We spent over a decade living in Clearwater. We too loved living near the water even though we were not on the water. The love affair soured after the hurricanes of 2004 and 2005 destroyed the homeowners insurance marketplace. If you live in a coastal county and/or live in a home constructed before the construction codes changed (around 2005 ish), be prepared for homeowners insurance sticker shock. And don't forget to check the flood zone for the property. Many locations have been rezoned in the past few years. Our homeowners premium was based on home replacement cost (not purchase price of your house minus land), and when we left in 2012, our HO renewal premium was $14,000 per year. This makes a huge difference in your monthly out of pocket expenses.
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