Should I move to Florida?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HHI is $415 for the first time this year. Maryland taxes are killing me. COLA in DMV is a PITA. I could fly up every other week and do my job fine from south Florida. In laws are down here. Income tax alone would save me $24k!

How much would you be spending on those 26 flights? Where would you stay when you fly back to MD?

I get the idea that taxes are cheaper... but I think there are a lot of hidden expenses in moving and living a life that requires you to travel back to MD every other week. I am not against moving to FL permanently -- I can't stand DeSantis, and I think there is a real likelihood that he and Nikki Haley will be the next Pres/VP. -- but there are also plusses when it comes to the tropical climate, greenery, homes with pools, etc. etc. I've been looking at homes just for fun as well. But I don't have plans to move there any time soon.

That said, the cost of selling your home, moving all your stuff adds up. Would you be setting up another house? $$$

I don't think it makes sense if your job requires you to come back to MD every two weeks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You're not going to get a balanced perspective on DCUM where Florida is now an evil state due to the current governor (while praising Cuomo to the sky, but that's another story).

Despite the comments on this thread, hordes of wealthy people do move to Florida for tax purposes. It's not just anecdotal, but it's a real and proper fiscal drain and it's been noted by many state officials. What they do is establish Florida residency and as long as they spend six months minus one day in Maryland, Florida is their legal residency and there's not much Maryland can do about it. The kicker is that you don't have to spend six months plus one day to claim Florida residency. So you can spend the winters in Florida, summers somewhere cool, travel a lot, and still keep your old house in Maryland, and you're still a bona fide Florida resident.

Florida can offer a high quality of life, especially for those who can escape to cooler climates in the peak summer months. It's a huge state with the whole range of demographics from deep blue to deep red and everything in between. Just find your niche in Florida. If you live and breathe and die by politics, maybe you can't cope with Republican governors. But without those Republican governors, you wouldn't have the generous tax breaks. And summers in Florida aren't that bad. It's not hotter than the DMV, it's just more humid and for a longer period. Plenty of people don't mind humidity. Miami is both an international jet set playground and very interesting and dynamic Latin-American community that makes things interesting. The Gulf side has plenty of upscale communities. Florida is VERY diverse. Commenting about running away from Florida because of the racist people is a weird thing to say. Running away from Florida because you're racist would be more logical.

Florida sucked long, long before DeSantis won. But he certainly doesn't improve the perception of the state (and if he does appeal to you, you definitely should move there - water seeks its own level, after all).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Since so many families are moving to FL from the NE and Midwest….it is not your Grandma’s FL. There is also a large population who work from home and periodically travel. If you have the money it can be paradise for kids.

OP: There are MANY families who one spouse commutes from FL to northern cities. It would be nice for the kids to have family around in southern FL. But, it is crowded. NE FL is nice because it has a sense of the seasons. Drawback: It might take some time to find your tribe, but they are out there. I would suggest private school. There is not really any diversity but families and kids enjoy some great travel experiences. Another thought, travel can be hard on the family.

It’s a big decision and I would do my homework in terms of neighborhoods, schools, etc. As a side, many young parents are not vaccinated.

Best of luck!

Yeah, southern Georgia is renowned for its variety of seasons.

Your ignorance is showing!

1. It’s south Georgia. Not “southern Georgia.”
2. Yes it absolutely does have a change of seasons. Is it Vermont? No. But it has all four seasons.

[Anonymous]

One woman from FL told me she had to claw her way out of Florida schools system and that no way she would move back there with her kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You're not going to get a balanced perspective on DCUM where Florida is now an evil state due to the current governor (while praising Cuomo to the sky, but that's another story).

Despite the comments on this thread, hordes of wealthy people do move to Florida for tax purposes. It's not just anecdotal, but it's a real and proper fiscal drain and it's been noted by many state officials. What they do is establish Florida residency and as long as they spend six months minus one day in Maryland, Florida is their legal residency and there's not much Maryland can do about it. The kicker is that you don't have to spend six months plus one day to claim Florida residency. So you can spend the winters in Florida, summers somewhere cool, travel a lot, and still keep your old house in Maryland, and you're still a bona fide Florida resident.

Florida can offer a high quality of life, especially for those who can escape to cooler climates in the peak summer months. It's a huge state with the whole range of demographics from deep blue to deep red and everything in between. Just find your niche in Florida. If you live and breathe and die by politics, maybe you can't cope with Republican governors. But without those Republican governors, you wouldn't have the generous tax breaks. And summers in Florida aren't that bad. It's not hotter than the DMV, it's just more humid and for a longer period. Plenty of people don't mind humidity. Miami is both an international jet set playground and very interesting and dynamic Latin-American community that makes things interesting. The Gulf side has plenty of upscale communities. Florida is VERY diverse. Commenting about running away from Florida because of the racist people is a weird thing to say. Running away from Florida because you're racist would be more logical.

I don't think, "It's got a high quality of life, as long as you leave for at least 25% of the year," is the winning argument you think it is.

Most people who are well off spend a significant amount of time each year away from their home.

[Anonymous]

I miss my Florida life. And all my friends and most of my neighbors were Democrats. Florida is not deep red, like Alabama or Mississippi. The cities are blue.

[Anonymous]

North Florida is biggest red neck area. Jacksonville is pure trash

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As someone who lives in Florida, I guess there are some savings, but we pay A LOT in home insurance because of the hurricane coverage. Our $1M home costs us $10K a year in home insurance, our property taxes, $13K.

