Smog testing in Florida
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,479
Likes: 91
From: Between Tally and Gatorville ,Florida
Have a old N.J. neighbor who left the West Coast of Florida for South Carolina a little over 2 years ago after moving to Port Charlotte Florida from New Jersey back in 2002. At the time he had a brand new home built in Port Charlotte for just over $200k on property he already owned. Taxes were pretty cheap in comparison to N.J.. about $2k a year compared to about $7k a year in N.J. at the start but after that big hurricane to hit Florida in the Punta Gorda area back in 2004 he claimed that property taxes and house insurance skyrocketed that between the two he was paying almost $8k a year just about what I was paying in N.J. for property taxes at the time so he left as I said for SC for that reason. I have been kicking it around for years about moving to Florida at some point to get out of Jersey and away from the high taxes but hearing things like this from a old friend is making me think twice about it. I do like the idea of not having to pay State income taxes in Florida and I am sure I can get use to the great weather there this time of year. I do like the West Coast but I fear the Hurricanes that hit Florida. My old neighbor was there when that Hurricane hit Punta Gorda being right next to it in Port Charlotte. His wife and 2 kids were all hanging on to what ever they could hold onto somewhere in the middle of the house during that Hurricane and told both me and my wife when visiting there months later that they never wanted to be in around for another Florida Hurricane again it was so scary.
In florida if you live a few miles away from the coastline insurance is not bad. If you move from Orlando south then not only do you have to put up with the humidity,but the bugs as well. This is a bug state.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 11,204
Likes: 1,139
From: Santa Rosa Beach FL
pardon the o/t but
Bugs are not bad in coastal NW. At least not around Destin. No Gators either. only FSU fans. Got a real nice home FSBO @299K w/
25X25 freestanding garage. PM if anyone is interested.
And I highly recommend going w/Frontline for Homeowners. Mine is 1705 P/Y.
Bugs are not bad in coastal NW. At least not around Destin. No Gators either. only FSU fans. Got a real nice home FSBO @299K w/
25X25 freestanding garage. PM if anyone is interested. And I highly recommend going w/Frontline for Homeowners. Mine is 1705 P/Y.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,421
Likes: 8
From: Lake Mary Florida
Well it is a sub tropical swamp for the most part. 
But when I see wc temps where my daughter is out west in ABQ at -20, I'll handle the bugs and humidity.
It's mid 60's and I have shorts on and in bare feet. (Go Magic!!)
Yeah on the coast and taking the brunt of a severe hurricane can be hairy, but in the middle of the state its not too bad. The worst part about hurricanes when they come onshore is the embedded tornados. Even though we have the highest number of tornados anywhere, our's aren't as severe as they are in the mid west. But if you plan for your storm and are prepared, it's not that bad. I get tired of the house being dark inside with all the windows boarded up. So I'm always first one out as it passes to start removing the boards. It's pretty wild to see how strong the wind can be, take a forty foot palm and turn it sideways. Palms weight tons, heck a branch alone can be 50 lbs. easy. I've seen the pods weigh close to a hundred. One of our storms several years ago had all the trees along the coast bent. Looked odd.
BTW taxes can't be raised like that and are not affected by a storm. Insurance can and is affected. Some just use it as an excuse to jack up the rates. State try's to keep them inline. You have to shop and big name companies are not the best and less expensive to go with.
But when I see wc temps where my daughter is out west in ABQ at -20, I'll handle the bugs and humidity.
It's mid 60's and I have shorts on and in bare feet. (Go Magic!!)
Yeah on the coast and taking the brunt of a severe hurricane can be hairy, but in the middle of the state its not too bad. The worst part about hurricanes when they come onshore is the embedded tornados. Even though we have the highest number of tornados anywhere, our's aren't as severe as they are in the mid west. But if you plan for your storm and are prepared, it's not that bad. I get tired of the house being dark inside with all the windows boarded up. So I'm always first one out as it passes to start removing the boards. It's pretty wild to see how strong the wind can be, take a forty foot palm and turn it sideways. Palms weight tons, heck a branch alone can be 50 lbs. easy. I've seen the pods weigh close to a hundred. One of our storms several years ago had all the trees along the coast bent. Looked odd.
BTW taxes can't be raised like that and are not affected by a storm. Insurance can and is affected. Some just use it as an excuse to jack up the rates. State try's to keep them inline. You have to shop and big name companies are not the best and less expensive to go with.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,065
Likes: 3
From: tampa florida
pardon the o/t but
Bugs are not bad in coastal NW. At least not around Destin. No Gators either. only FSU fans. Got a real nice home FSBO @299K w/ 25X25 freestanding garage. PM if anyone is interested.
And I highly recommend going w/Frontline for Homeowners. Mine is 1705 P/Y.
Bugs are not bad in coastal NW. At least not around Destin. No Gators either. only FSU fans. Got a real nice home FSBO @299K w/
25X25 freestanding garage. PM if anyone is interested. And I highly recommend going w/Frontline for Homeowners. Mine is 1705 P/Y.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 211
Likes: 0
From: Lakeland Florida
I grew up in the midwest (Missouri) but have lived in Central Florida for over 20 years, it took a few years to get used to the muggy summers and outstanding winters. I don't desire to live anywhere else. I can typically go from November to about May without the air and usually without the heat. The last couple of years I've had to have the heat on some though. It's Feb 4th at 8:00 am and it's 64 degrees out. I love this place.
