Relocation To Florida

[grodz19]

Hello

Not sure where I wanted to post this, but this seemed like as good a spot as any. Has any one from New England recently relocated to the Orlando area. If so I would love to hear from you. How is the job market, the school systems and the housing market. ANy info would be great. I would like to hear from other families that have made the decision to pack up and go.

Thanks

 

[Let'sGoAgain!]

I have a good friend who lives in Windermere -- which is kind of "behind" the Magic Kingdom. The last time I visited her at her home (October, I think?) I was amazed at the number of homes up for sale. The housing market there now is in pretty bad shape; the newspaper was full of ads for houses being foreclosed upon.

Florida has not been known for excellence in schools. I'm sure that some school systems are very good, so be careful in where you choose to live.

Not sure about the job situation. There are always jobs available in the hospitality industry, but many of those are not the greatest-paying in the world.

I don't mean to paint a negative picture. We seriously considered buying a vacation home near WDW while there are good bargains to be had. But, it's a little too far for us to be able to just "hop" down there on a whim, so we decided against it. I certainly wouldn't mind moving there once we retire!

 

[RobDoc]

Since this is off-topic for the DVC Boards lets move it to the Orlando Board where you may find more help.

 

[vicki_c]

We only lasted 2 years in coastal central Florida (Space Coast) before heading back up north. I wouldn't tell anyone not to move to Florida, just make sure you look before you leap, especially coming from NE.

We found it too hot, schools were not good compared to what we were used to, just never felt "at home." My kids were just starting school and we were paying to send them to private school (and we actually lived in one of the counties known for better schools than average in Florida). Salaries are definitely lower for the most part.

We moved back (1/2 way home anyway) and are much happier. I miss living so close to the Mouse, though! And I sometimes miss the months of November - March, which are SO nice in Florida!

On the plus side, it's still a great time to buy a house in Florida! Lots of inventory people are trying to get rid of!

No income tax is a plus, too, but I tend to think you get what you pay for in terms of services.

I think I would like to be a snowbird after I retire - that's the ideal situation.

 

[Lisa77]

We just moved from VA to Tampa, six months ago. We started out looking in Ft. Myers where I swear everyone that lived there hated it and wanted to get out. But we were also talking to a lot of people that worked in restaurants/hotels etc. during off season.

We ended up settling in a suburb north of Tampa and LOVE it. The housing market sucks but if you're looking to buy and know you're staying that is okay. We have chosen to rent until we are 100% sure because with a new job situation we want to be sure it will work out.

The schools vary a lot. I'm not sure about Orlando but in Ft. Myers they have school choice and in Tampa they have a variant of that. So Orlando might be completely different.

Depending on your reason for considering the move I'd not just look at Orlando but also on the east and west coast. I think when you're making a big move it's a good idea to look at as many options as possible and the perk is that those are still only an hour away from Disney AND close to the beach

Good luck! This was my first big move away from where I grew up and it is definitely a hard choice!

 

[smidgy]

how about putting in a link to the orlando board?

 

[StephSalyer]

We are not from the New England area (we are from Michigan) but I can share our experience:

We moved to the Gulf Coast of Florida (an hour north of Tampa - 2 hours from Disney) 6 years ago. We are in the low-mid middle class income bracket and have found that our lifestyle is much better here than it was up north. When we moved we had the mind-set that we are going to be here no matter what it takes, and there is no option to move back. So far, it has worked. We find that some things are more expensive here such as groceries, but we have found that it is much cheaper to live here in other areas such as:

1. We do not have that huge heating bill to heat our home every winter. Our electricity bill averages to be about $150.00 per month (higher in the summer months) and we have no natural gas or propane bill.

2. We do not have to purchase as much clothing to accomodate all of the season changes. You can wear spring/summer clothing about 9 months out of the year. No need for 4 wardrobes to get through the year.

3. Cars seem to last longer down here, we own 2 cars that are approx 10 years old now and they are in great shape. I think the harsh changes in weather takes it's toll on vehicles.

