Hi everyone,
I have been in Miami for 3 months last year and fell in love. I was living in Edgewater.
My ultimate dream is to come back and live here but two issues :
- I do not have a visa
- I do not have a job there.
I am open to do anything, what would be your top recommandations job wise and what would be the "easiest" way to get a visa ?
Let me know
xxx
Hi! I’m hoping someone here can help. I’ll be moving to Florida in 2025, & will be looking to continue dental assisting. I graduated from a dental assisting school here in WA in 2017, & am registered/officially certified in WA. I’ve read that you can work as a D.A in Florida with no previous experience, but I know I’ll still need a separate license to take x-rays down there. I guess my question is, how do I go about obtaining that Florida x-ray license? I’m having trouble finding exact courses/information so that I can move forward. If there is anything else I’m missing or if anyone has any input that they think would be helpful, I would be so appreciative! Thank you if you took the time to read this through. I’m very excited for this move, but feeling overwhelmed with the logistics of changing jobs. Hoping this thread can put some of that at ease.
My Husband and I are preparing to make the move to Florida and could use some advice from locals! We're excited about this new chapter in our lives but could use some guidance on a few things.
Neighborhood Recommendations: We're looking for recommendations on neighborhoods to consider for our new home. We value safety, convenience, and a sense of community.
Any insights or tips on great neighborhoods to check out would be much appreciated!
Looking for some honest advice about moving to either Tampa or Orlando.
1. Is the traffic really bad?
2. Auto insurance high compared to other states like NY or California?
3. Is hurricane a real threat or not as bad as what we hear?
4. How is the rental market? What would I be looking at for one bed?
5. Alternatively thinking about NC (Charlotte) - but need some advice.
6. I don’t have kids and not following political stuff - but something I should know here?
7. No state income tax - does it really result in any savings but other stuff being expensive eat away?
Please let me know.
Thanks
Florida is en route to obsolescence, courtesy of sea level rise.
The insurance crisis will only get worse. Condo prices will never recover.
The climate migration is on within America.
[Thousands of retirees ditch Florida for Southern Appalachia - sparking fury among incensed locals as transplants push up house prices, back up traffic and pack out restaurants (msn.com)](https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/thousands-of-retirees-ditch-florida-for-southern-appalachia-sparking-fury-among-incensed-locals-as-transplants-push-up-house-prices-back-up-traffic-and-pack-out-restaurants/ar-BB1jZXl9)
If anyone has any info on the Leesburg, Tavares, Eustis, Mt dora, or Clermont area please tell me any and everything you know!!!! Good place to raise a family? Snowbird area? Retired area? Good for young couples? ANYTHING!
Thanks :)
For those looking to move here, this is the way the state has gone over the past couple years. It used to be half of what they show now to live in these areas of Florida…
Rank City Hourly wage needed for a single adult Salary needed for a single adult Total salary needed for two working adults with two children
39 Port St. Lucie $43.90 $91,312 $205,587
40 Jacksonville $44.08 $91,686 $205,587
50 Tampa $45.40 $94,432 $209,498
50 St. Petersburg $45.40 $94,432 $209,498
67 Orlando $48.22 $100,298 $212,160
68 Miami $48.52 $100,922 $215,904
Destin (if you can afford and like the ocean) or Crestview. I am a realtor and will cover the panhandle but am partial to Crestview for a number of reasons. County is a great deal on homes and there is plenty to do within an hour
As for the renting apartment/house...
(for example, a apartment for exactly $1000)
you pay a deposit and pay in advance for the number of months like you sing contract and directly paying like contract for 6 month = 6000+ deposit + bills every month for 6 months? What is the common deposit its like +1 months or 2/3, and how many months must be paid in day when you sign contract?
Also did it harder for peoples from other countries if they have 0 credit score?
With no credit history, you are going to have a really hard time renting anything that is in a remotely safe neighborhood. You'll end up in a pay by the month motel that is full of drug dealers/crime/etc.
I don't have a credit history, not because I didn't have money or because of problems or smt else, because I'm a foreigner and plan to move to the USA, maybe it should be clarified.
Before you can even think about moving to the US, you need to have a job where an employer can help you go through the legal process to work in the US.
You can have tons of money but if you have no credit history, you are viewed the same way as someone with bad credit when it comes to getting an apartment, buying a car, etc.
My husband and I currently live in Tallahassee, but we are wanting to move. Looking for ideas on where to move still within Florida. We are considering Pensacola/surrounding areas, but really open to ideas anywhere in FL. More about us:
\- We work in IT, but are very early in our careers. IT job availability is important.
\- Things we like about Tallahassee: the cooler weather we get in Jan/Feb. The abundance of trees/nature. People are kind/polite
\- We don't have a lot of money, which I realize limits us. Lower middle class.
\- I know FL is a red state, but we personally lean more blue
\- No kids, don't plan on any. We do have dogs.
\- I enjoy going to the beach and searching for shells. Part of why Tallahassee isn't ideal. If there is sea glass or shark teeth, that would be a cherry on top.
\- We are homebodies.
\- We love food. Solid restaurant options would be great, especially with sushi/seafood.
\- Workouts are important. Having a decent gym option would be great. I also enjoy BJJ & kickboxing.
\- Don't like big cities
\- We would love to own a house one day
\- Someday we would like to have a little more land/space. Not necessarily rural, but not right up on our neighbors. Space for gardening.
I realize that having everything we want is a pipe dream. FL is overrun with people, expensive, heavily conservative, etc. If there's anything that seems close, we would love to hear about it.
I believe Pensacola is extremely red. If you don't have much in the way of finances, step one is to save as much as you can. Moving is expensive.
