We are probably neighbors. I'm in Citrus County. ;)
Posted on 02/14/2006 2:37:09 AM PST by Caipirabob
I don't know, Kansas City summers are pretty brutal.
Translation - Less than expected net profits.
ROTFLMAO
It was 500 more a MONTH in taxes.
They reassess every three years, but tax costs can only go up 3 percent a year.
As far as car insurance, don't know...I think our car insurance is pretty high. Florida is ranked 18th and it looks like the difference between NJ and Florida is only about $400.
http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/Insurance/Insureyourcar/P88635.asp
Older folks DO pay taxes, just as much as everyone else. We complain because we are on a fixed income and getting squeezed by progressive government taxing authorities, many of whom can't control their budget.
Those who travel and enjoy their retirement have most likely worked hard to get what they have. Why are you so resentful of this?
Another point is that these retirees have paid into the system all their lives.
Lastly, ITS NOT THEIR MONEY!
So who should pay to fix the pot holes, pay for the police departments, pay for the schools? Your taxes and insurance should be paid by everyone else? The Greedy Old Geezer Syndrome "I got mine". If you can't afford to live in the area that your house is located move somewhere where you can afford it. It's that easy, society does not owe you a lifestyle because you have been on this earth a certain amount of time.
Floriduh doesn't have an income tax, the sales tax rate is relatively low, and real property taxes are also relatively low. In fact, a large chunk of the tax revenues do not even come from residents, but rather, come from suckers like me through the extremly high hotel and occupancy tax that we pay when we visit Floriduh to waste our money at places like Disney World and Universal Studios. Even your homeowners insurance premium with the 25% increase is only a few ticks higher than what we pay here in the northeast and we don't have weekly hurricanes.
If you can't afford to live in Floriduh, than you are not spending and saving you money wisely. I suggest you take a second job at Walmart or move to cheaper state if there are any.
You're reading into what I have said I just don't think the rest of society should pay for it.
Another point is that these retirees have paid into the system all their lives And you have used the roads, the police have protected you, the schools have educated your children, you are getting more out of Social Security than you ever paid in, and if you have insurance the carrier hopefully honors their side of the contract. Now the rest of society owes it to you to keep your taxes lower than everyone else, your insurance should be lower than everyone else. That means everyone else must pick up that part of the burden that you won't bear because of the choice of where you wish to live.
You must have more accidents or stolen cars than I thought, but I guess hurricanes can be pretty hard on cars.
True, plus we have all those transplants from the Northeast moving to Florida, LOL!
Insurance companies are the only people I know of who don't want to be in the lucrative business they are in. It used to be a risk-based business - but they figured out the fomula to make the customers bear all of the past, present and future costs of insurance while the companies simply rake in profits.
Look again. They said 25% per year.
Expect it to double in the next 4 years...
A few points - this only applies to people who cannot get insurance through 'normal' channels. I think the only reason people use state insurance are those who have filed multiple claims and insurance companies refuse to carry them.
The second point that this only applies to people who haven't filed for homestead exemption - meaning you have two homes. No, I don't feel too bad for those who are on fixed incomes, own two homes, and can't get insurance through the free-market. Why should the state be obligated to subsidize these people's insurance???
Insurance rates are definitely going up in Florida but that is because of free-market forces.
Don't take this personally but BITE ME. It was an article about insurance rates in Florida and people are supposed to comment on NO. Find a thread about NO if you want to see comments about NO. Sheesh.
Our homeowners insurance nearly doubled over 5 years - and this with no disasters or claims. We changed companies, and saved some money- but was still higher than the original cost 5 years prior.
Insurance is SUPPOSE to be a shared-risk type of deal. Many people pay in to the insurance, hoping to never need it. When there is a disaster, money is paid out of that fund. The insurance company take a portion for handling the whole deal (and gets the interest from the investment of the funds until they are used).
Again, it's a risk. If I am a horrible driver, have a record of accidents, then guess what- I'm going to pay through the roof for my auto insurance. ON the other hand, if I make certain that I am a safe driver, follow the law, and drive defensively, my rates will be lower- as my risk is lower.
If I choose to live in an area more prone to disasters and claims, my insurance is going to be higher. This is only fair. My risk is higher than elsewhere that is not prone to natural disasters.
Without higher premiums for higher risks, insurance companies go broke and we ALL are affected. If I were the CEO of an insurance company and a government entity tried to keep me from covering my costs by charging the necessary premium, I would quit doing business in that jurisdiction.
Just finished re-building our dock last week. Of course, our insurance doesn't cover it. Ivan, last year, and Arlene and Dennis this year, did the damage. But all is well now.
I wonder why FEMA hasn't sent a check!! :)
Nobody has mentioned that political pressure in Florida ensures that insurance rates are generally set on a statewide or regional basis, not in accordance with true risk. Somebody with a $10M home on the beach has an enormously greater risk than someone living 100 miles or even 10 miles inland.
The net result is that less wealthy people living inland pay higher rates so the wealthy living on the beach can pay a lot less.
In a true free market for insurance, few would choose to build on the beach, as the insurance bill would likely be close to or higher than the mortgage.
I do not live in Florida..I do however pay my share in insurance..I can see this happening all over the country..And I can also see me canceling insurance policies..I own my home (well I thought I did after paying it off a few years back)but actually we never own a home with taxes and insurance we pay rent for two houses a month...
There really aren't any. The problem is, many of the people who went to live in FL are the disabled, the elderly, etc. That's why they are there. People aren't born here, they come here because there is no place else they can afford.
The point is, an 80 year old widow or disabled guy simply can't do it. My aunt lived on $400 a month. She just went without house insurance. There are whole neighborhoods here where people live hand to mouth on SS and can't insure. Many of them are trailer parks. They are just trying to find a place to survive.
It's foolish to say, they should have prepared better. They didn't. It's done. Some of them have had terrible life circumstances, such as bad disabilities, or companies going under and welching out of a pension the old folk were counting on. The ones who didn't usually DID prepare better, and will do ok.
When a hurricane hits, what happens? Just let all the old people start wandering the streets homeless? That's not good for any state's economy.
The insurance companies say they aren't taking in enough. I'm not surprised. The rates are so high they are like a tax. The old marketing principle is when you tax, you cut revenue. Well, as they increase rates, less people buy, and the ones left are carrying the load. Of course their revenues are dropping.
Also Citizens is badly run. Having a sinkhole with them was like finding a gold mine. Lawyers actually advertise down here for sinkhole clients.
Hard to find someplace that doesn't have some sort of potential for natural disasters. The East Coast also gets hurricans and snow storms. The Central USA gets tornados. West coast gets earthquakes and liberals.
We are probably neighbors. I'm in Citrus County. ;)
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