In 2019, around 1,000 people moved to Florida per day. Even though a pandemic started in 2020, the number was possibly even higher this year!
There’s no doubt that people from all over are flocking here, where there’s lots of good weather, fantastic attractions, and friendly neighborhoods to reside in. It’s definitely an upgrade from many other places in the nation.
Maybe this has you thinking about making a move. Whether it’s because you’re bored with where you are, or you’re looking for better opportunities, the Sunshine State’s got to bring some positive changes!
If you’re moving to Florida, or you’re considering it, then you don’t want to go into it blind. Here’s a complete guide on how to make your big move an easier one!
Popular Towns and Cities to Consider When Moving to Florida
Florida is such a huge state. Where should you even begin when it comes to determining where your next neighborhood is?
Thankfully, we’re here to help. Below are some popular towns and cities to consider!
MIAMI
One of the most obvious popular cities in Florida is Miami. It’s a huge cultural melting pot, with places like Little Havana and Little Haiti.
If you’re in the healthcare industry, then Miami can offer some promising career opportunities. Major hospitals include Baptist Health South Florida and Mount Sinai Medical Center.
And if you’re looking for nightlife, then you’ll find it right on South Beach. There are plenty of clubs and restaurants in Miami, which makes it a very vibrant city.
If you want to purchase a house, you better move fast. As of July 2020, less than 1% of single family homes were available in this city.
TAMPA
Tampa’s actually one of the best places to live in the whole country. It’s a well-rounded city with good quality of living, safety, culture, and affordability. Even the job market is excellent in this city.
One of the things that make Tampa stand out is how inclusive and welcoming the city is. It’s actually received a perfect score from the Human Rights Campaign in terms of LGBTQ+ support.
So if you’re part of the queer community, Tampa can be the best place in Florida to live. You’ll feel right at home and will have plenty of support, as well as an active and interesting community to be a part of.
In 2020, Tampa’s home sales reached an all-time high since 2006. Considering that the pandemic hasn’t caused a slowdown in the real estate industry in that area, you should start your search early if you’re considering buying.
ORLANDO
Orlando is also a hotspot for incoming residents. After all, a bunch of huge attractions are located there, including Disney World.
In normal times, Orlando’s major reliance on tourism meant prosperity and plenty of job opportunities. But with the pandemic, it’s led to the closure of many big attractions, which meant lots of layoffs.
So if you’re relying on jobs in industries like hospitality and food services, it may not be a wise choice to move to Orlando, as job stability isn’t so great.
On the other hand, Orlando is home to several big brands, which also means potential job opportunities there. In fact, before the pandemic hit, this city was on a trajectory for significant job growth.
Do note that at the end of 2020, Orlando had the lowest inventory in years, as well as increased median home prices. Like with many of the other cities on this list, you’ll have to dig in early if you want to buy property.
ST. PETERSBURG
For those who want a mix between urban and suburban, St. Petersburg is where you want to be. It’s a young and vibrant city, with plenty of restaurants, bars, and coffee shops. Not to mention, there are plenty of parks around as well.
All the above makes St. Pete the perfect place for young professionals, especially couples who are just starting out with married life. There’s plenty to do and it’s easy to fit in.
St. Petersburg is quickly rising in popularity with those who are interested in moving to this state.
There’s constantly been new construction, which has also driven house prices up. In 2019, home prices rose by 5%, and real estate experts predicted it’d rise by another 5% in 2020.
GAINESVILLE
Gainesville can be an attractive place to move to if you’re planning on going to college or have kids that are leaving the nest soon. This city is home to the University of Florida, which makes it very convenient if you’re planning on going there.
Out of all the Floridian cities on this list, it has the youngest population, which makes sense, considering UF is located there.
It also has a very low unemployment rate, which means there are ample opportunities for work here. Like with Miami, there are lots of healthcare jobs available in Gainesville, as well as university careers.
However, Gainesville is located in the middle of Florida, which means you won’t be right by beautiful coastlines. However, if you have a car, it won’t be difficult to drive out a little bit to get some gorgeous beach views.
While the Gainesville housing market saw a slight dip in the early parts of the pandemic, it bounced back on an upswing in June.
Schooling for Kids
If you have kids, then you might be wondering what the Florida schools are like, as well as if they’re any good.
For the majority of parents, they send their children to the local public school. However, there are other public school options, such as charter schools, magnet schools, career academies, virtual schools, and controlled open enrollment.
Charter schooling is a particularly popular option with Floridian parents. There are over 670 of these schools today and they educate over 329,000 students.
You’ll also be pleased to know that Florida schools rank particularly well.
