Retirement in Florida...recommendations

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In a word: don't. Retiring in Florida is so cliche. And Florida sucks.

But sun, sand and [b]most importantly no state taxes.

First, you get what you pay for. Second, if not state taxes is that important to you, then I feel sorry for you. You must be broke.

actually it's the opposite, moving to no tax states is very common for rich people.
https://www.bostonherald.com/2021/02/01/taxes-driving-wealth-out-of-massachusetts-and-into-florida-new-hampshire-report/

Talking specifically about moving for retirement: If you're a high earner then you'll presumably have a good amount of wealth by the time you retire. State and local tax on the income from your wealth won't have a big impact on your financial situation, relative to total assets. For people without a lot of savings, who have to live on Social Security and pensions that may be taxed, state and local tax can make a big difference.

You two are hijacking this thread. Please start a new one to continue your argument. BTW, you're never going to agree, so you should probably just let it go.

[Anonymous]

I am pp who loves Naples. I am a bit of a boring person that likes the beach and peace. Normally my life is pretty hectic.
Yes, it is an expensive place to buy a place close to the beach. But, you can get a nice house or a condo a bit further out and drive to the beach.

As usual, rich dcum is all or nothing! Even if I was to win the lottery tomorrow unless it was 1B, I could not afford one of the 60M beach properties there, nor would I want to!
But, I could get a nice, little place for 500K (was 300K two years ago) in North Naples within a couple of miles of the beach, and you can bike to it.
Plus, I am not sure many 65-year-olds want to go to the beach every single day.
Many people are happy being even 10 or more miles away from the beach and having their own pool or a nice community near them. I would love for FIL to do the same, as it is. He drives us nuts as he has no friends!

[Anonymous]

I just looked, PP, and you can find places in Naples that are walkable to Vanderbilt Beach in the 400K-600K range. By walkable I mean a mile or less away.

(My mom lives there and is one of those lil’ ol’ ladies who walks 5 miles every morning, so a nearly one-mile walk to the beach is nothing to her.)

Granted, it’s fun to look at the houses going for $5M right up on the beach!

[Anonymous]

Naples is great!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In a word: don't. Retiring in Florida is so cliche. And Florida sucks.

But sun, sand and [b]most importantly no state taxes.

First, you get what you pay for. Second, if not state taxes is that important to you, then I feel sorry for you. You must be broke.

Actually you don’t pay much in taxes if you’re broke, because you’re broke.

But the more money you have, the more Florida makes sense.

See, I can figure this out because I’m relatively smart.

Unlike you.

If you’re wealthy that’s a very big deal. 10 percent of ten million is a million... every year
I can't imagine being in a position of having to take state taxes into account in deciding where to retire or move.

[Anonymous]

Naples is undergoing severe growing pains like other parts of Florida.

For example, there are plans to build very large public parking garage in the downtown area which will have significant impacts.

Overall, the inflated housing prices in Florida are deeply concerning. We've seen that happen before...

[Anonymous]

I know several families from NYC and the DC area who have purchased homes in FL during the pandemic. Some did it as a second home/covid break, but some have decided to ditch their primary homes in NYC and DC. BTW: all liberals.

The prices have shot up during the pandemic, so I do think they will peak and start coming down.

Based on my research: crime is a big issue. Shockingly so. A pp commented about only living in a gated community. I wonder if others can comment on the crime?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Naples is great!

...if you enjoy being in bed by 8 PM

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know several families from NYC and the DC area who have purchased homes in FL during the pandemic. Some did it as a second home/covid break, but some have decided to ditch their primary homes in NYC and DC. BTW: all liberals.

The prices have shot up during the pandemic, so I do think they will peak and start coming down.

Based on my research: crime is a big issue. Shockingly so. A pp commented about only living in a gated community. I wonder if others can comment on the crime?

Gated communities are not true communities. They shut out the vibrancy of the rest of the area

[Anonymous]

I work in Tampa and live on the outskirts. Not in a gated community. I don't have any issues with time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know several families from NYC and the DC area who have purchased homes in FL during the pandemic. Some did it as a second home/covid break, but some have decided to ditch their primary homes in NYC and DC. BTW: all liberals.

The prices have shot up during the pandemic, so I do think they will peak and start coming down.

Based on my research: crime is a big issue. Shockingly so. A pp commented about only living in a gated community. I wonder if others can comment on the crime?

There is indeed crime. Florida is very much a state of haves and have nots. Just outside of Naples affluency is one of the poorest communities with migrant workers who live in shockingly deplorable conditions. They aren't exactly made welcome on the beaches by Naples residents.