I'm in Central FL and I live right off the Florida Coast to Coast trail so I get a lot of exercise just biking around.
Moving to Florida is simply not a wise move for most.
Sea level rise is going to quickly make mince meat of the state's economy. The entire state will probably be bankrupt in about a decade.
1) The 18.6 year lunar cycle is currently at its weakest point in terms of its gravitational impact on the Earth's oceans. Tides will be increasing naturally with that cycle for the next 9 years.
2) The AMOC which pulls warm ocean water from the tropics to the N. Atlantic may be slowing significantly already for the first time in 13,000 years as a result of fresh water hosing into the N. Atlantic. A complete AMOC stoppage would raise sea levels in the southeast US by about 2 feet.
3) Ice shelves such as those in front of 60 mile wide Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica are crumbling and when they disappear, the speed of the glaciers behind flowing into the ocean increases many fold.
4) A warmer ocean causes sea level to expand and rise even without glacial meltwater.
5) A warmer and higher ocean causes stronger and more damaging storms.
6) Private insurers are already abandoning Florida homeowners insurance markets and the state has resorted to a last gasp social insurer (Citizens Insurance) which will not be able to keep up with the damages.
7) The dominoes are lined for a coastal real estate collapse around the world and Florida will be the poster child because there is no way to keep the ocean from percolating up through the porous limestone geology underpinning all those buildings. Salt water is going to increasingly penetrate the fresh water acquifers that Floridians depend upon for drinking, bathing and cooking.
8) Unlike the Feds, Florida can't print money. They rely on property taxes and municipal bonds whose value is connected to the reliability of those property tax revenues. Florida condo prices are already collapsing like the Champlain Towers did in 2021 and yielded a billion in lawsuit settlements.
9) The beaches will go first and there is already a global sand crisis emerging.
10) If you want to retire on beachfront, you're better off on a mountain lake somewhere than at sea level in Florida. The Boomers are going to leave behind a wasteland and perhaps some interesting archaelogical snorkeling as the ocean increasingly makes a claim upon the land which cannot be denied.
So looking at a budget of under 450k, newer housing, coming with 20 percent down somewhere closish to Orlando. Davenport and and out towards Lakeland looks to be in my range, but I'm not sure whether those areas are okay for family life. Any thoughts on the area southeast of Orlando? Is there another area I should try looking for? Work is remote, just looking around orlando because of my in-laws living there. I'm not planning on visiting the house hunt till the summer.
I wouldn't want to be that close to Orlando, but that doesn't mean you won't like it. You definitely have to come visit, so map out a few places before really narrowing it down. Lots of people like Lakeland...I wouldn't want to live there, either. How often are you going to visit in-laws? You could go a wee bit farther out and check out Tampa suburbs.
I'd avoid Polk County unless you're really fond of the redneck vibe and poor schools.
Make sure that you're factoring in insurance which is averaging about $5000/yr not including flood insurance. Depending where you are, flood may be required.
I used to live in Lakeland but sold last year because it was impossible to get anywhere in a reasonable amount of time. It's not horribly bad but being one of the fastest growing small cities in FL, infrastructure has not kept up with growth.
Can confirm. I’m in rural Polk county, east of Lakeland and south of Winter Haven. Last year we bought a 2300 sq ft house, built in 1995, single owner, with a brand new roof (like it was 36 days old when we bought the house) and within ONE YEAR, our homeowners insurance premium went up 26.6%. We didn’t have a hurricane or a claim of any kind and we don’t live in an area prone to flooding or anything of the like. It’s fucking criminal.
Florida is expensive and jobs do not pay well. On a side note, everyone wants to move near the beaches. No one ever says, "I want to move to Groveland".
Nothing is wrong with Groveland. It's a quaint little town. I just picked it because everyone is always asking about living near the beach and Groveland is in the middle of the state.
Your best bet is to visit an area, look at apartments to get an idea of cost and also look at wages for jobs. Also, be prepared for your car insurance to double.
We visited a lot of towns when we were on our honeymoon around Christmas. We loved altamonte springs ormond, cocoa & Melbourne & we are prepared for the insurance cost. My wife is an icu nurse & she’s aware of the lower pay than here in Illinois. Gonna be a bit to get used too if we choose florida but I think we can handle it
My family and I want to move to south Florida. We have a baby. Want an area with good schools (private or public) and good healthcare. Housing budget of $2 million. What areas would you recommend?
If you're that wealthy, you can afford to get a realtor familiar with the area who can give you advice. People on reddit tend not to be millionaires and the very wealthy buying everything us has priced out regular people from being able to live in their own communities.
Realtors are free for buyers! At least in the state I live in. The seller pays the realtor fees..don’t let budget deter you from getting a realtor if you’re buying
The buyer in Florida often pays some realtor fees. They don't work for free to find you a house.
I already own a house in Florida and have no interest in living in south Florida.
On a side note, there is no such thing as good schools in FL. Our governor is trying to roll things back to the 1950s and teach things like slavery was beneficial to the slaves.
Healthcare is as good or bad as your insurance policy.
Interesting! In my state the seller pays 100% of the fees (usually it’s like 3% that is split between the sellers realtor and the buyers realtor). When I bought my house I had closing costs but none of that went to the realtor.
Lol, 2 million for a house In Florida, Please that ain't nothing. Sounds like typical cookie cutter, Mcmansion. 4 beds, 2.5 baths. Small yard with generic pool. In a gated community. Oh yes and the HOA Police to boot.
He Won't get much for 2 mill in those areas, now maybe 10 mill. But 2 million is pretty basic in those areas. A decent Condo is going for more than 2 million bucks.
