Mrs. RJ is a retired Realtor with contacts still working. Real Estate in FL is on fire right now, I don't recall the exact number but 6% price increase over last year? Many buyers are paying cash, and especially hot is the $100 to $250K condo market. Properties are snapped up in days if not hours. We have many buyers from NY and NJ, which is fine.
Safety - Well that's pretty subjective. Much depends on where you end up living. There are parts of Tampa that are "unsafe" meaning I would prefer not to be there. I mean, not Chiraq or Memphis or East St Louis unsafe, but let's say not as safe as you'd like. (Personal opinion alert
We went to a car-related weekend event planned at the Edison/Ford estate in Ft Meyers. Downtown sucked. I mean, we stopped at the Publix on McGregor and Clifford just at dusk, it was not a great place to be. I'm sure there are nice places in Ft Meyers, of course.
Condo vs Stand alone - We owned a Condo in Clearwater. I would never do it again. You get all the disadvantages of an apartment (idiot neighbors, people clomping around upstairs) with none of the benefits of a stand alone house (no yard, no BBQ grill space).
Weather - It's freakishly hot and humid for three months of the year, then it's just hot the other nine months. Florida would not exist without Air Conditioning. You do get used to seeing 108F on your dash gauge and thinking, well, that's a little warm.
Schools - Are good. Obviously, "depending" on where you are.
Job Market - I'm just retired this year, so can't say I'm active. I'd check indeed.com for opportunities. For sure, I see a lot of "hiring" signs.
Freedom - Masks are a way of life, but people are dealing with it. You go to a restaurant, wear a mask, take if off when you sit down. Same for haircuts, just wear the dang thing. Same in Lowe's. Everybody is in the same boat.
2A - Florida is good for 2A. No open carry is allowed, except in certain circumstances (e.g. camping) which personally I am fine with. There are many many CCWers here. Millions; I don't know the exact number but it's very high. Ammo is hard to find, but that's life these days. Many large and small gun stores in many communities.
Florida divides into regions, so it is very difficult to generalize, but I'll try. Most everybody is from somewhere else, so you have this weird blend of cultures going on. Miami is big with Cuban and South American culture. It is my absolute least favorite part of the State. The Keys are like another planet. Life changes when you cross the sound and get on A1A.
East coast all the way up to St Augustine is suburbs, Miami North, and the Space Coast. Orlando is The Rat and tourists, mainly. North and central around Ocala is horse country and rich folks. Center and south of about Tampa is Orange Groves, and more Orange Groves.
Panhandle is the Redneck Riviera and Eglin AFB and Hulrburt Field. In there is Pensacola, Navy Town. Tallahassee is it's own zip code, being the Capital and all. Gainsville the same, for Gator Fans.
Where we live, West Coast from Tarpon Springs down to Naples, is the broadest / most normal area of the state I've found. There's no state income tax, but local tax can be hefty (we are in Hillsborough, at 8.5% the highest in the state). Car taxes and fees are ridiculously low. Oddly, all the DMV offices I've ever used are incredibly efficient and well run.
My 0.02 anyways, hope this helps.
Originally Posted by RoyGBiv
I've never given KS serious consideration but there's a lot of love coming through in this thread. My only experience with KS has been some consulting work in KC long ago. I barely got outside of work and the hotel. And the occasional drive down I-70 between Denver and I-35 for vacations in CO. I-70 is only memorable for the constant windstorms.
Reply With Quote
