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]

"Mass55th, come to the Carolinas!"

I really wanted to move to South Carolina, but changed my mind when I found out they'd (both Carolinas) would tax my pension. Sorry.

[KC_for_Freedom]

We are in Baldwin Co in Alabama right now. Cost of living is cheaper in AL and there is a more republican voter base. However we need more republicans to continue to win Florida. Land prices in Baldwin are definitely reasonable but the West city, Fairhope was writen up as a retirement mecca and has been built up with attendant traffic and price rises. Middle of county, along route 59 is still pretty open space. Foley and Fairhope would be the cities with banking jobs etc. Oh, they do tax pensions in AL.

We like the gulf beaches more than the Atlantic beaches. We have visited RV parks all over Florida, and RV parks may be a good way to initially reside in the State, while looking around. Here are some comments

Key West, outrageous lifestyle, lots of drinking and rowdy clubs, but costly to visit or live.

Punta Gorda area, more open space, in the warm zone where there are likely no freezes in the winter. Not too crowded, but expensive near the coast.

Tampa Bay area, lots of industry, business jobs, more traffic to go with it and some freezind nights each winter.

Panhandle, More hills, forests, and republicans but mind the winter temperatures are colder there.

[PAR35]

Florida is actually NOT a good retirement choice for many folks. Since they have no individual income tax, other taxes tend to be higher. If you have a high income job, that's great. If you are living on retirement, it means higher sales and property taxes. Texas has the same set-up. Do more homework before you move.

[Melinda in TN]

Thanks! I'm proud of Tennessee. I guess you can tell by the way I go on about it but I love showing it off to my out-of-state cyber friends that have never had the good fortune to visit here.

[hosepipe]

[ I'm asking for Freeper input and advice on where to move in Florida. ]

Lived for 30+ years in Florida.. If you have not seen Florida under water you have not seen Florida.. Florida is flatter than a flitter.. The coast has a more even temperture range, inland the temp goes higher and lower than the coast. Bananas will grow.. south of Okechobee lake.. north of that the climate is not sub tropical.. the southern middle of the state and south citrus grows well.. But the real beauty of the state is under water.. Florida is a right to work state.. meaning unions have a hard time competeing..

Canes' can hit you anywhere south of Georgia in the east even in NS and SC... Most canes' are just a big wind and rain but a big one is possible.. If a cane' is forecasted Get in your car and go avisitin'... Also, in Febuary in the south east shrimping is very fun.. A five gallon can of shrimp caught by you is a rare feast and a rare experience. I recommend it highly.. The change of seasons are barely a whimper though..

Thats why I'm in Alaska, serious seasons and mountains that make the Smokeys and Adirondacks look like fire ant mounds.. and there is "gold" in them thar rivers and streams.. not to mention salmon thick enough to walk on.. and Moose as big as an SUV.. bigger if they are males.. Nah! Alaska "the last frontier" is my choice..

Florida was fun though, for me.. Boreing if all you do is go from point A to point B.. but then anywhere is.. d;-)

NOTE**- Oh! yeah in the south the Bahamas are only 40 miles from Ft. Lauderdale.. a unique experience.. in south islands that is.. the north islands are tourist traps.. I would at least check out NAples/ Port Charlotte on the southern west coast of Florida..

[Rockingham]

(1) The Orlando and central Florida area has good employment opportunities and a wide range of small communities within an hour to ninety minutes' drive. To the east, the Central Florida coast has ready beach access and relatively low population density.

(2) The greatest danger from hurricanes is near the coast and tidal basins due to storm surges and higher wind speeds. Once a storm moves ashore, windspeed diminishes, but widespread damage can occur even far inland if the storm is strong enough.

New building codes assure that Florida residential structures built in the last five or six years are relatively strong against hurricanes. Older homes can sometimes be retrofitted on a cost effective basis, and there are some basic guidelines.

Gabled roofs and certain species of trees are especially vulnerable to wind damage, such as Australian pines and the ubiquitous laurel oaks; concrete block walls and heavy roof shingles are preferable to wood walls and conventional shingles; flooding due to heavy rains can be a problem depending on local drainage; and storm preparation and immediate repairs when damage occurs are important.

(3) See the following for Florida tax information:
http://sun6.dms.state.fl.us/dor/property/

(4) Polk County (Lakeland area) is Republican, as is Brevard County (east coast), Seminole County (north of Orlando) and parts of Orange County (Orlando proper).

