I am making this comment out of concern to make sure that you don't regret this major decision in the future. If your home is paid off and you have a homestead exemption, and your bills are $1,500 a month, aren't you already in a situation that most people dream of? Insurance is going up everywhere. You can't escape it. The best possible move you can make when the insurance renewal increases, is to shop around. I'm in Texas and our insurance renewal for our 2 cars was going up by 45%. We ended up shopping around and landed with Allstate. For the exact same coverage, the premium with Allstate is 20% less than what we were currently paying, and 65% less than the renewal with Geico. In other words, thank you Geico! You forced me to shop around and I ended up saving money. Food. Gas. Utilities. They're going up everywhere. Again, you can't escape it. It's not a Florida thing. It's a printing too much money and labor shortage thing. Traveling the country right now in this inflationary environment is going to be way more expensive than staying put. And probably way more expensive than what you expect. Meanwhile, if you stayed, your home is likely to continue to appreciate which will help you offset the inflation. And finally, please consider the replacement costs of everything that you plan to sell. House included. You're highly likely to spend more than what you'll get to replace everything once you settle down again.
I agree 100% with your comments. Florida has no income tax and you can do lots of things for free or very cheaply. Having no income tax saves most families $10k per year. Going somewhere else that you think is cheaper only works if there's a strong job market, strong support for police and criminal prosecution, and lots of things to do that don't cost a lot.
Moving is expensive and very stressful, but it sounds like you're doing it for the right reasons. We escaped Florida two years ago and haven't looked back. Good luck to you!
Insurance is a necessity, and it should cover the replacement value of the house and the contents in it. My friend had a fire, and it took a year for her home to be rebuilt. The policy also covered her hotel and meals, until she found a place to rent. The rent was also covered.
I am in the process of having my house replaced by insurance after a fire. However, it was a second home and so hotel and rent is not covered. It's been 12 weeks so far and they don't have the cost estimate done yet. My out of pocket loss is $17,000 for rent, $15,000 of mortgage payments while it sits empty, $2,000 utilities while sitting empty, and $3000 in travel so far. That's $37,000 lost. Then throw in the deductible. Sometimes just being a renter is best
I live in the metro Atlanta area. My Allstate homeowner’s insurance is $4k a year and my property taxes are $7k a year. These expenses are totally out of control.
Yikes.i am in fire country ca by the foothills. Allstate fire is 1800.00 same with property tax 1780.00 but we been here for 23 years.yes I cross fingers insurance dosen't get canceled never a claim and try to keep the 2 ac nice.
I agree with you, DON'T cancel your homeowners insurance just because you don't have a mortgage. Insurance only does two things, it pays for what you can't afford to lose and buys you piece of mind. If you can't afford to lose it, you can't afford to not insure it. Good luck on your home sale!
Yes, we live right up the road not far from you in the Ocala national Forest. That forest fire last month cost almost $6 million worth of damage. It stopped just a little over 1 mile from our property. Praise the Lord!
It is such a pleasure to hear you speak! You don't use the word "like", in every sentence or every other word - how wonderful! Every word coming out of your mouth is pronounced/enunciated correctly. You don't use the junk expression "You Know What I Mean". Your explanations are very clear and understandable, even if one does not agree with the topic. I do not need to adjust the volume, ever. Have you considered teaching a public speaking course, either credit or non credit at nearby colleges, or at adult education courses? Good luck on the sale of your current home, and your move. Safe travels!
I'm from South FL n lost my home to Hurricane Francis n Jeanne in 2004 I had paid my home insurance always, NEVER missed a payment, NEVER put in any claims. After the hurricanes I put in a claim n they fought me for over 6 months about it, telling me that my policy didn't cover "wind driven rain" I finally had the Florida insurance commissioner get involved n finally got a check for a total of $11,000 for a total loss of everything, so either way u lose money n get screwed
The cost increases are insane in Florida, Car insurance, Home insurance, WOW that is a lot especially if you are trying to stay within your current monthly budget, there isn't any wiggle room. It will cost your more to stay in Florida. I wish your family the best, perhaps living off grid for a while you can finally save more and build up your savings to the point where you can determine where you want to put down roots. Scoping out costs in various states as you travel off grid. Safe flight and travels and I wish you success in selling your home fast!
@@kenyonbissett3512 , Not necessarily depends on the value of your house and where you live they also take into account your credit score I was told this by my State Farm agent. I live in Central Illinois I have a small two-bedroom full finished basement ( family room with fireplace 3rd bedroom but since no egress window only considered 2 bedroom) house with attached garage my home is valued around 90? with a 2020 Buick encore vehicle I pay $96 a month for house and car insurance and with the senior freeze and low-income I paid less than $1,000 on real estate taxes a year
@@kenyonbissett3512 I have a condo and my HOA fee covers everything on the outside of the building so I know my homeowners insurance is a lot less but still reasonable at $588 for 2023 and this is in So. CA. I have it bundled with my auto insurance so I get a bit of a discount.
@@debbieframpton3857 I have AAA for both auto and homeowners. I went directly into AAA when I got my homeowners insurance and she did not pull up my credit score.
Since squatters are becoming an issue for homes left empty make sure to not give out so much information that they could easily find your home. They do scour social media trying to figure out when a home is vacant and depending on what state you are in it could take months to evict them and lots of money.
I travel on the road for work 4 to 6 months out of the year in 7 states . I stay in the back of a truck sometimes, motels, airbnbs. I pay my way to go work, travel etc. In my mind you have the ideal situation, a paid off house with some space compared to living on the road. It gets tiresome when you don't have your own space. When I am not traveling, I live in a basement with my partner that's 221 square feet. I am doing this to save for a property as I spend only 200 bucks a month to rent it. Some states are cheaper than others when it comes to food, gas, basic items and others are insanely expensive compared to where I live. Unexpected expenses come up and alot of rules exist if you are trying to boondock randomly at places. Things break down alot on the road, fueling the ac when plug in's are not available are rough because the prices for it are double in some places. I think getting a plot of land so you can grow some of your own food would be a better option only because I fear that the cost of traveling is alot to bear longterm with that many people.
Love the idea of your family travelling in a tiny house/RV for a year or so. Have you ever considered getting a couple of acres of land and going off grid, raising your own food, etc? I'm a new subscriber and you have given me so many good ideas to live a more frugal life. Thank you and good luck with your move and new adventure.
That's the thing. Once the news comes out how cheap the cost of living is in a state, people out of the state move in. That causes the cost of living to increase dramatically. I moved back home to Texas 2010. 2 bedroom, extremely nice apartment, was $790. Now the same apartment is over $1500. That's more than my mortgage with escrow. Texas is not a cheap state to live, at least in the cities. And apartments are being built everywhere to try to accommodate with the demand.
We live in Lexington, KY and it is super cheap to live in KY. My July goals are just to put in my planner and map out our homeschool first quarter and also enjoy the month of July! You have an amazing plan! I am excited to see ya'lls adventures!
I think leaving an expensive state is a wise decision. If you get a tiny home of some sort it will give you flexibility. Most of us have a lot more stuff and space than we need.
Everything has a value, if Florida is not all that to you then it is not worth what you have to do to make your home. I totally get it and that is why I have been a nomad for 40 years. Traveling light and you can make life an adventure. Good luck and have fun in TN.
There aren’t really many options in Florida. Many of the companies are going insolvent and the ones who are still here will not even insure a lot of homes. That is why the state of Florida offers Citizens Insurance, which is soooo expensive. I, thankfully, am able to go through a private insurance company, but changing companies isn’t really an option because there is not really anyone else to choose from 😆
That’s if you can find one in Florida. They have an insurance crisis right now in the making. Many companies have pulled out of the state due to the rising cost of replacing homes damaged by hurricanes.
I lived in Florida and its really frustrating to live in a state the places more value on people who spend a week or two there or maybe half the year rather than people who are there full time.
Insurance rates in SC were about the same. We have moved back to our home state & are contemplating our next move. I wish you & your family all the best!
That is god-awful financial advice if anyone ever says you should cancel your homeowners insurance just because you don't have a mortgage. Like you said that is your best asset and you have to protect it. That could put you or anyone in financial ruin if something catastrophic happened to your home and you didn't have insurance.
Unfortunately, the influx of people moving to Tennessee has become a financial hardship on locals. You see, why you're leaving Florida is becoming the same reality for people here. Housing prices have tripled, property taxes have doubled. Homeowners insurance keeps rising. So, it won't be long before you are back in the same predicament.
