Considering Relocation to FL

[jenanderson]

I would love to get some advice from others who live in Florida...especially if they had to move across the country to do so. Here are the details:

Our Family - DH, DD (13), DS (9) and me. We currently live in Minnesota (think lots of snow and lots of very cold days).

Our Jobs - DH and I are both elementary school teachers. We have both taken pay cuts for several years and this year I was released due to budget cuts. I have since found a job in a private school and no longer have benefits. This means we have to take DH benefits and they are horrible (16K for family health insurance). We have seen many postings for teachers in Florida and think we should be able to get jobs as we have great resumes and references.

Our Kids - Both kids are good students and work hard at their academics. DD has decided she wants to be a doctor and wants a challenging curriculum (she is a serious type of kid). Both are dancers and have been on competitive dance teams for several years. Finding a good dance studio is one of the more important considerations for them.

Our Ideas about the Move - Sell our house and move to Florida. We think we would want to be in central FL or on the gulf coast side. We are almost positive we would not consider Miami. Most of our location decision would have to be based on where both DH and I could get a job teaching. Long-term, we have heard that students who get good grades in FL are able to get their undergraduate degree free (I would love to hear about this program). We would rent a house or townhome to start with. We would like to be in a suburban type of area or possibly even a bit smaller town (just as long as I have a Target nearby).

Looking for Information - I would love to hear from others who have made a cross country move like this and know what it was like. I would love to hear from teachers in Florida and hear honest answers to what teaching there is like. I would love to hear from people about locations they think we should consider. Any information people think would help would be appreciated!

Thanks everyone!

 

[bas71873]

We lived in Brandon, FL (Hillsborough County) for 2 years back in the late 90's and LOVED it. It's a suburb of Tampa so it was an easy drive to downtown where I worked, yet is was far enough from the "city" to be a little "country" yet there is a great mall, great food, Target, etc. I still have lots of friends that live there that I keep in touch with. You are close to the beaches (Clearwater, Sarasota), only and hour from WDW. We would go back there in a heartbeat if the opportunity arose.

We did not have children have the time so I cannot speak to the schools.

 

[floridalaurie]

I moved from MA to Cape Coral(near Fort myers) about 4yrs ago. The economy here is terrible. We have one of the highest unemployment and foreclosure rates in the country. We love the weather here and don't plan on leaving any time soon. My oldest was 13 when we moved and my youngest was 7. I would say if you are moving, do so before high school starts. Although my girls are very good students, I have not been overly impressed with the schools(compared to MA schools). I just feel as though they are behind in some ways. They do have the opportunity to earn free college tuition for state schools by meeting certain grade and community obligations. (I am expecting that my daughter will get this when she goes to college next year.) The schools have made several budget cuts and many teachers have lost their jobs here. It is something I would definately look into before making any moves. Feel free to ask any other questions.

 

[ogreenlee]

i can't imagine living in that florida heat and humidity. georgia is bad enough.

you could buy a really nice house in florida right now under foreclosure, but that is because there are so many of them. it's really not a good place to take a family right now, in my opinion.

are you wanting to escape the cold, or are you wanting to specifically move to florida to be near the beach and disney?

 

[BelleWDW]

Check out this forum
of Florida. There is also an employment section on these boards/COLOR]

http://www.city-data.com/forum/florida/

 

[catycatcat4]

i live in polk county thats kinda between tampa and orlando.
Keep in mind if you have never been here during the summer that it is melt your skin off hot walk outside and seconds later you wish you never walked out.
just walking across a publix parking lot you will get all sweaty and gross.
other than the heat (and the bad drivers) florida rocks.

 

[RadioNate]

Well you can buy my house. I'm desperate to get out of this state!

We moved her 2.5 years ago. The economy is in the toilet. Unemployment is nearing 11%. 4 families we knew took the job transfer to here from Texas and we are the only ones left. The other 3 have all been laid off from the job they were moved for.

In one of the other families that relocated the wife was a teacher. 15 years experience, masters degree, etc etc and she couldn't get a teaching job around Orlando. She took finally took a job as a teacher at a preschool.

