Living costs

[Raivis]

im interested in some info for the daytona beach area. (surrounding areas too)what are the pay rates out there???i was looking in a paper and there was a 3bed/3ba condo with garage i think for like 225,000 that would cost around 350,000 and up depending on the area up here in VA. i don't know why but it really sucks and im really thinking about getting my family out of this hell whole townany info on some areas would be great

[VivaVibe]

Hi Raivis. The info you want can probably be found with a search for the city or county that interests you. The state also has a website that might help. Try myflorida.com or myfloridacounty.comWages in Florida are generally less than in the northeast. But, you can sometimes make up the difference depending on your field, training and experience. It can very a lot depending on where you settle. Daytona is near the space center so lots of aero-space and tourist there. Here, it is a transportation hub, financial, banking and corporate headquarters.However, our cost of living is also less; so it could be a wash if you make the necessary adjustments. In Jacksonville, where I live, our cost of living and unemployment rate is below the national average. We have no state income tax, and property taxes are likely way below your area. Our state sales tax is 6% with local govt able to add 1 or 2 percent. Jax is 7% sales tax.Housing expense can vary widely depending on the area you choose, whether inland or near the beach, neighborhood, new or older homes, etc. We also have a Homestead Exemption which reduces the value basis on your home for figuring property taxes. I think it is currently $25k, but there are plans to raise it to $50k or more.I believe in Daytona everything is more costly than here. But, if you were to get a bit outside there, in a smaller community but still near, the difference could be noticable. For $225,000 or less you can buy a very nice single family house in a good neighborhood. Condo's tend to be overpriced, especially in beach communities like Daytona. Hope this helps.BTW, I think Vibr8tr's dad lives in Daytona. You might want to ask him about that area.

[Raivis]

around here "low income " homes are starting at 200,000. i can't afford that i work my (removed) off and still can't afford anything over like 100,000 maybe alil more the world is against the working class!!!

[VivaVibe]

I know what you mean. I never seem to get ahead. I bought my home about 15 years ago for $45,000 and is now worth about $100,000. You can still get a decent place for $100k or less, so long as you don't want the greatest place in the best neighborhood.

[Zorren]

Yes, here in Colorado If you want a house around that size your looking around 230,000. You need to take home more than 65,000 per year to afford that.

[Raivis]

i know CO is bad bc my bro just moved back from thorton and i know a few people out thereim also interested in the NC area too im really looking for a country type of area i really don't like the city type ill go there but i don't wanna live in it

[VivaVibe]

Well Daytona and anything along the coast is going to be like city. You need to get inland aways to find country-rural. North central and the panhandle area of Florida is pretty nice and reasonable. But, there again wages would likely be less too.You might like the Gainesville or Tallahasse areas with very nice rolling hills, not the typical flat Florida. Both have major state universities that attract higher paying jobs, and have the major city amenities like shopping; not much urban sprawl and rural areas close by.What kind of work do you do?

[Raivis]

i work contruction (bout 3 yrs now) but really i do alot of automotive side jobs and thats what i wanna get into again more like custom work (motors and body)

[VforVIBE]

http://www.ocalafl.org/default.aspOcala is horse country, (there are even some hills there ) lots of open space

[VivaVibe]

And Big Daddy Garlitz has a drag museum there. And the Gator Nationals in Gainesville too. I should think with both auto and construction skills you could find something pretty easy in Florida.