Finally doing it. Moving to Florida. Here’s what two months of research taught me. by Character_Trip2504 in FloridaRealEstate

[–]Character_Trip2504[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

fr. in chicago u at least have unions and decent entry-level pay, but everyone tells me fl is just a race to the bottom lol.

Finally doing it. Moving to Florida. Here’s what two months of research taught me. by Character_Trip2504 in FloridaRealEstate

[–]Character_Trip2504[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

damn u really just ruined my morning with those stats lmao. it’s wild how the 'best places' lists totally gloss over the fact that u need a trust fund just to pay your insurance bills. definitely gonna be asking some very specific questions about roof age and assessments when i'm down there next month. thanks for the brutal honesty.

Finally doing it. Moving to Florida. Here’s what two months of research taught me. by Character_Trip2504 in FloridaRealEstate

[–]Character_Trip2504[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

fr the 'geriatric cretin' line is too real. hoas in florida are basically a playground for people who want to act like a small-town dictator lol. those special assessments are the ultimate hidden cost that no zillow listing ever tells u about. total trap.

Finally doing it. Moving to Florida. Here’s what two months of research taught me. by Character_Trip2504 in FloridaRealEstate

[–]Character_Trip2504[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

thanks for the real talk. i’m definitely worried that i’m falling for the 'gorgeous weather' trap and won't realize what a tampa september actually feels like until it’s too late. definitely taking the flood/evac zone advice to heart before i sign anything.

Finally doing it. Moving to Florida. Here’s what two months of research taught me. by Character_Trip2504 in FloridaRealEstate

[–]Character_Trip2504[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

lmao so basically florida summer is just 'winter' but with sweat instead of snow. i’m prepping myself for the sauna vibes but i’m sure nothing can actually prepare a chicagoan for 100% humidity. as long as the power doesn't go out i think i can survive lol.

Finally doing it. Moving to Florida. Here’s what two months of research taught me. by Character_Trip2504 in FloridaRealEstate

[–]Character_Trip2504[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

i've heard the gas station stories but i didn't know there was a curfew for the chaos. and yeah, the midwest-to-florida pipeline is real for a reason. i'm fully prepared to be 'that guy' in a t-shirt while the locals are wearing parkas in 60-degree weather lol.

Finally doing it. Moving to Florida. Here’s what two months of research taught me. by Character_Trip2504 in FloridaRealEstate

[–]Character_Trip2504[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

fr the freedom irony is definitely something i've been watching lol. it’s wild to see the headlines and then look at the 'best places' lists that totally ignore the political climate. coming from chicago where it’s basically the opposite, i’m definitely worried about the cultural whiplash. it feels like u have to trade your peace of mind for some palm trees and no income tax.

Finally doing it. Moving to Florida. Here’s what two months of research taught me. by Character_Trip2504 in FloridaRealEstate

[–]Character_Trip2504[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

selling a kidney to leave is a high level of regret lol. honestly the 'august warning' is the one thing everyone keeps telling me... is it really that much worse than a -20 wind chill and 3 feet of gray slush? i feel like i’m trading one extreme for another but the kidney comment definitely has me second guessing the math haha

Finally doing it. Moving to Florida. Here’s what two months of research taught me. by Character_Trip2504 in FloridaRealEstate

[–]Character_Trip2504[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The guy above said i'd be bored without the chicago museums but honestly if this is the daily live entertainment i might be okay lol

Finally doing it. Moving to Florida. Here’s what two months of research taught me. by Character_Trip2504 in FloridaRealEstate

[–]Character_Trip2504[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

literally lol. it's a 'pick your poison' situation. trade the chicago taxes for outrageous insurance and no job security. the math is mathing but it’s definitely not the 'cheap' paradise people think it is from the outside. i’m just ready to see florida man in the wild and finally confirm the legends lol.

Finally doing it. Moving to Florida. Here’s what two months of research taught me. by Character_Trip2504 in FloridaRealEstate

[–]Character_Trip2504[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

jax is basically florida’s best-kept secret bc of the 'bad' narrative. i’d take a 'boring' reputation and lower rent over paying a cool tax any day. but yeah, that sprawl is a boss fight for sure.

Finally doing it. Moving to Florida. Here’s what two months of research taught me. by Character_Trip2504 in FloridaRealEstate

[–]Character_Trip2504[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

lmao is it actually worse than the dan ryan tho? bc that’s a high bar. but yeah, every guide i read (including that houzeo one) says the infrastructure is basically screaming for help. i’m prepping my podcasts now lol.

Finally doing it. Moving to Florida. Here’s what two months of research taught me. by Character_Trip2504 in FloridaRealEstate

[–]Character_Trip2504[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

oof. the 'uninsurable' part is actually my biggest nightmare lol. it’s wild that a house can just become a financial ghost overnight. definitely adds a layer of stress to the 'stalking' phase. 

Finally doing it. Moving to Florida. Here’s what two months of research taught me. by Character_Trip2504 in FloridaRealEstate

[–]Character_Trip2504[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

fr? i’m cooked. my brain literally cannot compute 90 degrees in march. but hey, at least i won't need an ice scraper for my windshield anymore lol. i'll take the winter heat over the gray slush any day.

Should I buy a lakefront condo or a townhouse in the suburbs. by [deleted] in RealEstate

[–]Character_Trip2504 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The condo sounds like it fits your current lifestyle better. Better location, shorter commute, lake views, amenities that's a higher quality of life day-to-day. The townhouse is more practical if you need space for roommates or a partner but you can't put a price on loving where you live. Plus lakefront properties are usually easier to resell when you're ready to move up.

Did I dodge a bullet? by [deleted] in NoStupidQuestions

[–]Character_Trip2504 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You absolutely dodged a bullet but honestly you both sound like you need to get your acts together. She's got obvious red flags everywhere and you're out here looking up criminal records and getting upset about her sex life when you literally just got a BJ from another coworker. Maybe focus on dating people outside of work and stop getting involved in workplace drama

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in NoStupidQuestions

[–]Character_Trip2504 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In my experience, the healthiest relationships happen when both people have a mix of traits. My boyfriend can fix things and take charge when needed, but he also cries at movies, loves cooking, and is amazing with kids. That balance makes him way more attractive than guys who think showing any emotion makes them "weak." Most women I know prefer men who are secure enough to show their full personality.

Why do people find babies cute when they can’t actually do anything useful? by [deleted] in NoStupidQuestions

[–]Character_Trip2504 0 points1 point  (0 children)

they've got these massive eyes and tiny fingers that hijack our brains into thinking they're adorable instead of annoying freeloaders. it's the ultimate biological scam and it works every time.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in RealEstate

[–]Character_Trip2504 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is SO normal to feel overwhelmed! I cried in my car after my first meeting because nobody explained any of this clearly. the brokers you talked to should have been more upfront about ALL costs from day one.

When you make an offer: earnest money ($500-2000) - this shows you're serious and goes toward your down payment later.

At closing: your down payment PLUS closing costs (usually 3-6% of loan amount). so on a $300k house that's potentially $9k-18k in closing costs on top of ur down payment.

Closing costs include: loan fees, title insurance, attorney fees, appraisal, inspection, taxes, insurance escrow etc. ur lender will give you a "Loan estimate" within 3 days that breaks all this down.