I’m in Florida & feel this sooooo much. It’s ridiculous. I’ve had to jump auto insurances companies & currently quoting homeowners insurance. Love that you guys are downsizing!! ❤ looking forward to your journey. New subbie.
you may want to consider renting rather than selling. Having a property management monthly. Since rents are at a all time high that may make better sense.
Safe travels and good luck. You are both young and even if you decide not to live in a tiny house you make it. You are not stupid, and Florida is hot. Peace!
Florida is the most expensive to live, When you factor the starvation wages in Florida. I have a client of mine , a realtor who do a math for me that a school principal who makes 100k a year did not qualify for a mortgage. That is a dealbreaker for me, leaving Florida end of July.
I know a very well educated lady with a degree in Accounting from a good school who lives in SWFL. She has several years of accounting experience and has consistently been offered $12 to $14 an hour. When she says she cannot work for that low of a salary she is told well many others will- she is considering leaving the state- as employers seem to want to pay starvation wages as the price to live in "paradise" In Naples, there is a company called Arthrex which is a medical device company. They have both a research facility as well as a production facility in Ave Maria so they have both skilled as well as less skilled jobs. When we lived down there a news story on Wink News said that the company was considering leaving Collier County as they could not attract workers due to the high cost of living- no one would work for what they could offer as the housing and other expenses were too high for them to afford to live there. That was several years ago before the extreme rise in housing prices- simply put the cost of living down there exceeds the salaries by a significant amount.
I agree Florida insurance costs and prices in general make it hard to live here. We are off grid and the amount of gas needed to stay cool in our RV and tiny home is high.
It’s true. As of about two years ago, the cost of living in FL has FAR surpassed our wages!! They definitely did not rise at even close to the same rate.
Agree, do not discontinue home owners insurance, I feel so bad for the folks in Florida who lost their homes during Ian and did not have insurance. You seem so wise for one so young! Best wishes on all your changes in life that will be coming soon!
I see this trend increasing when it comes to people leaving the state. The homeowners insurance increase hit me hard this year. I have 2 properties (Rental and Primary) and both of them increased by 100%. I'm now about to sell my rental because of insurance cost. Although I could potentially manage to keep the rental, the uncertainty of how much it could increase next year is not something I want to risk. I've lived in Pensacola, FL for 15 years now. This is the first time I've ever considered that moving could happen, because of cost of living as a reason. For me homeowners insurance is biggest impact. I went from from $1500 to $3000, and that is nothing from what I see in other parts of the state. If my insurance goes to $6000 or $9000 in the next year or two, its going to be rough.
Anyone who owns a home and does not carry home insurance is really taking a huge risk. I never moved to Florida because of the cost insurance. I used to live in Knoxville but moved to east Tennessee. Knoxville was way to crowded for me. I hope your move goes smoothly. Ignore some of the trolls in the comment section. You have a good plan and budget.🌻🌻
I used to live in Knoxville TN as well. From 2011-2016. I moved to Southwest Florida, Naples. I am not a homeowner, but all I can say rent is so expensive, I feel Trapped in my rent lease agreement. Can't wait to move out of Florida
@@violetagira5128I'm down here too. I've been thinking about just walking away from my lease. It feels like I just need to go somewhere not so expensive
I moved to Florida from Tennessee 13 yrs ago, but ready to move out of FL. My housemate doesn't want to sell and is comfortable with FL. I'm stuck here for now ughh.
Very good video! I like the way you reiterate the word CHEAP, many people doesn't want to say it and doesn't want to be labeled as such especially in the US where consumerism is rampant. If you buy luxury brands such as clothes, shoes, cars, watches, etc. then they feel more important they are the type of people who always worry about what other people will think about them.
Now you know the truth. Insurance companies and lawyers run this country and our life. One benefit for all the hell we are put through in CA there is a Insurance company out of San Diego that is still honest and rewards its policy holders with keeping rates low.
I'm glad you are going to be able to leave Florida. The only thing is with it being July you may have to pay more for a place to stay since it is the height of summer. FYI, I think Mint Mobile has dropped all their rates to $15 a month including unlimited everything. Please tell me you are taking your pets because the shelters are overflowing with animals.
We are relocating out of Florida too - not because of the cost of living but simply because we want a change. As much as we enjoy the positive parts of Florida (and there are many), we desire more adventure and easier access to the rest of the country - and winter sports. Our family hasn't been to a beach in years and we are theme parked out, so time for new adventures while we are young enough to enjoy them. We also experienced the same shocking insurance costs hikes too but it is still a wash when you factor in things like income tax or property tax in other states. We decided on Colorado Springs - which actually has a higher cost of living than Orlando (but lower than Denver). However, I got a home building lot with a perfect view of Pikes Peak and the southern Front Range that is to die for. Being in Colorado means we will be within a day drive of most of the Western US. However, what I'm most exciting about is the ability to frequent the ski resorts during the Winter and Spring - which turns out is about the same cost as an annual ticket to a major theme park. For moving, we are going to try out the U-Box service by U-Haul since our house won't be ready until November. We moving early into an apartment (6-month lease) to help with the selling process _and_ be established in the new city before school starts for the year (want to avoid a mid-year transfer). For our 5-bedroom home, we are starting with 10 U-Boxes but can add or remove them if needed. The main cost is just shipping them to Colorado Springs - which will cost about $5700. I need to pay $100 or so each time a set of boxes are delivered to my house, but I'm betting that will be around $400. This is all still way cheaper than using PODS or Pack-Rat. When my aunt moved out of the country for a few years, she decided to buy land in Tennessee simply to have a residence established in a state without state income tax. Smart move on her part.
The air quality in Colorado is not as good as FL. Since FL is practically surrounded by water and has breezes. Colorado is beautiful if you are into winter sports etc. Visiting the west does not interest me and many people are moving from there and moving east or southeast but to each their own adventure.
@@justhere3794 Well, I live in Orlando so I don't get an ocean breeze (unless there is a tropical system). However, hurricanes aren't a huge problem either - so pick your poison. On Tuesday (7/3), it was 97F with 97% humidity - that was unbearable - like a sauna you could not leave. On the flip side, winters are glorious - but I'd rather be skiing - which is hard to do in Florida. I've been here for 12 years and it is time for something different since I'm fully remote for work.
@@JasonTaylor-po5xc If you are younger it is fine. We did that when we were younger with our son. But that actually grew old. I'm a Floridian so I am biased of course. We can explore in the summers as Florida is not a trap if you have money to just hop on a plane. It's not like I'm standing outside in the heat anyway and I tend to do things early in the mornings anyway. I did all the mountain climbing years ago so it's not anything special to me but I do have great memories of great times when my son was young. That's what fooled us into moving to the mountains. My son loves Florida too and he is a Floridian born and bred and has lots of friends here and lots of fun memories of boating with friends in the gulf. We are a boating family and not really into winter sports. But he does ski and did it in Colorado for awhile when he lived there.
My homeowners insurance has more then doubled annually. I live in Orlando. My property taxes have gone up 33%. Don’t get me started on groceries and electric.
I'm so glad you're not cancelling your homeowner's insurance. Unless someone can easily afford replacing ALL of their belongings and rebuilding their home, they should not cancel their homeowner's insurance.
I retired, have been "on the road" for app. 1.5 years. Became more schooled relating to Airbnb's.....I make "offers", yes during the 3 or 4 summer months while most vacation it's challenging, but it's typically worked for me. I suggest a "number", typically 50% of their asking price. In doing so offer cash, per Venmo.....others "schooled" me in this respect, and it works for me app. 70% of the time....
as a lifelong resident of Florida its horrible to now realize that I too must sell my home. I have a new job in SWFL and was hoping to live here permanently, but if I sell my house in NWFL I will not be able to afford a home here due to the extreme high cost of homes AND Insurance AND HOAs. Keeping my home in NWFL has become a financial burden with maintenance and yet one more thing to repair (garage door opener this month). So I am selling and just putting the money in the bank. I cannot leave this job because I signed a contract, but when the contract is up I will be leaving the area, unless all those prices drop significantly. Not sure where I will go. Tennessee? Georgia? I have no idea.
