Florida Peoples??

[Apexx]

I've been thinking about relocating and one of the possible places is Florida. It doesn't matter if it's Gulf side or Atlantic side as long as I'm near the beach. I was hoping that some of you that live down there could help me out here. I can comfortably afford a home in the $400k range. Where would you guys/girls suggest as a nice place to live. Obviously hurricanes are a pretty big concern, so if you could tell me how they've effected you in the area you're, that would be a great help.

Thanks in advance for all of your help.

Apexx

 

[hamstershaver]

hurricanes are a pretty big concern and you want to live in florida near the beach
tee

 

[heatherrae]

Well, if you want to live close to the ocean, hurricanes are a part of it. I like Sarasota because the gulf coast has pretty white sand and prettier water than the east coast. Sarasota has lots of good people but the property costs are not so far through the roof yet that $400k will still get you a very pretty home.

 

[Dieselicious]

I'm in miami bro. best place to live here if you are white - is Miami Lakes. South beach is the bomb but its not all its cracked out to be. Live in miami lakes in a house and drive to the beach. But you could also live in a diecent condo in the $400's - I need a house personally.

 

[hamstershaver]

also atlantic beaches > gulf side beaches

 

[Delinquent]

Where do you live now that you are able to afford a $400,000 house? Reason I ask is that the housing market is extremely inflated compared to salaries right now.

If you wanna live by the coast, be prepared to pay outrageous home insurance and you may have trouble even finding insurance. Many companies are refusing to renew their customers policies.

Also, what type of city are you looking to live around? Looking for the busy city life, suburbs, or rural?

 

[Apexx]

Yeah, I do realize that if I want to live by the beach, I'll have to deal with hurricanes. I was hoping to find a place that gets a bit less pounded every year.

Heatherrae, I will definitely check out sarasota. Thank you

Deisel, I love south beach. but like you said, it's not all it's cracked up to be. I definitely couldn't live there. How far away is Miami lakes from sobe?

Delinquent, I live outside of Philly right now in the burbs. I'm looking to stay somewhere in the suburbs. The housing market is crazy right now, but it is starting to slow down quite a bit. I'm a mortgage broker, so it really doesn't matter where I live, my income will still stay the same because I originate loans all across the country.
The HOI is another thing that is weighing in on my choice as well. I've stayed away from doing loans in Florida for the past couple of years because clients were having trouble getting coverage down there.

 

[Y_lifter]

If you want RIGHT ON THE BEACH, get an older 1 BR High Rise Condo...
High Rise Condo's are safer than standard houses on the beach unless those
houses are wayyy up on pilings etc which is costly.

You may be able to find a small 1-2 BR Condo that is 20 or so years old for $500K
outside of the popular areas such as Miami, Palm Beach, etc.

You can get a place Right ON the beach but like 10 stories up with a parking garage off of the ground floor in case it floods inland..

You may want to lease first for a year to be sure you want to stay down here through the Long Summer months and a year round with no real change in seasons.

Another alternative is getting a high rise condo on the River side of the barrier islands such as Merrit Island etc. Still on the water but about 2-5 miles inland.

Hurricaines are more of a nusance than a problem here IF you are prepared for them and your house is new concrete block and built to latest codes.

Don't have large trees around or over your house.

Ensure that the house sits high on the lot as most newer ones do.

Get a generator because the power will go out for hours to days.

I would not own a single family 1/2 story house right on the ocean myself.
Or even one a block or 2 inland due to storm surge flooding and beach erosion mostly.

 

[Apexx]

Y Lifter, very good points bro. Thanks

 

[Y_lifter]

Yeah, I do realize that if I want to live by the beach, I'll have to deal with hurricanes. I was hoping to find a place that gets a bit less pounded every year.

It's all a gamble really..

Living in the middle of the state, we all felt super safe. And mostly we are...

And then the wake up call in 2004 when 2 big storms cut right across the state causing lots of damage mostly due to trees coming down, power and roofs not up to code failing, not water.

Central Fla is becoming a buyers market according to recent reports due to a glutted market and way too high expectation on seller markups compared to 2005. You can pretty much find whatever you want.

I live on the far eastern edge of the Orlando Metro area, so I am fairly close to all of the amenities using expressways, and yet still <30 minutes from the beach.

 

[heatherrae]

I lost everything that I owned in Hurricane Andrew down in Miami. Make sure you are well-insured. I was young and stupid. I had a palm tree literally in one side and out the other of my car. I only had the clothes on my back and my pets.

 

[Sub-Zero]

I lost everything that I owned in Hurricane Andrew down in Miami. Make sure you are well-insured. I was young and stupid. I had a palm tree literally in one side and out the other of my car. I only had the clothes on my back and my pets.

and your source of income (vagina)

 

[PICK3]

hurricanes are a pretty big concern

I want to live near a snow ski resort, but I don't want it to get cold.

 

[AAP]

Gulf side has the smell, but nice sand beaches.

Atlantic has better water, no smell, better trade winds which are great for keeping the humidity and mosquitos pushed out west and away from the beach area. In FTL, that is why the summer months are hot, but not stifling like other parts of Florida. To be honest, you can view the weather site and see that in the summer, FTL is actually cooler than other cities like NYC, Boston, Chicago, etc..