Cost of Living
One of the most important things you should learn about when moving somewhere is the cost of living. More importantly, you need to know what it is compared to what you’re used to so you won’t be in for a nasty surprise.
Even within Florida, the cost of living will vary from city to city. For example, Miami has the highest cost of living out of any city in the nation. On the other hand, Orlando has a surprisingly low and affordable cost of living.
While you might think that all coastal cities are expensive, you’d be surprised to learn that there are plenty of communities out there that are affordable. All you have to do is look!
Another thing to think about is that there’s no state income tax. This is one of the biggest benefits of Florida living!
Energy Costs
When it comes to Florida living, you’ll have to set aside a pretty penny for utilities. Compared to most of the nation, utility costs are a bit high. On average, you can expect to pay a little over $126 per month on electricity.
It’s true that thanks to the nice weather, you’ll rarely have to run your heater. But because it’s so hot and humid for a lot of the year, you might have to turn on the AC a bit more than in other states.
SOLAR OPTIONS
The great thing about Florida real estate is that you’ll have plenty of solar power options. The Sunshine State gets almost 3,000 hours of sun a year, which is a lot of potential power to harness!
There are several tax incentives you can get for going solar, such as:
- Property tax exemption
- Sales tax exemption
- Federal solar tax credit
Not only that, but there’s net metering available. This means you can sell any excess energy you generate. As a result, your solar panels will pay for themselves in no time.
Be Prepared for Florida Hurricane Season
Florida might be known as the Sunshine State, but that doesn’t mean it’s sunshine and rainbows all the time. It’s actually the number 1 state that’s hit by the most hurricanes!
This state has a pretty brutal hurricane season that lasts from June 1 until November 30. Sometimes, you’ll see storms in May too.
To narrow it down further, around 75% of storms occur between August and October. When September comes, you really need to batten down the hatches, as this is when you’ll be hit with the most storms.
So before all hell lets loose, you need to make sure you’re prepared for the worst.
Having a good house roof matters. Florida’s had hurricanes where the wind clocked in at 185 mph!
If your roof has missing shingles or is already leaky, you need to get those things fixed pronto. Otherwise, if your home sustains damage in the hurricane, you might not be able to file an insurance claim, as your company will consider those things pre-existing conditions.
The most durable roof types are metal and tile. So keep these in mind when getting a new roof done.
Other things you need to do are keep your trees trimmed and have emergency supplies on hand and ready. These include extra non-perishable food, bottled water, and portable chargers for your electronics.
How to Prepare for Your Move if You Have a Vehicle
Now that you’ve learned all about Florida and what it’s like to live there, you’re ready to move onto the next step: preparing for the actual move!
Chances are, you have a vehicle or two, and you need to bring it with you on your move. After all, Floridians rely heavily on their cars to get around, which means you probably can’t live without one.
In that case, you should have a professional mover like Nexus Auto Transport handle this for you. We have many years of experience moving cars just like yours. Plus, we offer both open and enclosed hauler shipping options.
Here are all the steps you need to take with us.
REQUEST A QUOTE
First of all, you probably want to know how much it’d cost to ship your car. That’s no problem with our auto shipping calculator.
Simply fill out your start and end destinations, as well as your vehicle type and when you wish to transport your car. We’ll then give you not only a few quotes to work with, but also approximate pickup dates as well.
If you’re in a rush, we also offer expedited services. We’ll have a driver pick up your vehicle either on the same day or the next.
You can also use our moving cost estimator to get a quote for moving your furniture and other household goods.
SCHEDULE A PICKUP
You can then proceed to pick a quote and date that works for you. Once the driver will pick up your car in the near future, we’ll notify you by both emailing and calling you.
You’ll meet the trucker and inspect your car for any damage that’s already there. Then, you’ll sign and receive a Bill of Lading.
From there, you can track your car online or call the driver at any time.
RECEIVE YOUR VEHICLE
Once your car arrives, you can then go through another inspection with the trucker. Sign the Bill of Lading again, receive another copy, and you’re good to go!
Be Prepared for This Exciting New Chapter of Your Life
Moving to Florida can seem daunting, especially if you’ve only moved within your state, or haven’t moved at all before! While there’s certainly lots to take care of and prepare for, in the end, it’ll be worth it when you start this exciting new chapter of your life.
And with our complete guy to moving and living in Florida, you’ll have better peace of mind knowing more about where you’re relocating to. You’ll feel like a native Floridian in no time!
Would you like to get a quote for shipping your car? Then use our handy calculator now! If you’re happy with the quotes given, our agents will be right there to help you schedule your appointments.