You will likely need to go far inland to avoid crazy insurance costs. Texas is also facing the same thing in the coastal regions. If you want to remain in the south, consider Tennessee - they have no state income tax and a mild climate. They can get snow in the winter but not like other parts of the country. If you are on a budget, then Alabama (if you don't have kids) or Georgia could be decent. I have lived in both, they are fine for the most part - but watch the school districts if you have kids. I also enjoyed living in North _and_ South Carolina. For the time being, we are going to try out Colorado - which is expensive for other reasons - but I _really_ want to access to Rocky Mountain skiing.
So glad you’re not going without home owner’s insurance. That would be insane. Keep us posted on how things are going for you all. Oh, and Happy Birthday to the July 28th birthday person!🎂 🎉 ❤
Insurance is asset protection. It’s not an investment and most will never get the money paid into. It’s insurance, not an investment account, so good for you.
I really love the ‘outside the box’ thinking you engage in but I must admit I’m nervous re buying.a Tiny home.I seem to remember you lived in a caravan many years ago when your Gil’s were very young so I have faith that you know what you are doing.I do hope all works out for you and I have confidence that you think it all through.Good luck with the move.
@@dougs7367 I moved to nm two years ago and the fact it’s a blue state is my biggest complaint about it here. And the drug and homeless rate is horrible. And crime rate. But the plus is most people stay out of my business most of the time and the weather is good. Just wish there were more cloudy days here and there. Sun can be brutal all the time.
I’m not in the USA but I’d be worried that once your paid-off home is sold, it’s gone and you will be essentially starting again if you bought a house again. Living in a vehicle is a depreciating asset and will eventually be worth nothing and you will be back to starting over. And expensive repairs and inconvenience. Would it not be better to stay and hunker down if you are happy where are currently located ? Are there any other acceptable areas you could get a cheap house ? Like Prepper Princess did. She did a video on this. All the best for the future.
Yeah, we are not happy here and would not stay. We will be selling our home no matter what. What we do next is the question. We will still have enough money in savings to buy some land or a small home if we decide traveling isn’t for us. And will only be spending a bit of the money we make off our home on our tiny home - the rest will be saved and invested for later. Where we would want to buy a house is undecided. Nowhere in the US seems appealing tbh. Maybe traveling for a while will help answer that question for us.
It is hard for intelligent, decent and rational people to be happy in Florida.. it is overrun and controlled by right wing religious fascists. As for starting again, if you sell a paid off house you can buy another outright with the profits. So it isn't really "starting again" with housing payments etc just a new and better location.
You remind me of when I was in my 30s and my husband and son and I moved to NC. We lived there for 5 years and moved back to FL (Clearwater when it was less crowded.) NC was bittersweet in that it is a gorgeous state but bitter in that we didn’t care much for the cultural aspects and prefer different and a variety of cultures. Florida is eclectic especially in Tampa and Lakeland areas. I don’t care for Orlando or South FL. The weather doesn’t bother me. I have a healthcare job so money is not really an issue for me and I also do virtual jobs. If I want mountains I’ll take a quick flight somewhere. Good Luck
I left Florida 30 years ago. I was able to double my income within 6 months of leaving Florida. In Florida, beach proximity was 1/3 of your paycheck. I was able to buy The same size house up north for half the price after I left. Groceries and utilities were 1/3 less than in Florida. I convinced my family to live in a middle class neighborhood up here and in a little over 10 years, we owned our new home outright. I did keep my investment properties in Florida. I will be able to escape state income taxes and sales tax in retirement by living there.
It’s much easier to show a vacant house. Plus you don’t have the stress of trying to clean every time you have a visitor Some of my sellers have used simplisafe to guard the home in your absence I would definitely keep the homeowners insurance In PA the sales contract includes a contingency for insurability Sometimes if you cancel insurance, it’s difficult to reinsurance
We loved from Fl to Indiana in 2021. Our Fl home was 3000 sq feet, in a gated community with an HOA that was always thinking up ways to raise the fees whether you wanted the extra things they wanted or not. It became disgusting after a while- having many special assessments to build things such as a new fitness center only to have the new $15M plan include plans to tear down the 3 year old fitness center building to build a bigger better one! No one used the fitness center that was built in the first round of improvements- not sure why they needed a new one? The last project a $15 M project which would raise the HOA fees significantly was the last straw and we decided to move. So did many of our friends who also had enough of the crazy idea of the HOA schemes to keep up with new developments- which had amenities paid for by the developer not the home owners! Our Indiana home is 5200 sq feet. The Fl. home sold for over double what the nicer, larger Indiana home cost.. We now enjoy a full finished basement with a full kitchen a lovely deck and sunroom as well as more room to put things as the 3000 sq foot one level home did not allow for much space for anything! We have 5 bedrooms and 5 baths here so plenty of room for guests who come to visit. We moved to a lovely suburb which is rated one of the best cities in the US to live. Our HO insurance in Fl. was over $2000 a year in Fl. in 2021 before the large increases due to Ian. We bundled auto and home so that auto for one car was about $1300 a year. The rates were lower as they were bundled with one company. Problem is the insurance carrier we had stopped writing HO in Fl,. so that anyone who had them no longer could bundle for lower costs. We have a friend in Cape Coral who pays $9798 for home owners- $435K coverage. He is afraid of being dropped as he has an Ian claim which is unresolved- his insurance paid him $27000 for an $280000 claim and he is now in court. Seems many in Fort Myers, Cape Coral and areas affected by Ian are dealing with insurance companies paying literally pennies on the dollar forcing them to sue. Our insurance here on our home for the same amount of coverage as in Fl- actually more as the Indiana insurance covers more items that the Fl. one did not without a huge deductible which we had in Fl. for hurricanes- Our Indiana HO is less than $1000 a year. Our auto is $1000 a year for full coverage and our umbrella policy for $2m coverage is $100 less than $1 M coverage in Florida. My Medicare supplement has dropped $70 a month since moving here. We live on a lovely cul de sac and our HOA fee is $500 a year. Thankfully our HOA has no plans of projects and special assessments which are so common In Florida where bigger better and keeping up with the new developments seems to be the way of life! God forbid there is a hurricane as you will get a special assessment to pay for community damage- when Irma hit we had to pay a $1900 special assessment for community damage PLUS play for our own extensive damage! If we stayed in Fl. where we lived our HOA would be over $10,000 a year. Granted it included lawn care and a social director who wanted to "direct" your life with a variety of activities we had no interest in! The HOA rose every year no matter what as the board always had some crazy ideas. Groceries here are much lower- Kroger is so much less pricey than Publix- Yes, there is a state income tax in Indiana and yes there are 4 seasons not just hot and hotter like in Florida but cost wise, Indiana is very reasonable. best of all, our son and daughter in law have very good paying job here- unlike in Florida where incomes are very low considering the cost of housing, insurance and basic necessities. Our son was checking salaries in Florida and found he would make significantly less for a similar job and our daughter in law who is in insurance would also make less and be forced to pass a series of tests as everything in Florida even answering a phone in an insurance agency requirements a special test and certification!
Wise move you did.yes people don't realize Florida is like AZ they are right to work states and also the states to lose value in a ression we might have earth quakes out west but Florida is one hurricane away from disaster. I think I would take my chances living next to a valcano.
My dream is to move TO Florida. It's out of control everywhere but Florida homes seem comparable in price or cheaper than Nashville so IDK. Very discouraging. Im afraid if something doesn't happen soon a lot of people will be homeless and it's total bs!
It's not the housing costs that is making Florida significantly more expensive than a lot of states It's the total cost of living. Homeowners insurance and renters insurance as well as car insurance are so much higher than the national average. On top of the fact property taxes as well as other taxes in Florida are pretty high. Yes they don't have state income taxes but they get you in many other ways. It's not really that affordable of a place when you consider the total cost of living plus the lower average wages.
@curtsuneson6161 makes sense. Certain areas of Nashville has gone way up on property taxes but we have decent car insurance and my renters insurance is $20/month for $18k in coverage for personal items. We also don't have state tax. Cost of living is stupid everywhere though. It's sickening.
My dream was to move to FL too, but was not prepared for all the excessive costs. We even went from a mortgage in TN to no mortgage in FL because we paid cash for our home. Our expenses are still way more here. Just make sure you have a realistic idea of the cost of living in FL before making the move - EVERYTHING is more expensive here than it is in TN (we are from Knoxville).