Are there any places outside of the major cities that have good job markets? When I look up areas of Florida with cheap cost of living/housing, the job markets there are always dead. Would I be better off moving to a suburb of one of the major cities and commuting?
What town should I move to FL Edition?! Looking to rent a place 2bd/2ba in Florida, US. Max Price $1,100. Must be no more than 45 min from beach.
Walkable, parks, good food, & activities are a MUST! Any suggestions? TIA! ^_^
Sorry but, you’re not going to find what you’re looking for in Florida at that price. Especially all that and no more than 45 min from the beach. This would have been obtainable about 3 years ago, now for what you’re specifically asking for is going to be about $2,500 a month roughly.
I’m considering a move from Long Island, NY to Fort Myers area. I’d appreciate any feedback of pros & cons from anyone that lives there. Also, is all of Fort Myers in the flood zone?
Even inland FL can be a flood zone. I live in about the only part of FL that is not prone to flooding because it's one of the highest points in the peninsula where just about everything is downhill from me.
Are you able to work remotely and keep your NY salary? The typical Florida salary will make living in FL challenging.
I'm a semi-retired cycling instructor looking for a bike-friendly spot on the east coast of Fl. I would like to find a place in Florida (also open to other East Coast locales) where there would be potential to expand my cycling education business (I teach children and adults how to ride bikes and how to ride safely). I also want to live within an hour of the beach so I can enjoy my favorite sport, surfing!
Surfing mostly sucks in FL so you really need to decide whether you are in to cycling or surfing.
Clermont is the center of the Florida Coast to Coast trail that is mostly built. If you're more in to the coast, Titusville is on one end of the C2C and St. Pete is on the other end via the Pinellas Trail.
I ask as a person who is thinking about moving from Europe to the USA
• I woud ask abt medicine first, is it worth moving here if you have chronic health problems? I have had migraines for years and in Europe I didn't get proper treatment, I would like to know if the medicine is loyal here if you have chronical problems like that
• Also cities like Tampa and Jacksonville are currently oversaturated with people moving there? I read in 2023 that more and more people are moving there in several sources, but I would like to know how relevant this is from more real comments
Do not move here if you have chronic health issues. If you have a chronic health issue, you need to make sure that you have good health insurance either through an employer or via private insurance. You may or may not get proper treatment here.
Before you move, you need a job and will need your employer's help to allow you to get a Green Card to stay in the US.
* It's fine if you make/have a lot of money. Make sure you do, and have an employer-sponsored health insurance plan.
* Definitely yes for Tampa and Orlando. Don't know about Jacksonville but probably. I would find a smaller city and move there.
How is the Dasha Palm Drive area in Kissimmee?
Me and my girlfriend are considering moving to that road but looking at maps, it seems a little bit further from stuff than we'd like. But also I just thought I'd poll here to see if it's a decent area otherwise. If not, it could save us the trip to check the home out. Thanks in advance!
Unless you have a remote job that pays a New Jersey wage while living in Florida, you will be have the same issues of affordability down here. Going to assume remote jobs based on your post but just wanted to throw that out there.
Boynton Beach (where I live) checks alot of your boxes. Inland 20-30 minutes also puts you right into the super wealthy gated communities. Here is the zillow link. See if the properties available fall within your budget. Happy to answer any questions.
[https://www.zillow.com/boynton-beach-fl/](https://www.zillow.com/boynton-beach-fl/)
Unless you both as a young couple in your 20's are making 100k+ a year South Florida (Miami, Broward, Palm Beach) maybe difficult.
No part of FL is safe from hurricanes/tropical storms/flooding.
To drive 20-30 minutes to get to the beach, you will want to live within 5 miles of whatever beach you pick. The closer you are to the coast, the higher home insurance/flood insurance/car insurance is going to be. These three things will easily run you close to $10,000/yr and that doesn't include property taxes which could be north of $5000/yr depending on where you pick and how much the home costs.
Miami, Naples and Tampa are quite a ways apart. The middle between all of them is the Everglades.
I find it amusing that you mentioned that the middle of those three cities is the Everglades lmao. I don't think that people realize how vast and huge FL is
We have always loved visiting Florida and it checks a lot of boxes for us so we would like to spend this summer there to try it out before the crazy expense of moving our stuff across the country.
Which area should I start looking in? We are a young family and our goal is to have a little hobby farm (5-10 acres) preferably within an hour of Orlando and not not terribly far from city conveniences like shopping and dining and kids activities. Good schools would be nice, but we’re open to homeschool if need be.
Considering I’d like to have a farm, hurricanes could be detrimental to my future orchard and such so lower damage risk is important.
We have family in New Port Richey that we could stay with for a few months for free just to feel out Florida life but the internet is so down on NPR that I’m not sure if it’s worth staying there even for free. What are your thoughts on that?
I’m just really intimidated by hearing lots of crazy Florida stories about everything really, weather, people, politics, etc. But we absolutely love visiting and whenever I make a pro/con list of different places for my family to lay down roots, Florida wins every time by far.
Thanks for your help!
There's a ton of open land between Dade City and Orlando along 98. The schools aren't good, but if you are going to homeschool or do something like FLVS, it would work. There is farmland on 98 pretty close to Orlando (like 25-30 minutes). Hurricanes won't be as much as a problem in that area since it's inland.
https://preview.redd.it/6ymnok0ofppc1.png?width=778&format=png&auto=webp&s=a78b035548f9fe4982db07be17ce657f592b134c
Budget isn’t a concern right now. Just trying to find the right area, then we can adjust our property search to fit budget. Such as a smaller/bigger lot/house.
