[Prichard]

The problem is nationally the gab is spreading and the middle class is being absorbed eventually there is only going to be two class of people....the rich and the poor. Any thoughts on this???

Yes. Actually the opposite is true. There are more "middle class" people in the US today than at any other time. We are becoming far less elitist and more middle class.

The biggest problem we face is excessive consumerism. Many people are convinced that we need new cars every 5 years; need the latest cell phones, big screen tv's, x-boxes and other games, expensive clothing, a variety of nick-nacks and trinkets that we use only once or twice. Just look at how much junk each of us has in our own homes.

I consider myself somewhat of a minimalist - I don't go for the latest and greatest gadgets. Yet, when I look around, I'm guilty of "excess consumerism" too. I have a garage full of junk I never use. I have a living room and dining room in my house that I use maybe a couple of times a year when I have a lot of guests over. I have a pool that I rarely use. I have collections of things that I've spent substantial money on that really do nothing at all but clutter up the place. I've got two cars and one motorcycle and a bicycle. Laptops, stereo's, other electronic gadgetry. Do I really need all or any of this stuff?

I was listening to AM radio a couple of weeks ago. They had this couple on that "retired" when in their late 30's I believe, living on only $20,000 a year. They have a book out. Now, they are true minimalists, but after paying their expenses, they still had money to travel a couple of times a year. After listening to them for about 1/2 hour, I was convinced that we are all guilty of trying to keep up with our neighbors and collecting way too much junk we don't need. If we just controled our spending, most of us could live in a decent house and not work nearly as hard as we do. Makes you think, anyway.

[Ladywithafan]

Originally Posted by Prichard

Florida is far from the land of the rich. Many large areas of Florida are made up of mostly middle class people. In fact the majority of the small towns and small cities through out Florida are inhabited by mostly middle class people.

BUT, if you are looking to be on the water, or live within one of the larger metropolitain areas, it will cost more to do so. I've heard many people complain about how bad the wages are here in Florida, how they can't make ends meet, etc. However, the truth is that anyone who is making $25,000 or more /year can own a home. It might not be where they want it, and they might not be able to drive a fancy car and support children. There is a tremendous amount of public assistance available for lower middle class and poor people to purchase decent homes.

If you want to live in a "nice" area, with "good" public schools, and near where you can find that particular job you want to do, in a larger city, and drive a car that is less than 3 years old, and have children - then you've got to pay for all of these things. On the other hand, if you don't mind living in Live Oak, Starke, or Bronson and working for $22,000 - $32,000 / year a person can live in Florida, own a small home and make ends meet.

I live in Bradenton. My car is seven years old & paid for. I pay $750/mo. rent wich only includes water ($50) for a one bedroom in an apt. complex that is so/so but comfy on the inside....I make $28,500/year gross....and I can not buy a home.....

[shedav]

Prichard in regards to your posts. I recently went back to college to obtain my BSN degree (midlife crisis I quess) anyway one of the classes I took was in transitions and it is being taught that the middle class is being absorbed due to the influx of people across the borders.

http://www.buzzflash.com/contributor...4_sanders.html

I did a google search and typed in middle class disappearing and came up with all kinds of interesting topics. above is one. I quess what I am trying to say is it is tough all over.. and only going to get worse.You are right though in your posts we are all trying to "Keep up with the Jones" but boy I do have to think at times when I go to call my hubby from my cell phone and I dont have a signal I get mad only to rethink hummm how did we manage when we did not have these neat little gadgets???

The elderly couple you are talking about I saw that too.It was a neat story if I am correct they spend quite a bit of time in South America and traveling. I thought it was a feasible story but not for everyone especially for those who have children.....but it is nice to think about it..

[tallrick]

How can you live on 28,000 a year if you're spending 10,000 a year on property taxes for a small home? 500,000 is not an uncommon price in the Miami area for some run down rat hole.

[shedav]

Tallrick EXACTLY!! What kind of point I was making in the article I read and posted in my last post that is what it talks about how we are working longer hours now but with wages, cost of living etc...it is making it harder for the middle class eventually we will be considered part of the poor...because the gap continues to widen and the middle class gap shrinking

[DECruise]

Florida versus other states:
1. 0% income tax in FL
2. Rich snowbirds pay big property tax bills that support schools, parks, local services and infrastructure (and they only use some of this less than half the time)
3. Residents get substantially lower property tax bills due to Homestead and Save Our Homes

Conclusion:
Doesn't this sound like a deal too good to be true for many Florida full time residents?
The last time things were this good for me was when my parents paid for the things I used.