A lot of your bills seem a lot less than ours do here in Canada. Some of it would be due to living on an acreage which has extra buildings besides our house. That said, our homeowners insurance seems quite a lot less than yours. An instance where one might use this insurance would be in the instance of hail. We have had hail this year 2 times. I am planning to call our insurance provider about our roof on Monday. Our neighbors did have their shingles replaced 100% by insurance.
A schoolbus can provide space and be affordable. Buying land to park in usely comes up after a while on the road. Then you have a place to live in if you want to build a home.
The expensive part of the insurance is the wind, which they charge you extra to subsidize the people that were affected by hurricanes in the past. You can keep fire and liability for a 1/3 of the cost. The other thing people forget when doing budgets is the fact that instead of cutting expenses to balance the books, you can increase earnings. If you raised your income 20%, you wouldn’t notice a 10% increase in expenses.
Insurance is a big reason we didn't buy a tiny home or a mobile home (motorhomes aren't included in this). They are difficult or impossible to insure depending on where they are.
Tennessee is going to be expensive too. Texas, Florida and Tenn. are very popular and cost of living has gone up in all three due to increase of population. Maybe try a less popular state
I agree that wages are higher in other states, like California, but they still are way below what is needed to live on. The average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment in San Diego right now is $2,400. Minimum wage before tax at 40 hours a week is $2,400. That's before taxes. Where does the money come from to pay for car insurance, gasoline (it's $5.09 a gallon here), groceries, gas and electric, water, etc.? It's insane here. I wish you the best of luck and I look forward to your upcoming videos.
Californian here. Minimum wage at $15 x 40 hrs= $600 not $2,400. (Think you meant to write that) Now times $600 x 4= $2,400 before taxes. And you're correct, if only one person is renting a 2 bedroom apt at $2,400 a month, they won't be able to afford the rent of that 2 bedroom apartment. Maybe four working adults living in it and splitting up cost could do it. Less than that arrangement - would be insane and nerve wrecking to try to come up with that amount.
Much respect...you are smart and a go getter...We need more like you in this country! I left Florida 3 years ago thank God lol.Highly,highly overrated.
We've been thinking about moving out of Florida so it will be interesting to see your process, especially getting rid of your current furnishings before moving.
Just curious. Why did you move to Florida in the first place? My sons and I checked out the cost of living expenses there in 2009, right after the housing collapse. Even then, the cost of property taxes, car and home owners insurance, among other things, was much more expensive than Indiana. There is no perfect place to live. Every place has it's pros and cons.
I've lived in florida my whole life, and it actually didn't used to be nearly this expensive. Homes were reasonably priced and home owners insurance used to be average. My homeowner's insurance was 1000.00 for years, never over that. Over the last Is couple of years it's gone up to 4000.00. And when it renews this year, i'm sure it will go up another thousand or two. That's ridiculous, it was never like this before.
TN prices for everything have skyrocketed with crime rates to match! Property taxes doubled; rents $1500 for 1bd apt even in outlying areas. Car insurance up; food high as everywhere else... 😮 The Midwest still seems to be slightly better than other areas of the country...
I love the extra videos, but don't stress out about it ❤ I comment both for support and the algorithms 🥰💪 I get paid (benefits because I am chronically sick/disabled) 19th and I got some extra in juni, so I saved extra. I also got some extra expenses so my goal is to make do and not take of the extra savings and strength the rest to have enough anyway. Normally I do have some extra at the end of the month and I hope and believe to that it will work out. I suddenly realized that I was low on oats and some other things too. I have not bought oats since January so I need to get some on hopefully still a store deal tomorrow (the deal has been the same since February, a little more than the deal over months before that, so I hope new month have not changed that). I also stuck up on cheap berries for the winter now in July, but that I have budget for. I could not pass on some good sneakers and a rain coat on sale that I will need in August/September. The rain coat was well overdue, and I got a real good deal. It's several tears in the one it's replacing and I am a hiker. Thanks again, and moving are stressful but you will make it through 🥰💪 Love from Johanne, Norway 🇳🇴
We have friends who moved from Oklahoma to Portugal in January. They sold pretty much everything (with the exception of some heirloom pieces that are in a small storage unit here in the states) and whatever they could carry on the plane & their 2 dogs. It seemed crazy at the time but they said it felt so freeing to not have to worry about their “stuff” and it helped them pay for their flights and getting housing set up in a completely different country!!! I’m so excited for you all and can’t wait to see where y’all end up!!!
i know u trying to cash out at the top and then buy again when the market crash. respect but we dont have that kind of luxury. i dont have hi. u just need to watch it. it is good to save money. nothing is gonna happen. look in your past and find that most of the time u make right decision. respect and good luck.
I don’t understand how anyone but a millionaire could go without homeowners insurance. If your house burns down most people could not replace the house and everything in it
Insurance isn't nearly as profitable as people think, especially since COVID thru everything into a tizy. Most companies have been spending $1.25-$1.40 for every dollar they take in over the last year. Claim costs are skyrocketing. Hence, the cost of insurance is going up a ton. We're expecting the hard market to last a couple years, at least.
I'm in England my car insurance was £300 for the year and house insurance £108 for the year I'm looking forward to seeing how it all goes for you such an adventure 😊. I just read some of the comments how do you cope with the unsolicited advice and sometimes mean comments ? xx
Its hard to read all the negative comments sometimes tbh. I try to focus on the positive ones 😊 I am also kinda used to people not understanding me - but people are much more likely to speak their mind via the keyboard 🙃 It also helps that I am usually pretty confident in my decisions once I decide to share it on here. But it is the hardest part about having a YT channel 100%
Hey @Raising wildflowers - this was meant for you bc as they say , Tennessee is Gods country , and you bloom where you are planted right ? It’s going to be amazing !
What are YOUR July Goals?
WHERE are we going after we leave Florida? Find out here: th-cam.com/video/qirgrjS_3Qg/w-d-xo.html
I am making this comment out of concern to make sure that you don't regret this major decision in the future.
If your home is paid off and you have a homestead exemption, and your bills are $1,500 a month, aren't you already in a situation that most people dream of?
Insurance is going up everywhere. You can't escape it. The best possible move you can make when the insurance renewal increases, is to shop around. I'm in Texas and our insurance renewal for our 2 cars was going up by 45%. We ended up shopping around and landed with Allstate. For the exact same coverage, the premium with Allstate is 20% less than what we were currently paying, and 65% less than the renewal with Geico. In other words, thank you Geico! You forced me to shop around and I ended up saving money.
Food. Gas. Utilities. They're going up everywhere. Again, you can't escape it. It's not a Florida thing. It's a printing too much money and labor shortage thing.
Traveling the country right now in this inflationary environment is going to be way more expensive than staying put. And probably way more expensive than what you expect.
Meanwhile, if you stayed, your home is likely to continue to appreciate which will help you offset the inflation.
And finally, please consider the replacement costs of everything that you plan to sell. House included. You're highly likely to spend more than what you'll get to replace everything once you settle down again.
♡♡♡♡
Facts. But everyone's situation is different so hopefully them leaving is the best
I agree 100% with your comments. Florida has no income tax and you can do lots of things for free or very cheaply. Having no income tax saves most families $10k per year. Going somewhere else that you think is cheaper only works if there's a strong job market, strong support for police and criminal prosecution, and lots of things to do that don't cost a lot.
@@tomsettles6873 police budgets are super inflated
@@tomsettles6873TN also has not state income tax
Moving is expensive and very stressful, but it sounds like you're doing it for the right reasons. We escaped Florida two years ago and haven't looked back. Good luck to you!
Thanks 😊
Where did u go
Where you went?
Insurance is a necessity, and it should cover the replacement value of the house and the contents in it. My friend had a fire, and it took a year for her home to be rebuilt. The policy also covered her hotel and meals, until she found a place to rent. The rent was also covered.
1000%
My sisters house also burned down. Insurance actually paid for her to buy a much nicer house.
It also covers liabiility, like if someone gets hurt on your property!
I am in the process of having my house replaced by insurance after a fire. However, it was a second home and so hotel and rent is not covered. It's been 12 weeks so far and they don't have the cost estimate done yet. My out of pocket loss is $17,000 for rent, $15,000 of mortgage payments while it sits empty, $2,000 utilities while sitting empty, and $3000 in travel so far. That's $37,000 lost. Then throw in the deductible. Sometimes just being a renter is best
@@iriswelch3553That's what alligators are for.
I live in the metro Atlanta area. My Allstate homeowner’s insurance is $4k a year and my property taxes are $7k a year. These expenses are totally out of control.
