Why one woman bolted from ‘tax haven’ Florida, and others are leaving too
Florida's reputation as a tax haven is diminishing, prompting some residents to relocate. Lorraine English, 72, moved to Asheville, North Carolina, due to rising homeownership costs and natural disasters. The state's high home insurance rates are a significant factor in this trend, overshadowing the benefits of no state income tax.
- ▪Lorraine English moved from Bradenton, Florida, to Asheville, North Carolina, due to rising costs and natural disasters.
- ▪Florida has the most expensive home insurance market in the country, with rates significantly higher than the national average.
- ▪Insurance companies like Allstate and State Farm have stopped underwriting new policies in Florida due to increased risks.
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Why one woman bolted from ‘tax haven’ Florida, and others are leaving too Joe Raedle/Getty Images Aditi Ganguly Sat, May 23, 2026 at 5:45 AM PDT 8 min read Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below. The Sunshine State has fallen from grace as a “tax haven” — prompting Lorraine English, 72, to move from Bradenton, Florida, to Asheville, North Carolina, because of frightening natural disasters and the rising cost of homeownership. Marketed as a tax haven, Florida lures immigrants with promises of zero income tax and special tax breaks that accrue to long-time homeowners (1). It's a powerful draw for residents of states with high income taxes, like California (up to 13.3%) and New York (up to 10.9%) (2).
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