Florida Pros and Cons

[Paul G]

Same in Arizona. No hablo español. Wish I paid more attention in Spanish class in high school. I am lucky though, I love Mexican food, and tequila, and ........

[AKcharger]

Hi Bob

We moved here Last April from Alaska here's what we found:

- Taxes already covered
- Temps...in summer it wasn't as bad as we feared, we adapted pretty quick BUT I did learn no gardening or mowing the lawn in the middle of the day and having a pool to jump into is AWESOME!
- I looked around a lot before we bought, and zero'd in on the North Tampa area. Home prices are such that I could live on retirement (E-9) alone, it's close to all the major attractions and wife and I grew up around here so have some family near-by
- Bugs? well I guess, but hardly a big deal
- LOTS of cars shows...something sorely lacking in AK
- You can Drive to everything!!! well, wait, this was probably just an AK thing

CAUTION
- Watch where you buy very carefully. With the "Boom/Bust" there are some brand new neighborhoods that are going down hill quick because they've been turned into rentals.
- Any services/contractors get multiple quotes...Prices vary by 50-100%!!! I was told $6400 for my A/C unit and got it by another place for $3400...exact same one!
- This place is the wild west for contractors and construction...make sure you do your homework on licensing and bonding!!!
- Had to look a bit for Tricare® provider not hard just not as easy as in AK

PM me with any questions


Tell ya' what when I see all the winter storms and record breaking cold temps...this makes it all worth it

[ACUDANUT]

E-9 ? damn your good to go. I am a lowly E-7. Retired USMCR

[Bob]

AKcharger and ACUDANUT, I retired a CW3, tanks and big things like that.
Thanks for the input.

Bob

[ACUDANUT]

I have been pondering moving to Florida for retirement in a few years.

¿Hablas español?

Can't get away from that much anymore.

LOL, I was to say about that... lot of Cubans and of course latelly Venezuelans, specially on Weston and Doral areas, so prepair for that

I am moving to Mexico and demand they speak English and have mass in English too. Hell we do it for them here.   

[sanders7981]

I'm also in the north Tampa area, Wesley Chapel to be more specific. I've only been here since July 2014, but this place is growing pretty quick and will continue to do so over the next few years.   I have no regrets buying here, and hope to be able to retire from the Corps in a few years myself. 

[Steve P.]

I think everyone before me covered most everything just as it is. I just want to clear a few things up.

First off, everyone will get use to our weather. It may take some longer than others depending on a lot, but mostly where you are use to now and how much time you spend outside.

Second, we do have 4 seasons. You just can't tell some apart from others.. lol 

Third, I can't remember the last time I have heard of a gator where it didn't belong. (DO NOT FEED THE GATORS).

Forth, It is true that many places DO spray for mosquitoes. I would check before buying for sure. We do have plenty of skeeters, but for the most part, you won't be outside when they are bad. Thus the use of screens covering pools and garage doors.

Fifth, Florida is LOADED with ex-military. We have many vets hospitals and clinics. Could use more, but I am within 25 miles of 2 major vets hospitals.

Sixth, Everything here is air conditioned and if your Charger is not, we have ICE COLD AIR in Tampa.

We have lived here coming up on 21 years. We live in Holiday, Florida. That is about 20 miles North of both Tampa Bay and Clearwater. The West coast of Florida doesn't normally see the amount of really bad weather as the East coast.

The afternoon rain sucks if you work outside, but it also keeps everything growing and GREEN... Also cools off your roof and keeps most roadways clean.. But driving in heavy rains can really suck too.. Be very careful when stopping at intersections in the rain as the oil in the roads from dripping and the asphalt anyway, will come to the top in the rain and it is like trying to stop on black ice..

Everywhere in Florida has nice homes that are built around not so nice homes.. And yes, during the BOOM, many investors bought homes and turned them into rentals. Some areas are worse than others and many homeowners are getting after the crappy landlords.. But you can buy a lot of home here much cheaper than most places in the USA.

Cut your lawn just before the sun goes down and you'll be fine..

The one thing that I didn't see from anyone else is STORAGE... A basement is 1 in a million here. Maybe 5 million.. Most of us use our garage as a storage unit. Many others find out they don't need NORTHERN things here and try to sell things they should have sold back home where people will actually use them.. (I have seen a snow blower and a ski-do here). People just can't let go of crap they love..