I agree! ATL is so expensive too!
That’s ridiculous!
Yikes.i am in fire country ca by the foothills. Allstate fire is 1800.00 same with property tax 1780.00 but we been here for 23 years.yes I cross fingers insurance dosen't get canceled never a claim and try to keep the 2 ac nice.
@melissaguevara724 Yes! We live in Indiana also- in a city named one of the best in the US to live in- the prices of everything are very affordable!
Which state are you in?
I would like an update. How are you guys doing?
Congratulations on moving out of Florida! I lived there most of my life, but I'm out of there now and much happier. I hate Florida and do not miss it!
I agree with you, DON'T cancel your homeowners insurance just because you don't have a mortgage. Insurance only does two things, it pays for what you can't afford to lose and buys you piece of mind. If you can't afford to lose it, you can't afford to not insure it. Good luck on your home sale!
My grandson and his wife are thinking about leaving Florida too because you are right the wage to cost of living ratio is insanely out of kilter.
Yes, we live right up the road not far from you in the Ocala national Forest. That forest fire last month cost almost $6 million worth of damage. It stopped just a little over 1 mile from our property. Praise the Lord!
It is such a pleasure to hear you speak! You don't use the word "like", in every sentence or every other word - how wonderful! Every word coming out of your mouth is pronounced/enunciated correctly. You don't use the junk expression "You Know What I Mean". Your explanations are very clear and understandable, even if one does not agree with the topic. I do not need to adjust the volume, ever. Have you considered teaching a public speaking course, either credit or non credit at nearby colleges, or at adult education courses?
Good luck on the sale of your current home, and your move. Safe travels!
I hope all is well with yall, I miss your videos. I'm Florida, girl . Good luck selling the home.
I'm from South FL n lost my home to Hurricane Francis n Jeanne in 2004 I had paid my home insurance always, NEVER missed a payment, NEVER put in any claims. After the hurricanes I put in a claim n they fought me for over 6 months about it, telling me that my policy didn't cover "wind driven rain" I finally had the Florida insurance commissioner get involved n finally got a check for a total of $11,000 for a total loss of everything, so either way u lose money n get screwed
I admire you for getting out of insane home and rental prices.
The cost increases are insane in Florida, Car insurance, Home insurance, WOW that is a lot especially if you are trying to stay within your current monthly budget, there isn't any wiggle room. It will cost your more to stay in Florida. I wish your family the best, perhaps living off grid for a while you can finally save more and build up your savings to the point where you can determine where you want to put down roots. Scoping out costs in various states as you travel off grid. Safe flight and travels and I wish you success in selling your home fast!
Exactly!!! ❤️😊
Having homeowners insurance is a financially sound peace of mind.
Agreed, but the cost has gotten astronomical.
@@kenyonbissett3512 ,
Not necessarily depends on the value of your house and where you live they also take into account your credit score I was told this by my State Farm agent.
I live in Central Illinois I have a small two-bedroom full finished basement ( family room with fireplace 3rd bedroom but since no egress window only considered 2 bedroom) house with attached garage my home is valued around 90? with a 2020 Buick encore vehicle I pay $96 a month for house and car insurance and with the senior freeze and low-income I paid less than $1,000 on real estate taxes a year
@@kenyonbissett3512
I have a condo and my HOA fee covers everything on the outside of the building so I know my homeowners insurance is a lot less but still reasonable at $588 for 2023 and this is in So. CA. I have it bundled with my auto insurance so I get a bit of a discount.
@@debbieframpton3857
I have AAA for both auto and homeowners. I went directly into AAA when I got my homeowners insurance and she did not pull up my credit score.
Really?
Since squatters are becoming an issue for homes left empty make sure to not give out so much information that they could easily find your home. They do scour social media trying to figure out when a home is vacant and depending on what state you are in it could take months to evict them and lots of money.
For the first time in 18 years our property value & taxes actually went down!? Crazy!!
Wow that is shocking! But what a nice surprise 😁
That’s crazy! My dad just told me his property tax just went up by over $350/month. I’m glad to hear someone somewhere is getting some relief!
I travel on the road for work 4 to 6 months out of the year in 7 states . I stay in the back of a truck sometimes, motels, airbnbs. I pay my way to go work, travel etc. In my mind you have the ideal situation, a paid off house with some space compared to living on the road. It gets tiresome when you don't have your own space. When I am not traveling, I live in a basement with my partner that's 221 square feet. I am doing this to save for a property as I spend only 200 bucks a month to rent it. Some states are cheaper than others when it comes to food, gas, basic items and others are insanely expensive compared to where I live. Unexpected expenses come up and alot of rules exist if you are trying to boondock randomly at places. Things break down alot on the road, fueling the ac when plug in's are not available are rough because the prices for it are double in some places. I think getting a plot of land so you can grow some of your own food would be a better option only because I fear that the cost of traveling is alot to bear longterm with that many people.
Love the idea of your family travelling in a tiny house/RV for a year or so. Have you ever considered getting a couple of acres of land and going off grid, raising your own food, etc? I'm a new subscriber and you have given me so many good ideas to live a more frugal life. Thank you and good luck with your move and new adventure.
sadly, many states have even outlawed off-grid RV living, even on "your own land"
That’s exactly what I’m going to do ✅
@@WhySoLoudyes but they’re out there have to do research
That's the thing. Once the news comes out how cheap the cost of living is in a state, people out of the state move in. That causes the cost of living to increase dramatically. I moved back home to Texas 2010. 2 bedroom, extremely nice apartment, was $790. Now the same apartment is over $1500. That's more than my mortgage with escrow. Texas is not a cheap state to live, at least in the cities. And apartments are being built everywhere to try to accommodate with the demand.
In my opinion it would be insane to not have home owners insurance for anyone. Yes it is a ridiculous amount but never worth the risk.
Fla is having an insurance crises right now.
Someone gets hurt on your property it's all over with
If you have a mortgage, you have to
We live in Lexington, KY and it is super cheap to live in KY. My July goals are just to put in my planner and map out our homeschool first quarter and also enjoy the month of July! You have an amazing plan! I am excited to see ya'lls adventures!
I love Kentucky too
I think leaving an expensive state is a wise decision. If you get a tiny home of some sort it will give you flexibility. Most of us have a lot more stuff and space than we need.
You are making financially sound decisions. I will be listening to your videos. Blessings on all you do🙋🏼♀️
Everything has a value, if Florida is not all that to you then it is not worth what you have to do to make your home. I totally get it and that is why I have been a nomad for 40 years. Traveling light and you can make life an adventure. Good luck and have fun in TN.
Thank you!
I am glad you never listened to someone telling you not to have home insurance!!! We pay $2770 a year and it is a neccesity!!!
Just an FYI for everyone . You can shop for insurance . You don’t have to keep the one you have. You can change at a time too. 😊
Yeah, except in Florida just about all the insurance companies jumped ship here.
There aren’t really many options in Florida. Many of the companies are going insolvent and the ones who are still here will not even insure a lot of homes. That is why the state of Florida offers Citizens Insurance, which is soooo expensive. I, thankfully, am able to go through a private insurance company, but changing companies isn’t really an option because there is not really anyone else to choose from 😆
That’s if you can find one in Florida. They have an insurance crisis right now in the making. Many companies have pulled out of the state due to the rising cost of replacing homes damaged by hurricanes.
I lived in Florida and its really frustrating to live in a state the places more value on people who spend a week or two there or maybe half the year rather than people who are there full time.
Insurance rates in SC were about the same. We have moved back to our home state & are contemplating our next move. I wish you & your family all the best!
Do you recommend SC?
That is god-awful financial advice if anyone ever says you should cancel your homeowners insurance just because you don't have a mortgage. Like you said that is your best asset and you have to protect it. That could put you or anyone in financial ruin if something catastrophic happened to your home and you didn't have insurance.
AGREED !!
Unfortunately, the influx of people moving to Tennessee has become a financial hardship on locals. You see, why you're leaving Florida is becoming the same reality for people here. Housing prices have tripled, property taxes have doubled. Homeowners insurance keeps rising. So, it won't be long before you are back in the same predicament.
TN may have gotten more expensive, but not FL expensive 😬
I’m in Florida & feel this sooooo much. It’s ridiculous. I’ve had to jump auto insurances companies & currently quoting homeowners insurance. Love that you guys are downsizing!! ❤ looking forward to your journey. New subbie.
