Retire to Florida? Are YOU nuts?

You finally reached retirement age and like so many others have decided to get out of the cold and make that awaited move to Florida. Buy a nice home and live care free and comfortable with your spouse. Dont bet on it because Florida is no longer a retirement friendly state. You may be able to afford life here on two ss checks and pensions but when the day comes and one spouse passes...you may not be able to. See Taxes, Flood and Hurricane Insurance are Killers.Combined they can cost you between $1000.00 to $2000.00 per month depending on what home you buy. The average "small" home in the $200,000,00 range. Also in many areas there are what we call association fees that can add up to $500.00 or more per month even in a condo or townhouse! Mind you you have not paid you utilities, food or auto insurance yet! Keep this in mind also your taxes will be based on the purchase price so you will pay top dollar on the taxes thus also the insurance where your neighbor may be paying less since they lived there longer and a cap on how much taxes can be raised per year have stopped the state from raising the rate too much per year. Hurricane deductables are as high as $8000.00 so in addition to the say $6000.00 you are paying for insurance in the event of a claim you pay the first $8000.00, the insurance company....nothing. Insurers here charge you a premium for contents equal to half the replacement value of the home meaning if the home itself is valued at $200,000.00 they ASSUME that your contents are worth $100,000,00 even if the house is empty! The state of Florida allows you to be robbed. Room by room i cant add up even $50,000.00 worth of contents. Oh and lets not forget they depreciate the contents before they pay you and the deductable. Florida also requires Flood Insurance about another $500.00 to $1000.00 per year. Add it all up and see how well and secure your gonna retire here.Everyone I know who retires LEAVES the State in order to live a more secure life and YOU want to move to it? Dont be fooled by the realtors or ads you see be sure to ask about all of the above and watch how quick they try to change the subject. And if they cant answer... you got the wrong realtor! Beware Florida as a Retirement State anymore!!!! You can if you have no mortgage choose not to have insurance but then when disaster strikes..then what?