I really hate to be a downer about everything but every week there is a thread here asking about relocating to FL and I really want to give people a realistic picture about what our relocation has been like.

We bought our house 2 years ago and it has declined 37% in value.

IMO, the schools here are not good. We moved from Texas and we believe that the curriculum here is far less challenging than in Texas. My mom taught in Illinois and she also agrees that Florida is mediocre. Because of the declining home values, property taxes have been cut, which means schools are running on a huge deficit. In our school everything extra has been cut. No band, no gifted program, no clubs, no sports, no theater...it has all be cut. My DS goes to science class 1 week out of every six. They attend a basic music class one week out of 6. Art is also 1 week out of 6. The other 3 weeks out of the 6 are PE.

I thought everything here would be great. We had been to WDW tons of times. Both my DH and I were CPs and had lived in Orlando before and had a great time.

If you are really serious, here is my advice.
- spend a few weeks in the area you are considering moving too and just live as you normally would. Beaches and theme parks are such a small part of normal life.
- do not move until you have employment
- research schools and neighborhoods very carefully
- rent, don't buy for at least a year and you know you want to stay (unless you want my house ... then we can talk )

 

[glitterkittyy]

i live in polk county thats kinda between tampa and orlando.
Keep in mind if you have never been here during the summer that it is melt your skin off hot walk outside and seconds later you wish you never walked out.
just walking across a publix parking lot you will get all sweaty and gross.
other than the heat (and the bad drivers) florida rocks.

Hey, I'm in polk county too. I like the country feel but close to all the hustle and bustle. But the summer heat took some getting used to. It doesn't feel so bad now, but the first summer I spent here, I thought I was going to melt away. lol

Forgot to say, Polk County schools are really good schools. My daughters both attend 5-star, A rated schools.

 

[jenanderson]

Thanks for all the information.

The economy is bad everywhere. Teachers in Minnesota are being released all around and that is why I am now working in a private school making a minimal paycheck - there were no other jobs for teachers for me to take. I will have to look for a new job again next school year because we cannot last long term with my paycheck. DH also has to look for a new teaching job because with the health care insurance more than doubling to 16K, he is not making very much any more either. The cost of living in Minnesota is also very high and it seems like the way things are, we will never get ahead.

Our decision for moving to Florida does have to do more with the weather than Disney. While it would be nice to be closer to WDW, we are really looking to escape the cold weather. We do know about the heat in Florida because we normally visit in August! The other good things is that we have a small little lake place in Minnesota that we would be keeping. Our goal would be to teach during the school year and then come home to Minnesota to see family and friends during part of the summer. We would stay at our lake place so it would not be a big expense.

We have talked about moving someplace warmer for years and know that we will eventually move. With all that is happening with our jobs, we are just trying to decide if we should just bite the bullet and move now.

The idea that my children could have a program there for free college is also a huge benefit in our eyes. College here is also very expensive and there is little money to cover it. When I was in college 5 years ago, I was a 4.0 non-traditional student and did not get any scholarship at all. We are looking for states and schools that have better programs then we have here.

At this point, we are wanting to consider everything we can but know that we have to make some big life changes in the upcoming year.

Thanks for everyone's opinions and information!

 

[loveysbydesign]

I have to say that we are not considering moving to Fl because we want to be near our family but I do find this thread interesting and wish the OP the best of luck no matter what you decide. The econmoy is bad right now, everywhere.
I do remember my older brother moving to FL over 10 years ago with his wife and 2 kids...they ended up sleeping on mattresses on the floor as they could not afford to move all their things down there with them...they moved back to PA less than 2 years later as they couldn't make it down there. What's really sad is in the entire time they lived there they never even got to go to WDW once! I couldn't imagine living there and not being able to afford to go to WDW...it would break my heart!

 

[LisaR]

Have you ever spent a summer down here? This is the time of year when everyone from a cold climate thinks about moving to FL. It is miserable up north and FL is beautiful this time of the year. But the summer is horrendous for many people. I just commented the other day how our weather is finally nice enough to go outside and not melt but it is pitch black by 6PM. It stinks!

