My wife and I had lived in Colorado most of our lives, she being a native Coloradoan and me living 37 out of my first 57 years in Colorado. Colorado isn’t the state we grew up in. Cost of living, specifically housing costs, is outrageous in Colorado. Business tax increases the past few years has been substantial for my independent consulting business. We moved from Colorado (Fort Collins) to the northeast coast during the summer of 2022 and couldn’t be happier. We purchased a new build home on a 1/4 acre lot for about 1/2 of that the same house would have cost in Colorado, albeit we have no basement in Florida when the same house in Colorado would have. That’s fine with us as we didn’t want multiple levels and our new house is big enough. Our insurance is a little higher than in Colorado but not much. We are not in a flood zone and our home is new with all the current hurricane codes. The insurance cost issue in Florida isn’t just related to weather issues. There’s a huge problem with windshield replacement as it is free for Florida residents. However there are shady law firms that get unsuspecting people to sign for them to represent them and they overcharge the insurance companies 6x the actual costs. This is an issue where insurance companies will drop a customer. There is a bill in the state legislature to make this practice illegal. Florida has no state income tax which saves me 4.5% just in my payroll. Florida doesn’t have a corporate officer’s tax as Colorado does which saves me close to an additional $8,000 per year. Property taxes are increasing in Colorado due to increased home values. In Florida we’re essentially locked in due to the Homestead exemption and our taxes cannot increase more than 3% year over year. Having lived and worked in Colorado for nearly four decades might possibly make more aware of the current state of Colorado now compared to years past. While Colorado has many wonderful things to offer, so does Florida. It would be nice if videos like this dig a bit deeper into the nuisances of the true cost of living in Florida instead of the general narrative. With all due respect to the creators of these type of videos, take these with a grain of salt as these are generated by real estate brokers. I am a former resident of Colorado and there will always be a place in my heart for this state. I now call northeast Florida is now home and we couldn’t be more thrilled.
Bro, I'm living in Colorado right now, there isn't much to do here in Colorado unless you have the necessary means to go out to the Mountains and hit the slopes. Night life here is not as fun, you have to wear three different coats to walk around in downtown denver. There's a sh!t ton of homeless people in denver as well. Also, wait till you hit traffic on I-25, it's just as bad as Cali, ATL, and Florida haha if you are young, staying here is not as optimal. Insurance is just as high here and it keeps going up, state farm just added 20.00$ more onto my car insurance already, I pay 275 monthly. Weather in Colorado, it's in the single digits right now. If you move here, I'm telling you, make sure you have some money with you. Insurance here is a big thing because we get hail, high winds are a big thing! Do your research, these guys just barely scratched the surface.
I consider myself to live in both states although officially as a voter and in terms of "primary" residence I am a citizen of Florida. In my opinion, both states have amazing natural beauty and offer unbeatable outdoor activity opportunities. I am more of a mountains and canyons person than a beaches and oceans person so CO wins for me. Both can have amazing weather but Florida weather would be much more enjoyable during the mid-December to mid-April time frame. It is typically oppressively hot in Florida July through August with the crazy Summer humidity. For year round weather I would pick CO for sure. Insurance is a problem in Florida that is finally being addressed by the governor and legislature although the measures are not totally fixing the problem. I have properties in both states as well. I would say that the overall trend in affordability is in Florida's favor although in absolute terms Colorado has a slight edge. Here is my concern: Colorado was once the state I said I would retire to where I would live happily ever after. But I have major concerns about the future of the state due to the politics. I am not a Democrat nor am I a Republican. I vote for both and most of my views are middle of the road. Florida has a supermajority of Republicans who are mostly right leaning conservatives. Colorado has a supermajority of Democrats who are quite broadly far left leaning liberal progressives. I wish both states had more balanced political leanings but they don't. I can see the consequences emerging in both states and although I am a social liberal and fiscal conservative I find that if the trends continue I will be mostly living in Florida and just visiting Colorado. My solution is to live in more reasonable counties and cities with properties in Castle Rock and Colorado Springs. I think the problems Denver is facing specifically and Colorado is dealing with generally remind me of San Francisco and California. Not saying Florida is perfect but if people in general had to decide between these states on JUST the basis of what the future looks like in terms of laws, policies, taxes and regulations, Florida would be the winner. Let's hope that changes so I can retire in Colorado like I planned to for the last 2 decades.
Hey guys! Love your videos and been following you for a couple of years. my son and his family are moving from the Pensacola area to Denver area in January. He will be stationed at Buckley AFB and requested to move there. Four seasons, outdoor life etc. I can’t wait to visit out there. Yes, Florida is getting very crowded and housing continues to be scarce and expensive here. Florida is full, people! LOL One reason I think insurance rates have gone up so much here it’s because of all the hurricanes and property damage we get. Anyway, this was a great video!
I live near Orlando my daughter lives near Denver. I absolutely love it out there but not sure about driving around on the wintery roads. Hasn’t kept me from thinking about moving though!
I currently live in Tampa Florida. We have a family cabin in Colorado. I’ve visited Colorado for the past 15 years. I love it there but it’s way too dry! I’ve always lived near the coast and need that humidity. I could never live there full time, my contact lenses dry out. Colorado is stunning though ❤ I always enjoy visiting
Speaking for minority groups Colorado sucks!!! It is almost impossible for minority students to graduate in nursing schools in Colorado. It needs to change!!! If you guys can help us voice that it would be great. I know plenty of black nurses who want to buy homes in Colorado but, we don’t have good opportunities to advance career here. You can send a message to State board of nursing help voice that. Only 1% of black nurses in Colorado guys. Come on we are all human beings!!!
I visited CO during Christmas last year. It was the most depressing ever time visiting a state. Everything closed restaurant and stores. Maybe i will visit not during winter time
Why because you've been told to hate rEpUbLiCaNs? I say this as a gay man, he's better than most governors and right on the money with what's wrong with our country. Don't trust him, but I do think he's vilified excessively by our state run media that you've clearly been indoctrinated by.