8 Reasons Retirees are Fleeing Florida!
 

While waiting for a doctor appointment (I was a bit early) I picked up a magazine I believe was called “retirement”life”. The Article was called “8 shocking reasons retirees are fleeing Florida”. Briefly as I remember:
1. Insurance too expensive. Florida homeowners is well above the national average.
2. Rise in HOA fees.
3. Unavailable affordable housing for retirees.
4. Overdevelopment and loss of small-town appeal.
5. Higher Utility bills.
6 . Extreme weather conditions
7. Groceries cost above national averages.
8. Quality and lack of adequate
Healthcare.

According to this article a subtle yet significant shift is changing peoples minds regarding the Sunshine State as a destination for the ultimate retirement paradise it once was. I found the article interesting “opinion” more than factual with no empirical data to backup the opinions. Florida continues to grow in population each year as shown by the data I’ve seen. It’s certainly true (growth) with regard to The Villages. Maybe Florida isn’t paradise but the fact is it probably never was.

We have been in TV going on 18 years and can identify with overdevelopment, higher insurance costs and the loss of small-town appeal. Yes, groceries are more costly but isn’t that true elsewhere? - its called inflation! Finally, there are healthcare issues here but the shortage of Doctors, Nurses and health facilities are not just a Florida issue it’s nationwide. Fore!

I’m sure there are some seniors leaving Florida for any one of the reasons cited. There is probably even a segment of Villagers who leave for those reasons. However, I would bet that there’s an even larger number of young adults leaving the state who were born and raised here that can’t afford to live here. State migration is not unique to Florida, but occurring in many states. However, Florida continues to grow in population, and The Villages continues to be a magnet for retirees, especially those in their late 50s / early 60s age group. South of 44 is booming with new Florida residents. For those that have done their homework prior to moving to Florida, and in particular The Villages, some of the reasons cited in the article come as no surprise.

Interesting.
“Among the top ten states to retire, Florida comes in at number one, followed by Colorado, Virginia, Delaware, Wyoming, Idaho, New Hampshire, Minnesota, Montana and Pennsylvania. The next 15 states also earn the distinction of being good states to retire in 2024. “

From Kiplinger
Best Places to Retire in the U.S. | Kiplinger

#9 - Forgot about the high estate tax rate in Florida.
#10 - high tax rate on retirement income

More people coming than going. Will continue until we run out of water

Florida jus passed 23,000,000 people.

Thank God there are eight reasons for some to leave, it would be too crowded.

:wave:

And yet late last week it was announced the we now have 23,000,000 residents. Don’t seem like they’re fleeing out of Florida, more like fleeing in.

9. Too many old people.

I’ve read just north of 20% are “old people” - perhaps a little more depending how you define “old”. My definition gets a bit older everyday.

1. Paying half in TV compared to my other home UpNorth.
2. $194/month is reasonable, and when you consider that you are NOT also paying county taxes for Park District, it's a bargain.
3. Patio Villas are not expensive. Don't buy a Premier with a view unless you can swing it.
4. Absolutely true. That's one so far.
5. Also cheap compared to similar UpNorth. To be fair, I'm not there in the summer, so I don't run the A/C.
6. There is extreme weather everywhere, except when there isn't. If they're referring to hurricanes (which I assume they are), central FL is relatively unscathed. Stay away from the coast. It's kind of like buying in a river flood plain and then complaining that it floods.
7. Food prices higher UpNorth (in general). Prob varies by region.
8. This is certainly true if you are comparing TV to a major metro area in any state.

So I count 2 correct out of 8.

@Papa_lecki's #10: If you are referring to Estate Tax, FL also lower than in my UpNorth state. Regardless, FL has zero income tax on retirement income like 401k, IRA, pensions, social security. Since most other states tax those payments, you are saving a fortune by living in FL.

That's a bad thing?

Maybe if you are stuck behind them in traffic, but "old people" rarely commit crimes.

I’m not leaving even IF a Hooters is coming into town,;) LOL

It was humor, showing how ridiculous the original post was
Hahaha - there isn’t an estate tax in FLA.
That’s why 20% Floridians are old.

We’re moving to North Dakota to save $129 per year in overall expenses!! 🤓

(My attempt at sarcastic humor is not intended in any way to be a slam against North Dakota. 🤪)

I want to know where the booths are that the people leaving go in and tell why!!!!

:duck:

i aint going nowhere now that hooters is coming to town.:BigApplause::BigApplause::BigApplause:

I've already been called a liar for stating this but I'm paying more for 1 Florida home than I am 2 East TN homes, all 3 are similar size and quality (only the fl house has a pool). The guy that called me a liar failed to come back here and correct himself after he saw screen shots of the bills.

I believe Tennessee is less expensive than FLA.
Good tax structure too.

I'm sure it varies by state as well as county. My point was that for the article to say that FL automatically has higher insurance rates is ridiculous.