[Prichard]

How can you live on 28,000 a year if you're spending 10,000 a year on property taxes for a small home? 500,000 is not an uncommon price in the Miami area for some run down rat hole.

You don't live in Miami or Sarasota! That's how. There are pleanty of other places to live in Florida where homes don't cost as much. If you are making $28,000 / year, never owned a home before you can buy a house in Apopka, and many other areas receive downpayment assistance and other financial assistance. I'm not talking run down shacks, I'm talking 3/2 CB & stucco
nice looking single family homes abailable for about $150,000 for those who qualify. Yes, you need to qualify, which means that if you make too much money, you won't be able to buy one. Look for neighborhoods funded by the Housing Assistance Council and other like organizations. Taxes are not $10,000, but more like $1,500/year. Insurance is about $1,800/year.

If it is more important to live in Miami or Sarasota than own your own home, that's your choice. If you want to have children, a very costly thing to do these days, that too is your choice. But, all this stuff about people not being able to afford houses in Florida, working class people being forced out, etc. just isn't true.

[sunrico90]

Originally Posted by Prichard

You don't live in Miami or Sarasota! That's how. There are pleanty of other places to live in Florida where homes don't cost as much. If you are making $28,000 / year, never owned a home before you can buy a house in Apopka, and many other areas receive downpayment assistance and other financial assistance. I'm not talking run down shacks, I'm talking 3/2 CB & stucco
nice looking single family homes abailable for about $150,000 for those who qualify. Yes, you need to qualify, which means that if you make too much money, you won't be able to buy one. Look for neighborhoods funded by the Housing Assistance Council and other like organizations. Taxes are not $10,000, but more like $1,500/year. Insurance is about $1,800/year.

If it is more important to live in Miami or Sarasota than own your own home, that's your choice. If you want to have children, a very costly thing to do these days, that too is your choice. But, all this stuff about people not being able to afford houses in Florida, working class people being forced out, etc. just isn't true.

Superb post, great info that can benefit many families. I took the liberty to add the site for the council and other organizations...

What is HAC?

A nonprofit corporation headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Housing Assistance Council (HAC) has been helping local organizations build affordable homes in rural America since 1971. HAC emphasizes local solutions, empowerment of the poor, reduced dependence, and self-help strategies. HAC assists in the development of both single- and multi-family homes and promotes homeownership for working low-income rural families through a self-help, "sweat equity" construction method. The Housing Assistance Council offers services to public, nonprofit, and private organizations throughout the rural United States. HAC also maintains a special focus on high-need groups and regions: Indian country, the Mississippi Delta, farmworkers, the Southwest border colonias, and Appalachia.

http://www.ruralhome.org/about.php (broken link)

Organization in Fl:
http://www.dca.state.fl.us/fhcd/
http://www.floridahousing.org/home/ (broken link)
http://www.ruralhome.org/links.php?cat=17 (broken link)

[shedav]

Interesting......but I wonder what they consider income to qualify. Lets say a family of four a nurse and firefighter (I picked these two professions) because they are considered middle class. Now would they qualify? or not be due to their income level? Like I said before it is hard for any working class family regardless of where you live I dont think Florida is any different.

Sunrico correct me if I am wrong because you are great on facts!!! but I would think to get housing assistance you would have to be near or below a certain poverty/income level

Case in point my mother and father worked hard and now are close to retirement my mom has worked for the state 40 plus years and my father a retired police officer when they started out with 4 kids and tried to get a home they did not qualify for any housing assistance because of their income. My mothers friend who had never been married or worked finally went to work for minimum wage and with 2 boys was able to get loan assistance because she was considered in the poverty area.

Sunrico..one good thing for me though is I did hear in order to get more nurses to florida they are offering an incentive for home assistance down payment of 25,000. Unfortunately, I cant find any information on it. My girlfriend who is a travel nurse was in Sarasota on assignment and told me about it. Have you (or anyone else) heard of this??? Thanks

[sunrico90]

shedav,

Found the following, you must contact the source and find out about the bonus

http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeek...F6ZJ38XDRCMQBX
http://www.healthjobsusa.com/cgi-bin/jobByTitle.cgi?JobCategory=Nurse:%20Clinical%20Nur se%20Specialist%20(CNS (broken link))
http://www.nursingjobsource.com/Sear...?Job_Id=111298