The Bright Future Scholarship had cutbacks this year. It is my understanding that the full ride portion was deleted. I haven't verified this since my kids are still a couple years away. It sounds like a great option but I wouldn't count on it. My oldest is 14 and I am going into it with the thought that it won't even be available when she is of age.

I have two friends living down here that are currently unemployed teachers. I know people in other fields that can't get a job to save their lives. More people work at Publix just to make ends meet. I wouldn't move anywhere now if it were me but I understand others don't agree with that. Just remember, the grass isn't always greener.

 

[glitterkittyy]

Our decision for moving to Florida does have to do more with the weather than Disney. While it would be nice to be closer to WDW, we are really looking to escape the cold weather. We do know about the heat in Florida because we normally visit in August! The other good things is that we have a small little lake place in Minnesota that we would be keeping. Our goal would be to teach during the school year and then come home to Minnesota to see family and friends during part of the summer. We would stay at our lake place so it would not be a big expense.

We have talked about moving someplace warmer for years and know that we will eventually move. With all that is happening with our jobs, we are just trying to decide if we should just bite the bullet and move now.

That was our motivation as well. After three decades of Ohio winters, I had had enough. It is November 5th, and the sun is shining, the sky is brilliant blue and the temperature is PERFECT with a really nice breeze. I do not regret my move one little bit. The summers are hot, but I'm used to them now.

The stress of moving a long distance makes for a hectic life, but it is so worth it. Come on down. We'll leave a light on for ya.

 

[FireDancer]

I am from Ohio, lived in Clearwater for 2 years, and am living back in Ohio now. Here is my take on moving to FL.

First and most importantly, living in FL is not the same as vacationing there. While this may sound like common sense it was the biggest complaint I heard from other people while living there. Many people equate FL with the laid back feeling of being on vacation but when you are living there you have to add the normal everyday stress that comes with life. The perspective of FL as an escape is gone. It goes from being WDW and beaches to job and life stress.

The job market in FL is not the best so I would never move there until you already have a guaranteed job. I waited until I had the job and compensation all worked out before even looking for a place to live. Also the labor situation is very different in FL than it is in other parts of the country. Some jobs that are unionized in other areas are not in FL so the pay is very different. Teachers were in demand while I was down there (2003-2005) and finding a job wasn't an issue for teachers I knew, pay was though.

Florida, at least in the cities like Tampa and Orlando, is a very transient place. What I mean is that in most cities there is a very localized feel and culture that has developed over years. In these cities such a large portion of the population is from somewhere else. I met way more people from other states while I was living there than from Florida. This is nice on Saturdays and Sundays when you want to go find a Vikings or Golden Gophers game.

You get used to the heat and humidity down there. It is hot and humid but you spend a lot of your time going from your air conditioned house into your air conditioned car and then to your air conditioned office. It is not all that different from up north where you have to deal with the cold in winter, it is just the opposite. Instead of staying in the heated house/car/office for a couple of months you stay in the A/C.

Hurricanes! Ok, I was down there for the 2004 hurricane season and will gladly trade hurricanes for a bad snow storm any day. I have never had to board up my windows and hope a snow storm didn't blow away my house. This also effects the cost of living because insurance is not cheap. I had to pay more in renters insurance living in an apartment than I do to insure my home here.

There are positives and negatives about FL. I loved my two years down there but like Ohio better (gasp, I know). I would gladly winter down there but given a choice of FL summer or OH winter I will take OH winter. That is just me. I will say that the Tampa area is the only area I would consider moving to in FL. As long as you really think it out and know that living in FL has a set of challenges that going down a week or two doesn't you will come to a rational decision.

 

[LisaR]

Thanks for all the information.

The economy is bad everywhere. Teachers in Minnesota are being released all around and that is why I am now working in a private school making a minimal paycheck - there were no other jobs for teachers for me to take. I will have to look for a new job again next school year because we cannot last long term with my paycheck. DH also has to look for a new teaching job because with the health care insurance more than doubling to 16K, he is not making very much any more either. The cost of living in Minnesota is also very high and it seems like the way things are, we will never get ahead.