No.9 been here long enough time to move on. :evil6:

Now days Over 29. They Finally have move out….parents house…. :BigApplause:

In my opinion, numbers 1-7 on the list are no big deal, except for perhaps #4 (but that’s coming from someone who hates big cities and prefers a more rural area). Number 8 is a real concern/issue and, along with the wife’s need to be near the kids/grandkids, is the reason we will probably always continue to have two residences.

Articles, somebody has to type some words about something, on a rotating schedule of topics. . .

How was that Olympic ceremony?

Far too long.

PS. If I see another horse galloping up a river, I will shoot it!

You forgot to factor in heating expenses!

Not only Florida. Same things going on in VA., probably most of the country. Especially the small town loss.

Math, finance, and budgeting skills are essential.

We moved here from Oregon, and overall, our monthly expenses are much, much lower here.

The excess $$$ from our retirement funds and investments fund our worldwide and US travel.

I've read those articles, too. Those are not localized costs. High City and coastal costs are in the mix.

Here in Central Florida and The Villages, we have a great place to live out our sunset years.

I think you are right. For decades a significant percentage of people retiring to Florida have decided they made a mistake and left. Usually they move back to where they came from to be closer to their family and friends. That’s okay. That’s to be expected. The majority stay, and houses keep being built.

Florida is a huge state, and home insurance rates vary from place to place, depending on the risk of storm damage of various sorts. Insurance is a lot less here than in some areas of the state. In Sumter County, our electricity costs 11 cents per KWH. There are places where it is twice that. Our HOA fees in The Villages are wonderfully low, despite the complaints of those who are barely scraping by. There are trailer parks near here charging three times as much as we pay, even though they get much less. People complain about food costs even as they shop at Publix or Fresh Market, even though it’s much cheaper at Winn-Dixie or WalMart, so it’s hard to think they are serious. I worked in health care for a few years half a century ago at several highly rated hospitals. I go to AdventHealth Waterman for health care, which has an A rating, and while most of my doctors are foreign, they are doing a great job. Plus, with Medicare and my supplemental insurance, it is pretty much all covered. If you are going to get seriously ill, there has never been a better time in history to do it. Even at the hospital formerly known as The Villages Hospital, you can at best get much better treatment than at a great hospital fifty years ago.

So, yes, people are leaving. They have been for decades, but most stay.

No. 10, Grandkids.

I’m taking my chances in Florida. Anything’s better than shoveling snow combined with 8 months of grey sky’s in the north.

One of the reasons I look askance at such magazine articles is the subjectivity involved. Google up "ten best (or worst) cities/states/whatever and that becomes obvious. Such articles vary widely according to criteria used and magazine readership.

One thing rarely mentioned as an attractor (maybe no so much in other parts of Florida but for sure here in TV) is the quality of law enforcement. Many of hail from parts of this country where lawlessness is rampant, and growing. Here in TV, we read about police chases after people who have shoplifted maybe $50 worth of whatever. Back where I come from, such thefts aren't even ordinarily reported, let alone followed-up on, unless the value exceeds $1000, and even if a police report IS taken on such a theft, follow-up action is rare to nonexistent.

We moved here for several reasons: lower taxes, better weather, cheaper standard of living, lower housing costs, you name it. All are as true today as when we first moved here. One thing we DIDN'T expect, but which we appreciate more and more as the parts of the country sink ever-further into lawlessness, is the amount and quality of law enforcement. Back home, I rarely left the house without carrying a pistol. Here, I rarely do. Just haven't felt the need.

Villagers have it pretty good. Often for reasons we don't even much think about.

Sure, the cheapest state in the US to live in may be West Virginia. It also is the most unhealthy state, has the worst health care and the highest obesity rate in the country. But, if living cheap is your objection, you can choose any state at the bottom the list to move to. Bye bye.

I'm leaving for all of them except 2. Add the entitled asshats that make daily life a challenge. I'm one of those in late 50s in the south. THE SOUTH SUCKS.

That’s great. You’re doing the right thing. I wish all the others that don’t like it here would do the same. Why live in a place where you can’t find happiness? I hope you’re able to find it at your next stop.

Florida Healthcare issues are not only due to shortages. Our Northern home has shortages but still has a much higher quality and reliability of healthcare than in Florida. Florida healthcare is quite frightening IMO. I’ve seen what they’ve done to my neighbors.

And concerning groceries, cheaper up North than in TV.

We love it here in the North end of The Villages. We couldn't be happier!!!

Actually they do have higher rates. We switched our car ins to our Northern state for that specific reason. Switched the title from husband to myself since I’m still a resident up North.

Be careful, it's where your car is garaged.

Primarily garaged. Difficult to argue against where you claim, unless you have a newer car with some kind of tracking mechanism built into it.

Agree with "primarily".

But, if you have a Florida accident/claim and it's listed as garaged up North.......the company will start asking questions and if you keep lying, it turns into insurance fraud. Ouch.

maybe
 

Something I wonder about The Villages is will the next generation want to come down and live with old people to play golf, pickleball and hear 60-70s music at the squares? Otherwise there will start to be empty houses in the older sections.