All of you in Florida...(not storm related!)

[conestogo_flood]

While looking at homes for sale in Florida, I noticed that they are a tad expensive. This got me thinking, how can the people of Florida afford these houses? Anyone have an answer? Are salaries made to balance out mortgages? This is just crazy, not to be whatever you may think, how do low wealth families and people afford these houses?

[DaylilyDawn]

Here in Lakeland there is a house that cost over a million dollars to build it. We do not live in it though. It sits on Lake Hollingsworth Dr across from the lake.

[arkess7]

Here in Lakeland there is a house that cost over a million dollars to build it. We do not live in it though. It sits on Lake Hollingsworth Dr across from the lake.

DAYLILY DAWN........HAVE YOU SEEN YOUR B-DAY POSTS???????


YEA the property value in fl.........has gone up in astromomical amounts$$$$$$$$$$$$$$..........

depends on where you live in FL///

we will be here 2 years ........and our house value has gone up......... 75,000 dollars..

our jaw dropped .......when me and my hubby just refianced!!!!!!!


just like i said .......depends on where you live.........

[O Town]

Well let me say that we bought out house 7 years ago here in Winter Park(a few blocks from Orlando) 3 bedroom, 2 bath and we paid 68,000. Just had it appraised and is now worth.........get this 225,000!! We have not done nothing so to speak of as far as improvments either. Property has skyrocketed in the past few years around here, as you can tell. We about fell over when we got the appraisal back. Can't imagine what will happen once we put in central A/C and add on a 2nd story. We could sell and move towards the water. Property along the east coast, Cocoa, and Daytona is not quite as expensive. Or go out toward the country and get a macking house for the same amount as one goes for here in the city. It definatley depends on where your property is as to how much the property value is, I guess as with anywhere it is like that.

[HurriCat]

I guess houses are expensive here - if you want to pay a lot to live in conditions that get worse every year. I've lived here since I was seven years old, so that makes it thirty five years. Every where you go is one of three things: Already overcrowded and heavily developed; In-Progress, with apartment, condo and housing developments in construction; or Coming-Soon, in which you still see some open areas, but there are survey stakes and "coming soon" signs everywhere, along with for-sale signs on just about every wooded or open-field spot. Most places you drive in the metro-Orlando area have trashy roadsides, and we're sprouting lots of those paycheck-advance and check-cashing joints and pawn shops. These are not signs of a healthy area if you ask me.
That is the biggest thing you'll hear, is "How in the heck do "they" afford THOSE houses, as each new neighborhood seems to be in the 300+ thousand dollar range. Beats me. Ditto for the hundreds of car dealerships crammed into the area. How can all of those vehicles possibly get sold? Eh, just try driving around. With the rental cars, there are more cars than people in Florida.

The smart people - right this minute - are selling out and getting out. You can't sell and re-buy with these crazy prices. You'd get about what you had or even less of a home.

If I could, I'd sell tomorrow and head north of Georgia.

Sure, Florida has "nice" weather - if you like humidity and the hurricane season. There is little sense of seasonal change, so you get this endless sensation of the daily, weekly, monthly and yearly grind.

If thinking about moving here, think again. Maybe you could find a bargain, fix 'er up and sell out for a profit. That's all I'd recommend. If you want a good place to raise a family, this just isn't it. Increasingly, it is becoming a state of loaded visitors and those who barely get by by serving them. Don't have any illusions that the average Floridan (no, not FlorIDIAN, as this isn't FlorIDIA) just lays on the beaches and goes to theme parks all of the time. Look at what jobs pay here, and look at ticket prices.

Okay, so ya want stupid house prices, humidity, hurricanes, crowds, more crowds and traffic? Come on down!

[arkess7]

yea hurricat......why do you think we got out of Orlando.............well for #1 my husband got transfered up here!!!!!!!!

and we are so glad he did!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

there is land up here............not crowded........(cookie cuter houses) as you are saying.............those used to be old orange tree groves.......(which are RAPIDLY DYING OUT) cause Developers want to cut out ouR CITRUS CROPS!!!! .....that we used to have for money ...........


so buy FLORIDA ORANGE JUICE!!! What a joke IMO now a days.................Its so sad

everyone wants to live here...........and then when they do.......they hate it........they cant handle the bugs and the humidity.........and the coast........(at least the east i know) there is no beach anymore!!!!!!!!!

none at all left!!!!!!!!! no where to walk .......NOTHING!!!

[alicia-w]

we live up in the panhandle. paid $185,000 for our house 6 years ago and it is now worth over a half a million dollars. have had three offers for that and the house isnt even for sale until next August!!!

[O Town]

Sorry hurricat, and arkess but I think you are dead wrong. I was born in the hospital down the road and I am still here. I have thought about moving toward the country but my whole family is with in minutes of my house and with 3 kids it is nice for them to visit. I don't agree with the trashy road sides, I think they do darn good job at landscaping it and making it look nice, hince the name "The City Beautiful". The school my kids are going to is the same one I went to and my Dad as well, my dad went the first year it opened in the 40's. Yes alot has changed, but not all bad. Lets see tearing down old houses and building nice new ones, humm increase my property value, and increase the likley hood of stable neighbors. I don't like the fact that all the empty lots are going to apt. complexs and such, but that is not in my neighborhood. Growth is just a part of life here in the sunshine state. It is steady growing, and if you don't like that then Florida, or Orlando and the big cities may not be where you want to move.

As far as the humidity and the beaches. I go to the beach all the time in the summer and love the heat. I grew up here and absoultley love it. The bugs are not just in Florida, they are just as bad in all the south, its a part of being outdoors. geeesh. And just as well as far as the hurricanes go, not just a Florida problem, just don't move to the coast if you fear them. The theme parks, well we practically live at Sea World. And visit Disney ever other year or so. And are going to Cypress Gardens this weekend. Just because you don't take advantage of Florida life that is your fault.

I think hurricat you need to sell and get out!!! I don't really like you bad talking the city and state I was born and raised in. It is personal opinion, and if you feel that strong about it why are still here???? BTW traffic is alot worse in other states. And I-4 is much better now that they have made improvments and expansions. And there is more to come.

I love my state, and take advantage of all it has to offer and enjoy it. Yes the property value has gone up alot, but maybe for a reason. Because it is a great place and everyone wants to move here.

Oh and a true Floridian(it is spelled like that) is one that is born and raised here a native!

[GrimReaper]

Try St. Johns County (just below Jacksonville ST. Augustine)... prices are ridiculous!! You can't touch a crappy single-wide mobile home on an acre of land for under $100,000!! I have a some acreage out in the country I got at a reasonable price... yea with a crappy mobile home, but I'll build a nice log cabin type home on that land in a cople of years. Land = GOLD