? Do you have as many as we do? Tom has more tools than will fit on the boat!

No shortage of storage units. Remember people move here to retire and downsize so lots to store, much of which they never look at again. Where is the job exactly? I ask because the area of commute will depend on whether the job is near the coast or further west. You can commute from as far north as Hollywood or Pembroke Pines in less than an hour. Perhaps even Plantation, depending on his precise job location.

Since the language barrier appears to be a topic of discussion here, I speak no Spanish and have never had a problem. Sometimes someone will start speaking in Spanish but immediately change when I tell them I don't speak it. The county is 65% Hispanic. Broward county is 27% Hispanic. One of the things I like best is that there's no majority of national origin as no ancestry has more than 34% and generally I think a very nice mix of people getting along well. However, if it bothers you, then not for you.

I'd just suggest you take a trip as soon as you can and check some things out. Talk to a real estate agent and find our where you could buy for your budget later. Renting is always an option too.

Then I don't know your feelings on a condo. If you intend to take extended vacations, they certainly have their advantages. Also would allow some locations closer to the beach.

One thing that's definite is that $200k won't come close to the same in Cary, NC. It will have to be smaller or older or both than it would be there.

Now, something I have to toss out, having relocated people around the country. A company relocating you between markets should give a salary allowance either as part of the salary or separate. The numbers say with this relocation it should be about 25%. Otherwise they're giving you a pay cut and basically asking are you willing to take a pay cut to live in South Florida.

[markpierce]

Originally Posted by Hamrow

No income tax, but there is a 6% sales tax.

Wow. Here we have high state income taxes and most local sales taxes approach 10%. And you are complaining? Oh, you do have insufferable weather, like high temps and humidity.

[diver dave]

another option is live aboard marina. Dinner Key is $24/ft. You have to keep the boat somewhere, live aboard is just $5 more/ft.

[Hamrow]

Originally Posted by markpierce

Wow. Here we have high state income taxes and most local sales taxes approach 10%. And you are complaining? Oh, you do have insufferable weather, like high temps and humidity.

No perhaps you misunderstood; i was talking about the situation where some states when you register your boat will try to assess their sales tax on the market value of your boat. This can be quite a shocking bill

[Sugardog]

I agree with O C Diver, lived my entire adult life in various parts of FL, including several years on a Schucker in Key West. Spent twenty years in FTM, still own property there. Look at Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte, inexpensive and lots of dockage.

[BandB]

Originally Posted by Hamrow

No perhaps you misunderstood; i was talking about the situation where some states when you register your boat will try to assess their sales tax on the market value of your boat. This can be quite a shocking bill

Yes and since he's owned the boat for over six months and I assume he paid sales tax in NC, he doesn't face that problem in FL.

[BandB]

Originally Posted by Sugardog

I agree with O C Diver, lived my entire adult life in various parts of FL, including several years on a Schucker in Key West. Spent twenty years in FTM, still own property there. Look at Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte, inexpensive and lots of dockage.

Why do you people keep talking about the West Coast. His job is in Miami.

[diver dave]

Originally Posted by Sugardog

I agree with O C Diver, lived my entire adult life in various parts of FL, including several years on a Schucker in Key West. Spent twenty years in FTM, still own property there. Look at Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte, inexpensive and lots of dockage.

He will tire of alligator ally, full length 2x a day; plus the transit to MB.
Jobs are east; retirement is west. Not a hard and fast rule, but plays for many.

[BandB]

Originally Posted by markpierce

Wow. Here we have high state income taxes and most local sales taxes approach 10%. And you are complaining? Oh, you do have insufferable weather, like high temps and humidity.

You also have high property taxes on boats and income taxes.

And we love our weather. Never over 97 degrees, cool salt breeze off the ocean, and humidity great for your skin. Cold right now. 76 degrees. 3 blanket alarm was issued last night and everyone warned they'll need sweaters or jackets today.

[diver dave]

Cooper City may still be affordable. You gotta hope the new job doesn't demand a 8 to 5 schedule. You really want to drive off rush hour on I95 from WPB south and most anywhere south of the Broward/Miami-Dade line.

[Dougcole]

Miami is a place of good and bad. I am down there for work about twice a month, I travel the entire state for my job. I was born and raised in Fort Myers. People have pretty much hit the nail on the head with their descriptions above, but I will pile on that the traffic and drivers in Miami are the worst in the entire United States. Lots of good as well though, it's a big city with a lot of diversity. No one who lives there travels much from their small part of the city to another part of the city unless they have to. The Miami airport is nice.

People don't want to admit it, but there isn't as much difference between the West and East coasts as there used to be. Fort Myers now is completely unrecognizable from what it was when I was in High School in the 80's. And not in a good way. Much, much more built up and crowded. It has many of Miami's problems without some of the good stuff Miami has. All of my family still lives there, but if I were forced to move south Fort Myers would be low on my list, ahead of only Orlando and the Tampa Bay area, which is the seediest, nastiest part of the entire state.

[bayview]

IMO you wont find much in any place you would want to live for $200K

Do some online searching in the miami area at that price.

[bayview]

If things are uncertain you could rent your present house for a year while you try the new area.

[diver dave]

Its a shame what has happened to Ft Myers. You have now a 1% chance per year of being a victim of violent crime in that city. Worst than 90% of other cities in the US.

https://www.neighborhoodscout.com/fl/fort-myers/crime