Cost of Living in Central Florida vs. NJ

[dvcgirl]

That's interesting FeralPeg...maybe they can do that when it's new construction and the gas lines are brought out to the general area of the subdivision. I'm betting that we wouldn't be able to request a gas line in an exisiting electric neighborhood.

 

[mishoe01]

I'm glad I ran into this thread too!!

I am planning to move down to Orlando by this time next year.

I would like your opinion on this - not sure what I want to do/how I want to do things....I am going down in September and will start "shopping" but here's my dilema....



Do I buy a house that's older?
Do I have a house built while I'm still in MD (then how do you make sure there are no issues)?
Do I move first, rent an apartment, then build while I'm down there (knowing costs may change)?

Can anyone help me?

 

[dvcgirl]

mishoe01,

You could go with any of options you've listed. No matter how you look at it, moving long distance is never easy.

The number one thing is location. Do lots of research on the Orlando area. Find out where you'd like to live. If you'll be working in Orlando, where in the area are you mostly likely to work? Think about what kind of commute you'll be facing. Orlando and the surrounding suburbs are growing at an incredible rate and the major highways are not keeping up.

As for new vs. re-sale, well, there are pros and cons to both. For us, we've done the "build a new house thing", and are not eager to do it again. There are many relatively new homes available in Orlando, and so finding one where you want to live with all the amenities you're looking for (like a pool) isn't that difficult.

Good luck to you no matter what you decide!

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Geez...and I wonder why development is out of control around central Florida. I hope you all know what you are really in for. Visiting as a tourist is one thing, living here is another. If I had a choice in the matter, I would be outta here so fast it would make your head spin (DH is too far into the retirement system to move). We have already started looking for land in the mountains of North Carolina. I can't get out of here quick enough. And I'm not even in the Orlando area, which is even WORSE. Good luck to you all.

 

[mishoe01]

I used to live in Orlando, and only moved away because my nephew was born (and I couldn't stand being 16hrs away from him)....but now it's time for me to go back!!!

I've been looking at different areas (Kissimmee, Poinciana, and other areas of Orlando) at the difference costs and houses that are offered. I am hopefully going to get my old job back (at the old Harcourt Brace bldg next to Sea World), so not too worried about the commute.

 

[dvcgirl]

Well, we live at the Jersey Shore which is also a resort area. We're packed with tourists around here from Memorial Day through Labor Day and then we're frozen in from December until April. And the NJ/NY area is just really congested in general. It's really the winters that did us in. We spend lots of time in Florida (very little of it at Disney) and always knew we'd move to Florida, but figured we'd wait about five years. We pretty much have four warm months of the year and that's it. We've just had it with the winters and decided to take advantage of this incredible seller's market we're having up here.

Miss Jasmine, what exactly do you dislike about Florida?

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Where do I begin?

First off, tourism is not a problem, especially in Brevard County, where I live. So that can be taken out of the equation. My problems have to do with city and county planners who approve subdivision after subdivision with no thought of the infrastructure that goes along with the influx of more people. Schools are overcrowded. Roads are overcrowed. Water supplies are diminishing so much that in ten years or so time central Florida could be without water (unless drastic measures are taken such as desalination plants, which let me tell you, no one is lining up to do). These are the things you never hear about, and you don't see until you live here. Everyone makes it sound like such a paradise. It's not. It is far from it. Good paying jobs are difficult to come by because a lot in the Orlando area are tourism based and they don't pay well. Even over here where he have a lot of high tech and defense contractors, good jobs are difficult to land. You should have seen the people I had apply to a menial administrative job. They had the education and experience for a much better job, yet they just needed A JOB. I felt so bad. The weather is nice, the sun is nice, being near Disney is nice. But there are so many other things no one takes into account.

 

[wickey's friend]

Sorry for the hijack -- but ducklite, I love your house and I would love to live in Cleremont. We usually drive to WDW, and every time we go through, I tell my DH I want to live there. It's changed in the past few years, but I still would love it.

Good luck with all your moves! Some day . . . some day!

 

[dvcgirl]

I guess overcrowded is a relative term. Here in the Garden State we give that term a new look. I just did a quick google search on Orlando vs. Newark. Orlando is roughly 100 sq miles and has a population of 195,000. Newark is 24 sq. miles and has a population of 273,000!! And while Orlando is surrounded by suburbs, Newark is surrounded by many more mini cities in New Jersey, and the biggest city of all...NYC. We have almost 9 million people crammed into our little state. Now mind you, I don't live in Newark or even North Jersey, but I do drive there for work on a regular basis...and it's no picnic. Even in our nice suburban county, we have 471 sq miles and a population of 615,000. So even the quiet suburbs are becoming as crowded as small cities in other parts of the country.

I have actually read about the water issue in the Orlando Sentinel. And I know about the schools, but that won't come into play for us because we have no kids.