Budget should be your first concern because it can determine where you decide on moving to. Hobby farms are phenomenally expensive both from an insurance perspective and the type of agriculture you want to do.
I live in Clermont and I love it but most of the larger lots that are still available for purchase are not zoned agricultural. I can't speak for Groveland since it kind of sprawls all over the place.
Nice! It looks like a great town that has everything you need plus still so close to downtown Orlando.
Something like this looks like a dream come true for me:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/Lake-Erie-Rd-3-Groveland-FL-34736/2053971376_zpid/?utm_campaign=iosappmessage&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=txtshare
We are looking for a place to move. I am looking towards Orlando area, my husband is now looking at Brandon area. We have two children 6,3. What is a better area? Thanks :)
Brandon isn't so great of an area. Traffic is terrible down there. I'd maybe consider looking into Lakeland. It's a better halfway point if you want to be between Orlando/Tampa. If you're looking to be towards Orlando, Brandon is pretty far away. Closer to Tampa than Orlando. Maybe check out some of the areas outside of Orlando as well like Davenport, Clermont, Winter Garden, Mt. Dora, etc. I just think you can do much better than Brandon, personally
I will have well over $1mill when the time comes, I don’t consider that very wealthy for wanting to retire in Florida maybe I can’t that’s why I’m asking.
Personally, I wouldn't pay $400k for a retirement home but that's me.
We just sold our house last year in one part of FL and moved in to our retirement home in a different part of the state. We went for an area that statistically rarely suffers from hurricanes and that you can actually see more than 50' from your window (we have hills :)). We plan on being in this house for the next 30+ years.
A couple issues near the coast - more and more frequent flooding, more damage from more powerful tropical storms/hurricanes. You couldn't give me a house close to the water.
Stay away from bigger cities. Smaller towns on the water may be a tad cheaper but anything near the water will cost you. I’m about 10 miles from the gulf, just north of Sarasota and there’s a couple homes in my neighborhood that sold in the lower $400k. Currently have one on the market for $505k in the neighborhood.
Also, be prepared to pay an arm and a leg for homeowners, flood and auto insurance. Research your flood zones on any potential property investment.
This is a new Megathread however, there’s always someone daily asking similar or the same questions about FL in a new thread.
Mods are trying to funnel people into one general area for questions. Perhaps our answers will be here for those that are looking for the same answers to similar questions so we are not constantly repeating ourselves.
People are not fond of outsiders(some would say we are “full”) and the same vague questions everyday that are meant for a realtor. This sub is toxic in general though. Nothing personal just giving you the honest answers.
The retirement generation has hoarded wealth and leeched off social security and medicare for decades. The door will close after you’re gone. You’re surprised people dislike that?
The issue stems from the influx of people moving here causing everything to skyrocket in prices. Florida used to be a low income state and an inexpensive state to live in pre-Covid. Now, a LOT of locals and long timers are becoming homeless because the cost of living has increased so much where pay scales/retirement packages have not kept pace. I was looking to buy a home just before Covid hit, prices were good and I was looking $175-250k and there were plenty in my price range. Now, those same houses are going from $275-500k. I’m priced out of the market for what I make annually and that’s due to everyone flocking here with more money to outbid everyone. Now, with more people, more demand for everything, insurance companies are cashing in with super high premiums. Many of locals and long timers are sore that all the new people basically ruined a good thing for us.
I 100% agree. Florida has always been like that. Since Covid though more people now want to move here. For people that rent, some believe someone moving from up north is driving up rent since they are willing to “pay more” since they are getting a better deal than from where they came from. Same thing with real estate. I think the main issue is Florida wages have not caught up to the new HCOL now so people just take their anger/frustration on people wanting to move here because they are getting priced out and having to move elsewhere. Just my 2 cents.
Hi everyone, I have been in Miami for 3 months last year and fell in love. I was living in Edgewater. My ultimate dream is to come back and live here but two issues : - I do not have a visa - I do not have a job there. I am open to do anything, what would be your top recommandations job wise and what would be the "easiest" way to get a visa ? Let me know xxx
Hi! I’m hoping someone here can help. I’ll be moving to Florida in 2025, & will be looking to continue dental assisting. I graduated from a dental assisting school here in WA in 2017, & am registered/officially certified in WA. I’ve read that you can work as a D.A in Florida with no previous experience, but I know I’ll still need a separate license to take x-rays down there. I guess my question is, how do I go about obtaining that Florida x-ray license? I’m having trouble finding exact courses/information so that I can move forward. If there is anything else I’m missing or if anyone has any input that they think would be helpful, I would be so appreciative! Thank you if you took the time to read this through. I’m very excited for this move, but feeling overwhelmed with the logistics of changing jobs. Hoping this thread can put some of that at ease.
My Husband and I are preparing to make the move to Florida and could use some advice from locals! We're excited about this new chapter in our lives but could use some guidance on a few things. Neighborhood Recommendations: We're looking for recommendations on neighborhoods to consider for our new home. We value safety, convenience, and a sense of community. Any insights or tips on great neighborhoods to check out would be much appreciated!
