Well, I’m looking on this “Homes for Sale” website the other day and the results were completely appalling. I live in Florida right now. The average home seems to be selling as of November for approximately $229,000 (that’s including the problem with the housing market). The housing market is not only making people not want to buy, it is also so affected because of the cost of homes still with the market the way it is.
You go anywhere outside the state of Florida and you can find nice homes priced to suit anyone’s needs. Why is it that there is such a big difference in the housing market in the mid east part of the U.S as opposed to the southern part? I went to the Carolinas recently and my grandfather made this comment that really struck me as odd. He turns to me and says “Mrs. B is selling her home, and she must be crazy to think she will get $85,000 for it.” Now we are talking about a 3 bedroom home, when in Florida you find nothing around that cost, and if you do, we really are talking about a shack. Up there a fixer-upper is really only minor things needing to be fixed. You enter Florida and you here fixer-upper and you better turn the other way and run, it’s not worth it, you end up putting more money into then you should.
I’m just trying to really understand what is going on with the housing market in Florida, and what makes people believe they can still sell their homes for the same cost, and expect to make a sale. It’s almost worth it to pack up all of your things and move slightly outside the line of Florida. Considering buying your first home, or you are a repeated investor, no matter what? It’s like 200 times more bang for your buck when you go and buy a home elsewhere. I remember seeing a home in South Carolina, brand new, 4 bedroom 3 bath, basement, two stories all of the bells and whistles, and it was going for $135,000. This is almost too ridiculous. What is going on with the housing market today and why is everything so expensive in Florida?
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
Houses in Florida are worth considerably more to buyers now because of the current political situation. With no state property tax, owners of such houses will save a bundle in the future, and reality firms are trying to get a chunk of the savings. They're in high demand from sports stars and highly-paid executives as well for the same reason, making it harder for the average American in Florida to be able to afford such a house.
Those are insane costs, though. You'll probably find much more affordable things 5 miles outside the state border. :/
When I was first married (that's a whole different story) I went looking for a house. We wanted something in the southeast or southwest surburbs. There has been a big boom in brand new housing developments, condos and town houses.
There are NO I repeat No houses under $100,000. Then on top of that, most houses here are not brick. Sometimes you can run across what I call a 50/50 half frame half brick but they will run you around $125k to 200k.
Most of the brand new developments for a three bedroom 1 and 1/2 bath will run you between $225k and $350k with hardly no property. The whole point for me to have a house is to have a backyard for my son to play.
You might as well forget trying to stay in or around the surrounding parts of Downtown Chicago Loop unless you are rich the average single family home will run you around $500k.
So much for the american dream.
I just played the hand I was dealt..... I'm just playin to win ;-) (rapper 2Pac)
Who wouldnt want to live in Florida??? Location location location!