We're going into this with our eyes wide open and not expecting a "grass is always greener" scenario. We've just had it with the winters and are looking forward to enjoying a different lifestyle in Orlando. One where you're not stuck inside for six months of the year. And sure, we know that it's hot in Florida. We both like the heat and believe it or not, July and August are pretty hot up here too.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Yes I know how hot the summers can be up north. I was very thankful to have one of few houses in our neighborhood with central air. Thank you Mom and Dad! I'm glad you have done your research. I think some people come down here without really thinking it through. Really I would just like the cities and the counties to start reigning in development and I would be happy or at least invest in the ifrastructure needed. It's bad because you could always count on affordable housing and now you can't. Property and housing costs are spiraling out of control (I am sooooooo happy we bought our house right before this big boom) and yet wages are not keeping up. It is getting much more expensive to live here and you don't make the money you make in other comparible places.

 

[dvcgirl]

I hear ya Miss Jasmine. Housing has gone up considerably in the Orlando area over the past couple of years, but compared to here...forget about it. It's really, really sad here. I mean, we know couples where both people are professionals and they can't buy a house. It's just incredible.

I'm glad that you guys got your home before the boom. I actually know a lot of people who are thinking about moving to Florida, but are holding off due to the problem with the schools. But it soooooo much cheaper to live in Orlando than it is to live here, that some are considering private schools or homeschooling because the savings is that great.

Thanks a lot for you insight Miss Jasmine, I do appreciate it!

 

[sap1227]

We live in NW Orange County
Our house is 2250 sq ft (under air)
On around a 1/3 acre
Built in 2001, we paid $170,000

Car Registration: $ 40 (both cars were close to that)
Car Insurance: $ 190 per month (2002 Honda Accord 1998 Acura Integra)
Electric Bill: $ 80-$140 per month
Water Bill: $ 30 (including sprinklers)
Cable: $ 100 (Digital Cable and Roadrunner Online)
Home Owners Insurance:$ 750 (Year)
Property Taxes (Year): $2500
Pest Control: $ 40 every other month

We used to pay about $40 every 6 weeks for lawn treatment, but they were doing a poor job, so now DH does it.

DH also cuts the grass himself.

Good Luck on your big move!

 

[mom2of2]

Another Jerseyian wanna be Floridian here.
We live in Central West Jersey, farmlands and mountains, no sidewalks or traffic lights, really rural. The problem? We've been discovered by what we like to refer to as the "city folks" no disrespect intended. They come here and build McMansion after McMansion and the people who were born and raised here can't afford to live here anymore. My taxes have doubled in the past 3 years and it's getting way too expensive to live here anymore. We have decided that Florida works for us. My DH is Union and we can transfer to a local out of Tampa, sure the pay is less but so is the cost of living. I went to that calculator that was referenced in page 1 of this thread and we would have to make about $30,000 LESS to live in Florida. My car insurance is sky high for 2 vehicles that are over 5 years old. I'll take the love bugs, high temps and the threat of gators and hurricane's over being miserably cold with snow and rain for 9 months out of the year and stinking hot the remaining time. Can't remember the last time we actually had a Spring.

 

[dvcgirl]

I hear ya Mom2of2. We have serious sprawl happening in the rural parts of our county too (monmouth), and there appears to be no end in sight. Our home has doubled in price in the past five years and many of our neighbors have come up to us and said that if they had to buy into our neighborhood now that they couldn't afford it. Incomes are just not rising at the same right as housing prices and property taxes.

 

[msdis]

Incomes are not rising as fast as housing increases in almost anywhere in the USA. Our newer house has climbed in value almost 50% in 3-5 years and we are in a "poor" part of the country where taxes are the highest and wages the lowest. But housing has become out of control here too. We either wanted to trade up here, or move to Fl. Our research shows we have one choice and only one choice-stay put. We have been watching the Florida market very carefully for several years and it has just about become cost prohibitive for us. A few years ago it was cheaper enough from where we are, to have made the move. Unfortunately, the prices in Fl have exceeded where we are, and it is no longer feasible at this time. I can't help but wonder if the NY, NJ, Boston, and other high cost, high wage areas of the country are helping to fuel the Florida housing boom and great price increases. I read all these posts and find the costs everyone pays in these areas to be several times what our costs are here. When the big city residents pay 1/2-a million for a home that would cost 225,000 here(that's a REALLY nice home here) not to mention the taxes and ulilities that are cheap by comparison. Florida used to be cheaper than here but not any more. I think Florida is becoming more and more appealing to the big city residents because it still looks so cheap to them from where they are standing, yet it too is beginning to reflect the supply/demand because prices are climbing so far and fast.

dvcgirl & miss Jasmine-
Our coasts here and lake areas have also become cost prohibitive to natives and it is all being sold to people from the Boston and CT areas for vacation homes who can afford them. The taxes have also grown so that the locals cannot afford their modest homes and must sell and move away from the water. We too have heard about Fl water problems. We have a well that is on a 1+1/4 acre lot that should give us enough water forever. That is such a valuable asset you don't think about.

