Real Estate - 10/14/2007

Florida is a bust market with values being driven down by high non homestead taxation and the nations highest residential property insurance. income in fla. is still below other large states disaster for sellers with over 42000 listings in the tampa bay market!

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Quality of Life - 9/29/2007

Being raised in NYC, Now at 46 yo Wesley Chapel Florida provides a great atmosphere and quality of life which enables me to raise 2 young children.

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Central Florida - 9/10/2007

The awesome power and beauty and the earth shaking rumble of the next shuttle launch... The artful creativity in the photographic capture of an otherwise ordinary object- a slice of time immortal... The coarse golden sand mated onto the soft smooth and well oiled bronze skin of a slumbering partner on the shores of Playalinda... The natural endorphin rush of extreme exertion in the course of an intense weightlifting workout... The cool wind on your body as the landscape melts beneath the wheels of a 20 mile bicycle journey... The quiet relaxation of an evening at home with your life's soothing love... The pristine beauty of light and color that can only be experienced at Tiffany's Chapel in the Morse museum... Complex and lush music or the disciplined and precise athletic movement that expands your soul, measured only by the ache in your heart and the length of soulful tears...

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The Sunshine State - 9/8/2007

Even when one considers the hurricanes, Florida has some of the best weather one could hope for: it isn't called the Sunshine State for no reason. The climate is perfect for anyone who leads an active life or anyone who just enjoys the outdoors.

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Puerto Rico - 8/14/2007

Great place to spend a nice carribean vacations all year round. Beautiful places to visit. Reality of living here: Well here you will find here violence everywhere. Starting from the own authorities. Abuse of power, lots of police brutality crimes. No values on this society. Aperiences are very important to everyone. You have to look like you have lots of money in order to get whatever you want. Everything is too expensive, housing, cars, food. Plus it is very difficult to find a job, even at a fast food no matter what kind of education you have earned. With a master,s degree you will end up serving food at a Burger King, no matter if your master's degree it's from Yale. I've been trying to survive here for the past 6 year's with my 9 year old son and we can wait no longer to go back to the states. Still it is very hard to even save some money to buy your plane tickets, çause every single dime that you earn is needed to survive day by day. So unless you are planing on getting adopted by somebody with great influences either on the goverment or society, don't even think about come here for more than a 2 weeks vacations.

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Tallahassee, FL - 8/13/2007

I moved here almost 6 years ago from Michigan for a job opportunity. However, I am considering moving to another state due to the very lowlowlowlow income. All the job's are state jobs OPS.

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Hudson, Florida - 8/12/2007

On the coast of the Gulf of Mexico....pleasant surroundings, lots of golfing, boating and fishing. Taxes and insurance are high right now as of this date Aug.10, 2007

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Much to do in FL - if you're a tourist - 6/19/2007

I have lived in FL now for 7 years. I have enjoyed my time here but find that everything is based on tourism. All events and attractions are overpriced and are all the same after a while. Great place to visit but not to live.

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Rudeness - 6/16/2007

The Tampa Bay area is one of the worst places I have ever lived as far as rudeness of the people. I have lived in ME,MA,CA and NE. The people in Fullerton, CA were like saints compared to the people here. The traffic here is terrible and car accidents are too abundant for my liking.

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Love Florida - 6/5/2007

Moving to Florida 21 years ago was quite a change from living up North,however nothing can beat the Southeast coast with it's wonderful climate and all of it's all year round outdoor sports and events. It is like being on vacation every day.

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WIsh I knew about City Views of Bradenton 2 years - 5/24/2007

We moved here 2 years ago for my wife's new job. I used the live in Florida back when Bradenton was a sleepy town. Now it is over developed, and housing prices are still nuts. Insurance is hard to get, and ridiculously expensive if you can find it. Auto insurance is high because of all the lousy snowbird drivers "read, old farts" in the winter. I regret coming back to Florida (not just Bradenton).My wife and I are looking for new jobs to leave the state. We are what you would call middle to upper middle class and it is still costly to live. I would advise against moving to Florida (unless you want to buy my house, then come on down).

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Florida Lifestyle - 5/14/2007

Florida offers endless possibilities for those who enjoy an active lifestlye. From the year round tropical climate to the melting pot of ethnic cultures Florida covers all bases when it comes to meeting the tastes of a diverse and multi-ethnic population.

