Is Florida for Retirement Only?

[Michael G.]

For years before moving here from up north, I was hearing how beautiful Florida was to visit,
but could never make a living down here compared to the wages in the north.

Would you agree with that today?
Are pay scales less in the south and why should that be?

Many of our friends up north are in the home remodeling and new construction business
and I offend thought what a great business to be in here in Florida building all those homes
south of TV.

[rustyp]

For years before moving here from up north, I was hearing how beautiful Florida was to visit,
but could never make a living down here compared to the wages in the north.

Would you agree with that today?
Are pay scales less in the south and why should that be?

Many of our friends up north are in the home remodeling and new construction business
and I offend thought what a great business to be in here in Florida building all those homes
south of TV.

Of course wages in Florida are less. Workers don't have to buy snow tires.

[retiredguy123]

It depends on where you are referring to up north and in what industires. Where I lived in Northern Virginia, some of the construction trades were so dominated by illegals, that many legitimate construction businesses closed their business or switched trades. I once asked a contractor I knew to do some drywall work for me. He said that all drywall work was done by Hispanic businesses because they were so cheap that they put every other drywall business out of business. The same thing was true about landscaping. It doesn't seem to be that bad in central Florida.

[Bilyclub]

Contractors here seem to be a lot higher than up North. If the workers aren't making that money, who is?

[justjim]

Contractors here seem to be a lot higher than up North. If the workers aren't making that money, who is?

We have lived in Florida almost 20 years and the last few years I’ve noticed a substantial increase in contractors prices. Union labor in most northern states made a big difference. Here in The Villages I believe increases are likely because of growth and shortages of skilled labor. This is just what I observed.