beast of the east
Active member
Re: Florida income tax. You MUST be a Florida resident of at least 6 months and a day. You may get away with a little less if your income is low, but they will audit and enforce, and with everything electronic (credit cards, cell phone GPS connect to towers, Flight history, EZ Pass, License plate readers) you can easily get caught
Real Estate taxes - In many or most counties get reset based on purchase price to about 1%. You can buy something with low taxes, but the more you pay, the RE taxes can actually exceed NY or other places.
Real Estate prices - Have absolutely gone to the stratosphere during Covid and now that baby boomers are passing 65. Florida prices can actually go down in a recession due to the vast number of second homes. Prices tail off considerably the further you go inland, but waterfront prices in many areas can be more expensive than the Hamptons.
Weather - For about every 10 miles further south you go, weather gets a little warmer. Jacksonville can get snow, but Miami rarely goes below 50 at night, and even 50s is unusual there. Even Orlando can get weather in the 30s, although rare. If you like 3 seasons, look in the north.
Preference: Southeast coast is densely populated near the shore with many residents from NYC Metro. The traffic can be brutal since populations increased dramatically inland after roadways were built. I was in Fort Lauderdale in October pre-Covid and Fort Lauderdale Blvd, which borders a narrow sliver of beach, was bumper to bumper most of the day. If you like Ocean waves, east coast has that. West Coast - mostly midwesterners, with some NYC Metro. Much better traffic pattterns in newer growth communities. Many beach communities have restricted access so if you live close to or on the water, won't contend with hordes of beachgoers.
Car Insurance - I have plenty of relatives in SW Fla, and they tell me car insurance is more expensive than NE, due to older bad drivers.
Electricity - dirt cheap compared to NYC, and the further south you go you won't even need heat in the winter.
Crime - With few exceptions, many places in Florida have very low or non existent person on person crime. Florida police don't mess around, and there is little catch and release.
Restaurants - Where I visit in Naples, restaurants are more expensive than on Long Island in general and packed every night of the season.
Cultural Arts - depending where you are, are pretty good, but don't expect anything like Broadway or multiple concert arenas.
Real Estate taxes - In many or most counties get reset based on purchase price to about 1%. You can buy something with low taxes, but the more you pay, the RE taxes can actually exceed NY or other places.
Real Estate prices - Have absolutely gone to the stratosphere during Covid and now that baby boomers are passing 65. Florida prices can actually go down in a recession due to the vast number of second homes. Prices tail off considerably the further you go inland, but waterfront prices in many areas can be more expensive than the Hamptons.
Weather - For about every 10 miles further south you go, weather gets a little warmer. Jacksonville can get snow, but Miami rarely goes below 50 at night, and even 50s is unusual there. Even Orlando can get weather in the 30s, although rare. If you like 3 seasons, look in the north.
Preference: Southeast coast is densely populated near the shore with many residents from NYC Metro. The traffic can be brutal since populations increased dramatically inland after roadways were built. I was in Fort Lauderdale in October pre-Covid and Fort Lauderdale Blvd, which borders a narrow sliver of beach, was bumper to bumper most of the day. If you like Ocean waves, east coast has that. West Coast - mostly midwesterners, with some NYC Metro. Much better traffic pattterns in newer growth communities. Many beach communities have restricted access so if you live close to or on the water, won't contend with hordes of beachgoers.
Car Insurance - I have plenty of relatives in SW Fla, and they tell me car insurance is more expensive than NE, due to older bad drivers.
Electricity - dirt cheap compared to NYC, and the further south you go you won't even need heat in the winter.
Crime - With few exceptions, many places in Florida have very low or non existent person on person crime. Florida police don't mess around, and there is little catch and release.
Restaurants - Where I visit in Naples, restaurants are more expensive than on Long Island in general and packed every night of the season.
Cultural Arts - depending where you are, are pretty good, but don't expect anything like Broadway or multiple concert arenas.
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