Need Freeper Help on Where to Move to in Florida

11/13/04 | mass55th

[mass55th]

Within the next six or seven months, I'm hoping to move to Florida and set up residence. My youngest son, age 34 will be moving down there to set up residence as well. I'm asking for Freeper input and advice on where to move in Florida.

[mass55th]

We live in Rome, New York. I'm 57 and retired, so employment doesn't matter for me. My son however, will need to find a job. He's worked mostly for banks during his adult life. So, we'll need to move to a place where employment opportunities are decent.

I've lived in New York State all my life and am sick of the 9 month winters up here. Florida offers me decent weather and won't tax my state pension. While I'd love to live on the ocean, I've heard that living further inside the state offers better protection against hurricanes. Is that true?

I'm not sure at this point if I'll be buying a condo or simply renting an apartment. I've never owned a piece of property in my life, and have no idea if I really want to own anything at this point in time. If I do choose to buy, what taxes would I be required to pay? My son will be getting his own apartment as well. Since I'm a Republican, I'd like to live in an area with like-minded folk

Is there a time limit for new residents on getting a Florida driver's license? What are the state's car insurance requirements? Are there any surcharges or taxes involved in buying and registering new cars? What is the state's sales tax rate? We're at 8 1/2% here and they're talking about raising it again.

Can you Florida Freepers give me some advice on what areas we should consider for relocating? And if you can think of any other info that might be helpful to someone moving to your State, please share it with me.

Thanks for your help. It's greatly appreciated.

[dawn53]

Well, I live in south Pinellas county. We don't live on the beach, but 10 minutes from the beach, yet we're not in an evac zone for hurricanes.

So it is possible to get pretty darn close to the water without actually being in a "high risk" zone.

The traditional wisdom of living "inland" proved very wrong during this past hurricane season. Many of the inland counties got battered more than once as huge hurricanes cut a path through the interior of the state.

[USF]

I've heard that living further inside the state offers better protection against hurricanes.

Generally true, but it's no guarantee... plenty of damage has been done all across central and southern Florida this year.

[G.Mason]

Though I think Florida should have closed it's gates to newbies after we moved here, being as you are a Freeper I will make an exception for you.

Try this web site.

BTW ... It is a proud Republican county.

[dawn53]

BTW, we don't have a state income tax, which you probably already know. State sales tax differs slightly from county to county, ours is 7 percent.

Remember, wages in Florida are lower than other parts of the country, BUT, cost of living (especially housing) is also lower than many parts of the country.

Many transplants in Florida from up north, and they are pretty reasonable about transferring license, and car registration. I think a new tag costs about a hundred bucks.

Jeb Bush has a great website set up, you can get lots of info there.

http://www.myflorida.com

[Stormyta]

As a resident of Florida for the past 40 years---I nominate Cape Coral, Florida for your move. We are a new city and now have 144,000 people. We have hundreds of miles of canals--a beautiful river--The Caloosahatchee--- close to the Gulf of Mexico ( as our river goes to the Gulf). We are a bedroom community to Fort Myers --and have affordable housing. We are 140 miles south of Tampa and 140 west of Ft. Lauderdale. Come on down and give us a look see. You are going to love it here. We are basically Republican and have a very active Republican Club, which I am membership chairperson and would love to invite you to join us.

[dawn53]

Here's a couple more links:

http://www.stpete.org

http://www.pinellascounty.org

[Graybeard58]

BTTT

I'm interested in replies to your post also.

I'm ready to move from Illinois - Blue and cold state.

I've been there several times checking real estate prices in various places in the state. The prices seem reasonable to me unless you want to live right on the beach.

I'd like to hear some more about taxes too. Illinois doesn't tax retirement pay yet but our dim wit dem governor is talking about it.

[Charlotte Corday]

living further inside the state offers better protection against hurricanes

The quality of your dwelling construction is as important (if not more so) than location.

You want solid CBS/rebar walls with a low pitch (no gable ends or dormers) tile roof.

Anything built pre-1970 anywhere in Florida or post-1990 under the "Andrew" building codes (south Florida only) is liable to be safer as a rule.

We rode out Hurricane Andrew less than 10 miles from the eyewall in a 1951 vintage "concrete box" with zero damage inside the house.

[Caipirabob]

Depends on what you want.

Culture varies from place to place down here.

SoFlo East is like where you are, but with heavy Latino influence (saving grace, IMHO.) Heavily developed and about the most "Metropolitan" you'll get down here. Between here and Orlando your son stands the best chance of employment.

SoFlo West, Naples Area through Tampa is a bit more conservative from my experience. From what family says it's wonderful. Naples is growing out of control and no longer resembles the wonderful "sanctuary of sanity" environment it used to be. It's being developed so fast it's hard to keep up.

A little further North on the East Coast, Stuart through Vero, it's the same story: mass development and heavy growth via transplants. Still beautiful and you're likely to work a good deal on land. Jobs are there, but not as numerous as South and Orlando/Tampa area.

Orlando - if you like wall-to-wall tourists, there you go. Plenty of jobs as well.

The further North you go, the more homey it will feel. You'll get into the areas that are still "Old Florida" and they may remain so for a few more years.

That's about the best I can assess it for you. I can understand your plight, I was a refugee many years ago myself.