I am also born and raised in Upstate New York. Rochester to be exact. I can tell you I will N E V E R go back. Also use to spend some time in Vegas and though I love it there, it is way too dry for me or my wife. It is rare to need chapstick and lotions here and if you are smart and stay out of the sun, your skin will love you forever!! Those who are sun worshipers get to about 45 and they wish they never were.. They begin to look like the gators..

Pasco County is one of the cheaper places to own a home, but moving inland is much cheaper for all insurances. What stinks about living more inland is dealing with the heat and way more rain storms. So really everywhere you look there is ups and downs. It is really what you feel is worth dealing with..

Best part of living here is NO SNOW!!! All the hot rods are out all winter long and many to most are out year round..

Biggest downfall for me is the food... Growing up in Rochester, we ate food from all over the World and it was ALL GOOD!! Here the food sucks for the most part. They say it is the water. I don't believe it.

Hope this all helps.

Ps. Bring some PIZZA with you when you come!!!!!!!   

[Bob]

Steve, that is a great write up. I spent 3 years at Ft Drum NY and lived in Carthage. Even though the summers are awesome, the winters are worse than Alaska.

[Steve P.]

I hear ya. Bob.. We use to head up to 1000 Islands and Chatagua, NY. and White Lake in Canada. Beautiful in the summer. But WINTER!!!!!!   

Florida has a lot to offer.

I forgot one big thing for those of us who hobby cars.. NO POLLUTION TESTING cars here anymore....

Also no front tag on cars..

Oh yeah, in Pinellas County there is a gas station the pumps CAM II.

[b5blue]

Some areas are prone to sink hole activity, I can't stress enough to research any area your considering buying in.

[AKcharger]

Some areas are prone to sink hole activity, I can't stress enough to research any area your considering buying in.

While true, and a good suggestion I'd bet there will be a LOT less sink hole activity in the futures due to the laws changing. Before if you found a few cracks in the slab you could claim a sink hole and get your house paid off...LOTS of fraud in the late 90's and 00's

[stripedelete]

Biggest downfall for me is the food... Growing up in Rochester, we ate food from all over the World and it was ALL GOOD!! Here the food sucks for the most part. They say it is the water. I don't believe it.

Hope this all helps.

Ps. Bring some PIZZA with you when you come!!!!!!!   

Same deal I'm Atlanta, including the Pizza.   Someone blamed the water just the other day.  I don't get it.

[ODZKing]

My aunt lived in Houston, Texas for a while.  She was a good cook and she said on many occasions that she had to adjust to weather conditions to get bread especially to taste the same.
MANY of the foods she used to cook with were also not available down there. The canned tomatoes for sauce for example.  This was back 64, 65 66, 67 so they probably are now.
But, I dunno, maybe there is something to it.   

[Lord Warlock]

The food in the south is great, just have to like seafood to take the most advantage from it.  We have food from all over the world here too, just have to go look for it, its here.  There are some changes while cooking, mainly timing it slightly different due to altitude differences, better like BBQ. 

[Steve P.]

Yeah, that was why I said: FOR THE MOST PART... I don't care for seafood.. I am told it is wonderful here though...

We have a pizza place about 2 miles from us. The owner is from Buffalo and use to have a guy that drove up and picked up all the good stuff and drove it back.. He was retired and from up there too, but he finally had enough of the drive.. Now their pizza really sucks.. I confronted the owner and he asked if I wanted the job.. Said he knew it, but can't find anyone to make the drive every month..   So please, BRING SOME PIZZA!!!!!!   

[Bob]

Yeah, that was why I said: FOR THE MOST PART... I don't care for seafood.. I am told it is wonderful here though...

We have a pizza place about 2 miles from us. The owner is from Buffalo and use to have a guy that drove up and picked up all the good stuff and drove it back.. He was retired and from up there too, but he finally had enough of the drive.. Now their pizza really sucks.. I confronted the owner and he asked if I wanted the job.. Said he knew it, but can't find anyone to make the drive every month..   So please, BRING SOME PIZZA!!!!!!   

So please, BRING SOME PIZZA!!!!!!