Yesss car insurance and home insurance both went up and had to shop around.
you may want to consider renting rather than selling. Having a property management monthly. Since rents are at a all time high that may make better sense.
Safe travels and good luck. You are both young and even if you decide not to live in a tiny house you make it. You are not stupid, and Florida is hot. Peace!
Florida is the most expensive to live, When you factor the starvation wages in Florida. I have a client of mine , a realtor who do a math for me that a school principal who makes 100k a year did not qualify for a mortgage. That is a dealbreaker for me, leaving Florida end of July.
I know a very well educated lady with a degree in Accounting from a good school who lives in SWFL. She has several years of accounting experience and has consistently been offered $12 to $14 an hour. When she says she cannot work for that low of a salary she is told well many others will- she is considering leaving the state- as employers seem to want to pay starvation wages as the price to live in "paradise" In Naples, there is a company called Arthrex which is a medical device company. They have both a research facility as well as a production facility in Ave Maria so they have both skilled as well as less skilled jobs. When we lived down there a news story on Wink News said that the company was considering leaving Collier County as they could not attract workers due to the high cost of living- no one would work for what they could offer as the housing and other expenses were too high for them to afford to live there. That was several years ago before the extreme rise in housing prices- simply put the cost of living down there exceeds the salaries by a significant amount.
Good luck with your move I wish your family all the best 🙂
I agree Florida insurance costs and prices in general make it hard to live here. We are off grid and the amount of gas needed to stay cool in our RV and tiny home is high.
It’s true. As of about two years ago, the cost of living in FL has FAR surpassed our wages!! They definitely did not rise at even close to the same rate.
Agree, do not discontinue home owners insurance, I feel so bad for the folks in Florida who lost their homes during Ian and did not have insurance. You seem so wise for one so young! Best wishes on all your changes in life that will be coming soon!
The problem with Florida is that even if you have insurance it's a fight for YEARS to get them to pay a dime. It's awful.
Wise, cause they kept insurance? Lol
I see this trend increasing when it comes to people leaving the state. The homeowners insurance increase hit me hard this year. I have 2 properties (Rental and Primary) and both of them increased by 100%. I'm now about to sell my rental because of insurance cost. Although I could potentially manage to keep the rental, the uncertainty of how much it could increase next year is not something I want to risk. I've lived in Pensacola, FL for 15 years now. This is the first time I've ever considered that moving could happen, because of cost of living as a reason. For me homeowners insurance is biggest impact. I went from from $1500 to $3000, and that is nothing from what I see in other parts of the state. If my insurance goes to $6000 or $9000 in the next year or two, its going to be rough.
hey neighbor. I live in Milton. Putting my house on the market next week. Just not doable any longer!!
Well the summer heat and humidity would be enough for me to leave
Anyone who owns a home and does not carry home insurance is really taking a huge risk. I never moved to Florida because of the cost insurance. I used to live in Knoxville but moved to east Tennessee. Knoxville was way to crowded for me. I hope your move goes smoothly. Ignore some of the trolls in the comment section. You have a good plan and budget.🌻🌻
I used to live in Knoxville TN as well. From 2011-2016. I moved to Southwest Florida, Naples. I am not a homeowner, but all I can say rent is so expensive, I feel Trapped in my rent lease agreement. Can't wait to move out of Florida
@@violetagira5128 I can only imagine how high it is. Keep the faith. They are making it almost impossible for everyone to live.🌻
@@violetagira5128I'm down here too. I've been thinking about just walking away from my lease. It feels like I just need to go somewhere not so expensive
I considered east Tennessee but ultimately decided on Colorado Springs instead. I suppose I'm trading sand for snow (currently in Orlando).
@JasonTaylor-po5xc Colorado is beautiful but way to expensive to buy a home there for me
I moved to Florida from Tennessee 13 yrs ago, but ready to move out of FL. My housemate doesn't want to sell and is comfortable with FL. I'm stuck here for now ughh.
Yes!!!!! Florida way expensive! It's crazy
Very good video! I like the way you reiterate the word CHEAP, many people doesn't want to say it and doesn't want to be labeled as such especially in the US where consumerism is rampant. If you buy luxury brands such as clothes, shoes, cars, watches, etc. then they feel more important they are the type of people who always worry about what other people will think about them.
You have a smart mindset about budgeting and especially about insurance. Best wishes to you this summer with your family.
So interesting! Loved seeing your financial break down! So helpful!
Best of luck with the move and the house sale. And I hope you enjoy the time catching up with friends and family this month too.
So intriguing and cool to watch this unfold! Love your moving plans and budget!
Oh my goodness, in Florida never cancel homeowners. You are so right.
Our home and car insurances have also been increasing and we aren’t in Florida. No accidents or claims. It’s crazy.
Now you know the truth. Insurance companies and lawyers run this country and our life. One benefit for all the hell we are put through in CA there is a Insurance company out of San Diego that is still honest and rewards its policy holders with keeping rates low.
I'm glad you are going to be able to leave Florida. The only thing is with it being July you may have to pay more for a place to stay since it is the height of summer. FYI, I think Mint Mobile has dropped all their rates to $15 a month including unlimited everything. Please tell me you are taking your pets because the shelters are overflowing with animals.
Yes please take your pets
Definitely taking our pets!
Oregon is beyond expensive too and our wage doesn’t match living prices
Well, yeah, in your family members are helping out by letting you stay there so you’re not losing any money. That’s great.
Oh, I hadn’t got to the part of the video where you were staying in Airbnb’s
We are relocating out of Florida too - not because of the cost of living but simply because we want a change. As much as we enjoy the positive parts of Florida (and there are many), we desire more adventure and easier access to the rest of the country - and winter sports. Our family hasn't been to a beach in years and we are theme parked out, so time for new adventures while we are young enough to enjoy them. We also experienced the same shocking insurance costs hikes too but it is still a wash when you factor in things like income tax or property tax in other states.
We decided on Colorado Springs - which actually has a higher cost of living than Orlando (but lower than Denver). However, I got a home building lot with a perfect view of Pikes Peak and the southern Front Range that is to die for. Being in Colorado means we will be within a day drive of most of the Western US. However, what I'm most exciting about is the ability to frequent the ski resorts during the Winter and Spring - which turns out is about the same cost as an annual ticket to a major theme park.
For moving, we are going to try out the U-Box service by U-Haul since our house won't be ready until November. We moving early into an apartment (6-month lease) to help with the selling process _and_ be established in the new city before school starts for the year (want to avoid a mid-year transfer). For our 5-bedroom home, we are starting with 10 U-Boxes but can add or remove them if needed. The main cost is just shipping them to Colorado Springs - which will cost about $5700. I need to pay $100 or so each time a set of boxes are delivered to my house, but I'm betting that will be around $400. This is all still way cheaper than using PODS or Pack-Rat.
When my aunt moved out of the country for a few years, she decided to buy land in Tennessee simply to have a residence established in a state without state income tax. Smart move on her part.
The air quality in Colorado is not as good as FL. Since FL is practically surrounded by water and has breezes. Colorado is beautiful if you are into winter sports etc. Visiting the west does not interest me and many people are moving from there and moving east or southeast but to each their own adventure.
@@justhere3794 Well, I live in Orlando so I don't get an ocean breeze (unless there is a tropical system). However, hurricanes aren't a huge problem either - so pick your poison. On Tuesday (7/3), it was 97F with 97% humidity - that was unbearable - like a sauna you could not leave. On the flip side, winters are glorious - but I'd rather be skiing - which is hard to do in Florida. I've been here for 12 years and it is time for something different since I'm fully remote for work.
@@JasonTaylor-po5xc If you are younger it is fine. We did that when we were younger with our son. But that actually grew old. I'm a Floridian so I am biased of course. We can explore in the summers as Florida is not a trap if you have money to just hop on a plane. It's not like I'm standing outside in the heat anyway and I tend to do things early in the mornings anyway. I did all the mountain climbing years ago so it's not anything special to me but I do have great memories of great times when my son was young. That's what fooled us into moving to the mountains. My son loves Florida too and he is a Floridian born and bred and has lots of friends here and lots of fun memories of boating with friends in the gulf. We are a boating family and not really into winter sports. But he does ski and did it in Colorado for awhile when he lived there.
My homeowners insurance has more then doubled annually. I live in Orlando. My property taxes have gone up 33%. Don’t get me started on groceries and electric.
