Moving sucks. Let us help you make it less sucky. The good news is if you’re reading this you’re most likely moving to a red state, which most likely means you’re going to have a better quality of life. Here’s a simple guide to help make that move as easy as possible.
Pros and Cons
Main Pros
- Weather, Reasonable cost of living, No state income tax, Outdoor entertainment & beaches
Main Cons
- Heat, hurricanes, higher insurance costs, big bugs, snakes and alligators
Cost of Living
A quick way to easily compare cost of living with where you currently live and where you want to live is by using a cost of living calculator. Here’s a few good ones:
Should You Buy or Rent?
Although you may be used to seeing luxury real estate in Florida in areas like Miami or Naples, the median home price in Florida is actually less than the national median ($400,100). There are many affordable homes in Florida along with the high end ones. Also, it’s all about perspective, as someone moving from California will have a different view as someone coming from Iowa.
Whether you decide to buy or rent, financial experts recommend spending no more than 30% of your income on housing costs. Do some research and consider different areas that fit your lifestyle and budget.
The average price for a one bedroom apartment is $1404 per month. Bigger cities like Miami are around $2500 and Tampa is about $2100.
To give you an idea of what to expect if you’re buying a home, here is a breakdown of the costs for a single family home in Florida with a 20% down payment and 30 year mortgage at 6.6% interest rate. This example is for a 550k home in a newer, gated residential community.
| Item | Monthly Expense |
| Mortgage Payment | $2,810 |
| Homeowners Insurance | $250 |
| HOA Fee * | $300 |
| Real Estate Taxes | $458 |
| Electric Bill | $180 |
| Water Bill | $80 |
| Total | $4,078 |
* HOA fee includes cable TV, Internet, lawn care and maintaining community amenities.
Decide Where
The Gulf coast has widely been considered a hidden gem of sorts but with the popularity of Florida ever increasing, that is not really the case anymore. I would recommend it though. Areas like St Pete Beach, Sarasota and Naples enjoy awesome sunsets on the west coast along with less traffic. North Port and Englewood are up and coming with very affordable prices.
If you are more of a big city person, then obviously Miami and Orlando would be considerations. Small town folks like the centrality and safety that comes along with Polk County near the Orlando and Tampa areas. St. Augustine has an old town charm in the Northeast part of the state. Beaches in the panhandle are underrated as well.
If you are not required to move to a specific place in Florida and you can work remote, then you will want to do some research about some of the best places to live in Florida and compare popular cities/towns. Finding the right fit is very subjective and requires you to weigh the positives and negatives thoroughly.
Moving tips
Tips for Saving with Full-Service Movers
- Pack as many items as possible yourself
- Use professional-grade moving boxes of similar sizes (reduces gaps when stacking)
- Disassemble your furniture beforehand (beds, mirrors on dressers, desks, tv wall mounts)
- Move in the winter months if possible as demand, and rates, are typically lower
- Place all movable furniture items and boxes in your garage or by the door for the mover’s convenience
Full-Service Moving Companies
Tips for Saving with Moving Containers
- Start with only the size of the container you expect to fill. You can always have an additional container delivered, if needed.
Moving Container Companies
Tips for Saving with a Truck Rental
- Check to see if your auto policy already covers truck rentals
- Provide your own moving boxes, tape, blankets, etc… as truck rental companies will charge for these supplies
- Make sure your truck is clean before returning it to avoid any unnecessary cleaning charges.
Truck Rental Companies
Tips for Saving with Vehicle/Car Transporters
- See if the vehicle transporter has a terminal-to-terminal option as this is less expensive than driving to your residence.
- Rates are typically lower in the winter months (ie. non-peak season)
- Have flexibility with your transport dates
Vehicle Transport Companies
Tips For Dealing With The Weather
- Of course wear sunscreen and if you’re sensitive bring a large brim hat.
- Ensure you have AC. Stay inside during the afternoons.
- Find out if you live in a mandatory evacuation zone for hurricanes. Go over the evacuation routes both on paper and by driving them. Keep a hurricane kit in the house along with necessary storm shutters and a safe with all important family paperwork.
- Make sure your home has the proper insurance to cover you against flood and wind damage.
Driving, Voting, Etc.
Here’s the things you need to remember to do once you move:
- Purchase homeowners /renters insurance
- Set up your utilities, phones, etc. in your name
- Change over your car insurance to a new policy with your new address/state.
- Visit the DMV to obtain your Florida drivers license.
- Register to vote (often they can do it at the same time you get your driver’s license)
- Enroll your kids in the school
- Continue to update any addresses that you forgot (as your forwarded mail comes to you)
Homework
You should have a good idea of what you want if you’ve considered the info in this article. It would be wise to visit a few locations beforehand just to make sure you like it. You should also take careful consideration to research things like:
- Schools & locations
- Commutes to work
- Grocery stores & other stores you frequent
- Local banks
- Safety & crime
- Childcare / Daycare options
- Housing costs as well as community HOA and CDD fees, etc.
Conclusion
I hope this info was useful. Remember, we’re here to help you every step of the way to save you time and money. Our services are free, so we can help you understand what it will take for you to move and get you prepared for moving day. If you have any questions feel free to reach out anytime.
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