Replies

I spent two tours of duty in the Sunshine State, one in high school (I finished HS in Boca Raton) and another as an adult (in Miami). It is a strange state in that folks who've made a ton of money in New York, Latin America, Canada, etc. buy a second or primary home there, and drive up real estate prices. Meanwhile, salaries remain low, which means that the state has difficulty attracting the educated class, and encourages speculation on the part of the "commission class" (aka real estate investors/agents/mortgage brokers). Then, you have the flotsam and jetsam of humanity who think that by moving to "sunny Florida" they can leave their troubles behind, but end up bringing their troubles with them.

I enjoy visiting my parents in Boca, and my friends in Miami, but I would suggest another state if you are family oriented and want a future outside of real estate speculation.

i gre up in florida moved here in 59 at 3yo. left in 75 navy came back in 79. job market sucked so i went north where the rest of the family was. (massachusetts) bubble burst in mid 80’s and left for ohio where wifes family was from. i had sworn i would never come back to florida. well ended up back here in 89 and can’t get ahead enough to get the hell out of dodge fast enough.

You speak to SE Florida with that post. The rest of the state is pretty decent!

Unfortunately, it is true Central FL is going downhill. And there is alot of gang related crime coming in—most of the perpetrators and victims seem to have Hispanic surnames and questionable citizenship status!