4. We vacation for very cheap. We love Florida so we spend our vacation time in Florida. We love Disney, the beaches, etc. Plus we have taken 2 cruises at rock-bottom prices because of Florida Resident rates. We are now planning our 3rd cruise.

5. Housing is cheaper - we paid about half of what we would have for the same square footage up north. This could also have something to do with the area we are in. Of course as with anywhere, housing is more expensive the closer you are to the water, major metropolitan areas, etc.

As far as schools go, we have been very blessed with terrific schools. My daughter attends an Academy (through our public school system) that has some of the best test scores in the nation. There are some really bad districts out there, but there are also some very good ones. (I found the same to be true where we lived in Michigan). Florida also has a very good college scholarship program called "Bright Futures". If your child keeps a very good GPA through High School they can get a full ride to Florida Universities.

Now I will tell you, my husband had to completely change his line of work, but he loves what he does now. I was able to stay in my line of work, but I do make less money. Again, that could be because of the area we are in.

I wish you much pixie dust in your decision. For us, it was the best decision we ever made and we are extremely happy here.

Steph

 

[grodz19]

Steph

Don't mean to get too personal but what industry was your husband in and what is he doing now.... I am in dire need of a career change.

Thanks,

Jeff

 

[StephSalyer]

Steph

Don't mean to get too personal but what industry was your husband in and what is he doing now.... I am in dire need of a career change.

Thanks,

Jeff

My husband was in the printing industry in Michigan. He worked for a company that printed textbooks for universities. He was a press-assistant for 15 years and hated every minute of it. He now works for a major Lawn Service as a Lawn Technician (Spraying chemicals, fertilizers and such on properties). He is outside all day and absolutely loves it. He says the heat is bad in the summer but he would rather deal with the heat than with the long, awful grey winters we had in Michigan. HTH

 

[Mom2OandElle]

My brother relocated from Massachusetts to the Kissimmee area when he got a job at Disney about a year and a half ago. He has never been happier. I know that he did have to take a pay cut, which is never easy, but if asked, I know he would say its worth it. But he's a single guy who rents a house; no wife and kids, so I can't speak to the school system or housing market. Good Luck with whatever you choose!!

 

[mercydisney]

We just moved from VA to Tampa, six months ago. We started out looking in Ft. Myers where I swear everyone that lived there hated it and wanted to get out. But we were also talking to a lot of people that worked in restaurants/hotels etc. during off season.

We ended up settling in a suburb north of Tampa and LOVE it. The housing market sucks but if you're looking to buy and know you're staying that is okay. We have chosen to rent until we are 100% sure because with a new job situation we want to be sure it will work out.

The schools vary a lot. I'm not sure about Orlando but in Ft. Myers they have school choice and in Tampa they have a variant of that. So Orlando might be completely different.

Depending on your reason for considering the move I'd not just look at Orlando but also on the east and west coast. I think when you're making a big move it's a good idea to look at as many options as possible and the perk is that those are still only an hour away from Disney AND close to the beach

Good luck! This was my first big move away from where I grew up and it is definitely a hard choice!

Just waned to say, Welcome!!! We are in the Tampa area. We moved here 8yrs ago and have never been happier.!!

 

[southtown]

My biggest problem when I moved down was renting a house as most of the renters wanted to see you having a job and making at least 3x the monthly rent. We were staying with friends until we got settled so we had jobs and all that so it really wasnt a problem for us, but I could help but wonder what people do that dont have a job the second they move down.
So at every house we looked at I asked the person showing us how can people that move down here without jobs get into a house, and none of them had an answer. They just shrugged thier shoulders and shook thier heads with that I dont know look.

I guess most people either transfer somehow, or move into an apartment complex first. Luckily we had people to stay with when we moved down or I would have been SOL in getting in a house right off the bat.

 

[amsyw]

My dh and I have dreamed for several years of taking the leap of moving to Florida from Missouri. He has a daughter that lives here so we probably wont do it for about 6 years when she graduates. He doesn't get a lot of time with her, so we have been tempted to do it now and just have her all summer there.

