Many have second thoughts after moving to Florida during the pandemic

SUNSHINE STATE HAS LOST ITS LUSTER. SHANNON PETTYPIECE EXPLAINS. >> I MEAN, I AGREE, THIS IS BEAUTIFUL. YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T ASK FOR A NICER SETTING. >> Reporter: MONTHS INTO THE PANDEMIC, DENNIS SOLD HIS CONNECTICUT HOME AND LIKE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS HEADED TO FLORIDA. MANY DRAWN BY THE STATE'S LOWER TAXES AND SUNNY SKIES. >> NOT THE PANACEA I HAD IN MY HEAD. >> Reporter: NOW HE'S PREPARING TO PUT HIS FLORIDA HOUSE ON THE MARKET AND MOVE BACK NORTH. >> WE HAVE POLITICAL ISSUES IN FLORIDA THAT ARE JUST UGLY. WE HAVE COSTS SKYROCKETING. >> Reporter: FLORIDA HAS BEEN AMONG THE FASTEST GROWING STATES IN THE NATION SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC. IN 2022 ALONE, MORE THAN 700,000 PEOPLE MOVED THERE BUT AT THE SAME TIME NEARLY 500,000 LEFT. THE LARGEST NUMBER SINCE THE GREAT RECESSION. WE SPOKE WITH GAUZES OF FORMER FLORIDA RESIDENTS WHO HAVE RECENTLY LEFT THE STATE. AMONG THE REASONS THEY GAVE, A SOARING COST OF LIVING. FLORIDA HAS HAD ONE OF THE NATION'S HIGHEST RATES OF INFLATION, LAST YEAR CAR INSURANCE WAS UP 24% AND HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE JUMPED 42%. HOME PRICES HAVE RISEN 60% SINCE 2020. >> THEY LOVE THE BLUE SKIES AND DOLPHINS IN THE WATER BUT IT COMES AT A PRICE. >> Reporter: JOHN HAS SPENT TWO DECADES SELLING REAL ESTATE. >> ARE YOU GETTING A LOT OF CALLS WHO ARE NOW LOOKING TO LEAVE? >> YEAH, WE ARE. >> WHAT'S THE NUMBER ONE REASON THEY'RE GIVING? >> POLITICS, POLITICS. >> Reporter: FLORIDA HAS RECENTLY ENACTED SOME OF THE MOST CONSERVATIVE LEGISLATION IN THE COUNTRY. INCLUDING THE NEAR TOTAL BAN ON ABORTIONS AND RESTRICTIONS ON HOW RACE AND SEXUALITY ARE TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS. >> MY IN MIGRATION PEOPLE WANT TO MOVE HERE BECAUSE OF POLITICS AND THE ONES WHO WANT TO MOVE OUT IS BECAUSE OF POLITICS. >> Reporter: A SPOKESMAN FOR RON DeSANTIS SAID FLORIDA LED THE COUNTRY IN DOMESTIC IN-MIGRATION IN 2022 AND SAW THE HIGHEST POPULATION GROWTH RATE IN GENERATION. >> LOOK, THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A TRANSIENT STATE. THAT'S NORMAL. I THINK OUR POLICIES HAVE ATTRACTED FOLKS. >> Reporter: FOR DENG NIS WOULD CONSIDERED HIMSELF A MODERATE CONSERVATIVE WHEN HE MOVED TO FLORIDA THE STATE'S POLITICAL SHIFT TO THE RIGHT CONTRIBUTED TO HIS DECISION TO LEAVE. >> WHETHER IT WAS FIGHTING WITH DISNEY, WHETHER THE WHOLE LGBQ THING, IT'S JUST THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT MAKE IT UNCOMFORTABLE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE TO BE HERE. >> Reporter: LEAVING HIM AND OTHERS LOOKING FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE OUTSIDE OF SUNSHINE STATE.

Channel: NBC News

Views: 262,844

Keywords: Health, International News, Lester Holt, Making A Difference, NBC Nightly News, National News, News, Nightly News, U.S. News, breaking news, evening news, politics, world news

Id: 1Lhj9KH7llg

Length: 2min 41sec (161 seconds)

Published: Thu May 30 2024