In this exact moment when you’re just thinking about relocating in Florida after retirement, a thousand people are already on their way there with all their belongings. So, should you join them and seek your luck in the south?
There are many reasons why this may sound tempting. Warm climate, beaches everywhere, and simply a new locale to call home. It all sounds like fun and game, but is it really that way?
We did a little bit of research for you in order to discover what you should know before moving there. As you probably can expect, it’s not all about the beaches and Disney World. There’s a little bit more to the story.
You’ll have lots of company
As we have already mentioned, Florida is a popular destination for baby boomers for years now. There are around 4 million residents that are older than 65 there already, so you can be sure you won’t be the only pensioner on your block. Restaurants, bars, and grocery stores filled with seniors are an everyday sight here. You can even have a nice, comfortable, decluttered home because there are numerous affordable storage solutions to store some items if downsizing.
And don’t get us wrong as this is definitely not a bad thing for moving in Florida after retiring. Since everything is geared toward older people you’ll have a much easier time going around. Walk-in bathtubs, insurance, medical assistance, as well as volunteer activities are all very accessible here. That’s one of the main reasons why this state has more than one representative on the list of the best East Coast cities for your next relocation that we did a while ago.
The weather can be tricky
One thing you should be aware of before getting the relocation assistance of any sort is that Florida is not always the Sunshine State. The full scope of the weather here is a little bit different than you may expect if you visited it infrequently and for short periods of time.
In fact, it is the lightning capital of the US and often perceived as the bull’s eye for hurricanes. The Atlantic hurricane season lasts from June to November so it doesn’t go away quickly. However, this doesn’t mean that there are hurricanes every day here. But, you can expect to experience extremely strong winds at least once a year.
Forget about the taxes
Well, you can’t really forget about them but moving to Florida can indeed save you lots of money in them. It’s a well-known fact that it is one of the most tax-friendly states for retirees and that there is no income tax. Additionally, it has no inheritance tax and no estate tax. Isn’t it a paradise?
However, if you plan to keep your home in colder state things won’t be that easy for you. You’ll have to prove that you spend more than a half a year in the Sunshine State to be able to claim it as your primary state of residence. The first step here is keeping a diary or a log showing how many days you’ve spent in each state. But there’s more.
- Register to vote in Florida
- Get a library card
- Change your driver’s license
- Open an account at a local bank and keep the receipts
- Shop locally (your credit card records may be reviewed)
- Get in touch with local health care providers
Homes aren’t that expensive here
One thing that surprises many people when they hear it for the first time is that you can buy a home for not much money after relocating in Florida after retirement. Of course, you can find a luxurious waterfront home for a few million if you’re looking for something like that. But, median single-family home prices are around $200,000.
If you want to help your elderly parents adjust to their new home, what’s better then letting them live by the ocean? Tampa Bay seems like the best place for such thing so be sure to check it out. Although the market here is busy, prices stay affordable and are significantly lower than places like Miami or Naples.
There are lots of crawly, creepy things around
Florida has its own specific ecosystem and many creatures that are part of it can do much more than just make your skin crawl. One of the most commonly problematic ones is termites. Dealing with them is pretty much the routine of the homeowners in Florida say our professionals from Harmony Relocation Group. Since there’s no real winter season here they have the ideal situation to grow and do what pests do. The cost of treating them can put you back anywhere from $1,500 to $5,000.
Other things that you should be aware of are rats and alligators. Although the first ones aren’t too big of a deal, the second one can be. There are approximately 1.25 million alligators living here so you can expect to encounter them while living here. Panters are the state animals of Florida, but there are no documented attacks on humans so you shouldn’t worry about them.
Lots of tourists
Everyone knows by now that Florida is a tourist destination, there’s no secret about it. Therefore, navigating through the sea of tourists is one of the challenges of organizing a long-distance move in Miami or pretty much anywhere else in the state. Approximately 120 million tourists visit it every year so you’ll have to learn to operate and live your normal life among them.
Some of the people we’ve talked to live in Orlando, and they say that the roads that lead to theme parks are bumper to bumper all day long from mid-December to mid-April. Being forced to drive at five miles per hour will give you lots of time to enjoy the view when relocating in Florida after retirement. Luckily, it is a really pretty state.