Anyway, when deciding where to go, how do you decide??? Other than starting job hunting and landing where ever that leads you, how did you all decide? We love the pan handle (Destin area)for its beaches, but know that it tends to be a bit expensive, and of course our pick would be near the mouse! DH is a maintenance manager with KRAFT so he could go just about anywhere. He actually talked to a maintenance guy at WDW the last time we were there and he has investigated their pay. WDW would actually be a pay increase for us if he got into a similar job as what he has here. I do office work, so that would be no issue finding something suitable! (Although if I can have free pineapple whips I would work the PW stand at WDW!!!! )

How do you investigate areas, schools etc. Are there web sites that give school information ie, how they rank etc? What about housing markets, how do you know what areas are good areas? (safe, reasonably priced etc.)

Thanks for any info!

 

[hlane]

My dh and I have dreamed for several years of taking the leap of moving to Florida from Missouri. He has a daughter that lives here so we probably wont do it for about 6 years when she graduates. He doesn't get a lot of time with her, so we have been tempted to do it now and just have her all summer there.

Anyway, when deciding where to go, how do you decide??? Other than starting job hunting and landing where ever that leads you, how did you all decide? We love the pan handle (Destin area)for its beaches, but know that it tends to be a bit expensive, and of course our pick would be near the mouse! DH is a maintenance manager with KRAFT so he could go just about anywhere. He actually talked to a maintenance guy at WDW the last time we were there and he has investigated their pay. WDW would actually be a pay increase for us if he got into a similar job as what he has here. I do office work, so that would be no issue finding something suitable! (Although if I can have free pineapple whips I would work the PW stand at WDW!!!! )

How do you investigate areas, schools etc. Are there web sites that give school information ie, how they rank etc? What about housing markets, how do you know what areas are good areas? (safe, reasonably priced etc.)

Thanks for any info!

I am interested in this as well. DH and I have discussed it for years. If it were up to him we would have moved along time ago but I am scared to leave my family and to uproot the kids.

 

[SanFranciscan]

No income tax is a plus, too, but I tend to think you get what you pay for in terms of services.QUOTE]

Is there really no income tax in Florida? You are joking; right? How did you manage to pull that off?

There is a job which my husband has been asked to consider in Tampa, Florida. It would mean a pay increase, but we are still a little reluctant to relocate to Florida. For one thing, the climate in Florida is not at all what we are used to here in San Francisco. For another, we have lived at the same address for over 20 years. This means that we have established tenants' rights in a city with rent control. That is a big consideration for us.

 

[StephSalyer]

Our decision to move to the area we moved to was kind of made for us. My parents retired (Although they are still VERY young) down here 10 years ago. So we vacationed here a lot and fell in love with the area. Vacationing in this area also gave us a chance to check out neighborhoods, jobs, schools, etc for quite a while before we took the plunge. We KNEW beyond a shadow of doubt, that this was were we wanted to be. We love it! I love the fact that we are 2 hours form Disney because it is just far enough that you feel like you are going somewhere, but not so far that you are all tired out from trying to get there. We are less than 10 minutes from the Gulf of Mexico so I can go to a beach anytime I want and a little more than an hour from Tampa (which is a beautiful area). I will tell you though, I do miss some of the season changes and Christmas shopping in shorts was something that took me a while to get used to. We have adjusted to the weather and now feel in the Christmas Spirit when the temperatures dip down to 60'.

For all of you thinking about this let me say this: Some people want to move here because they LOVE it when they are here vacationing. Just remember that when you live here, it is completely different. It's just like where you live now, only warmer. You still have to go to work, pay bills, get kids off to school, you know the mundane things in life. It doesn't go away. Living in Florida is not like being on vacation in Florida. Just some food for thought.....

 

[madcoco]

Went to college in FL and been part time residents for 20+ years. Built a home and closed just over a year ago April.