(5) A Florida drivers' license is required within thirty days of moving to the state. I believe that the standard six per cent sales and use tax applies against the value of the car, with local option taxes adding another per cent in many instances.

Good luck.

[DooDahhhh]

We bought a condo in Bonita Bay which is a lovely area north of Naples. We settled on it 2 weeks before the first hurricane came this summer. However, it faired fine. I have not been there very much, still working in the Wash. D.C. area. But I was pleasantly pleased with this western side of Florida. It is about 25 minutes from the Ft. Meyers airport and the ride down is easy from this area. Go to bonitabay.com and it will tell you all about the community.

[fish hawk]

Are you crazy? don't you read the papers or watch TV?

[mass55th]

"Are you crazy? don't you read the papers or watch TV"

Do you think I want to stay in a state with Hillary Clinton and Chuck Schumer as my Senators, or even worse, Eliot Spitzer or Chuck Schumer as my next Governor? Or perhaps Andrew Cuomo as the next state Attorney General? Pulleezze!

[fish hawk]

No but I live on Maui and we have less humidity, no hurricanes, not tornadoes, and no earthquakes. Mild sunny weather all year. I had three different friends move to Florida from here and two were back in one year and the third came back in two years.

[Barnstormer]

Some other things to bear in mind if you move to Florida. 1) the Florida sun WILL sunburn you three times faster than what your're used to in up-state NY! (We are highly amused by the vacationers who come down and spend all their first day on the beach, thinking it's like Cape Cod - and spend the rest of their vacation looking like a well-done lobster. We call them HERBYs - short for Hospital Emergency Room Bound Yankee.) 2) The warm temps and humidity do take some getting used to, take it easy until you're acclimated (about a year?). 3) Bugs - a serious subject to all Floridians. The same things that make Florida attactive to people also apply to bugs. Our love bugs are legendary - nearly as we can tell, their bodies are just a bag for sulfuric acid. Wash them off your cars every couple of days or they WILL etch the paint permanently. We have wolf spiders, about three or four inches long legtip to legtip and can move faster than lightning. They are not poisionious and very shy, but they are scary looking! They don't spin a web and constantly move about looking for bugs. We do have some poisionious bugs and snakes. But, don't worry - a visit to Home Depot for some good bug spray applied every three months keeps the problem at bay in the house or hire an exterminator (no shortage of them down here). 4) The Seasons - we have two seasons down here, Summer and the week after New Year's Day. 80 degrees on Christmas Day is not uncommon and if you have to have a White Christmas, plan on making plane reservations. Also, if you have some of our Florida scrub oaks in your yard, don't be surprised when they don't shed their leaves in the Fall - but, they all come off in early February when the new leaves start to bud out. (My Mom never did get used to raking leaves in Feb?)

You will definitely like Florida! Uncle Sam made sure I saw lots of the world and the US, and I came back to FL as soon as I could (Texas would be my close second choice). I would suggest looking around and find an area you like and rent an apartment for 6 months while you look around at a leisurely pace - real estate agents love to stampede folks into a lemon when they sense that you have to do something quickly. When and if you buy, you certainly want to hire an home inspector that's NOT linked to the real estate agent (too cosy a relationship there will not work to your benefit). It seems like everybody and their mangy mutts have a real estate license in Florida and pursue it part-time -- it gets worse the further south in Florida you go. Save yourself some grief and stick with a full-timer (and make them PROVE their assertions, ie, this house is reasonably priced (make them show you comparables); the property taxes are cheap (make them get the county milage rate). I learned long ago that people who want to sell you something will definitely strech and bend the truth - being somewhat cynical has saved me a lot of money over the years?

[Dutchgirl]

Haven't yet been lucky enough to have the mustard based

Vinegar exists here in Florida, but it mostly in the Carribean "Jerk" cuisine. I almost envy you, you have so much to look forward too. Naturally, no decision regarding your permanent domicile can be made until this important issue is resolved.

You may want to start in Lake City, it's the nearest "big town" near Olustee, also Sebring has a BBQ festival every year (if you can find a place that isn't a mobile home there.)

With your interest in the Civil War, Fernandina sports Fort Clinch, it's a short trip to Jax for shopping and Mayo Clinic or Savannah for "The Lady and Sons". The Ritz at Amelia Island has a full Tea served in the colder months.