[capt. norm]

I would reccommend the Panhandle (northwest coast).

It's cooled by a sea-breeze during the summer and the heat stored by the Gulf waters moderates the winter temperatures.

The fishing is superb and the number one reason to come here is that this is the conservative stronghold of Florida. Even the few remaining Democrats here are conservatives.

This is BC² "Bush Country Squared" (George W. and Jeb).

[the invisib1e hand]

Miami, Ft. Frauderdale, Palm, are finance centers. Orlando is busy that way as well.

Tampa is trying to become "wall street south" by attracting such back office operations as Salomon Bros. and Depository Trust Corp.

Brooksville is a boomtown. There's still lots of rural real estate to pick up if one is thinking.

Pinellas County government is wholesale corrupt, from the Sheriff through the courts down to the cruisers.

The only place I've met more con men than in Florida is in New York.

[Popman]

I have lived in Florida for 15 years. I have lived on the east and west coast.

1. I prefer the west cost over the east coast.
2. If you are wanting to get away from the cold, move Orlando south, it still can get chilly in N. Florida.
3. DO NOT buy a home yet, rent until you figure out where you want to live. There are several good reasons for this. Homestead exemption does not kick in until you establish a residence is the best one.
4. Car insurance can vary greatly depending on what county you live in. It can be as high as up northeast.
5. Liberals swarm like locust in the east coast: Palm beach, Broward , Miami Dade.
6. Do not plan to live in Miami Dade unless you speak Spanish. 50 % of the population will pretend to not understand you.
7. 30 days for the drivers license and they do change you quite a bit to move your registration from out of state
8. If your son is moving down as well, I suggest the I-4 corridor for employment. Understand that wages in Florida can be lower than in the North, so expect for him to make less money unless he is a professional.
9. Last but not least, there are scam artists down here like weeds, be very careful who you deal with. DEFINITLY check out references.

I live in the Tampa area, Sarasota IS the best spot to retire in the state, but housing has gotten out of control in the last 4 years. If you can afford it, Sarasota is the place.

[Dante3]

Isn't Pinellas County where they are fighting tooth and naile to starve Terri Schiavo to death?

[Hot Tabasco]

Move up here to Michigan, we need the votes.......

[I got the rope]

I live in "inland". If you are used to city life then I would pick something close to the coast. If you are a small town Bush backer like me then I would go at least 20-30 miles inland. I live in Plant City and I love it. Tampa is 25 minutes away. Orlando is about an hour away. Your son could work in Tampa, Lakeland, Plant City, Winter Haven, or any number of towns around here I guess. The weather is great...no winters. The only problem I have with Florida is fireants, and mosquitos. We are at war with them. The ants are everywhere and mosquitos are so big I thought I saw one mating with a vulture the other day.

BTW, people here are nice, but they don't like "progressive" ideas. So no matter how conservative you think you are in New York...you really should assimilate here.

That means you change your plates first thing. Buy a shotgun, a rifle, and ammo at your local gun shop, and basically do business with the locals.

When you come here say what you mean and mean what you say. Northerners have a bad reputation here from the locals for using Clinton-speak.

[Melinda in TN]

This doesn't really answer your question so don't yell at me, but I lived in Florida (Pompano Beach) until I started high school. We moved to South Tennessee in 1969. This is where we are originally from but we moved to Florida when I was a baby because of my Asthma. Personally, I wouldn't move back to Florida. What's wrong with Tennessee? :-) Our winters are short and the scenery is much better. Besides, we're only a six to eight hour drive from Panama City Beach. We're still in the 60's and 70's during the day and it's November! South Tennessee is heavily Republican and the people are the friendliest in the country IMO. During this last epidemic of hurricanes, we had a lot of refugees visit from Florida. You wouldn't believe how many had never been here, and after being here, plan to move to Tennessee. They claim the mountains and countryside of S.E. Tennessee are the most beautiful they have ever seen.

People are nice, the weather and scenery is great (seldom snows), the cost of living is low and jobs are plentiful. What more could you ask?

Here is a picture of the view from my front yard:

[JLAGRAYFOX]

Stay away from Broward and Palm Beach Counties Way too liberal, expensive, schools stink, taxes too high and intolerant, although Palm Beach County is changing slowly for the better. Liberals are slowly losing their grip (GW Bush got 86,000 more votes in PBC in 2004 then he did in 2000). People here are not friendly, are elitist and pushy. Having lived elsewhere in Florida, I would suggest Jacksonville, Orlando, Naples, Fort Myers, Tampa, Sarasota, Vero Beach, etc. Stay away from south Florida if possible, although certain areas of Miami/Dade county are okay. Bank job opportunities abound in all areas. Bank of America is very big in Florida. Economy is booming throughout the state, thanks to GW & Jeb Bush!!!

[dawn53]

I agree that Sarasota is a great place, but I've heard that many people that can't afford Sarasota, are living in Manatee area, and that prices are still affordable.

Don't know if it's true, but we've had a couple friends that work in Pinellas relocate to Manatee, because they got more house for their buck (houses in Pinellas have also gotten very expensive.) Of course then they have to cross the Skyway morning and night to get to their jobs, but it's a lovely drive and much easier than commuting from Tampa to St. Pete and vice versa.

[Graybeard58]

OK, so you have mosquitos but what about flies?