One warning to anyone who may have college age children and attending one the colleges like FSU,UF,UCF. Have your mice in a row with required documents.
You must not only have been a fulltime resident for 1yr, but your drivers license and registration must also be at least one year. We planned on and paid out of state rate for our daughter's freshman year(big difference in cost) She decided she wanted to take summer classes. Went over to pay and provided all the documents required per her colleges website for FL resident tuition. (had a car registration,closing documents,bills,residency status etc all 1 year+ ) and the registrar said "Sorry your drivers license is two days past the deadline. You do not qualify for in-state rate" I asked where this is written. It was only stated that it was one form of FL residency requirements on their website. "Well it's a gray area but it is a FL State Law. You can appeal the decision but you won't win. However you won't have a problem qualifying with the fall semester."

We were not happy campers. Can understand trying to close loopholes for people trying to skirt the system but.... Was ready to write the check for the extra $$$$ in protest but it's her education. What do you do? Our daughter said she didn't need to take the classes. The registrar then said." If she drops the classes,she will have to reapply for college admission along with the associated fees"
Now we're beyond happy campers here but you just have to bite your lip and remain professional "Where does it say she has to take summer classes to remain a full time student? "Well it doesn't,but you just can't drop classes like that!" " Ah but it is inside the deadline for dropping?Why can't we? Still biting lip and remaining cool outside LOL" "You just can't." Well we did and went to admissions next. The registrar was right about having to have the driver's license too. They said they will make it clearer on their website and the registar was wrong about everything else.
Lesson learned. Should have waited in the huge line at the DMV(was told about a new one in Clermont went over two days later. Oops. and was in and out in 15 minutes"

DD is working a few extra days at the MK and enjoying the summer until fall semester. Won't even go through what happened when getting insurance for the new house. Arghhh. LOL now. We have always loved it here and still do, but it is definitely not for everyone. It isn't Fantasyland 24/7 but it's close.

 

[vicki_c]

No income tax is a plus, too, but I tend to think you get what you pay for in terms of services.QUOTE]

Is there really no income tax in Florida? You are joking; right? How did you manage to pull that off?

There is a job which my husband has been asked to consider in Tampa, Florida. It would mean a pay increase, but we are still a little reluctant to relocate to Florida. For one thing, the climate in Florida is not at all what we are used to here in San Francisco. For another, we have lived at the same address for over 20 years. This means that we have established tenants' rights in a city with rent control. That is a big consideration for us.

Yes it's true, I didn't make it up.
http://www.stateofflorida.com/Portal/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=29

Personally, I love San Fran and would pick that anyday! If you're getting a pay increase to move from San Fran to Tampa, that sounds amazing to me, though. I though SF had pretty high salaries, and Florida generally is not known for great salaries (of course, exceptions exist for all kinds of reasons). As for your rent control issue, I'm not sure why that matters unless it's because you're thinking you might want to move back to SF someday and you would lose that advantage? But if you're moving, you're moving and you don't need to worry about it?

 

[vicki_c]

For all of you thinking about this let me say this: Some people want to move here because they LOVE it when they are here vacationing. Just remember that when you live here, it is completely different. It's just like where you live now, only warmer. You still have to go to work, pay bills, get kids off to school, you know the mundane things in life. It doesn't go away. Living in Florida is not like being on vacation in Florida. Just some food for thought.....

I didn't like the heat and being far away from my mom (those were my main reasons for not liking Florida), but ... this is so true! I used to say this all the time to people who wanted to move to Florida after we moved down there. It's your regular life (and for some maybe better, some maybe worse), just in a different place!

 

[kerrynic78]

My DH and I moved down here from CT in 2005 after living in CT our entire livesand have not looked back. We LOVE the area we are in, the schools were all just rated "A" schools and there is always something to do. I sometimes miss CT but my DH and I were just saying yesterday that Florida is now home to us. Of course there are some negatives like any other place, but it has not made us think twice about our decision to move down here.

Good luck!