As the roughly 70 million baby boomers retire many are considering a move to the warmer climate of Florida. Whether you are moving from Chicago or from Boston, there are a few things to consider, if you chose to move to Florida. Here are 6 important considerations you should have.
- What Type of Lifestyle Do You Enjoy?
If you are from the hustle and bustle areas around Chicago and a busy nightlife, lots of entertainment and shopping are important, then you may consider moving to the East Coast of Florida. The Miami lifestyle is one that has everything for everyone. However, if you are from the suburbs outside of Boston and a quieter, more laid back lifestyle is what you enjoy, the East Coast of Florida might be a good fit. From Naples to Sarasota, the West Coast offers a simpler, quieter environment.
- Do Not Bring Your Mahogany Dining Room Set!
No matter where you chose to move in Florida, the “Sunshine State” has a very different décor than the Mid-West and Northeast. All too often homeowners who move to Florida ship their prized furnishings to Florida, only to give them away to charity a few years later because the furniture just does not fit in.
- Know Where You are Moving to
Many homeowners who consider moving to Florida do not realize that Florida is a very large state and, between the Northern tip to the very Southern tip, there are some very different climates. Make no mistake, Northern Florida is still much warmer in January than it is in Minneapolis however, there can be a 30 degree temperature difference from Tallahassee to Naples.
- There are Hurricanes in Florida!!
In light of recent hurricanes, you should definitely consider how close you are moving to the coastline. With over 1200 miles of coastline, Florida is very vulnerable to hurricanes. The closer you live to the ocean, the worse the impact generally is. Flood and wind insurance can be costly and your home can be at a much higher risk than if you are even just a few miles inland. When purchasing any home in Florida, consider the date it was built or, most recently renovated. The newer hurricane codes are much stricter for construction over the past 5 years. The new standard is 170mph for structural and, many new homes have to be built above flood surge levels. In Naples, this means 14 feet above the beach so, you’ll want to consider all those groceries you need to care up 28 steps.
People who move to Florida from Michigan or from New Hampshire are familiar with warm summers and the need for sunscreen. However, when moving to Florida Northern homeowners need to consider how much closer to the equator Florida is and, how the how much stronger the suns’ rays are. Many “newbies” to Florida can get sunburned in just an hour or two of mid-morning sun. In fact, a cloudy mid-afternoon can blister the skin of someone from Maine in a matter of an hour.
- Do Not Buy the BIG House…Because “the Grandchildren Will Come”
When considering a move to Florida, do not by an overly big house because you think your grandchildren will visit. Most baby boomers’ adult children have very active lives and their young children are almost always involved in sports and extra activities that prevent them from being able to visit “grandma and grandpa”. Over the past several years the William C Huff Companies has been involved with many local “downsizing” moves because the homeowner gave up on keeping a big house for the children to visit.
