Home Owners

[davidscott]

Actually, it's nice for about 6 or 7 months. Still better than NE Texas.

 

[everettT]

So, you don't like hurricanes, but you want to move 47 miles from New Madrid, home of a seizmic zone?

I guess if the house is built on a foundation that allows movement, it could be interesting. I have actually felt tremors in the Milwaukee area.
The extremely low amount of snow is definitely attractive- I have decided that snow removal is a colossal waste of time and money. OTOH, if someone has the equipment, they could make some decent cash if people are willing to pay for removal. I don't rake leaves when the wind is high, either.

Oh, I'm much better with Hurricanes than Tornadoes and the fault line, wife's mother is is in her mid 90s is the main reason for splitting time. I have to admit, I do enjoy the pace of life but miss all the restaurants and having to go to Memphis for medical needs.

 

[everettT]

What's the difference WRT lifestyle, real estate costs and cost of living compared to Orkansas? Just more teeth in the average resident?

Cost of living is dirt cheap compared to South Florida. The trade offs are hard to compare but I don't mind it.

 

[cpp]

I'm much better with Hurricanes than Tornadoes

I don't like either, but IF I HAD to chose, and since I've lived in Fla for over 65 years, I'll take hurricanes. At least we know when they are coming from and pretty close to where they are going. , neither is good in my opinion.

 

[Swerd]

Just in time for this thread. Today's Washington Post shows a USA map with the Average Home Owners Insurance Premiums in 2023. I bet no premium fell in 2024. The Gulf Coast and most of southern Florida look bad.

 

[Swerd]

And here's a similar map showing changes from 2020 to 2023.

 

[Swerd]

A quote from that Post article

Property insurance premiums have risen by more than 30% since 2020, the last full year the industry posted an underwriting profit. And insurers are still fleeing markets – 7 out of California’s top 12 carriers have curtailed coverage over the last 2 years – or are going bankrupt. Public plans, once a last resort, are the largest (and sometimes only) affordable option in “insurance deserts,” where private insurers no longer offer new standard policies.

About 10% of U.S. homeowners are now forgoing insurance, double the recent rate. Or in some cases, they’re selling their homes citing insurance premiums that rival mortgage payments.

 

[Hobbit]

Anyone else feeling the pinch of increased property taxes and insurance the past few years?

Part of the issue is all politicians run saying they're not going to increase taxes, meaning income tax. But they still need more money. Ergo, they find other options. Like, raising property tax, sin taxes, tourism taxes, and/or adding fees to bills. I've also noticed a shift in what bonds are for, which are added to our property tax compounding the problem.

They're now taking "Feel Good" items which should otherwise be budgeted and putting them in a bond. Being they're feel good, like for schools or police, people unwittingly vote yes.

Another tactic is the hidden fees. When I lived in Texas they were notorious for this. Besides the high property tax rates, SA >9%, every bill seemed to have an exorbitant fee. About a decade ago Kansas also went on a tax cut/increased deductions binge and then when school roofs were collapsing they had to find creative ways to increase revenue without increasing (income) taxes.

I had noticed a big jump in my property tax bill several years back. I called up to find out what's going on. What I found out is we voted for all these bonds which dramatically increased the bill. People made a stink, it was all over the news, but nothing changed. When I lived in Texas. I would get call to get a service (phone, internet, etc) and be told a price. The actual bill was 25-50% higher. When I called to find out why, they would say, we're charging you what we said, the rest are fees to the state or municipality. I doubt most people really paid attention.

 

[everettT]

Part of the issue is all politicians run saying they're not going to increase taxes, meaning income tax. But they still need more money. Ergo, they find other options. Like, raising property tax, sin taxes, tourism taxes, and/or adding fees to bills. I've also noticed a shift in what bonds are for, which are added to our property tax compounding the problem.

They're now taking "Feel Good" items which should otherwise be budgeted and putting them in a bond. Being they're feel good, like for schools or police, people unwittingly vote yes.

Another tactic is the hidden fees. When I lived in Texas they were notorious for this. Besides the high property tax rates, SA >9%, every bill seemed to have an exorbitant fee. About a decade ago Kansas also went on a tax cut/increased deductions binge and then when school roofs were collapsing they had to find creative ways to increase revenue without increasing (income) taxes.

I had noticed a big jump in my property tax bill several years back. I called up to find out what's going on. What I found out is we voted for all these bonds which dramatically increased the bill. People made a stink, it was all over the news, but nothing changed. When I lived in Texas. I would get call to get a service (phone, internet, etc) and be told a price. The actual bill was 25-50% higher. When I called to find out why, they would say, we're charging you what we said, the rest are fees to the state or municipality. I doubt most people really paid attention.

Property tax and other local taxes used to fund stadiums and tourism taxes that affect locals are the big ones in Florida, aside from auto insurance.

I was so looking forward to a break when I turned 55, but that was a pipe dream. I went from two cars costing me $2.5k every six months to them costing me $600 every six months in MO. The one car still registered in Florida is costing me $3.2k a year, just because it's a lease and the zip code, smh.