And this is only going to get worse. Plus, the rest of the country will, at some point, get sick of subsidizing Florida's rebuild when hurricanes and floods of ever-increasing frequency and severity continue to decimate it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As someone who lives in Florida, I guess there are some savings, but we pay A LOT in home insurance because of the hurricane coverage. Our $1M home costs us $10K a year in home insurance, our property taxes, $13K.

Ouch! That home insurance is A LOT! We have a similarly valued home in VA and our home insurance is just under $2000.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:North Florida is biggest red neck area. Jacksonville is pure trash

Yup, used to be. Not any more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I miss my Florida life. And all my friends and most of my neighbors were Democrats. Florida is not deep red, like Alabama or Mississippi. The cities are blue.

Pretty much all large metro areas in almost every state are blue, including those in AL and MS.

[Anonymous]

it is so fascinating to read all the responses, and what seems to be 95% hatred at the mere mention of florida.
perhaps i have different perspective because i grew up in south florida. and much of south florida, especially miami and fll really doesn't consider itself part of floriduh.
i left dc 2 years ago and feel like i can finally breathe!
i appreciate my time in dc and the many benefits to having lived there, but i'm so glad to be raising my family back in south florida.
and yes, i and many others cannot stand desantis.
but i love living 10 minutes from the beach and going to the beach 2x a week vs 1-2x a year, year round beach (warm enough to swim in, not freezing and rough) and pool weather, NO WINTER ICE OR SNOW!!!, no state income tax, incredible diversity, my kids are already conversant in spanish and portuguese, fantastic food, less cutthroat emphasis on who you know/what you do/what can you do for me, not worrying about signing up for good quality daycare or preschool spots at 6 weeks pregnant, being 2-3 hour plane rides from much of central and south america, having kids in person learning, all the watersports you can imagine, the lush tropical plants and trees, having fruit trees in my backyard like mango papaya and lychee, how greeen and alive everything is in winter instead of brown and dead, blue sunny skies, etc

the thought of being back in dc makes me feel suffocated and anxious.
my 2 cents!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone who lives in Florida, I guess there are some savings, but we pay A LOT in home insurance because of the hurricane coverage. Our $1M home costs us $10K a year in home insurance, our property taxes, $13K.

And this is only going to get worse. Plus, the rest of the country will, at some point, get sick of subsidizing Florida's rebuild when hurricanes and floods of ever-increasing frequency and severity continue to decimate it.

Climate change is really going to hit FL hard over the next 20 to 50 years. They are already seeing the impact of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:it is so fascinating to read all the responses, and what seems to be 95% hatred at the mere mention of florida.
perhaps i have different perspective because i grew up in south florida. and much of south florida, especially miami and fll really doesn't consider itself part of floriduh.
i left dc 2 years ago and feel like i can finally breathe!
i appreciate my time in dc and the many benefits to having lived there, but i'm so glad to be raising my family back in south florida.
and yes, i and many others cannot stand desantis.
but i love living 10 minutes from the beach and going to the beach 2x a week vs 1-2x a year, year round beach (warm enough to swim in, not freezing and rough) and pool weather, NO WINTER ICE OR SNOW!!!, no state income tax, incredible diversity, my kids are already conversant in spanish and portuguese, fantastic food, less cutthroat emphasis on who you know/what you do/what can you do for me, not worrying about signing up for good quality daycare or preschool spots at 6 weeks pregnant, being 2-3 hour plane rides from much of central and south america, having kids in person learning, all the watersports you can imagine, the lush tropical plants and trees, having fruit trees in my backyard like mango papaya and lychee, how greeen and alive everything is in winter instead of brown and dead, blue sunny skies, etc

the thought of being back in dc makes me feel suffocated and anxious.
my 2 cents!

As a former FL resident, I agree! We plan to retire there in a few years. It's a much easier lifestyle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:it is so fascinating to read all the responses, and what seems to be 95% hatred at the mere mention of florida.
perhaps i have different perspective because i grew up in south florida. and much of south florida, especially miami and fll really doesn't consider itself part of floriduh.
i left dc 2 years ago and feel like i can finally breathe!
i appreciate my time in dc and the many benefits to having lived there, but i'm so glad to be raising my family back in south florida.
and yes, i and many others cannot stand desantis.
but i love living 10 minutes from the beach and going to the beach 2x a week vs 1-2x a year, year round beach (warm enough to swim in, not freezing and rough) and pool weather, NO WINTER ICE OR SNOW!!!, no state income tax, incredible diversity, my kids are already conversant in spanish and portuguese, fantastic food, less cutthroat emphasis on who you know/what you do/what can you do for me, not worrying about signing up for good quality daycare or preschool spots at 6 weeks pregnant, being 2-3 hour plane rides from much of central and south america, having kids in person learning, all the watersports you can imagine, the lush tropical plants and trees, having fruit trees in my backyard like mango papaya and lychee, how greeen and alive everything is in winter instead of brown and dead, blue sunny skies, etc

the thought of being back in dc makes me feel suffocated and anxious.
my 2 cents!

TO each her own - I much prefer NE weather to Florida's.

That said, I do love south Florida, and many of the amenities you describe (other than the weather). But somehow, in his quest for a dramatically lower COL, I doubt OP is going to end up in south Florida.