And for all it's lack of Publix supermarkets, Pensacola can boast Fort Pickens AND the national sea shore, but you better visit soon, the fort on the opposite side of the bay is completely gone, and I hate to think of what Ivan did there.

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

Oh, Mass...

I just left PBC after 5 years there, and nearly a year in Broward. The only way I survived was to laugh at the lunacy. Understand, that as a conservative you are still outnumbered, but things are slowly changing. For how long, though, who really knows? Suffice it to say, that if you enjoy taunting the liberals, it can be your playground. You will see what I mean by visiting my FReeper page.

http://freerepublic.com/~getmeouttapalmbeachc/

That said, I've read through this thread up to this point, and have the following comments to make:

I agree with those FReepers who recommend the west coast and the panhandle for the white sand beaches and the people. South FL beaches sometimes appear pretty depending upon the tides and the currents, but the sand is icky and difficult to wash off. We've found to steer clear in the springtime due to sea lice. Forget the Miami area unless you enjoy nude, rude and European sunbathers next to your blanket.

I have to disagree about the Keys. My experience is that if there truly are conservatives down there, they remain in hiding due to the liberals, the gay/lesbian folks & the New Orleans Mardi Gras atmosphere the farther south you go. As much as I love Jimmy Buffett's music, he is a liberal supporting the left wing agenda, and he is well-known down there. Get used to illegal immmigrants washing ashore and walking north on the highway to meet up with their illegal relatives and friends.

Regarding MiamiDade and Broward, if you do not speak Spanish, Cuban, Puerto Rican, Guatemalan, Haitian or the terrorist languages, then I would venture to say you will not feel comfortable living there. South FL is really a separate partition from the rest of FL, and if you understand that, and are okay with it, you will enjoy your stay.

[fish hawk]

I got it! Sell your house to Mass55th. No more problem.

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

LOL! Did you read my FReeper page? Dave Barry's article is a hoot!

And you know...we bought our new, 3/2.5/2/0 lot line CBS home about 5 years ago for 200k and some change, and sold it for 360-ish without a realtor. Buying there right now, we couldn't afford it. Heck, we couldn't afford to buy our old house back.

[Barnstormer]

Dear Lord! I bought and built a 3100 sq ft 4/3.5 with a huge Bonus Room on 2/3 of an acre in NE Florida about 3 years ago for less than $220K. Didn't go cheap, either - berber carpets, full stucco, and all the trimmings for that price!

Wow, south FL has changed (higher prices) since I went to school down there!

[mass55th]

Maui huh? Just a tidbit of historical info for you: Alfred Stedman Hartwell was Bvt. Brig. General of the 55th Massachusetts during the Civil War. In 1868 he was offered the post of First Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Hawaii by King Kamehameha V. When Kalakaua ascended the throne in l874, he requested that Hartwell serve as his Attorney General. Reluctant at first, Hartwell finally assented but would serve for only one year in this capacity and resigned to enter private law practice. Besides law, he also busied himself by dabbling in other enterprises and serving on various commissions and boards. For a while, he edited the Hawaiian Gazette newspaper and served on the Board of Trustees for the Planters’ Labor and Supply Company, organized for the express purpose of overseeing the sugar industry. In l890 he would propose the construction of cables between Hawaii and California, and Hawaii and Japan and he would serve as President of the Pacific Cable Company.

During the annexation of Hawaii, he served as an advisor to President Dole and as a general counsel to Washington. In the summer of 1904, he was appointed to the Supreme Court of Hawaii and three years later was named Chief Justice there. He retired from the court in 1911 and died on Aug. 30, 1912. He's buried with his wife (the daughter of an American Missionary) in Nuuanu Cemetery.

There's one other thing that I haven't been able to confirm. According to a letter from his son, Hartwell was responsible for loaning money to a consortium to dredge Pearl Harbor so it could become a Naval Base. He had long proposed the annexation of Pearl Harbor as he believed it to be of prime importance to the defense of the United States.

[lowbridge]

bump

[Dante3]

ping

[bill1952]

Do some research on Port Saint Lucie, Florida, one of the fastest growing communities in the Nation.

Lots of banking. Tons of work.
PM if you want more info.

I moved here from Valley Forge, Pa. in 1981.