I'm so glad you're not cancelling your homeowner's insurance. Unless someone can easily afford replacing ALL of their belongings and rebuilding their home, they should not cancel their homeowner's insurance.
Smart. Insurance is for when you can't afford the risk.
I retired, have been "on the road" for app. 1.5 years. Became more schooled relating to Airbnb's.....I make "offers", yes during the 3 or 4 summer months while most vacation it's challenging, but it's typically worked for me. I suggest a "number", typically 50% of their asking price. In doing so offer cash, per Venmo.....others "schooled" me in this respect, and it works for me app. 70% of the time....
as a lifelong resident of Florida its horrible to now realize that I too must sell my home. I have a new job in SWFL and was hoping to live here permanently, but if I sell my house in NWFL I will not be able to afford a home here due to the extreme high cost of homes AND Insurance AND HOAs. Keeping my home in NWFL has become a financial burden with maintenance and yet one more thing to repair (garage door opener this month). So I am selling and just putting the money in the bank. I cannot leave this job because I signed a contract, but when the contract is up I will be leaving the area, unless all those prices drop significantly. Not sure where I will go. Tennessee? Georgia? I have no idea.
You will likely need to go far inland to avoid crazy insurance costs. Texas is also facing the same thing in the coastal regions. If you want to remain in the south, consider Tennessee - they have no state income tax and a mild climate. They can get snow in the winter but not like other parts of the country. If you are on a budget, then Alabama (if you don't have kids) or Georgia could be decent. I have lived in both, they are fine for the most part - but watch the school districts if you have kids. I also enjoyed living in North _and_ South Carolina. For the time being, we are going to try out Colorado - which is expensive for other reasons - but I _really_ want to access to Rocky Mountain skiing.
So glad you’re not going without home owner’s insurance. That would be insane. Keep us posted on how things are going for you all. Oh, and Happy Birthday to the July 28th birthday person!🎂 🎉 ❤
Insurance is asset protection. It’s not an investment and most will never get the money paid into. It’s insurance, not an investment account, so good for you.
I really love the ‘outside the box’ thinking you engage in but I must admit I’m nervous re buying.a Tiny home.I seem to remember you lived in a caravan many years ago when your Gil’s were very young so I have faith that you know what you are doing.I do hope all works out for you and I have confidence that you think it all through.Good luck with the move.
Have you check New Mexico? Is more affordable, the weather is good , no natural disasters.
And it's a blue state which is a major positive
@@dougs7367 I moved to nm two years ago and the fact it’s a blue state is my biggest complaint about it here. And the drug and homeless rate is horrible. And crime rate. But the plus is most people stay out of my business most of the time and the weather is good. Just wish there were more cloudy days here and there. Sun can be brutal all the time.
I’m not in the USA but I’d be worried that once your paid-off home is sold, it’s gone and you will be essentially starting again if you bought a house again.
Living in a vehicle is a depreciating asset and will eventually be worth nothing and you will be back to starting over.
And expensive repairs and inconvenience.
Would it not be better to stay and hunker down if you are happy where are currently located ?
Are there any other acceptable areas you could get a cheap house ? Like Prepper Princess did. She did a video on this.
All the best for the future.
Yeah, we are not happy here and would not stay. We will be selling our home no matter what. What we do next is the question. We will still have enough money in savings to buy some land or a small home if we decide traveling isn’t for us. And will only be spending a bit of the money we make off our home on our tiny home - the rest will be saved and invested for later. Where we would want to buy a house is undecided. Nowhere in the US seems appealing tbh. Maybe traveling for a while will help answer that question for us.
It is hard for intelligent, decent and rational people to be happy in Florida.. it is overrun and controlled by right wing religious fascists.
As for starting again, if you sell a paid off house you can buy another outright with the profits. So it isn't really "starting again" with housing payments etc just a new and better location.
You remind me of when I was in my 30s and my husband and son and I moved to NC. We lived there for 5 years and moved back to FL (Clearwater when it was less crowded.) NC was bittersweet in that it is a gorgeous state but bitter in that we didn’t care much for the cultural aspects and prefer different and a variety of cultures. Florida is eclectic especially in Tampa and Lakeland areas. I don’t care for Orlando or South FL. The weather doesn’t bother me. I have a healthcare job so money is not really an issue for me and I also do virtual jobs. If I want mountains I’ll take a quick flight somewhere. Good Luck
I left Florida 30 years ago. I was able to double my income within 6 months of leaving Florida. In Florida, beach proximity was 1/3 of your paycheck. I was able to buy The same size house up north for half the price after I left. Groceries and utilities were 1/3 less than in Florida. I convinced my family to live in a middle class neighborhood up here and in a little over 10 years, we owned our new home outright.
I did keep my investment properties in Florida. I will be able to escape state income taxes and sales tax in retirement by living there.
I am new here. I applaud your financial prudence. It is refreshing.
It’s much easier to show a vacant house. Plus you don’t have the stress of trying to clean every time you have a visitor
Some of my sellers have used simplisafe to guard the home in your absence
I would definitely keep the homeowners insurance
In PA the sales contract includes a contingency for insurability Sometimes if you cancel insurance, it’s difficult to reinsurance
We loved from Fl to Indiana in 2021. Our Fl home was 3000 sq feet, in a gated community with an HOA that was always thinking up ways to raise the fees whether you wanted the extra things they wanted or not. It became disgusting after a while- having many special assessments to build things such as a new fitness center only to have the new $15M plan include plans to tear down the 3 year old fitness center building to build a bigger better one! No one used the fitness center that was built in the first round of improvements- not sure why they needed a new one? The last project a $15 M project which would raise the HOA fees significantly was the last straw and we decided to move. So did many of our friends who also had enough of the crazy idea of the HOA schemes to keep up with new developments- which had amenities paid for by the developer not the home owners! Our Indiana home is 5200 sq feet. The Fl. home sold for over double what the nicer, larger Indiana home cost.. We now enjoy a full finished basement with a full kitchen a lovely deck and sunroom as well as more room to put things as the 3000 sq foot one level home did not allow for much space for anything! We have 5 bedrooms and 5 baths here so plenty of room for guests who come to visit. We moved to a lovely suburb which is rated one of the best cities in the US to live. Our HO insurance in Fl. was over $2000 a year in Fl. in 2021 before the large increases due to Ian. We bundled auto and home so that auto for one car was about $1300 a year. The rates were lower as they were bundled with one company. Problem is the insurance carrier we had stopped writing HO in Fl,. so that anyone who had them no longer could bundle for lower costs. We have a friend in Cape Coral who pays $9798 for home owners- $435K coverage. He is afraid of being dropped as he has an Ian claim which is unresolved- his insurance paid him $27000 for an $280000 claim and he is now in court. Seems many in Fort Myers, Cape Coral and areas affected by Ian are dealing with insurance companies paying literally pennies on the dollar forcing them to sue. Our insurance here on our home for the same amount of coverage as in Fl- actually more as the Indiana insurance covers more items that the Fl. one did not without a huge deductible which we had in Fl. for hurricanes- Our Indiana HO is less than $1000 a year. Our auto is $1000 a year for full coverage and our umbrella policy for $2m coverage is $100 less than $1 M coverage in Florida. My Medicare supplement has dropped $70 a month since moving here. We live on a lovely cul de sac and our HOA fee is $500 a year. Thankfully our HOA has no plans of projects and special assessments which are so common In Florida where bigger better and keeping up with the new developments seems to be the way of life! God forbid there is a hurricane as you will get a special assessment to pay for community damage- when Irma hit we had to pay a $1900 special assessment for community damage PLUS play for our own extensive damage! If we stayed in Fl. where we lived our HOA would be over $10,000 a year. Granted it included lawn care and a social director who wanted to "direct" your life with a variety of activities we had no interest in! The HOA rose every year no matter what as the board always had some crazy ideas. Groceries here are much lower- Kroger is so much less pricey than Publix- Yes, there is a state income tax in Indiana and yes there are 4 seasons not just hot and hotter like in Florida but cost wise, Indiana is very reasonable. best of all, our son and daughter in law have very good paying job here- unlike in Florida where incomes are very low considering the cost of housing, insurance and basic necessities. Our son was checking salaries in Florida and found he would make significantly less for a similar job and our daughter in law who is in insurance would also make less and be forced to pass a series of tests as everything in Florida even answering a phone in an insurance agency requirements a special test and certification!
