[Ignatz]

We've been here less than a year and we're still discovering all of the cool things about TV. We really enjoy the new activities and our new friends.

I can say that there's not been any negative experience so far that would make us want to move out. I am not thrilled about some things here; roof replacement after 10 years and the higher cost of living compared to where we came from.

Can't say for certain that we're here till we move into the urn. I can see us maybe looking for "something different" in the future. Keeping those options open!

[rsmurano]

I think the media who wrote those posts are trying to make it sound like people are moving back to NY and California, which much is certainly not true. NY cheaper than Florida? This is a joke. Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas are experiencing huge growth. Have you seen how many people try to buy a new home here? My buddies were competing with a couple hundr d people to buy a new home or lot in Eastport.
I was paying $12k in property taxes and $20k a year while I lived in Portland, and this was in 2000. Property taxes back then are double what I pay here, and $20k in income tax will buy me years and years of insurance. I can tell you that if you lived in Portland now, you’d be paying 2x compared to my fees in 2000.
But if people want to leave, don’t let the door hit you while you are leaving

[Aces4]

Originally Posted by Teed_Off

I’m glad I moved here and so are the many friends I’ve made. If you’re not happy here then I’ll be glad to see the door hit your rear on the way to your new home and naysayers be gone 😄

Yes, nothing but classy people here in The Villages...

[Pat2015]

Originally Posted by vintageogauge

We are moving back north. Reasons: #1 Health & nearness to family, #2 Quality medical care, #3 heat and humidity, #4 winter season traffic, and #5 winter crowds. We enjoyed our time living here full time but things have changed over the years and feel it's now time to go and will leave a nice home for our replacement.

I have found excellent medical care here in TV and at Moffitt. Yes it does get hot here but it’s also very hot up in MD where I came from. In terms of traffic, I’ll take this over the MD/DC traffic any day off the week. Good luck to you with your move as that seems to be a good plan for you.

[Aces4]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

Very true.

Checking net migration numbers, Florida is far and away on top for total net migration (inflow minus outflow) for the most recent two years of data, at (+) 818,762. Texas is a rather distant second at 656,220 followed by North Carolina at 310,189, South Carolina at 248,055 and Arizona at 218,247. Florida also ranks high in net migration per 1000 people for that time period at 28.90, though this number may be misleading in that some of the states ahead of Florida (Idaho at 48.20, Montana at 36.01, for example), are really vast nearly empty places and living where your next-door neighbor might be five miles away and cutting enough firewood to heat your house during a brutally cold winter is attractive to some people (it was to me, until I realized that no matter how able I was to do such things 40 years ago, a septuagenarian body just wouldn't allow such a life style any more). Florida is far more conducive to a retiree lifestyle than living in a hut on the eastern foothills of the Rocky Mountains would be, regardless of the grand vistas and crystal-clear air.

Bottom line: there IS NO exodus from Florida, though there are some folks who I think dearly want people to believe that there is. Why, I don't know, other than the very obvious fact that bad news always has more shock value, and therefore more legs, than good news.

Many of the people leaving Florida are leaving for the reasons you are expounding, Florida has gotten thick with population and it's no longer appealing. Not everyone loves living in congested areas and that's why some of our friends left.

[justjim]

Originally Posted by CybrSage

A yes cannot be supported with facts? Why bother asking if you only want answered not supported by facts?

Post #19 does a pretty good job posting of the statistics regarding how Florida’s overall population continues to grow. In fact the growth has been and still is phenomenal. The Florida State budget is actually built around the growth.

The Villages is a leader in that growth. We have grown so fast ( both TV and Florida) that certain necessities can’t keep up. The Medical community for example and infrastructure as another example not only here but across Florida. Doctors and nurses, teachers, skilled trades such and plumbers and electricians are all serious shortages when you have such phenomenal growth.

The Villages is a well planned community and I think we can all agree on that. Middleton, a village community built for young families is another example of how well The Villages is planned. Hopefully, Middleton will attract young doctors and nurses, teachers and other young skilled workers to meet some of the needs of the thousands of residents already living here.

[Berwin]

Our neighbors across the street were snowbirds from Minnesota. They decided to not come down last year and this year they sold their house here. Said the weather was too hot for them and too hard on the wife who has health problems. Now I have to find someone else to go shooting with.

[roguesearcher]

Try the heat in TX. yikes!!!!

[mikemalloy]

Originally Posted by justjim

Recently I have read several articles about Retirees moving from Florida to other States. Some even going to States like Delaware, New York, Michigan, Tennessee, Kentucky and even midwestern states like Iowa, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri. Some of this information on Facebook and other social media sites. Realtor.com just posted an interesting article on this topic “America’s Most Popular State For Retirement is Losing Its Edge”. Retirement states most popular to move to are the Carolina’s and Georgia.

Primary reasons for leaving the sunshine state: Too hot and humid, hurricanes, too crowded, cost of living, especially housing, insurance skyrocketing, etc. The fact there is no state Income tax didn’t seem a good reason to stay because many pensions not taxed anyway.

We recently had good friends (compared housing cost) and they chose North Carolina over Florida. They had visited The Villages a couple of times. Is Florida losing its edge? You can’t back a“yes”using statistics.

The reasons sound like a Yogi Bera comment about a restaurant "No one goes there anymore, it's too crowded"

[jimjamuser]

I know that it is CHEAPER to live in Tennessee.

[TommyT]

NO I'm not but !!!

I have a life-long friend and his wife come down and spent a week. They drank the cool-aid deeply, but quickly changed their minds because of the costs. Housing cost, bond, insurance, monthly fees...... He has a pretty decent retirement but refused to spend that much. So he said the Villages is VERY Expensive to live here. Their words not mine..

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by tophcfa

We considered the Myrtle Beach area and went there for two consecutive winters only to find at least half of everything closed and both times we got freezing temperatures with both freezing rain and snow forcing the golf courses to close. That’s when we decided on the Villages. If you don’t want winter, north of Florida doesn’t cut it. We have no regrets, the only two things I dislike about Florida is all the lightning and insurance cost, both homeowners and auto.

In my IDEAL world, The Villages would be located in North Carolina, Oregon, or Washington State. And be under different ownership.

[maistocars]

I'm wondering why Florida is the most sought after relocation state? Sounds like wishful thinking on those states Marketing and PR staff to stop the droves leaving. I can also tell you that NY is as humid and probably more so than FL in summer after living there for 20 hrs and a heck of a lot more crowded.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by asianthree

Florida isn’t for everyone, many in TV have the ability to vaca to cooler states visiting family and friends. Some like us have more than one home, and can travel to see seasons change.
In TV hurricane weather isn’t a factor for us, insurance is less in TV than our northern homes, car insurance about the same. As far as lighting storms, doesn’t effect us anymore than the tornadoes, straight winds and severe thunderstorms with loss of power summer or winter for days.

I am not a fan of heat, enjoy fall and snow, spouse can’t handle the cold. So here we are, but have multiple options

I have to admit that i am somewhat jealous of those options.

[Pugchief]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

In my IDEAL world, The Villages would be located in North Carolina, Oregon, or Washington State.

Because?