Pros and Cons of living in South Florida - by a nonresident (real estate, sex offenders)

[Moderate Guy]

This thread is gratis from me to all those interested in moving to South Florida. It's based on visits, research, conversations, etc. Please read and decide for yourselves whether to relocate.

Be guided by the knowledge that South Florida remains part of the good old USA and as such, imho, will always have those basic wonderful characteristics of living in the USA. Also be cognizant that one man's meat is another man's poison. The decision to relocate is an individual thing but one must be forewarned and take the blinders off.

For those who choose to relocate, God bless, for those who don't, God bless.

Cons:

--intense heat June - November.

--intense humidity.

--threat of hurricanes.

--palmetto bugs the size of cadillacs.

--fire ants and love bugs.

--limited employment opportunities outside of healthcare and a few service industries.

--payscale usually lower that in many other northern states.

--public schools have a notorious reputation.

--everyday life operates at a slower, less efficient pace than up North.

--lack of state income taxes also a con as funding for infrastructure and other standard facilities suffer as a result.

--traffic nightmares - including snowbirds either crawling along to the mall or going over the speed limit to snag that early bird special.

--drugs, crime, sex offenders rampant. Geograhic location makes illegal drug movements into mainland easier than elsewhere. Transient nature of population facilitates constant inflow/outflow of outlaws, pedophiles, rapists, assorted criminals.

-- while weather often cited as plus, can also be minus where intense heat and humidity keep one indoors unable to enjoy the blessings of a no winter environment, hence difficult to enjoy true year round outdoor events.

Pros:

--fantastic winter months weather.

--no need for heavy winter attire - gloves, hats, scarves, coats, snowboots.

--put away the snowblower.

-- no slush, sleet, snow, dangerous winter road travel.

--no state income taxes.

--easy acces to northeast and to Caribbean.

--sexy gals in sexy bikinis!!!!!!

Once again, Florida may be for you, it may not be. Good luck whatever you decide. I've decided that if I ever hit it big as a writer, I'll buy a winter home there....otherwise I'm "a staying" up here in NYC. Some of my loved ones have decided Florida is the place to be. Only you personally can decide what's best for you.

Best.

[Wild Style]

Originally Posted by Miles

This thread is gratis from me to all those interested in moving to South Florida. It's based on visits, research, conversations, etc. Please read and decide for yourselves whether to relocate.

Be guided by the knowledge that South Florida remains part of the good old USA and as such, imho, will always have those basic wonderful characteristics of living in the USA. Also be cognizant that one man's meat is another man's poison. The decision to relocate is an individual thing but one must be forewarned and take the blinders off.

For those who choose to relocate, God bless, for those who don't, God bless.

Cons:

--intense heat June - November.

--intense humidity.

--threat of hurricanes.

--palmetto bugs the size of cadillacs.

--fire ants and love bugs.

--limited employment opportunities outside of healthcare and a few service industries.

--payscale usually lower that in many other northern states.

--public schools have a notorious reputation.

--everyday life operates at a slower, less efficient pace than up North.

--lack of state income taxes also a con as funding for infrastructure and other standard facilities suffer as a result.

--traffic nightmares - including snowbirds either crawling along to the mall or going over the speed limit to snag that early bird special.

Pros:

--fantastic winter months weather.

--no need for heavy winter attire - gloves, hats, scarves, coats, snowboots.

--put away the snowblower.

-- no slush, sleet, snow, dangerous winter road travel.

--no state income taxes.

--easy acces to northeast and to Caribbean.

--drugs, crime, sex offenders rampant. Geograhic location makes illegal drug movements into mainland easier than elsewhere. Transient nature of population facilitates constant inflow/outflow of outlaws, pedophiles, rapists, assorted criminals.

--while weather often cited as plus, can also be minus where intense heat and humdity keep one indoors unable to enjoy the blessings of a no winter environment, hence difficult to enjoy true year round outdoor events.

--sexy gals in sexy bikinis!!!!!!

Once agin, Florida may be for you, it may not be. Good luck whatever you decide. I've decided that if I ever hit it big as a writer, I'll buy a winter home there....otherwise I'm "a staying" up here in NYC. Some of my loved ones have decided Florida is the place to be. Only you personally can decide what's best for you.

Best.

that's a pro?

[Moderate Guy]

Originally Posted by Wild Style

that's a pro?

Thanks wildstyle..no wonder my novels aren't selling yet! I need a good editor like you.

Thanks. It's been corrected!

[Moderate Guy]

lol..there are so many cons, one or two ended up in the pros by accident..or by a freudian slip to beef up the pros. it's all been corrected now.

[Wild Style]

other than that I liked what you said, it was pretty accurate at least from my view point.

[Moderate Guy]

Originally Posted by Wild Style

other than that I liked what you said, it was pretty accurate at least from my view point.

Thanks for endorsing. I give credence to you, as you are a knowledgeable current Florida resident and a former New Yorker.

[tonyc]

Pro: No need for winter tires. Tracks open all year. Finally can get a convert.

Cons: Massive open road is sure to increase juvenile behaviour.

Pro: No beer belly to be had as all spare time would be at beach. No need for any wetsuit equipment.

[MisterNY]

Originally Posted by tonyc

Pro: No need for winter tires. Tracks open all year. Finally can get a convert.

Cons: Massive open road is sure to increase juvenile behaviour.

Pro: No beer belly to be had as all spare time would be at beach. No need for any wetsuit equipment.

Good one about the tracks being open..well PBIR used to close for about 2 weeks every mid December. But that's still no big deal versus having to wait 4-5 months for good ol' Englishtown to reopen. Yes, that is a plus.

[fauve]

--lack of state income taxes also a con as funding for infrastructure and other standard facilities suffer as a result.

Do you have any examples? I thought this was a future problem as real estate taxes go down, but as recently as a '08, state revenues were at record highs and we even got a prop tax cut in 07. You always see infrastructure work down here (for now). Otherwise, great list!

[Wild Style]

Originally Posted by fauve

Do you have any examples? I thought this was a future problem as real estate taxes go down, but as recently as a '08, state revenues were at record highs and we even got a prop tax cut in 07. You always see infrastructure work down here (for now). Otherwise, great list!

State economists said Florida will collect $1-billion less in taxes this year than expected and that the state will have about the same amount of money next year.

link

They are in trouble and have been for some time. Relying so heavily on property tax has put them in a real bind. As for cuts in rates, they had no choice. Home prices are falling, people are losing homes and people are leaving the state in record numbers, they have to do something and one thing was to cut property tax.