Real Estate Views from St Pete

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Insurance and Property Taxes Concern Buyers

Most of the nation knows about the rising property insurance costs in Florida, and rising property taxes are concerns all over the country. With some insurance rates tripling or quadrupling, it definitely affects affordability as well as desire and demand. Despite efforts by the current state legislature to fix these problems, nothing concrete is on the horizon.

Last month I blogged about a builder who was offering college tuition as an incentive. Now we have Standard Pacific Homes offering an incentive on their new homes: they will pay the homeowner's insurance and property taxes for up to two years.  Several builders are offering to pay a year of homeowner's association fees, but this is the first I've seen locally offering to pay both insurance and property taxes.

Sharon Simms, Real Estate Agent selling homes in St. Petersburg, Florida, the Gulf Beaches and the Tampa Bay area.   

 

Comments

I've moved from Georgia are have some time before buying in Florida. While trying to figure out what I can afford, I am trying to get a clear understanding of the extra costs associated with home ownership in Florida that is different from Georgia. Can you provide any clarity?
Posted by maggie about 4 years ago
Hi, Maggie. I'd have to know more about costs in Georgia to do a valid comparison. You'd need to compare property taxes, insurance, homeowners association fees (if any), utility costs, maintenance costs, and even, perhaps, commuting costs.  That's all once you've purchased - what you pay in customary closing costs will probably also differ between states.
Posted by Sharon Simms St Pete FL - CRS CIPS CLHMS RSPS (ALVA International, Inc.) about 4 years ago

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