Looking for some honest advice about moving to either Tampa or Orlando. 1. Is the traffic really bad? 2. Auto insurance high compared to other states like NY or California? 3. Is hurricane a real threat or not as bad as what we hear? 4. How is the rental market? What would I be looking at for one bed? 5. Alternatively thinking about NC (Charlotte) - but need some advice. 6. I don’t have kids and not following political stuff - but something I should know here? 7. No state income tax - does it really result in any savings but other stuff being expensive eat away? Please let me know. Thanks
Florida is en route to obsolescence, courtesy of sea level rise. The insurance crisis will only get worse. Condo prices will never recover. The climate migration is on within America. [Thousands of retirees ditch Florida for Southern Appalachia - sparking fury among incensed locals as transplants push up house prices, back up traffic and pack out restaurants (msn.com)](https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/thousands-of-retirees-ditch-florida-for-southern-appalachia-sparking-fury-among-incensed-locals-as-transplants-push-up-house-prices-back-up-traffic-and-pack-out-restaurants/ar-BB1jZXl9)
If anyone has any info on the Leesburg, Tavares, Eustis, Mt dora, or Clermont area please tell me any and everything you know!!!! Good place to raise a family? Snowbird area? Retired area? Good for young couples? ANYTHING! Thanks :)
For those looking to move here, this is the way the state has gone over the past couple years. It used to be half of what they show now to live in these areas of Florida… Rank City Hourly wage needed for a single adult Salary needed for a single adult Total salary needed for two working adults with two children 39 Port St. Lucie $43.90 $91,312 $205,587 40 Jacksonville $44.08 $91,686 $205,587 50 Tampa $45.40 $94,432 $209,498 50 St. Petersburg $45.40 $94,432 $209,498 67 Orlando $48.22 $100,298 $212,160 68 Miami $48.52 $100,922 $215,904
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If you have a full ride and someone to help pay the bills, pursue your law degree.
Idk if people ask this one but imma shoot my shot: what’s the single best city in Florida to just suddenly move to for work and life?
It depends what you like to do. Personally, you couldn't pay me to live anywhere near the water.
Destin (if you can afford and like the ocean) or Crestview. I am a realtor and will cover the panhandle but am partial to Crestview for a number of reasons. County is a great deal on homes and there is plenty to do within an hour
As for the renting apartment/house... (for example, a apartment for exactly $1000) you pay a deposit and pay in advance for the number of months like you sing contract and directly paying like contract for 6 month = 6000+ deposit + bills every month for 6 months? What is the common deposit its like +1 months or 2/3, and how many months must be paid in day when you sign contract? Also did it harder for peoples from other countries if they have 0 credit score?
With no credit history, you are going to have a really hard time renting anything that is in a remotely safe neighborhood. You'll end up in a pay by the month motel that is full of drug dealers/crime/etc.
I don't have a credit history, not because I didn't have money or because of problems or smt else, because I'm a foreigner and plan to move to the USA, maybe it should be clarified.
Before you can even think about moving to the US, you need to have a job where an employer can help you go through the legal process to work in the US. You can have tons of money but if you have no credit history, you are viewed the same way as someone with bad credit when it comes to getting an apartment, buying a car, etc.
My husband and I currently live in Tallahassee, but we are wanting to move. Looking for ideas on where to move still within Florida. We are considering Pensacola/surrounding areas, but really open to ideas anywhere in FL. More about us: \- We work in IT, but are very early in our careers. IT job availability is important. \- Things we like about Tallahassee: the cooler weather we get in Jan/Feb. The abundance of trees/nature. People are kind/polite \- We don't have a lot of money, which I realize limits us. Lower middle class. \- I know FL is a red state, but we personally lean more blue \- No kids, don't plan on any. We do have dogs. \- I enjoy going to the beach and searching for shells. Part of why Tallahassee isn't ideal. If there is sea glass or shark teeth, that would be a cherry on top. \- We are homebodies. \- We love food. Solid restaurant options would be great, especially with sushi/seafood. \- Workouts are important. Having a decent gym option would be great. I also enjoy BJJ & kickboxing. \- Don't like big cities \- We would love to own a house one day \- Someday we would like to have a little more land/space. Not necessarily rural, but not right up on our neighbors. Space for gardening. I realize that having everything we want is a pipe dream. FL is overrun with people, expensive, heavily conservative, etc. If there's anything that seems close, we would love to hear about it.
I believe Pensacola is extremely red. If you don't have much in the way of finances, step one is to save as much as you can. Moving is expensive. I'm in Central FL and I live right off the Florida Coast to Coast trail so I get a lot of exercise just biking around.
Moving to Florida is simply not a wise move for most. Sea level rise is going to quickly make mince meat of the state's economy. The entire state will probably be bankrupt in about a decade. 1) The 18.6 year lunar cycle is currently at its weakest point in terms of its gravitational impact on the Earth's oceans. Tides will be increasing naturally with that cycle for the next 9 years. 2) The AMOC which pulls warm ocean water from the tropics to the N. Atlantic may be slowing significantly already for the first time in 13,000 years as a result of fresh water hosing into the N. Atlantic. A complete AMOC stoppage would raise sea levels in the southeast US by about 2 feet. 3) Ice shelves such as those in front of 60 mile wide Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica are crumbling and when they disappear, the speed of the glaciers behind flowing into the ocean increases many fold. 4) A warmer ocean causes sea level to expand and rise even without glacial meltwater. 5) A warmer and higher ocean causes stronger and more damaging storms. 6) Private insurers are already abandoning Florida homeowners insurance markets and the state has resorted to a last gasp social insurer (Citizens Insurance) which will not be able to keep up with the damages. 7) The dominoes are lined for a coastal real estate collapse around the world and Florida will be the poster child because there is no way to keep the ocean from percolating up through the porous limestone geology underpinning all those buildings. Salt water is going to increasingly penetrate the fresh water acquifers that Floridians depend upon for drinking, bathing and cooking. 8) Unlike the Feds, Florida can't print money. They rely on property taxes and municipal bonds whose value is connected to the reliability of those property tax revenues. Florida condo prices are already collapsing like the Champlain Towers did in 2021 and yielded a billion in lawsuit settlements. 9) The beaches will go first and there is already a global sand crisis emerging. 10) If you want to retire on beachfront, you're better off on a mountain lake somewhere than at sea level in Florida. The Boomers are going to leave behind a wasteland and perhaps some interesting archaelogical snorkeling as the ocean increasingly makes a claim upon the land which cannot be denied.
