[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.

[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:

[msrngtp2002]

We own a second home in Palm Coast which is on the east coast between Daytona and Jacksonville. A growing, quiet city in Flagler county. Because it is further west that other east coast areas of Florida it has escaped hurricane impacts. We like it because there are abundant amenities (stores, banks, etc) that are newly constructed, the city is layed out in a logical manner, housing prices are reasonable, access to beaches and canals is excellent.

I-95 runs through the center. There are private and semi-private golf courses and marinas. Plus Daytona is only about 30 miles south!

Employement is wide open for just about every skill or profession as well.

Enjoy.

[dansangel]

I have lived in Indian River, Brevard and Palm Beach (currently) counties. If I didn't have to worry about employment, I would be back in Indian River County (Sebastian) hands down.

Check out this web site:
http://www.sebastianfl.com/

.45MAN and I are back in FL after a 6-year hiatus to Atlanta. We opted to move back to Palm Beach County because we felt there would be numerous employment opportunities here. Unfortunately, after almost three months we are still unemployed, so no place is a safe bet.

Sebastian offers miles of unobstructed beach as there is a moratorium on building anything higher than 2 stories directly on the ocean. It remains a sleepy little fishing village which is growing by leaps and bounds. When we left there 6 years ago it had a population of 15,000. It is now pushing 20,000 and property values have skyrocketed.

Sebastian was hit pretty badly by the last two hurricanes, Frances and Jeanne, but I know it will bounce back.

Wages here are extremely low, so whatever your son is used to making up north, prepare him for the worst here. There is no state income tax, so that helps somewhat.

You have 30 days to get a FL license and tags for your vehicle. You need a title to register your vehicle - if there is a lien on it, you need to go to the tag agency to get a letter to send to the lienholder to release a copy of the title to them. There is a surcharge of about a hundred dollars plus the cost of the tags.

Indian River has some of the most beautiful beaches on the Atlantic side. Look to Pinellas county on the Gulf side for beautiful beaches.

Sales tax varies, averaging 6-7 percent.

Living further inland does not buffer you from hurricanes necessarily. Ask the people in Orange County (Orlando) that went through Charlie. Also, the summer heat is much more unbearable the further inland you go, as well as mosquitoes. There is always an ocean breeze on the Atlantic side that is more refreshing the closer you are to the water.

Do not come to Palm Beach County if you want to live with Republicans - LOL. However, the wages are a bit better and so are the job opportunities (even though we have hit a brick wall, but we are highly specialized - for your son there are banks on every street corner!).

I *LOVE* Florida and even though I am not a native, I have lived most of my adult life in FL, so that's where I tell everyone that I'm from. I hated my 6 years in Atlanta, although the people there are, for the most part, very nice - but the weather is awful and there is no ocean there.

Here's another informative website:
http://www.flausa.com/tools/maps.php

Oh, one more thing - ***LOVE BUGS*** - ecccch. September and May are two months when they are everywhere. They don't hurt people, but they can mess up your car pretty badly if you don't wash them off frequently while they are out. And palmetto bugs - LOL!! They take a little getting used to.

Good luck!

[jaguarjac]

First of all,rent a place for the first two years.The previous posts mentioned the lifestyle of coastal areas
from the middle of the state to the southern parts.What was
omitted were these accelerating nuisances in the aforementioned locations-gridlock and overbuilding.If you
can put up with traffic and wall to wall housing,the southwest Gulf Coast is preferable to Broward,Dade,and
Palm Beach counties.If you prefer peace and quiet,a
conservative, decent atmosphere,Central Fl. is a good bet.
We moved to Sebring from Fort Lauderdale last year and we
love it.Golf,fishing,the largest state park in Fl.,plenty
of lakes,& the Sebring racetrack are just some of the attractions.We did get hit by three hurricanes this
year,but the damage was mild compared to the coastal areas.
BTW.the previous hurricane that passed through here was
Donna in 1964.Fifty percent of our county(Highlands) is
agricultural.This will slow down growth a bit for
the next 7-10 years.

[RitaMcA]

If you want just a little bit of heaven, come to Anastasia Island, St. Augustine, south of Jacksonville. And St. Johns County is Bush Country!

[jfenner]

The Keys, definitly the Keys. Only tropical climate in the USA. Monroe County is almost Republican. Hurricanes are pesky. But
the quality of life far outweighs that one negative.

[Scales]

I have lived in FL since 1962. I grew up in Clearwater and relocated to New Port Richey in 1980 when I graduated from law school. I really prefer the west coast of Florida. Pasco County has a lot to offer. It is a growing area and just north of Tampa. There is a lot more bang for the buck in residential housing.

There are some beautiful new neighborhoods being built here. Trinity is huge and very nice. Samuelson is the best builder in that area. I have heard complaints about other builders, but none about Samuelson. The really exciting new neighborhood is Longleaf. It is modeled after Celebration in Orlando. Houses have front porches, garages are in the back an access by alley. Very old fashioned neighborhood.

Bank related employment should be pretty good, either in west Pasco or in Tampa. Unemployment in Florida is around 4.5%. Real Property Taxes are low. You have already heard that there is no state income tax.

We went for Bush in 2004. Jeb Bush said that when he wanted to see how Florida was going, He checked the election results from Pasco and Orange County. When he saw we were going for GWB, he called and reassured him that Florida was his. There are more registered Republicans than Demonrats in Pasco.

If you are going to make the move, you may want to do so soon. We are seeing an average increase in home prices of 20%+ per year. We listed one of my estate homes in the Spring and sold it for 140K, the deal fell through and we took it from the market. It was re-listed last month and sold for 159K and that was a mere 6 months. The market is hot. Rates are good right now but expected to be on the rise with the increase in the Fed rate.