>>People in Florida screamed that their property taxes went up this year
I am always surprised how high property taxes are in FL (at least in the places I look near the water)- was hoping to either retire there or at least have a winter home to get away from the New England weather - but way up on my list of requirements for any 2nd home I buy is a low carrying cost - property taxes, hurricane insurance flood insurance (and possibly sinkhole insurance!) and HOA fees really drive up the cost of an otherwise ‘affordable’ house.
Now I consider buying a place out of the country instead...
Florida does not have a state income tax, though.
I own two properties in Florida and the taxes on them are high compared to Arizona where I retired from but not unaffordable. Also, Florida doesn't have a state income tax. Local government have to get their money from somewhere and it's from property taxes.
First, I didn't buy on or near the ocean. That right there is going to drive up your "carrying costs". You want a 2nd home where everyone else wants to live and it's going to drive the costs up.
I own 30 acres in the country and built a new home on it. I filed for a homestead exemption on the house and an agricultural exemption for the land. We raise beef cattle.
My taxes on the land are now almost nothing and those on the house, I pay for with the sale of our calves every year. Created a family cemetery on a portion of the land and that acreage has zero taxes on it.
Our second property is a lake house about 10 miles away in the next county. Taxes are relatively low because it's rural and it's a manufactured home.
But both properties are in the middle of the peninsula and not on either coast. My property taxes would double if I moved 120 miles east or west to be near the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico.
You want all of the benefits of living in Florida, the ocean, the warm weather, but don't want the costs. You're being unrealistic.
One alternative is to consider living on a boat. 6% sales tax at the time of sale but no personal property tax. It is not for everyone but might be worth looking into.
https://www.myyachtmanagement.com/news/2018/pros-and-cons-of-living-on-a-yacht