Anne-
We drove to Clermont 2 weeks ago as it was an area we had heard so much about and just had to see. It was not at all what we expected. We could not believe all the hills. We only ventured a little ways off 27 and drove thru a few developments to see what there was to see. The pics of your house and area looks really nice. I guess what was so disappointing is that the openness just felt so weird. Beautiful area, just not what we expected. This fall we will look at the east and west coasts.

My gram used to say to me 10 years ago when I started my Fl dream...........it's not gonna be like being on vacation. You still have to get up and go to work every day & still have bills to pay.

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by ChristmasElf
I was referring to gas as a utility. (Not propane)




We also have direct gas (propane) for the grill on the lanai. However in the areas I have lived in here in Central Florida, there is only electric- except for the propane for the grill and the pool/spa heater.

I do not have a gas stove top, however my neighbor does, so I know you can just call Amerigas and get a propane tank for the backyard.

Christmaself

I'm in Clermont, and I have GAS...not propane. My water heater is gas, and the grill will run on natural gas, NOT propane. I had a choice of gas or electric for the heat pump, but we researched it and found electric would be more efficient in FL, although in cooler climates gas would be more efficient.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by wickey's friend
Sorry for the hijack -- but ducklite, I love your house and I would love to live in Cleremont. We usually drive to WDW, and every time we go through, I tell my DH I want to live there. It's changed in the past few years, but I still would love it.

Good luck with all your moves! Some day . . . some day!

Thanks! once we get settled in, we'd love to have people come visit!

Anne

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by msdis

Anne-
We drove to Clermont 2 weeks ago as it was an area we had heard so much about and just had to see. It was not at all what we expected. We could not believe all the hills. We only ventured a little ways off 27 and drove thru a few developments to see what there was to see. The pics of your house and area looks really nice. I guess what was so disappointing is that the openness just felt so weird. Beautiful area, just not what we expected. This fall we will look at the east and west coasts. .

The hills are what we fell in love with! DH is a marathon runner, and he loves to train on hilly land. We're on the top of about the highest point in Clermont.

Anne

 

[dvcgirl]

msdis

I definitely think that the Northeast is helping to drive up the housing prices in Orlando. I also think that it will make it tougher on folks in other parts of the country to move there. But it is incredibly appealing to for folks around here to move to the Sunshine state.


For us, well, a move to Florida was always in the plans. We love the weather there. We don't enjoy our winters. But when we look at our budget here vs. Fl, well, it becomes a whole lot more appealing. Our monthly budget in Florida will be 55% less than what it is here. Thanks mostly to no mortgage and much lower property taxes in Florida. Also far lower will utility costs and another savings is no state income tax. We expect to make a little less income-wise in Florida, but it will be nowhere near 55% less.

We don't expect it to be like vacation. It may not be a blast to get up to go to work in Florida everyday, but trust me, it's no fun getting up to go to work in NJ either. And it's downright awful in the cold, snow and ice.

 

[ligirlz]

Yes the Northeast is definitely causing the boom down south. The taxes are so unbelievable here and rent alone is ridiculous. We were looking the end of last year for an apt here on Long Island and the cheapest we found for a one bed/one bath was $1100 which was way out of our price range. We found a studio, a studio mind you, that cost $950 a month. Plus they wanted the first and last months rent and security, etc.. right up front which we dont have $3000 right there. We were in Orlando last month for a week apt hunting and found 4 or 5 reasonable ones we were interested in which we can get alot more for our money and cost half of what the rent was in NY. The income taxes I pay alone are outrageous and I dont have a clue to where the $700 the state took from me this year went to and that one thing I look forward to in Florida is NO STATE TAXES. That's a rip off right there because I live at home with my parents and they took that much from me. I know atleast 5 other people who recently moved down to Florida because the costs here in NY are so bad. I am right behind them come this August becasue I just about had it with NY even though I lived here for all 27 years of my life. I don't mind paying alot in water, cable, electric because it probably the same up here that it is down in Florida. Everything is going up our cable was just raised again last year for the 3rd time in 2 years and they just reappraised all houses in my county causing property taxes to be raised again along with school taxes. Right now senators on Long Island are fighting with the NY gov't for an affordable housing bill becasue they just realized this year alot of people are moving out of state between the ages 21 - 35 and alot of houses went up for sale this past year also. The reason why was becasue they is no affordable housing, families can't afford the taxes anymore and the apts for younger people starting out are way overpriced in rent. Once they pass the bill we would have to wait years before we see anything being built so it would be too late anyway. So that why alot of northeast folks especially from NY/Long Island area are moving not just to Florida but to other southern states because of the costs.