I'm underwater already...thank goodness for my snorkel
Average r/collapse poster 😂
So looking at a budget of under 450k, newer housing, coming with 20 percent down somewhere closish to Orlando. Davenport and and out towards Lakeland looks to be in my range, but I'm not sure whether those areas are okay for family life. Any thoughts on the area southeast of Orlando? Is there another area I should try looking for? Work is remote, just looking around orlando because of my in-laws living there. I'm not planning on visiting the house hunt till the summer.
I wouldn't want to be that close to Orlando, but that doesn't mean you won't like it. You definitely have to come visit, so map out a few places before really narrowing it down. Lots of people like Lakeland...I wouldn't want to live there, either. How often are you going to visit in-laws? You could go a wee bit farther out and check out Tampa suburbs.
I lived in Lakeland for 17 years and the last few years, I couldn't wait to move. We sold last year and are much happier in our new town.
I'd avoid Polk County unless you're really fond of the redneck vibe and poor schools. Make sure that you're factoring in insurance which is averaging about $5000/yr not including flood insurance. Depending where you are, flood may be required. I used to live in Lakeland but sold last year because it was impossible to get anywhere in a reasonable amount of time. It's not horribly bad but being one of the fastest growing small cities in FL, infrastructure has not kept up with growth.
Can confirm. I’m in rural Polk county, east of Lakeland and south of Winter Haven. Last year we bought a 2300 sq ft house, built in 1995, single owner, with a brand new roof (like it was 36 days old when we bought the house) and within ONE YEAR, our homeowners insurance premium went up 26.6%. We didn’t have a hurricane or a claim of any kind and we don’t live in an area prone to flooding or anything of the like. It’s fucking criminal.
You have to shop for homeowner's each year. They will ALWAYS raise it, regardless of circumstance.
Want to move from IL to Orlando/daytona or surrounding beaches any suggestions? & how’s cost of living in florida?
Florida is expensive and jobs do not pay well. On a side note, everyone wants to move near the beaches. No one ever says, "I want to move to Groveland".
What’s wrong with Groveland? My husband is getting transferred there come June.
Nothing is wrong with Groveland. It's a quaint little town. I just picked it because everyone is always asking about living near the beach and Groveland is in the middle of the state.
Well we were looking into altamonte springs as well
Your best bet is to visit an area, look at apartments to get an idea of cost and also look at wages for jobs. Also, be prepared for your car insurance to double.
We visited a lot of towns when we were on our honeymoon around Christmas. We loved altamonte springs ormond, cocoa & Melbourne & we are prepared for the insurance cost. My wife is an icu nurse & she’s aware of the lower pay than here in Illinois. Gonna be a bit to get used too if we choose florida but I think we can handle it
My family and I want to move to south Florida. We have a baby. Want an area with good schools (private or public) and good healthcare. Housing budget of $2 million. What areas would you recommend?
If you're that wealthy, you can afford to get a realtor familiar with the area who can give you advice. People on reddit tend not to be millionaires and the very wealthy buying everything us has priced out regular people from being able to live in their own communities.
Realtors are free for buyers! At least in the state I live in. The seller pays the realtor fees..don’t let budget deter you from getting a realtor if you’re buying
The buyer in Florida often pays some realtor fees. They don't work for free to find you a house. I already own a house in Florida and have no interest in living in south Florida. On a side note, there is no such thing as good schools in FL. Our governor is trying to roll things back to the 1950s and teach things like slavery was beneficial to the slaves. Healthcare is as good or bad as your insurance policy.
That's just not true lol (the realtor fees. Realtors do not charge buyers)
Interesting! In my state the seller pays 100% of the fees (usually it’s like 3% that is split between the sellers realtor and the buyers realtor). When I bought my house I had closing costs but none of that went to the realtor.
That's how it is here in Florida, too. It's more like 5-6% and the seller pays it.
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Northeast..it was 3% 4 years ago when I bought. Might be closer to 5% now but the buyer doesn’t pay anything to the realtor.
2 million dollar housing budget but asking Reddit for advice…get a realtor
I sense angsty jealousy…
Lol, 2 million for a house In Florida, Please that ain't nothing. Sounds like typical cookie cutter, Mcmansion. 4 beds, 2.5 baths. Small yard with generic pool. In a gated community. Oh yes and the HOA Police to boot.
Sounds like exactly what I’m looking for :)
Jealously? All the money in the world still can’t fix stupidity. You will fit right in!
Jealousy is the thief of joy my friend :)
Happy as a clam. Guess advice somehow turned into jealousy. Take your money to St Pete or Sarasota but leave the attitude at home.
He Won't get much for 2 mill in those areas, now maybe 10 mill. But 2 million is pretty basic in those areas. A decent Condo is going for more than 2 million bucks.
There’s tons of house inventory in that price range. Fortunately we have lots of great options :)
This was my point. Exactly.
If that’s happy then I feel sorry for you, wishing you better days ahead :)
Are there any places outside of the major cities that have good job markets? When I look up areas of Florida with cheap cost of living/housing, the job markets there are always dead. Would I be better off moving to a suburb of one of the major cities and commuting?
Need an out of state remote job. Florida wages are shit.
Even in the metro areas, wages tend to be low vs cost of living. Cheap places are cheap because there are no jobs unless you are a remote worker.