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Think twice - 5/11/2007

One thing not factored into the cost of living in florida is home owner/ flood insurance (mandatory if you have a mortgage). With the recent rash of hurricanes flood insurance is almost impossible to obtain unless you get it from the state run program, otherwise known as the insurance co. of last resort. I live in a modest 3b/2b home in the Tampa area and it increased this year to $6,000.00 per year. And that's just for flood! many people are increasing the amt. of their deductible from any where between 12k to 70K just to afford the mandatory coverage. It's crazy! I'm a native Flordian and can tell you I can not wait to move out of Florida. It's too hot, too crowded and too expensive! Urban sprawl has linked almost every city or town together with vacant strip malls and dry cracked asphalt. There is always a water shortage and the traffic is horrible!!!!

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Florida Climate - 5/7/2007

Great place to live for those not interested in the recreation associated with wintertime activities and those that do not mind humidity!

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Relocation - 4/30/2007

I am considering moving to western North Carolina, around the Hendersonville, Flat Rock area. I am interested in the pros and cons of this decision. I am an active widowed senior who enjoys the outdoors, theatre, music, bridge, people and nature, in general.

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Florida - 4/4/2007

Defintely the SunShine State - native of Tampa and love it!

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Everybody is right....Some good, some bad - 3/30/2007

I agree w/everyone life is what you make it!!! Which means do your research and whatever your research turns up is probably right. Alot of the post on here share the same thoughts as myself and I will admit I came here expecting great weather, lots of beaches, lots and fun, great job opportunities w/great pay, ect. While I was disappointed it wasnt all bad after all I found a job with great perks like being able to transfer to another city and opportunities for advancing my career. So if you do find yourself living in a city you dont like find something positive about it, learn from your mistake and move on after all you can always leave. I can from Ohio and overall FL is a lot better than Ohio. I have a degree which doesnt mean much here and I am experienced (30 someathing) so I knew how to work my way around the city, the people etc. I was very excited to come here so I read the negative post and basically brushed it off, wrong move. To all that's looking to move here look around take your time come visit a few times, check employment ads and apt rentals guides and dont be anxious you could find you've made a bad judgement call and then again you might enjoy the life here. Look at the overall picture sunshine or affordability, beaches or good pay. Life is what you make so make the best of it and learn all you can before you make the move. Also check out TBO.com Good luck!!!

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We can't afford to live here anymore. - 1/18/2007

Three years ago we bought a nice big home in a small town that grew very quickly. The propery taxes and insurance went through the roof from the hurricaines we sustained here in Florida. It is a nice place to live with the weather and the diferent cultures but it is to the point a middle income family is having a real hard time making it her in Deltona Florida.

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ENVIROMENTAL DOWNFALL - 1/16/2007

I'm hispanic,moved here 20 years ago...back then I was a minority. It's great to be bilingual! However, I speak fluent spanish and even I AM frustrated and appalled at the arrogance here in miami. The locals EXPECT that you speak spanish!A lot of areas even have buisnesses where not one employee speaks English. Traffic is absolutely horrible because you have 20 million people from different countries bringing their bad driving habits to these roads that are forever under construction! For your safety I suggest that you just get out of the way!Good Customer service is non existant.It is very EXPENSIVE to live here! I make $93,000 per year. Pretty descent money right? WRONG! It's tight budgeting for anyone who makes less than $100,000 a year here. You can't find a descent home to buy for less than $400,000. Monthly rent for 2/2 apartment is about $1800/month. It's all about being beautiful and having expensive toys here! If you plan to "keep up with the jones", plan on sprinting! Raising Kids here?...Forget it! Unless you don't mind visiting your kid in the juvenille detention hall because your kids WILL find trouble here!A lot of youth crime, drugs, domestic & gang violence! Most families here consist of very young single moms with "abuela"(grandma) taking care of her 3 or 4 kids. There are tons of beautiful men and women here!Dating is easy here!Being permiscuous is an "IN" thing here.Community Riots are frequent, especially when there is any news reported(good or bad) out about Fidel castro! (For those of you in Wisconsin, Fidel Castro is Cuba's Political Leader). There are frequent racial issues with the police department...hence, street riots abruptly arises.Just pray and hope that your not stuck on the roads in your car when a riot breaks out. YEAH, the WEATHER IS GREAT here year round, but the hurricanes are no fun! Get used to making frequent & major repairs to your home/property due to hurricane force winds!! What about insurance you say?? VERY expensive! I'm itching to get out! Looking to move back in the USA! Miami is only good for vacationing on the beautiful beaches, drinking mojitos and eating damn good food!Other than that,....I'm OUT!

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Don't live in Florida - 1/10/2007

I live in Homestead ,Florida. It's a very nice place on the most part,but i am planning to move due to the high cost on property taxes and property insurance. I can't believe how much money the insurance companies with the blessing of our state politicians are stealing from us, the hard working people of this state.Don't even think in moving to Florida,go somewhere else,it will be better. Thank You.

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