Florida residents looking to sell homes leave state after hurricane season: 'We're done'

TAMPA, Fla. – After back-to-back storms this hurricane season, many residents are planning to sell their homes to move either out of flood zones or out of the Sunshine State entirely. Some wasted no time in signing a contract for a new home.

“We are not moving back to this house, it was very traumatic and I don't want to go through that again,” said Jody Hameroff, a St. Petersburg resident. “We actually have a contract for a new house, we just won’t come back here. No joke, my husband had someone look for us two days later (Helene).”

Right next door, their neighbor in Shore Acres said they would also sell after rebuilding.

READ: Why weren't the rainwater pumps working? Leaders gather on flooding in North Tampa neighborhoods

“Is it worth going through this again?” “How am I going to feel next year, let alone two weeks later like this?” said Chris Beardslee, a Shore Acres resident. “Going forward, it’s more important to move on and sell the house for what we can get for it.”

Beardslee said his family tried to convince him to leave the state, but he couldn't give up his law practice in the area.

“You think, should I move back home where I grew up? Could we move across the country? But I stay in the area for my job,” he said.

He initially plans to rebuild, but one reporter said she is getting dozens of calls – some from residents who want to sell their homes while they are still gutted.

MORE: Residents of Ridge Manor are salvaging what they can from homes surrounded by flooding

“They don't want to do it anymore, and of course I don't really blame them,” said Eileen Bedinghaus, a realtor in the Tampa Bay area. “So they are very discouraged. And out of everyone I’ve met so far, all but one will definitely sell.”

However, she warned that these sudden moves would pose some problems.

“If they move out of their area there are other issues, for example values ​​will go up for areas that are not in a flood zone, taxes will go up if they move and they are very worried about what will happen to their insurance said Bedinghaus.

“It's the fourth flood for some, and I don't know how they survived after the first, but I have no interest in surviving a second one,” Beardslee said.

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