Yep. Property taxes are insane. I'm in Michigan, we're having a recession, and people here are routinely paying $800 and more per month for property taxes alone.
About a $600,000 assessed value. We pay about $32 per $2,000 of assessed value, just to make things simple. And we're in a newer area, which has lower property taxes than some other established areas. I know people that pay $45 per $2,000 of assessed value.
Yea, they say florida is good b/c no income tax, but property taxes, especially in South Florida are out of control. I am looking to sell my 4/2.5 house for another house roughly the same price. After moving you lose your homestead exemption and the taxes on the new house will be about 16k a year. I would love to sell my vaction home and my current home and just buy one larger one the value of the 2. Only problem with that is about a $28,000 tax bill.
People who bought lately in san diego (the bg holders), are paying $800-$900 a month in property taxes. Thats on top of their $4000 mortage. Oh and ps, these people only make about $120K a year combined (couples). They are one job loss away from foreclosure in this hot san diego job market (sarcasm).