Reuters: As hurricanes loom, many in Florida Keys flee

[Deb321]

My husband and I sold our house in Port Saint lucie in December because we relocated to JAX and the profit on our house doubled in three years, We are now building a house in St Marys Georgia and I was really surprised to find it is expensive there as well plus lots are very hard to find. I think alot of folks are moving to St Marys and commuting to JAX and that is driving the cost up.

[jdray]

My house outside of Jax has doubled in value in under 3 years....

[zlaxier]

Why do you want to live in Georgia if Jax is in commuting distance? Georgia has a nasty thing called a state income tax that Florida doesn't have.

[Deb321]

Mainly I would rather live In Georgia because it is less populated, thus less traffic, less crime and paying the state income tax doesn't bother me. It is a price I am willing to pay and I feel the cost of the state tax will balance out.

[Taffy]

Add me to the list of people leaving Florida for Georgia. West Georgia, outside of Atlanta.

Been in Florida almost my whole life and I hate the direction my city is moving in. There isn't even enough well water to support everyone here. Anyway... been in my house 13 years and my $54, 000 house will now sell for $200,000 or a little bit more and take my happy but out of here.

The inusurance on my tiny wood frame home is $2369 and climbing. I haven't seen snow, or fall eaves since I was 7 and I am now 35. My kids deserve a better lifestyle and certainly some seasonal changes of weather.

[Patrick99]

My father lives on Big Pine Key. I don't think he will be staying there much longer either. He loves the lifestyle, and for him it's not about the hurricanes, it's more about the cost of living getting out of control.

I don't think this is exclusive to the Keys either. We used to live in Tampa...and once upon a time a nice house there was affordable. Not any more, unfortunately.

You are right, I live in Palm Beach County right now and although I personally feel I make a good salary, I still can't afford the avg. cost of a 3Br 2BA home which is $400,000. I am seriously considering moving somewhere out of Florida

I don't know how people afford such high-priced homes. I bought my 3 bedroom/2 bath / 2 car garage home with a large yard in southwest Houston about 15 minutes from downtown for $78,000 12 years ago. It's now worth $150,000. Less than 3 years and it'll be paid for! The monthly payments on my 15-yr. $75,000 loan are about $1000 (with taxes and insurance). Can't imagine what kind of salary I'd need to buy a $400,000 house. Maybe $250-300,000/yr.?

I don't know either. I've asked myself that question many times....how do all these people have so much money? I fail to understand how many of my peers are able to buy $400,000 beach condos.