The Worst Things About Living in Florida (From Someone Who's Been Here 23+ Years)

The Worst Things About Living in Florida — From Someone Who's Still Here

I've lived in Tampa Bay for over 23 years. I sell real estate here. I raise my family here. I genuinely love this place. But if I'm going to help you make the biggest decision of your life — where to live — I owe you the unfiltered truth. Florida is not paradise every day. Some days it's a sweaty, buggy, insurance-nightmare hellscape with the worst drivers on the continent.

Here's everything that will make you question your life choices after you move here. Read it all, then read my best things about Florida post, and make an informed decision.

The Bugs Are Real and They're Spectacular

Nothing prepares a northerner for Florida bugs. Nothing.

Palmetto bugs are what locals call American cockroaches. They're 1.5–2 inches long, they fly (badly, directly at your face), and they will find their way into your house no matter how clean you are. You'll learn to keep a shoe nearby at all times. First encounter usually involves screaming. By year two, you'll calmly dispatch them with a paper towel. By year five, you'll just coexist.

Mosquitoes are year-round, but June through October is open warfare. They breed in standing water, which Florida has in abundance. Dusk is their dinner hour. You'll learn to avoid being outside at sunset without protection, which is ironic because sunset is the best time to be outside.

Love bugs swarm twice a year (May and September) in massive clouds. They don't bite, sting, or do anything harmful — except coat your car's front end in acidic bug guts that will destroy your paint if you don't wash it off within 24 hours. They're also doing exactly what their name implies, stuck together in pairs, which is simultaneously amusing and disgusting.

No-see-ums (sand gnats) are tiny biting insects that screens can't stop. They're worst near the coast and at dawn/dusk. Their bites itch more than mosquito bites and last longer. You won't see them coming. Hence the name.

Fire ants build mounds in every yard. Step on one barefoot and you'll never forget it. Multiple simultaneous stings that burn, then itch, then blister. Always scan the ground before putting down a blanket.

Check out my full Florida bugs survival guide for how to deal with all of them. Amazon has everything you need for bug defense.

The Summer Heat Will Humble You

October through May in Florida is genuinely glorious. June through September is a test of character.

It's not just hot — it's 92°F with 85% humidity. The heat index regularly hits 105–110°F. You will sweat through your shirt walking from your front door to your car. Your glasses will fog when you step outside. Your car's steering wheel will be too hot to touch. You'll run the air conditioning 24/7 from May to October, and your electric bill will prove it ($200–$400/month in summer is normal).

The afternoon thunderstorms are daily from June through September. They're intense — torrential rain, lightning (Florida is the lightning capital of the US), and they blow through in 30–60 minutes. You'll learn to time your outdoor activities around the 2–5 PM storm window.

The upside: you adapt. After a couple of years, 85°F feels pleasant. After five years, you put on a hoodie when it drops to 65°F. Your body adjusts. But those first two summers are rough.

The Homeowners Insurance Situation

This is the big one that catches relocators off guard. Florida's homeowners insurance market is in crisis, and it has been for years. Major carriers have left the state. Premiums have skyrocketed — average annual premiums are now $4,000–$8,000+ depending on your home's age, location, and roof condition.

Roof age is king. If your roof is over 15 years old, many carriers won't insure you at all. A new roof can cost $15,000–$30,000, and you may need one before you can even close on a home. Get a roof inspection before you buy anything.

Flood insurance is separate from homeowners insurance and required in many areas. Even if it's not required, it's strongly recommended — Florida floods happen outside FEMA flood zones regularly.

Citizens Property Insurance (the state-backed insurer of last resort) has become the largest insurer in Florida, which tells you everything about the private market. Citizens is not cheap, and it has coverage limitations.

I always recommend Policygenius for shopping insurance — you need to compare multiple carriers, and the Florida market changes constantly.

The Drivers

Florida has the worst drivers in America. I will die on this hill.

It's a unique combination of factors: no drivers education requirement, millions of elderly drivers, millions of tourists who don't know where they're going, and transplants from every state bringing their own regional bad habits. Nobody uses turn signals. Left-lane camping is an art form. And during snowbird season (January–March), the roads become a geriatric Grand Prix.

