Moving To florida??

[diagdave]

Hi,
We may be mad but me and my family really want to move to Florida. I have researched about visa etc. and am now looking into expenses to take into consideration.
If anyone could tell me, if renting in Florida what taxes would i be liable for. I know there is no state tax but are there any home taxes? Or any expenses that are ‘hidden’ like a television license?
Also if anyone has any experience/stories of emigrating from UK to USA that they can share.

Thanks,
David

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

With regard to renting, there are no hidden taxes. Home ownership, well that's property tax... and will differ from place to place.

There are all sorts of taxes on "things" in Florida. Sales taxes, and that sort of thing. Registration for cars, boats, recreational vehicles, etc.

Can't help you with immigration. My family "came over" a number of decades ago and I don't know much about what they went through. It wouldn't be relevant to today, anyway.

Choosing a place to live is the key. It will depend upon where you are going to work, of course. How much of a commute isn't so much distance as it is traffic pattern.

Schools are another "iffy" thing. All will depend upon area, and what sort of rating the given school has.

Hope that helps a bit.

 

[diagdave]

Thanks for the info, i presume when renting that i wouldnt pay home owners tax?
Is there a yearly car tax?

Thanks David

Sorry just found out about car "registration tax" is it really that cheap???

 

[canadianjovigirl]

Good Luck....we to have looked into it and are in western Canada, but the difficulty of getting a visa to work and live there permanetly was just to much.............

 

[taylor3297]

Thanks for the info, i presume when renting that i wouldnt pay home owners tax?
Is there a yearly car tax?

Thanks David

Sorry just found out about car "registration tax" is it really that cheap???

When you rent in the US, you just pay whatever the rent is to the landlord. No taxes are involved. I do recommend getting renters insurance, so if the place burns down or destroyed by a hurricane or something, you belongings will be covered.

Car tax varies from state to state. Some you pay when you do your yearly car registration others you get a bill in a the mail.

Find an area you are interested in, the contact a real estate agent who also deals in rental property, and they will be able to help you with most of what you need to know.

You can also contact the Chamber of Commerce for the city you are interested in. They also have loads of info.

Good luck to you!

 

[diagdave]

Thanks for all the info, thats really helpful.

Cheers
David

 

[PixieTopaz]

What would your jobs be in Florida?

Be aware USA is going through a VERY high unemployment crisis now-esp in Florida

 

[diagdave]

Im currently the senior software developer at a college. I want to carry on working in education doing the same thing maybe at a university or college, if i can. It will be a few years before i even try finding a sponsor so hopfuly the crysis will be over by then.

David & Family

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I don't know anything about international moves..

But you only pay property taxes if you own a property.

Other than that, the only taxes you pay are sales tax and taxes/annual registration on vehicles.

Hiring in education is getting tougher right now--and the "tech" jobs are highly coveted at the moment.

I wouldn't make such a big move until you have a secure position waiting for you.

I just renewed the tags on our 2 vehicles. What you pay is basedon age and size of the vehicle. I believe for our two vehicls it was a little over $200USD for a one year registration as the fees had just increased. I have a 2005 minivan (classified SUV) and a 2000 sedan. That fee also includes the fact that my plates are specialty plates. So the real fee would have only been about $150 or so.


No TV licenses--you may need at a minimum basic cable which is a subscription service. IF you are in close proximity to a major broadcasting city, you may get away with over the air antenna.

 

[diagdave]

Wow thats cheap, I currently pay around $180 for 6 months one car(2003 SantaFe) tax in the UK.
We have to pay a council tax no matter what, if you rent or own.
We have a Tv licenses as well. And petrol has just hit £1.19($1.83) per litre.

Its costs so much to live here lol.

How long has the work crysis been going on? Is it particularly worse in Florida?
Im working toward finishing my degree at the moment, but wondered if it was worth staying on and doing a Masters. Does anyone think this qualification would help get hired?

Thanks David

 

[Sgt Mickey]

I think Va may be the only state that has to pay an addition tax for there car/truck in addition to vehicle registration. BUT you will be free of tv tax

 

[Northstar]

Look, if you have an income source from home, you can move to the US/Florida and live there perhaps more cheaply than in the UK.

But if you are planning on moving and earning your living while in the US, you need a visa that will allow you to work. And it's very, very difficult to conduct a job search in a high-unemployment time when you need your employer to sponsor you for a work authorization... it's so much easier to hire someone who can start work with no hoops for the employer to jump through. I'll go out on a limb and say that, if you're looking for an entry-level position and have no track record to show that you're outstanding in your field, you don't have a chance.

Also, one cost that people haven't mentioned is health insurance. Look into what that's likely to cost, because it's probably going to be more than you're paying at home.

 

[Mickey Fliers]

I think Va may be the only state that has to pay an addition tax for there car/truck in addition to vehicle registration. BUT you will be free of tv tax

Lots of states charge an excise or luxury tax on your vehicles. Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Virginia...just the places I have lived that have charged that tax.

 

[castmemberb4]

Are you bringing a car with you or buying one here? Florida has a big impact fee for bringing cars into the state. Bringing one with you would mean you'd have to have some emissions changes I would think.
Also have you been to FL in the middle of Summer? It's miserably hot, humid and crowded.

 

[diagdave]

Yea i am buying a car when i move. I love the heat, much better then our cold lol

 

[hogwartsdropout]

You should ask on here http://britishexpats.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=57

 

[diagdave]

Great link, thanks been looking for a forum like that.

And thank you all for your comments they are all great. Can't wait to move closer to the 'magic'

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

To answer your question--probalby about 2 years now the employment problem has occurred.

Where I live (same county as DCL)--a local employer laid off many engineers a year ago. BUt they had been floating on overhead dollars for over a year. The company was hoping that something would come through, but it never did.

A local employer will be laying off 100 this summer. That is directly related to the concluding shuttle program.

While it isn't quite the same sector as you--it does add ot the unemployment rate and makes it all that much more difficult to get the few coveted "engineering" or "IT" related jobs that may exist.

From last year's layoffs--folks have been finding leads (not necessary manifesting in jobs) in Miami and the Tampa area. But not Orlando.

My DH was laid off Nov 1 and he had to seek employment in Washington DC. He had a couple of leads in Miami and North Carolina, but a bit far removed from what his realistic work experience was. (He has a specific skill that pops up on their searches, but they were commercial sector and his skill is actuallly more suited to the government sector.)

Also--those leads that he got--were temporary contract positions of 12 months and not permanent employment.

 

[Hootiss]

You might want to check out South West Florida (Charlotte County for example). The real estate available at rock bottom prices is amazing. There are several smaller colleges/schools where a work visa might be more easily obtained. Here is a website to view local listings and foreclosures http://myfloridahomesmls.com/

 

[diagdave]

guess ill have to see how work is over the next few years and if still bad stay here and do my masters. I was actually looking in northern florida, i have friends in GA thought it might be easier to to travel to see them if i was more northern. Is northern florida any better/worse then south? again thanks for all the advice