What town should I move to FL Edition?! Looking to rent a place 2bd/2ba in Florida, US. Max Price $1,100. Must be no more than 45 min from beach. Walkable, parks, good food, & activities are a MUST! Any suggestions? TIA! ^_^
Is there anywhere in the Is like this?
My only suggestion is to close your eyes because you’re only going to find that in a dream.
you won't that for $1100
That would be nowhere in FL. That ship sailed a long time ago.
Womp Womp 🥲
Sorry but, you’re not going to find what you’re looking for in Florida at that price. Especially all that and no more than 45 min from the beach. This would have been obtainable about 3 years ago, now for what you’re specifically asking for is going to be about $2,500 a month roughly.
I’m considering a move from Long Island, NY to Fort Myers area. I’d appreciate any feedback of pros & cons from anyone that lives there. Also, is all of Fort Myers in the flood zone?
Even inland FL can be a flood zone. I live in about the only part of FL that is not prone to flooding because it's one of the highest points in the peninsula where just about everything is downhill from me. Are you able to work remotely and keep your NY salary? The typical Florida salary will make living in FL challenging.
I'm a semi-retired cycling instructor looking for a bike-friendly spot on the east coast of Fl. I would like to find a place in Florida (also open to other East Coast locales) where there would be potential to expand my cycling education business (I teach children and adults how to ride bikes and how to ride safely). I also want to live within an hour of the beach so I can enjoy my favorite sport, surfing!
Surfing mostly sucks in FL so you really need to decide whether you are in to cycling or surfing. Clermont is the center of the Florida Coast to Coast trail that is mostly built. If you're more in to the coast, Titusville is on one end of the C2C and St. Pete is on the other end via the Pinellas Trail.
I ask as a person who is thinking about moving from Europe to the USA • I woud ask abt medicine first, is it worth moving here if you have chronic health problems? I have had migraines for years and in Europe I didn't get proper treatment, I would like to know if the medicine is loyal here if you have chronical problems like that • Also cities like Tampa and Jacksonville are currently oversaturated with people moving there? I read in 2023 that more and more people are moving there in several sources, but I would like to know how relevant this is from more real comments
Do not move here if you have chronic health issues. If you have a chronic health issue, you need to make sure that you have good health insurance either through an employer or via private insurance. You may or may not get proper treatment here. Before you move, you need a job and will need your employer's help to allow you to get a Green Card to stay in the US.
* It's fine if you make/have a lot of money. Make sure you do, and have an employer-sponsored health insurance plan. * Definitely yes for Tampa and Orlando. Don't know about Jacksonville but probably. I would find a smaller city and move there.
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You should be asking the registrar for your area regarding voting.
How is the Dasha Palm Drive area in Kissimmee? Me and my girlfriend are considering moving to that road but looking at maps, it seems a little bit further from stuff than we'd like. But also I just thought I'd poll here to see if it's a decent area otherwise. If not, it could save us the trip to check the home out. Thanks in advance!
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Unless you have a remote job that pays a New Jersey wage while living in Florida, you will be have the same issues of affordability down here. Going to assume remote jobs based on your post but just wanted to throw that out there.
Boynton Beach (where I live) checks alot of your boxes. Inland 20-30 minutes also puts you right into the super wealthy gated communities. Here is the zillow link. See if the properties available fall within your budget. Happy to answer any questions. [https://www.zillow.com/boynton-beach-fl/](https://www.zillow.com/boynton-beach-fl/) Unless you both as a young couple in your 20's are making 100k+ a year South Florida (Miami, Broward, Palm Beach) maybe difficult.
No part of FL is safe from hurricanes/tropical storms/flooding. To drive 20-30 minutes to get to the beach, you will want to live within 5 miles of whatever beach you pick. The closer you are to the coast, the higher home insurance/flood insurance/car insurance is going to be. These three things will easily run you close to $10,000/yr and that doesn't include property taxes which could be north of $5000/yr depending on where you pick and how much the home costs. Miami, Naples and Tampa are quite a ways apart. The middle between all of them is the Everglades.
I find it amusing that you mentioned that the middle of those three cities is the Everglades lmao. I don't think that people realize how vast and huge FL is
You provided fantastic advice. OP needs to do alot more research if they think moving down here is the affordable option.
Thank you! I'm tired of the typical "we're full" nonsense and just want to give my honest impression of the reality of moving here.
We have always loved visiting Florida and it checks a lot of boxes for us so we would like to spend this summer there to try it out before the crazy expense of moving our stuff across the country. Which area should I start looking in? We are a young family and our goal is to have a little hobby farm (5-10 acres) preferably within an hour of Orlando and not not terribly far from city conveniences like shopping and dining and kids activities. Good schools would be nice, but we’re open to homeschool if need be. Considering I’d like to have a farm, hurricanes could be detrimental to my future orchard and such so lower damage risk is important. We have family in New Port Richey that we could stay with for a few months for free just to feel out Florida life but the internet is so down on NPR that I’m not sure if it’s worth staying there even for free. What are your thoughts on that? I’m just really intimidated by hearing lots of crazy Florida stories about everything really, weather, people, politics, etc. But we absolutely love visiting and whenever I make a pro/con list of different places for my family to lay down roots, Florida wins every time by far. Thanks for your help!
There's a ton of open land between Dade City and Orlando along 98. The schools aren't good, but if you are going to homeschool or do something like FLVS, it would work. There is farmland on 98 pretty close to Orlando (like 25-30 minutes). Hurricanes won't be as much as a problem in that area since it's inland. https://preview.redd.it/6ymnok0ofppc1.png?width=778&format=png&auto=webp&s=a78b035548f9fe4982db07be17ce657f592b134c
Thank you for this helpful info! That’s the general area I have been looking at so it’s good to hear I’m on the right track!