The texting-while-driving situation is catastrophic. The tailgating is aggressive. And the rain driving is the worst part — Floridians somehow forget how to drive every single time it rains, despite it raining nearly every afternoon for four months straight.

Interstate fatality rates in Florida are among the highest in the nation. I-4 between Tampa and Orlando is consistently ranked one of the deadliest highways in America. This isn't a joke. Drive defensively.

The Traffic (And It's Getting Worse)

Tampa Bay's traffic has gotten significantly worse over the last decade as population has boomed without matching infrastructure investment. I-275 through St. Pete and Tampa is a parking lot during rush hour. The Howard Frankland Bridge is a bottleneck. The Gandy Bridge is a bottleneck. I-4 is a bottleneck. I-75 through south Hillsborough is a bottleneck.

If you're moving from a small or mid-size city, you'll notice. If you're moving from New York, LA, or Chicago, it'll actually feel like an improvement. Perspective matters. But the trend line is going the wrong direction.

Hurricane Season

June 1 through November 30. Every year. The anxiety is real, even if the actual threat varies dramatically year to year. Some years nothing happens. Some years your life gets turned upside down.

The cone of uncertainty will consume your attention for days when a storm approaches. You'll learn to stock water, batteries, and non-perishable food. You'll debate whether to board up your windows. You'll watch the Weather Channel like it's a thriller movie. And then the storm will usually miss you by 100 miles and you'll feel both relieved and slightly foolish for buying 48 cans of tuna.

When it doesn't miss — it's serious. Power outages lasting days or weeks. Property damage. Flooding. The recovery process is long and expensive. Hurricane preparedness is not optional. Read my first hurricane season guide before you move.

Everything Rusts, Molds, and Grows

The humidity corrodes everything. Metal rusts. Leather molds. Wood rots. Your outdoor furniture has a lifespan measured in years, not decades. Mildew grows on the north side of every house. Pressure washing your driveway, sidewalks, and house is a regular chore (or expense).

Mold in the home is a real concern — HVAC systems must be maintained to manage humidity, and any water intrusion can become a mold problem fast. Budget for regular HVAC maintenance and keep an eye on humidity levels inside your home.

You'll Miss Actual Seasons

Florida has two seasons: hot and less hot. If fall foliage, crisp October air, and the first snowfall are part of your identity, you'll feel the loss. Christmas in shorts and flip-flops is fun the first year and vaguely depressing by year three for some people. The "seasons" in Florida are: hurricane season, love bug season, snowbird season, and tolerable weather season.

Some people genuinely don't care about seasons. If that's you, Florida is perfect. If changing leaves and cozy sweaters are part of your happiness, know that you're giving that up.

Florida Man

Yes, the headlines are real. The reason Florida has such wild news stories isn't that the people are crazier (though some are) — it's that Florida has unusually broad public records laws (Sunshine Law) that make arrest records and police reports immediately accessible to media. Every state has bizarre incidents. Florida just lets reporters write about them.

That said, you will encounter genuine weirdness. Gators in your pool. An iguana falling on your car. A neighbor who keeps chickens in a subdivision. A guy on a riding lawn mower at Walmart. Florida is a different kind of place, and embracing the weird is part of the deal.

So Why Am I Still Here?

Because despite every single item on this list, the good outweighs the bad. The lifestyle, the beaches, the no income tax, the outdoor living, and the genuine warmth of the community keep me here. The complaints are real, but they're manageable once you know what you're getting into.

The people who are happiest in Florida are the ones who moved here with open eyes. The ones who are miserable are the ones who expected paradise without the palmetto bugs. Now you know. Read the best things about living in Florida and see if the good stuff is worth the bad stuff for you.

The NOW Team — Barrett Henry, REALTOR® helps families make this decision every day. I'll tell you the truth about any neighborhood, any community, and any part of Tampa Bay — the good and the bad.

Thinking about making the move despite all of this? Barrett Henry has been living it and selling it for over 23 years. The NOW Team — Barrett Henry, REALTOR®