Upon consideration of Florida, one begins to wonder how a place can remain so attractive with a stunning climate, beaches that greet the ocean, and an absence of state income tax. All of this may sound good at first glance, but there are some obvious reasons to not relocate there. It is suggested to analyze thoroughly prior to making a decision.
Copious Sweat and Extreme Warmth
A noteworthy reason to not visit Florida is its changeable weather. In this state, exposing oneself under the sun can lead to extreme temperatures during the summer- 90 degrees with high values in humidity. Many are not able to go outside due to how unbearable it is to move about.
Hurricane Threats and Severe Weather
Florida suffers damages from heavy rains, hurricanes, and tropical storms over long periods. Destructive winds, flooding and outages are common in the hurricane season starting from June to November. Towards the end of the season, heavy storms caused by hurricanes indirectly struck the region damaging properties.
Overcrowding and Population Boom
With heavy storms and an influx of tourism, the region has benefitted from people migrating to the state. Overgrowth in population has posed difficulty in managing, leading it to become overcrowded in cities such as Orlando, Tampa, and Miami. Traffic congestion in the state poses considerable strain on daily commute, as millions fight for only a small portion of the region for roads.
Exorbitant Homeowners Insurance Expenditures
Now this is something to worry about, isn’t it? The cost of home owners insurance, just like everything else, has gotten more expensive over time. Florida ranks among the other states whose cost of homeowners insurance is high due to the chances of flooding and hurricane damage.
Treacherous Animals and Fauna
Florida is teeming with all sorts of treacherous wildlife such as alligators, snakes, and invasive fauna like iguanas and Burmese pythons. These animals often come into the residential zones and create a danger to both animals and human beings. Especially in tropical areas, there is an increased problem of mosquitoes which raises the chances of Zika and West Nile virus.
Absence of Seasons
People who enjoy all four seasons will find Florida to be a disappointment. The state’s subtropical to tropical climate implies that Florida is warm for most of the year, which sounds appealing at first, but many residents eventually miss the beauty of autumn leaves and snow-covered winters. Holidays like Christmas do not feel as festive when it’s 80°F outside.
Over-Tourism
With millions of tourists visiting Disney World, Universal Studios, or Miami Beach, Florida is one of the most visited states in the US. Although tourism helps the economy, it also increases congestion and prices while overexposing attractions. Locals tend to have difficulty enjoying their own cities without being flooded by tourists.
Limited Job Market
Although the state’s tourism industry is vibrant, it also restricts the job market on other fronts. A majority of the available positions in the state are service-oriented and underpaying, making it challenging to get a decent wage. Service-oriented and low paying jobs are more abundant than the well paying ones in technology and finance.
Poor Public Transportation
For a state that has a decent amount of people working in metropolitan areas like Chicago or New York, Florida lacks effective public transportation systems and forgoes the basic standard of other states. A large number of cities depend on cars, forcing people to purchase one if they wish to travel. Car ownership makes dealing with traffic jams even more difficult.
Unpredictable Real Estate Market
The state of the real estate market in Florida is ruthless. Property values are extremely volatile owing to an economic recession, hurricanes and even changes in demographics. New residents anticipating inexpensive housing are often met with low priced houses that have damages they are unprepared for.
Elevated Levels of Crime within Geographic Subdivisions
Although areas in Florida are regarded as relatively safe, there are some neighborhoods that experience higher crime rates, especially in the metropolitan areas. Theft, burglary, and violent crime are more prevalent in inner city areas.
Insufficient Variety of Available Entertainment Options
Apart from the usual places worth visiting and recreational facilities, Florida’s culture is relatively very poor when compared to California and New York. There is not much music, drama, and other forms of theater, and some cities are more tourism-oriented rather than resident-oriented.
Unresponsive Health System
Quality and accessibility of healthcare puts Florida below average. Many of its residents, particularly in the rural regions, suffer with long queuing times coupled with inadequate access to specialized health services. The state has a large elderly population which places even more burden in already strained healthcare services. Those individuals who find top notch medical care geared to them and are unable to have their needs met in Florida will find it not appealing.
The Cost of Living is on the Rise
Like other states, Florida has its own challenges. Though it doesn’t impose a state income tax, it does enjoy living expenses that continue to rise yearly. Some individuals moving there do not take into consideration the money they need to spend on the essentials like groceries, rent, or utilities, which have all increased significantly over the years. Many people move to Florida anticipating a lower cost of living than they had previously encountered, only to find themselves in a situation where the expenses are incredibly difficult to manage.
Underperforming Education System
Non-economic elements also complicate the process of moving to Florida. A significant number of citizens claim that the schools are not adequately funded and as a result, they do not satisfy the appropriate standards such as having an adequate number of classes to meet the existing demand, or having an acceptable level of output.
Conclusion
There are a lot of pros and cons for Florida. As attractive as Florida may be with its sunny, hot weather that encourages extensive outdoor activities on the beach, there are a number of largely negative aspects resulting from living in the state. A few such examples are severe climate, expensive insurance, congested cities, and the economy that is not as sound as one may expect. Take all these pointers into consideration properly so that you clearly understand whether or not you will be well suited to use all the resources available to make relocating to the Sunshine State a reality.
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