The average starting salary for municipal jobs in SWFL (considered the best employment option in a "right to work/fire for any reason,state) is less than $30K. For full time. Takes years to work up the ladder and even then you are only getting modest increases.

Majority of other jobs are service industry and dependent on tips. Not an easy way to live or raise a family. Kids hear about their parents being treated like second-class citizens by weathy residents and tourists, and that stuff sinks in.

Add in a significant populace with addiction problems and no health care, and you have a boiling stew of resentment.

It spills over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In a word: don't. Retiring in Florida is so cliche. And Florida sucks.

But sun, sand and most importantly no state taxes.

Keep in mind you get what you pay for. No state income taxes means not much in the way of municipal services either. Or responsiveness. Not exactly an educated Mecca.

Rent, first, then buy. Three quarters of the year the weather is indeed pretty nice. I'd skip the summers due to heat/humidity and storms. That would be after May 15 and ends in late October.

Homeowners insurance near the beaches is really high. Ditto car insurance, all over the state. Look carefully at flood risk before buying, even if well inland.

Do you like critters? Snakes, love bugs (twice a year), gnats, huge mosquitos, big spiders. And those gators. Also tree frogs (who like to rest in canopies, including beach umbrellas). Iguanas fall from the trees if you're in south Florida during a cold snap. They are not tiny.

What sorts of athletic activities do you enjoy? Excellent on golf and pickle ball, the others to various degrees.

Even in the winter the parking lots at the beach fill up fast.

[Anonymous]

Also depending on the location the restaurant mix is primarily franchised chains. It is inexpensive to live in Florida despite high(ish) property taxes (but nowhere near the level of the northeast, a high state sales tax, and what insurance costs. Also medical care can be average.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am pp who loves Naples. I am a bit of a boring person that likes the beach and peace. Normally my life is pretty hectic.
Yes, it is an expensive place to buy a place close to the beach. But, you can get a nice house or a condo a bit further out and drive to the beach.

As usual, rich dcum is all or nothing! Even if I was to win the lottery tomorrow unless it was 1B, I could not afford one of the 60M beach properties there, nor would I want to!
But, I could get a nice, little place for 500K (was 300K two years ago) in North Naples within a couple of miles of the beach, and you can bike to it.
Plus, I am not sure many 65-year-olds want to go to the beach every single day.
Many people are happy being even 10 or more miles away from the beach and having their own pool or a nice community near them. I would love for FIL to do the same, as it is. He drives us nuts as he has no friends!

NP. I love Naples! I’d move there today if I could. My parents bought a retirement home 30 min away from there for ~300k. It’s a smaller home but in a beautiful gated community. They like living a little drive from the water because there are less crowds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In a word: don't. Retiring in Florida is so cliche. And Florida sucks.

But sun, sand and most importantly no state taxes.

Keep in mind you get what you pay for. No state income taxes means not much in the way of municipal services either. Or responsiveness. Not exactly an educated Mecca.

Rent, first, then buy. Three quarters of the year the weather is indeed pretty nice. I'd skip the summers due to heat/humidity and storms. That would be after May 15 and ends in late October.

Homeowners insurance near the beaches is really high. Ditto car insurance, all over the state. Look carefully at flood risk before buying, even if well inland.

Do you like critters? Snakes, love bugs (twice a year), gnats, huge mosquitos, big spiders. And those gators. Also tree frogs (who like to rest in canopies, including beach umbrellas). Iguanas fall from the trees if you're in south Florida during a cold snap. They are not tiny.

What sorts of athletic activities do you enjoy? Excellent on golf and pickle ball, the others to various degrees.

Even in the winter the parking lots at the beach fill up fast.

I lived in Florida most of my life and look forward to retiring there. You are painting a skewed picture of Florida. Florida has a reputation for poor services, but I didn't really find that. They don't need the taxes as badly because tourists bring in so much money. There are a ton of senior servies, especially.


I found Florida to be an easy place to live. Because people are from everywhere, they are very open to new people -- that's been an issue to other states I've moved to, where people have their friend circles and they are locked in tight. There's a lot of light and a lot of good weather. We had a pool when I was growing up, and all of us kids were in it 24/7 and in the best shape of our our lives. I didn't even get dressed most days during the summer ... Just threw on my bathing suit. I plan to be that way when I back there in my 60s.

Lots and lots and lots of great food and restaurants in Florida. So much ethnic food -- you can find anything. And so much seafood!!

When my father became elderly he lived in a retirement village there and it was like college! They had several pools, a community center with shows and buses to doctors and shopping. It was also exremely affordable.

While I lived mostly in Tampa, Gainesville and Fort Lauderdale, we'll likely look more in the Lakeland area. I have friends who retired in Jacksonville, St. Augustine and Daytona, and they love that corner of the state.