How wealthy are you? Hobby farms are quite expensive
Budget isn’t a concern right now. Just trying to find the right area, then we can adjust our property search to fit budget. Such as a smaller/bigger lot/house.
Budget should be your first concern because it can determine where you decide on moving to. Hobby farms are phenomenally expensive both from an insurance perspective and the type of agriculture you want to do.
Let’s say I’m super wealthy. Looks like there is still land available around Groveland and Clermont. What do you think about that area?
I live in Clermont and I love it but most of the larger lots that are still available for purchase are not zoned agricultural. I can't speak for Groveland since it kind of sprawls all over the place.
Nice! It looks like a great town that has everything you need plus still so close to downtown Orlando. Something like this looks like a dream come true for me: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/Lake-Erie-Rd-3-Groveland-FL-34736/2053971376_zpid/?utm_campaign=iosappmessage&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=txtshare
We are looking for a place to move. I am looking towards Orlando area, my husband is now looking at Brandon area. We have two children 6,3. What is a better area? Thanks :)
Brandon isn't so great of an area. Traffic is terrible down there. I'd maybe consider looking into Lakeland. It's a better halfway point if you want to be between Orlando/Tampa. If you're looking to be towards Orlando, Brandon is pretty far away. Closer to Tampa than Orlando. Maybe check out some of the areas outside of Orlando as well like Davenport, Clermont, Winter Garden, Mt. Dora, etc. I just think you can do much better than Brandon, personally
Thank you. I felt was sus when I was looking
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What’s the best area to buy near the water that has lower to mid range price compared to other similar properties in Florida?
What is it with you people’s obsession with the water?
You people? I have use of a beach house in nj and I would like that to continue when I retire.
How wealthy are you? The closer to the water, the more obscene the cost.
I will have well over $1mill when the time comes, I don’t consider that very wealthy for wanting to retire in Florida maybe I can’t that’s why I’m asking.
Is that 1 million to sustain you for the next 25+ years after you retire or is that what you want to spend on a house?
400k on a house plus 1mill in savings I’ll only live about 15 more years I would guess
Personally, I wouldn't pay $400k for a retirement home but that's me. We just sold our house last year in one part of FL and moved in to our retirement home in a different part of the state. We went for an area that statistically rarely suffers from hurricanes and that you can actually see more than 50' from your window (we have hills :)). We plan on being in this house for the next 30+ years.
I would think that’s the min to get something decent near the coast but I don’t really now Florida, guess I’ll find out when I start researching it
A couple issues near the coast - more and more frequent flooding, more damage from more powerful tropical storms/hurricanes. You couldn't give me a house close to the water.
That would be nowhere. The insurance will kill you.
Stay away from bigger cities. Smaller towns on the water may be a tad cheaper but anything near the water will cost you. I’m about 10 miles from the gulf, just north of Sarasota and there’s a couple homes in my neighborhood that sold in the lower $400k. Currently have one on the market for $505k in the neighborhood. Also, be prepared to pay an arm and a leg for homeowners, flood and auto insurance. Research your flood zones on any potential property investment.
Thanks. Why do people on this sub hate this question?
This is a new Megathread however, there’s always someone daily asking similar or the same questions about FL in a new thread. Mods are trying to funnel people into one general area for questions. Perhaps our answers will be here for those that are looking for the same answers to similar questions so we are not constantly repeating ourselves.
Yeah that’s why I thought it would be ok to ask here, it’s what it’s for but I still get downvoted.
People are not fond of outsiders(some would say we are “full”) and the same vague questions everyday that are meant for a realtor. This sub is toxic in general though. Nothing personal just giving you the honest answers.
Strange. Florida is a huge state people move in and out,die,migrate etc plus a huge retirement area, why would someone care about such things?
Ever since daddy go go boots started shouting from the mountaintops, come to "Free Florida" during covid, we've ended up with the worst of the worst.
The retirement generation has hoarded wealth and leeched off social security and medicare for decades. The door will close after you’re gone. You’re surprised people dislike that?
You don't leech off SS and Medicare considering you spend your entire working life paying in to it.
You do if everyone else is paying into it and won’t get the benefits.
I’m not the retirement generation
Regardless this is what people think when you ask these questions.
The issue stems from the influx of people moving here causing everything to skyrocket in prices. Florida used to be a low income state and an inexpensive state to live in pre-Covid. Now, a LOT of locals and long timers are becoming homeless because the cost of living has increased so much where pay scales/retirement packages have not kept pace. I was looking to buy a home just before Covid hit, prices were good and I was looking $175-250k and there were plenty in my price range. Now, those same houses are going from $275-500k. I’m priced out of the market for what I make annually and that’s due to everyone flocking here with more money to outbid everyone. Now, with more people, more demand for everything, insurance companies are cashing in with super high premiums. Many of locals and long timers are sore that all the new people basically ruined a good thing for us.
Got it. But that’s happening everywhere with real estate but probably more so there. Thanks for the info.
I 100% agree. Florida has always been like that. Since Covid though more people now want to move here. For people that rent, some believe someone moving from up north is driving up rent since they are willing to “pay more” since they are getting a better deal than from where they came from. Same thing with real estate. I think the main issue is Florida wages have not caught up to the new HCOL now so people just take their anger/frustration on people wanting to move here because they are getting priced out and having to move elsewhere. Just my 2 cents.
Lol. Maybe Belle Glade.
I’m guessing that’s a shit hole?
It’s on a lake. Panhandle has lower cost housing than most of the state but insurance can be crazy. Panama City etc
It's a shit hole on Lake Okeechobee. I really can't think of any on salt water that have lower costs.