| If you recently visited Florida on a vacation and have given some thought as to living here year-round, you’re not alone! There are so many great reasons to become a Floridian. Whether you’re a millennial seeking your first career out of college or you’re searching for that perfect retirement destination, come see what Florida offers. Below are our TOP 10 reasons to move to Florida. Top 10 Reasons to Relocate to Florida Florida Has Top-Rated Beaches With 1,350 miles of coastline bordering both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, Florida is home to many top-rated beaches in the entire country. Many of these beaches receive top awards and designations by TripAdvisor, Conde Nast Traveler and Dr. Beach each year. In the Florida Panhandle, Pensacola Beach is the top beach destination. In the Tampa Bay region, Clearwater Beach is the clear winner. In the Sarasota area, Siesta Key Beach with its sugar-like powder sand often ranks as the top beach destination in the entire state. In SW Florida, the beaches of Sanibel Island are a top destination for beachgoers. In SE Florida, South Beach and Fort Lauderdale Beach are popular attractions. Cocoa Beach, just east of Orlando, is a top beach for those who live in the I-4 corridor. Jacksonville Beach is the preferred beach in NE Florida. In general, the east coast beaches get larger waves and offer better conditions for surfing than the protected, calmer waters of the Gulf. Florida Has No State Income Tax One big benefit of living in Florida is the lack of a state income tax. This means that you get to keep more of the dollars you earn. In lieu of a state tax, the state of Florida earns dollars from the millions of tourists that visit our state each year through a 7% sales tax (state level) and a 5% tourist tax (county level) on revenues from rental properties and hotel stays that are for a term of 6 month or less. Once you become a Floridian, you’ll be thankful for the tourists as they pay your share of the state taxes. Florida Offers Great Year-Round Weather When you think of Florida, you think of sunshine, beaches and great weather. The average year-round temperature in South Florida is 72’ (northern Florida is 67’) and the state enjoys 250 days of sunshine each year. If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, Florida is calling your name! Take up watersport activities such as kayaking or stand-up paddle boarding for a good workout or rent a boat for the day and explore the Intracoastal waterway and remote sand bars. If golf or tennis is your game, many cities offer year-round courses and courts to check out. Lastly, explore the many state parks while biking, jogging or roller-blading through scenic nature trails. Florida Offers Many Amusement & Theme Parks Florida is home to 8 of the top 20 amusements parks in the entire country as well as home to 3 of the top 20 water parks in the entire world. Florida is well known for Disneyland, Sea World and Busch Gardens, but there are many more amusement and theme parks to explore around the state including LEGOLAND, Universal Studios, The Kennedy Space Center, The Holy Land Experience, Jungle Island, Adventure Island, Discovery Cove and Dinosaur World just to name a few. Many of these parks offer discounts for Florida residents and have on-site accommodations for overnight stays. Florida Has a Strong Economy & Job Market The Florida economy and job market has been very strong due to its top industries of tourism, international trade, agriculture, aerospace and life sciences. In 2017, Florida had a record 116 million visitors (112 million in 2016). At year-end 2015, Florida’s economy was recorded as the 4th largest in the US behind California, Texas and New York with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $840 billion and a $77 billion-dollar state budget. Florida Offers Affordable Real Estate & Living Costs The state of Florida has been experiencing a strong real estate market and new housing developments are going up just about everywhere you look. The strong demand has caused prices to steadily increase and the average Florida home price in 2020 is now $246,107. This represents an increase of 7.7% over 2019 and experts expect this trend to continue as long as the state’s population continues to grow. As compared to many northern states and California where home prices are much higher, Florida still represents a great overall value. To begin your Florida real estate search, connect with one of our relocation experts. Florida is a Great State to Retire In When most people think about their retirement years, they usually think of a warmer climate such as Florida or Arizona. Multiple cities within Florida have commonly been rated as top retirement destinations including Sarasota, Naples, The Villages and Vero Beach. Many of these locales, which offer many lifestyle amenities catering to baby-boomers, offer maintenance-free homes, RV parks, area golf courses, fishing and lots of outdoor activities to enjoy. As compared to all 50 states, Florida ranks highest in the nation with 17.6% of its total population being 65+ years of age according to US census data. Florida Has Endless Outdoor Events and Festivals to Explore Unlike living up north, Florida residents enjoy a myriad of year-round events taking place in the great outdoors. Local arts and craft shows, car shows, chalk festivals, music concerts, sand-sculpting contents, polo matches and farmers’ markets are just a few of the many outdoor events that Floridians get to enjoy. Florida Has Professional Sports Teams If you’re sports fan, Florida has got you covered! The sunshine state is home to many professional sports teams including basketball, baseball, football and hockey. The Orlando Magic, Miami Heat, Tampa Rays, Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jacksonville Jaguars and Miami Dolphins are all based here. In the spring each year, many MLB baseball teams train in Florida including the Baltimore Orioles, The Atlanta Braves, The New York Yankees, The Houston Astros and others. During spring training season, the local public to able their spring training games. Florida offers Lots of Days Trips to Enjoy Depending on where you relocate to within Florida, there are lots of great day trips to enjoy. If you move to Southern Florida, explore the southernmost point in the US or explore Everglades National Park on an airboat ride. If you move to central Florida, explore the John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art and the famous Ca’ d’Zan (House of John) mansion in Sarasota or check out the Kennedy Space Center and their shuttle experience in the Titusville area. If you relocate to Northern Florida, be sure to check out Fort Pickens and the many historic sites located in Pensacola (along the Gulf Shore National Islands). When you are ready to move to our beautiful state, please give us a call and let you find your dream home! 352-686-0000. |
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Learn Why So Many Are Moving to Florida
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