Wise move you did.yes people don't realize Florida is like AZ they are right to work states and also the states to lose value in a ression we might have earth quakes out west but Florida is one hurricane away from disaster. I think I would take my chances living next to a valcano.
I had one HOA -- never again
My dream is to move TO Florida. It's out of control everywhere but Florida homes seem comparable in price or cheaper than Nashville so IDK. Very discouraging. Im afraid if something doesn't happen soon a lot of people will be homeless and it's total bs!
It's not the housing costs that is making Florida significantly more expensive than a lot of states It's the total cost of living. Homeowners insurance and renters insurance as well as car insurance are so much higher than the national average. On top of the fact property taxes as well as other taxes in Florida are pretty high. Yes they don't have state income taxes but they get you in many other ways. It's not really that affordable of a place when you consider the total cost of living plus the lower average wages.
@curtsuneson6161 makes sense. Certain areas of Nashville has gone way up on property taxes but we have decent car insurance and my renters insurance is $20/month for $18k in coverage for personal items. We also don't have state tax. Cost of living is stupid everywhere though. It's sickening.
My dream was to move to FL too, but was not prepared for all the excessive costs. We even went from a mortgage in TN to no mortgage in FL because we paid cash for our home. Our expenses are still way more here. Just make sure you have a realistic idea of the cost of living in FL before making the move - EVERYTHING is more expensive here than it is in TN (we are from Knoxville).
It's not the price of homes thats the issue it's the outrageous property insurance rates and also the terrible Republican government
You would think with Ron DeSantis running for President he would do something about this insurance crisis in Florida.
A lot of your bills seem a lot less than ours do here in Canada. Some of it would be due to living on an acreage which has extra buildings besides our house. That said, our homeowners insurance seems quite a lot less than yours. An instance where one might use this insurance would be in the instance of hail. We have had hail this year 2 times. I am planning to call our insurance provider about our roof on Monday. Our neighbors did have their shingles replaced 100% by insurance.
A schoolbus can provide space and be affordable. Buying land to park in usely comes up after a while on the road. Then you have a place to live in if you want to build a home.
The expensive part of the insurance is the wind, which they charge you extra to subsidize the people that were affected by hurricanes in the past. You can keep fire and liability for a 1/3 of the cost.
The other thing people forget when doing budgets is the fact that instead of cutting expenses to balance the books, you can increase earnings. If you raised your income 20%, you wouldn’t notice a 10% increase in expenses.
And the rampant fraud going on down there. Not all people can just magically raise their income 20%.
Insurance is a big reason we didn't buy a tiny home or a mobile home (motorhomes aren't included in this). They are difficult or impossible to insure depending on where they are.
Tennessee is going to be expensive too. Texas, Florida and Tenn. are very popular and cost of living has gone up in all three due to increase of population. Maybe try a less popular state
I agree that wages are higher in other states, like California, but they still are way below what is needed to live on. The average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment in San Diego right now is $2,400. Minimum wage before tax at 40 hours a week is $2,400. That's before taxes. Where does the money come from to pay for car insurance, gasoline (it's $5.09 a gallon here), groceries, gas and electric, water, etc.? It's insane here. I wish you the best of luck and I look forward to your upcoming videos.
Californian here. Minimum wage at $15 x 40 hrs= $600 not $2,400. (Think you meant to write that)
Now times $600 x 4= $2,400 before taxes. And you're correct, if only one person is renting a 2 bedroom apt at $2,400 a month, they won't be able to afford the rent of that 2 bedroom apartment. Maybe four working adults living in it and splitting up cost could do it. Less than that arrangement - would be insane and nerve wrecking to try to come up with that amount.
Much respect...you are smart and a go getter...We need more like you in this country! I left Florida 3 years ago thank God lol.Highly,highly overrated.
Moving can be painful im sorry this has happened... We constantly are looking for somthing else
This is great! Love what you are doing!!❤
I feel it is super unfair for your rates to go up when you didn't crash! That is nuts!
Move to New Hampshire or Vermont u won't have stress and u will be safe
We've been thinking about moving out of Florida so it will be interesting to see your process, especially getting rid of your current furnishings before moving.
Just curious. Why did you move to Florida in the first place? My sons and I checked out the cost of living expenses there in 2009, right after the housing collapse. Even then, the cost of property taxes, car and home owners insurance, among other things, was much more expensive than Indiana. There is no perfect place to live. Every place has it's pros and cons.
I've lived in florida my whole life, and it actually didn't used to be nearly this expensive. Homes were reasonably priced and home owners insurance used to be average. My homeowner's insurance was 1000.00 for years, never over that. Over the last Is couple of years it's gone up to 4000.00. And when it renews this year, i'm sure it will go up another thousand or two. That's ridiculous, it was never like this before.
Have fun traveling, I know several people that have traveled the US via RV in search of a new place to live.
Property taxes are out of control in Texas as well.
We’re moving out of Florida back to maine
TN prices for everything have skyrocketed with crime rates to match! Property taxes doubled; rents $1500 for 1bd apt even in outlying areas. Car insurance up; food high as everywhere else... 😮 The Midwest still seems to be slightly better than other areas of the country...
I love the extra videos, but don't stress out about it ❤ I comment both for support and the algorithms 🥰💪
I get paid (benefits because I am chronically sick/disabled) 19th and I got some extra in juni, so I saved extra. I also got some extra expenses so my goal is to make do and not take of the extra savings and strength the rest to have enough anyway. Normally I do have some extra at the end of the month and I hope and believe to that it will work out.
I suddenly realized that I was low on oats and some other things too. I have not bought oats since January so I need to get some on hopefully still a store deal tomorrow (the deal has been the same since February, a little more than the deal over months before that, so I hope new month have not changed that). I also stuck up on cheap berries for the winter now in July, but that I have budget for.
I could not pass on some good sneakers and a rain coat on sale that I will need in August/September. The rain coat was well overdue, and I got a real good deal. It's several tears in the one it's replacing and I am a hiker.
Thanks again, and moving are stressful but you will make it through 🥰💪
Love from Johanne, Norway 🇳🇴
Thank you ❤️ Planning ahead and snagging that deal on sneakers and a rain coat is a great plan!
We have friends who moved from Oklahoma to Portugal in January. They sold pretty much everything (with the exception of some heirloom pieces that are in a small storage unit here in the states) and whatever they could carry on the plane & their 2 dogs. It seemed crazy at the time but they said it felt so freeing to not have to worry about their “stuff” and it helped them pay for their flights and getting housing set up in a completely different country!!! I’m so excited for you all and can’t wait to see where y’all end up!!!
Are they Portuguese?
Looking forward to following your family on your new adventures. It sounds exciting and scary.
I agree! We feel both those things 😆
Good luck with everything i really enjoy your videos, and hello from the UK
I am so interested to watch your videos on your new journey
i know u trying to cash out at the top and then buy again when the market crash. respect but we dont have that kind of luxury. i dont have hi. u just need to watch it. it is good to save money. nothing is gonna happen. look in your past and find that most of the time u make right decision. respect and good luck.
Best wishes and save travels to you all!
🌻💜🌻💜🌻💜
Thank you!! ❤️
I don’t understand how anyone but a millionaire could go without homeowners insurance. If your house burns down most people could not replace the house and everything in it
Insurance isn't nearly as profitable as people think, especially since COVID thru everything into a tizy. Most companies have been spending $1.25-$1.40 for every dollar they take in over the last year. Claim costs are skyrocketing. Hence, the cost of insurance is going up a ton. We're expecting the hard market to last a couple years, at least.
I’m going to move to Colorado…California is going downhill with taxes & housing costs.
Mentally ill, drug addicted homeless..
I'm in England my car insurance was £300 for the year and house insurance £108 for the year I'm looking forward to seeing how it all goes for you such an adventure 😊. I just read some of the comments how do you cope with the unsolicited advice and sometimes mean comments ? xx
Its hard to read all the negative comments sometimes tbh. I try to focus on the positive ones 😊 I am also kinda used to people not understanding me - but people are much more likely to speak their mind via the keyboard 🙃 It also helps that I am usually pretty confident in my decisions once I decide to share it on here. But it is the hardest part about having a YT channel 100%
Hey @Raising wildflowers - this was meant for you bc as they say , Tennessee is Gods country , and you bloom where you are planted right ? It’s going to be amazing !