Our decision for moving to Florida does have to do more with the weather than Disney. While it would be nice to be closer to WDW, we are really looking to escape the cold weather. We do know about the heat in Florida because we normally visit in August! The other good things is that we have a small little lake place in Minnesota that we would be keeping. Our goal would be to teach during the school year and then come home to Minnesota to see family and friends during part of the summer. We would stay at our lake place so it would not be a big expense.

We have talked about moving someplace warmer for years and know that we will eventually move. With all that is happening with our jobs, we are just trying to decide if we should just bite the bullet and move now.

The idea that my children could have a program there for free college is also a huge benefit in our eyes. College here is also very expensive and there is little money to cover it. When I was in college 5 years ago, I was a 4.0 non-traditional student and did not get any scholarship at all. We are looking for states and schools that have better programs then we have here.

At this point, we are wanting to consider everything we can but know that we have to make some big life changes in the upcoming year.

Thanks for everyone's opinions and information!

Sorry, we were posting at the same time so I wanted to come back and comment on this. There is a HUGE difference between "visiting" in August on vacation and living here during the entire summer. Vacation is fun. You have time to eat out frequently and swim often. You have plenty of time on your hands and no real commitments.

When you live here, you will be going to the store, dry cleaners, library, vet, etc. when it is bloody hot. You will walk the dog and need a shower! It is day after day after day of the same weather. I sit with some other moms 1 day a week in the shade while our kids are at an activity. Complete shade, sitting still and we literally need to shower when it is over. It is miserable.

 

[manhattan]

We were transferred to South Florida five years ago from NY/NJ. We are thinking of moving back when my son graduates HS this year. Things are really bad down here. Teachers are being laid off because so many people are moving back out. I was just speaking to one of the teachers and she said that at one point they had 30 students in each class, right now they each have 19. Everything is so expensive down here. I pay more for rent now than I did when I lived up north. Our car insurance is double what we paid in NJ because we live in a nicer neighborhood where people like to steal cars. Groceries are expensive....I always tell my friends up north about the time my daughter wanted an apple - took it to the register and it rang up at $2.78! As for the schools, I can tell the teachers mean well, but the curriculum is just all screwed up with the FCATs. I work with engineers who were born and raised here, graduates of University of Miami, who can't write a simple letter to save their lives! I have to sit here and rewrite every letter that goes out of the company. Another thing that shocks me is the crime, every day the news is just filled with shootings, stabbings, robberies - its scary! Roadways are just as dangerous, people don't like to follow signs, they run stop signs and red lights, I guess they think they are decorations.

Yes, going to Disney whenever you want is great, but not worth it enough to want to stay down here forever.

 

[ogreenlee]

If you want to get out of the cold, anywhere in the lower half of the country should suffice.

Greenville, SC is a really nice location where the economy did not get hit hard. It's growing and the downtown area is really nice with lots of restaurants and pretty parks. It's 3 hours from Charleston, 4 hours from Myrtle Beach, an hour into the Appalachian (less really b/c G'ville is in the foothills). The weather is great... not stifling hot, never freezing for more than a day here and there. It's clean and great place to raise a family. Michelin, BMW and several other large companies make Greenville their N. American home.

Atlanta is another area not totally devastated by the economy. There are several suburban areas with plenty of work where you can avoid the traffic, be close enough to the city to enjoy urban life, but surrounded by trees, hills and lakes that you'd never know there was a large metro city nearby.

Those are just a few examples to get you out of the cold, without going to Florida. Florida, overall, is getting hit hard with the economy, more so than a lot of our country.

 

[RadioNate]

I understand that the economy is bad everywhere. What makes FL unique, in my opinion, is that it is an area with a high cost of living and low wages.

While things around most of the tourist areas look to be in great shape, other areas are not. Every week another business I generally frequent goes under. We have a 'town center' in our city and I really wonder how much longer any of those businesses can survive. Several have already closed down and one of the owners said that he'll close at the 1st of the year if things don't pick up.

Power rates have just gone up 25% and are slated to go up another 25% Jan 1. My electric bill current electric bill is more than $300 and that was after working hard to cut it. I now have my air set at 79 and use no lights until I have too. We also cut back on using the dishwasher and making sure we had totally full loads every time we do the wash. The month before it was nearly $450. My house is around 2400 sqft with no pool. My neighbors house is about 1900 sqft and they generally run about $50 less a month on electricity and about the same with water.

