What will you learn about living in Florida by reading the Florida Move Guide?

 

Table of Contents of the Florida Move Guide, 2013 Edition, Chapter Titles and Sub-headings

Table of Contents

Introduction 7

Most Florida Relocations Don't Last 7

Reasons for Moving Back Home 8

Florida Move Mistake's High Cost 9

The Purpose of the Book 9

1. Evacuations and Hurricanes 11

You Can’t Know This Until You Live it 11

Forced to Leave Your Home 12

No Place to Go 13

How Hurricane Sandy That Hit the Northeast in 2012 Compares 15

Evacuations Ordered More Often 15

Preparing Your Home Before You Evacuate 17

What Doesn't Fit in the Car, Lost Forever? 19

Hurricane Consideration Time 21

How and When Tropical Storms and Hurricanes Form 22

How These Storms Affect the Quality of Life in Florida 23

Media Coverage 23

Evacuations 24

Flooding 25

Wind Damage 26

Blackouts or loss of electric power 27

How to Minimize or eliminate the Effects of Hurricane Seasons on Your Florida Lifestyle 28

Something to think about 29

2. Missing Family Friends Home 33

Holidays without Family or Friends 33

New Doctor, Dentist, Hair Stylist, Everything 36

More Time, More Courses, but Lost Desire 37

Living Near Family or Friends in Florida 38

Leaving Home 40

How plans for frequent travel back home usually work out 42

Florida Commercial Airports 44

3. You Can't Escape This 47

Longer, More Humid Summers 47

Recess is Supposed to be Fun 49

A Different Golf Stroke 50

The Sun on Steroids 51

Air conditioned car to air conditioned home 52

Location Considerations and Other Options 55

4. Ride the Money Roller Coaster 59

The Florida Economy can Improve or Deteriorate Quicker 59

Scrambled Nest Eggs 61

Starting or Buying a Business 63

Big Money in Grab Bars Business 66

5. Environmental Downgrading 71

The Beaches and Fishing 71

Even More Macadam 73

More Beach Closings 73

More Homes Means More Pesticides and Weed Killers 74

What is Red Tide 75

6. Water Fire and Crawlers 81

Drought and Drinking Water 81

Thirsty Lawns 83

Boating is More Fun With Water 84

Orange Glow and Smoke Smell at Night 87

Flooding 88

Snakes, Alligators & Bugs 90

Snakes in Florida 90

Alligators Eat Pets and People 91

Bugs, Bugs, Bugs 94

More Mosquitoes and Termites 95

Palmetto Bug or Giant Flying Cockroach 95

Spider or Wolf 97

Other Buggers 98

7. Homeowners Insurance Traps 101

The Result of Record Hurricane Activity and Losses in 2004 and 2005 101

New Resident Shock 103

You Can’t Get Insurance at All, It’s The Law 104

Insurance Recap 106

8. Different Demographics 109

Native Floridians 109

Senior Citizens and Sightseeing Tourists 109

Moving to FL with Young Children 110

If You Are of Retirement Age 111

East is Fast, West is Slow 111

The Florida Lifestyle 112

9. Save on Taxes 115

Real Estate Tax Homestead Savings 115

Additional Exemptions if You Qualify 117

No Individual State Income Tax in Florida 118

A Benefit When Home Values Drop 119

10. Best Asset Protection State 121

What is Asset Protection 121

Unlimited Protection Your Home Equity 121

Not All Properties Qualify 122

100% Protection of Your IRA and Other Qualified Retirement Funds 123

Life Insurance Cash Value and Proceeds Protected 124

Annuities Protected Too 124

Protection in Bankruptcy for Floridians 125

11. Florida Living Options 127

Sell Everything and Move to Florida Full Time 127

This is What You Want to Avoid 127

The Right Time to Buy in Florida 130

About Moving Mainly to Escape Cold Weather 131

Cold Weather Escape Option One 132

Owning in Florida and Your Home State 135

How to Afford Two Homes the Same as One 138

The Florida Home and Motorhome Option 138

A Test for Potential Full Time Florida Residents 139

Sixers Test 142

How Not to Test Full-Time Florida Living 143

12. Useful Tips on Buying 145

Condo or Single Family Home 145

Avoiding a Condo Dream Turned Nightmare 147

Can You Back Out of a Sale? 148

Deed Restrictions 149

Caged Pool Home, Yes or No? 152

Now, Should You Buy a Home With a Pool? 154

Home Size Does Matter 155

Getting the best home for you at the best price 158

Flood Zones 159

Market Price Warning 161

Become Immune to Price Drops 163

Helpful Resources 165

Asset Protection 165

State of Florida Official Website 165

Homes/Real Estate/Realtors 166

Hurricanes 166

Research 167

Index 169