Central has nothing but humidity, insects, and boredom.

High rises are ok, but you can't put a generator out on your balcony. All new houses are built to withstand hurricanes now.

Miami aint' shit but a strung out fashion whore with a deteriorating herion problem. That city isn't what it used to be in the mid 80s. People considering Miami and South Beach a party city obviously haven't been to a real party town before and are easily fooled by glitz and fake glam.

 

[FISHTALES]

jacsonville here, not a party town for the most part, but a lot of opportunity here, and the housing market has not quite bubbled here like dade county, so you can still get a decent house for 400

 

[calveless wonder]

Assuming you're young and white, you probably want to live in ft lauderdale or boca.

boca/delray area is really nice. You can get a pretty decent house for 400k there. Probably paying about 200 a sq foot in that area. There are plenty of old people, but also alot of business people and college kids (that go to FAU, etc). Overall it has a good atmosphere and everything is beautiful

Fort lauderdale is nice too...but a little more expensive depending on where you live.


I've lived on miami beach for 4 years and im starting to hate it. MY office is up in boca and just being up there it's such a better change even though there's more to do in miami. The people in miami are the strangest and rudest people you will ever meet in the US.

Ideally, you live close to both fort lauderdale and miami...so when you do go out to south beach/the grove/design district it's not that bad.

 

[heatherrae]

I lived in Miami, also. I lived in the Hammocks, South Beach and Miami Lakes at different times. This was all in the early 90's, but I definitely can say there is less bullshit if you head a little further up the coast and to the gulf side. If you are going to live in Miami, I would agree that Miami Lakes is nice. South Beach was so cool back then, but I hear it isn't at all anymore. Plus, I doubt $400k would get you much there anymore.

 

[AAP]

When Andrew killed Versaci, he effectively killed Miami as well.

I hear Tampa / St Pete is nice if you are young and straight.

 

[Iamkimjong]

kimjon say:

weather not lookering so good for tampa....forecast croudy with stong change of missire for next two day

 

[heatherrae]

kimjon say:

weather not lookering so good for tampa....forecast croudy with stong change of missire for next two day

LOL...I'm post stalking him just to crack up. Best alter EVER!

 

[gotmilk]

Save cash go a go a little inland. You can find great houses near Lake Tarpon...a really short drive to the ocean and near Sarasota/Tampa.

I was working on a project at the Westin Innisbrook golf course and could not believe the drop in price for a simple 10 minute drive from the beaches.

 

[Iamkimjong]

LOL...I'm post stalking him just to crack up. Best alter EVER!

....I see crouds of smoke over st perterburg.....vast devastation and charos....

then sokru sharr be mine!!!!


*evir raugh*

 

[heatherrae]

....I see crouds of smoke over st perterburg.....vast devastation and charos....

then sokru sharr be mine!!!!


*evir raugh*

Just aim away from Sarasota. Your future dictatoress lives there.

 

[swolenole]

If you like it a bit smaller and more laid back.....North Florida beaches...Destin or St. George Island.....Inland I have allways like Tallahassee...it has old southern charm....and is a nice place to raise kids..

 

[Apexx]

Thanks for all of the help ladies and gents. I will definitely check out the cities that you've all mentioned.
I really don't want to live in a condo. I'd rather live a little farther from the actual beach and have a house with a yard. Does anyone know how old the latest building codes are? If I'm looking for a single family house, I want to make sure that it was made AFTER those new codes were implemented.

Thanks again,
Apexx

 

[Y_lifter]

Fla Building Codes were totally revamped and made into Statewide standards regarding Huricaine resistance after Andrew hit south Fla in 1992. They basically vary depending on how far inland you are as to the MPH the structure must be able to withstand. They are reviewed and tweaked/updated every 3 years

Before that, Codes varied by County and City and was generally weaker in requirements.

They were again strengthened statewide vs just the coastlines in 2004 adding more requirements for wind blown water intrusion after the 4 storms hit inland that year....

So, Built before 1992, you won't know..
After that better statewide depending on how far inland
After 2004 best statewide

 

[Apexx]

Thanks bro. That's exactly what I was looking for.

Fla Building Codes were totally revamped and made into Statewide standards regarding Huricaine resistance after Andrew hit south Fla in 1992. They basically vary depending on how far inland you are as to the MPH the structure must be able to withstand. They are reviewed and tweaked/updated every 3 years

Before that, Codes varied by County and City and was generally weaker in requirements.

They were again strengthened statewide vs just the coastlines in 2004 adding more requirements for wind blown water intrusion after the 4 storms hit inland that year....

So, Built before 1992, you won't know..
After that better statewide depending on how far inland
After 2004 best statewide

 

[Iamkimjong]

Just aim away from Sarasota. Your future dictatoress lives there.

 

[Dieselicious]

I'm still sticking with Miami Lakes for you. x-senetor Bob Graham owns half the town of miami lakes - lots of other political figures around to. Its helps to have to have them in the hood, when power goes out during the storms who do you think get up and running first? - You know it! Plus its 20 mins from everywhere the beach, ft lauderdale - 20 minutes from either airport.