My water is close to $150 but that will go down now that we can only water 1x a week.

Groceries are expensive. We only buy produce on sale. I just paid 0.89 a lb for apples on sale, green beans were 0.99 a lb, corn was 0.25 an ear so we got that. Those are all sale prices.

My kids love avocado but they are $1.50 each, a head of broccoli or cauliflower is $2.

I only buy organic milk but it is $7 a gallon. Obviously normal milk is less.

So see how things compare to your area.

 

[cherylp3]

out of curiosity what town center place is going out of business?

 

[LisaR]

I understand that the economy is bad everywhere. What makes FL unique, in my opinion, is that it is an area with a high cost of living and low wages.

While things around most of the tourist areas look to be in great shape, other areas are not. Every week another business I generally frequent goes under. We have a 'town center' in our city and I really wonder how much longer any of those businesses can survive. Several have already closed down and one of the owners said that he'll close at the 1st of the year if things don't pick up.

Power rates have just gone up 25% and are slated to go up another 25% Jan 1. My electric bill current electric bill is more than $300 and that was after working hard to cut it. I now have my air set at 79 and use no lights until I have too. We also cut back on using the dishwasher and making sure we had totally full loads every time we do the wash. The month before it was nearly $450. My house is around 2400 sqft with no pool. My neighbors house is about 1900 sqft and they generally run about $50 less a month on electricity and about the same with water.

My water is close to $150 but that will go down now that we can only water 1x a week.

Groceries are expensive. We only buy produce on sale. I just paid 0.89 a lb for apples on sale, green beans were 0.99 a lb, corn was 0.25 an ear so we got that. Those are all sale prices.

My kids love avocado but they are $1.50 each, a head of broccoli or cauliflower is $2.

I only buy organic milk but it is $7 a gallon. Obviously normal milk is less.

So see how things compare to your area.

I just heard a news report about tourists areas in FL. They said some of the projects that were slated to be built/refurbished (sports arena, concert venue, etc) were on hold because the money that was supposed to be generated by tourist was down by 50% or more.

We are originally from MI and the prices down here for groceries are beyond ridiculous compared to what we were used to paying. Everything has cost us more (electricity, water, insurance, etc). On the other hand, a friend of mine is from CA and the prices here are dirt cheap for her.

 

[RadioNate]

out of curiosity what town center place is going out of business?

I assume this is for me since we live like a mile away from eachother

The guy that owns Tijuana flats owns Barnies and one of the other restaurants (one of the wine bars I think) and there was an article in the Seminole Chronicle that he is going to close Barnies and the other restaurant at the 1st of the year if business doesn't pick up.

I guess Beef O'Bradys is doing ok.

I'll see if I can google it but it talked to a lot of the town center business owners and they are hurting.

I know that sushi place has turned over a few times. I know 1 of the salons closed. The aquarium place closed. The nail place and dry cleaners changed owners. The ice cream shop closed. I was just at Publix today. I should have looked closer. We usually pick up dinner at Flats or Magoos on Thursday because of practice so I'll check again tonight.

I think Magoos will be around because they have the financial backing but there is hardly anyone ever there. I don't know how some of the small businesses (pet store, health food store) survive.

We really try to get out and support these businesses when we can because so many are closing or significantly reducing hours.

I don't know how your neighborhood is doing but we are full of empty foreclosures. It is sad.

This area was really up and coming IMO and the town tries so hard. We try to support the efforts when ever possible. We couldn't make it to the Art Festival but we did do Harvest Fest.

I have friends who own a condo in the development across from the Town Center and it has been a nightmare since Levett & Sons went under. The bank is selling the completed ones for about 1/2 of what they paid for theirs while the others sit 1/2 finished.

They live in Denver now (they were laid off her) and rent it but don't know what they will do if their tenant leaves.

I really had high hopes and was super excited about the move here but it has been rough. I do understand that a chuck of that has to do with the economy in general.

The upside is that people have been great.