[Villages Kahuna]

No state taxes… no state taxes… no state taxes!

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by Villages Kahuna

No state taxes… no state taxes… no state taxes!

I heard something about this.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by jdulej

Other than the politics of the state, which is an off limit topic, the two most glaring flaws in Florida are the lack of decent bread and decent pizza. I'm guessing it's the humidity, but not sure. We have been to all the pizza joints within 10 miles or so of TV - the best is mediocre. As for bread - none of the major supermarkets stock anything edible. Fresh Market has some half way decent loaves - their best might rate a 7. I thought that with all the urban east coasters retiring here, there would be a demand for quality, but I guess not.

So, in other words, two flaws and a MASSIVE positive.

[dhdallas]

Originally Posted by Bay Kid

I have been a Virginian all my life. My Florida friends have told me I should become a Florida resident. Is it really worth the change?

It is really worth it? Look at all you get!
Heat
Humidity
Snakes
Alligators
Cockroaches
Cubans
Big bugs: mosquitoes, fire ants, large flying roaches
Swamps
Hurricanes
Tornadoes
Sinkholes
Millions of tourists and snowbirds
Limited public transportation
Bad traffic and bad drivers
Higher crime rates
Inflated housing prices
Algae blooms
Mold
Expensive insurance costs
High sales taxes
Rising sea levels
Falling iguanas
Shark attacks (Daytona is the Shark Bite Capital of the World)
Yes, all this and more await you in beautiful sunny Florida!

[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by dhdallas

It is really worth it? Look at all you get!
Heat
Humidity
Snakes
Alligators
Cockroaches
Cubans
Big bugs: mosquitoes, fire ants, large flying roaches
Swamps
Hurricanes
Tornadoes
Sinkholes
Millions of tourists and snowbirds
Limited public transportation
Bad traffic and bad drivers
Higher crime rates
Inflated housing prices
Algae blooms
Mold
Expensive insurance costs
High sales taxes
Rising sea levels
Falling iguanas
Shark attacks (Daytona is the Shark Bite Capital of the World)
Yes, all this and more await you in beautiful sunny Florida!

Interesting list. But it all depends where someone comes from. Most of the items on the list are probably true, more or less, of most of the southern states. For the ones that aren't--well, to my mind it has been a good trade for me.

Heat and humidity? Took me about three days to acclimate to that. But it's all relative. The part of Minnesota where I come from has more 100 degree days per year than does The Villages, but we also had a LOT of cold. As in -30 or lower, with snow on the ground six months out of the year. And tornadoes? Tornadoes in Florida rarely reach F2: up where I'm from they get a whole heck of a lot bigger and more powerful. The St. Peter tornado, back in 1998, devastated the city of over 12,000 residents but what a lot of people don't realize is that the St. Peter storm was only one of SEVENTEEN tornadoes in that cell. And cells like that aren't all that rare.

The other stuff? Granted, the traffic can get exasperating and Florida certainly has more than it's share of bad drivers, but the number of drivers, real estate prices, etc. etc. reflect the fact that people WANT to be here. And I certainly cannot blame them for that.

[Bay Kid]

I will be keeping my home on the Chesapeake Bay, where I have been my whole life. I guess my question is it worth time to change residency to save money?

[jdulej]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

So, in other words, two flaws and a MASSIVE positive.

If you have money this is an easy place it live. Not a great place, but easy living. If you are poor - whole different story

[Topspinmo]

I can from Oklahoma, the only thing better in Florida the weather IMO. Now if I lived out of the bubble away from coast costs maybe comparable?

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by dhdallas

It is really worth it? Look at all you get!

...
Yes, all this and more await you in beautiful sunny Florida!

22 items listed
1 read as bigoted and ignored
18 also apply to Va with six arguably worse in Va.

I haven't heard of alligators, shark attacks, or falling iguanas in Va so I guess you have a point there.

[rustyp]

Originally Posted by elevatorman

I guess missed the part where OP said he has 2 homes.

Originally Posted by Bay Kid

I will be keeping my home on the Chesapeake Bay, where I have been my whole life. I guess my question is it worth time to change residency to save money?

I understood your question precisely in your original posting. It was about what is the advantage of changing primary residence on paper from Virginia to Florida not should you move to FL. Anyone following your postings over the years knows you have two homes and your love of your Chesapeake location (Bay Kid). As illustrated you can lead a horse to water but you can not make it drink.

[manaboutown]

Originally Posted by Bay Kid

I will be keeping my home on the Chesapeake Bay, where I have been my whole life. I guess my question is it worth time to change residency to save money?

Since many factors such as homestead exemptions and yearly real estate tax escalation limits need to be taken into consideration why not consult with an accountant who is knowledgable about FL vs. VA domicile financial pros and cons?

Some if not most states consider one's time spent there during the year as the major consideration of where one is domiciled. Other factors may outweigh this but the burden of proof may lie on the taxpayer.

Residency Status | Virginia Tax

States do not give up tax money without a fight! This "poor" guy's estate ended up paying tax to NJ when he was a resident of PA as he had homes in both states.

"Last week when the U. S. Supreme Court refused the harried estate executors a rehearing, implicitly approved was the first double state death-tax payment on record."

From: NEW JERSEY: Soup Relief - TIME

[manaboutown]

Florida Sheriff Says 'We Prefer' Homeowners Shoot Home Invaders - The Police Tribune

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by MartinSE

It's flat.

There county called Hillsborough, it is not flat. You chose flat based on the koolaid….

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by Bay Kid

I will be keeping my home on the Chesapeake Bay, where I have been my whole life. I guess my question is it worth time to change residency to save money?

Fine if you have money to burn/waste on taxes, which IMO worse kind of waste cause they are spending someone else’s money.

[Bay Kid]

Originally Posted by manaboutown

Florida Sheriff Says 'We Prefer' Homeowners Shoot Home Invaders - The Police Tribune

Best reason so far!