Posted on 12/17/2025 12:31:49 PM PST by Miami Rebel
Once the darling of American transplants, Florida’s appeal seems to have dimmed. Just three years ago, Florida ranked among the nation’s top destinations for people making a move. But that momentum seems to have faded. Florida still offers the warm climate and favorable tax structure that remain major draws, but it’s lost ground on the crucial affordability factor. In the year through November, just over half of global moving company Atlas Van Lines’ Florida-related moves were inbound, the firm said in its annual Migration Patterns Study — a near-even split between people moving in and moving out that marks a sharp shift from the pandemic era, when Florida ranked among the nation’s strongest inbound states. During the COVID-era peak, 60% of Atlas’ Florida moves were inbound — then the fourth-highest ratio in the country — as the state became the fastest-growing in the U.S., per Census estimates. But in 2025, for the second consecutive year, inbound moves accounted for only about half of the company’s Florida relocations, among the lowest shares Florida has posted in more than a decade. While the moving company cites Florida’s warm climate and lack of a state income tax as serious draws, rising housing costs, insurance premiums and climate concerns are increasingly pushing out residents, said Chellsie Parker, a representative of Atlas. Nationally, moving has slowed to its lowest level in decades. Only about 11% of Americans moved in 2024, down from more than 14% a decade earlier, according to Atlas, thanks in part to high housing costs nationwide.
States such as Arkansas, Idaho and North Carolina — where housing costs are generally lower — topped Atlas’ inbound migration rankings this past year, outpacing Florida’s middle-of-the-pack showing.
(Excerpt) Read more at miamiherald.com ...
Same here, but the views were nice...
“ 100 degrees, but not 100% humidity”
I said something similar to a fellow passenger on a flight to Las Vegas. The response, “An oven is still hot.”
True - but I find 85 degrees and 90% humidity to be stifling - while 85 degrees and 15% humidity is very enjoyable.
Maybe so but Florida in the 11 years I’ve lived here has become extremely expensive. I know you don’t like the messenger on this article, but the person is 100 percent correct!
“Has the panhandle remained affordable?”
I’m in the panhandle. I recently say a YouTube video titled something like, “Why no one lives in Florida’s panhandle.” Absolute garbage. I’m in Wakulla, the county just below Leon where Tallahassee, the capital is. Homes are going up like mushrooms. I’m a landlord and I recently listed a brand-new McMansion I inherited. Before doing that, I researched what was available to rent in that category. There were no comparables. The interested parties were all from up north.
As for groceries and gas, I don’t think they are any more expensive than anywhere else. As always, there is choice. Publix is pricier than Walmart.
Sure they are...and moving to States that tax their pensions because Florida is sooooo bad.
Insuring your home in FL is ugly from what I hear....and getting worse.
You get what you pay for down here. Its not cheap but its worth it.
And SC. I bought two oceanfront condos 20 years ago as rentals and get calls from real estate agents at least once a month asking me to sell. I'm keeping one for winter retirement.
I hope all those outbound Floridians don’t think Texas is any better. Hot and humid in the winter and worse in the summer — even the devil returns to hell in June to cool off. Mosquitoes the size of buzzards, and buzzards big enough to carry off cattle. Anything that doesn’t have claws and teeth has venom or thorns. Folks can only endure Texas for so long before they get mean as a rattler. Do yourselves a favor and move elsewhere!
😉
And Hindus and Moslems everywhere.
I am a Florida resident and my advise for anyone thinking of making a Florida move is DON’T! Florida is a mess right now and the cost of living is outrageous. For a small home and three cars—the newest a 2018 Honda—we’re paying 18k per year in insurance alone!
No! I live on the Gulf coast along the PH and it is outrageous here as it is in any place in Florida.
He is also a TDSer and agitator.
No...wrong. I live in this exact area and don't for a second say it is inexpensive. Some of the priciest RE in Florida is along this coast.
Those from the NE who moved to Florida and have now relocated to North Carolina, we call them half backs.
We live in NE Florida for 30 years. Our home insurance has gone up about 50% in that time while our home insurance has gone up four fold. Our income tax rate has gone up zero as we don’t have one, so, we are not leaving. Our real estate has gone up four fold too not that it matters as a home is where you live, we don’t view it as an investment.
Depending on which sources you look at - Florida tops the list of most expensive homeowner insurance rates.
Higher than California even.
Yes, it does decrease, but not at the rate you may think. Small towns off coast like Blountstown, Wewa, Fountain are less than coastal property but have risen dramatically in the past few years. However, property tax and insurance are just as high for those areas as anywhere in FL.
Blue astatescare by far losing the most people. It is going tobkeep Democrats out of the White House for a long time.
BIL doesn’t mind the heat
I can’t do it
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