Moving to Florida

By Scott Boone

Image courtesy of flickr

They don’t call Florida the Sunshine State for nothing.  That’s because the state averages more than 2/3 of the year where the sun shines.  It’s the sunshine that draws a lot of people down here, both to visit as well as to live either part or full time.  While some states such as New Mexico, have more sunny days on average, the average temperature in Jacksonville is 69-degrees, as opposed to 44-degrees for Santa Fe.  This means if you decide to move to Jacksonville, you can break your ice scraper over your knee.  The last time North Florida even got a dusting of snow was way back in 1989.

Feel the Burn

On the other hand, handling the summer heat in Florida takes a little getting used to if you live up north.  While the temperatures here are nowhere near as hot as the Southwest, it isn’t unusual for them to hover at or above the 90-degree mark nearly every day in July in August.  That being said, there are tons of air conditioned malls and attractions to take advantage of in Florida. 

Christmas Here is a Bit Different

Image courtesy of Pxhere

While you will never experience a white Christmas in Florida, that doesn’t mean it won’t be a festive holiday.  It isn’t unusual for you to see palm trees decked out with lights and garland in the winter.  Places in North Florida like St. Augustine (an hour’s drive from JAX) goes all out with their holiday decorations.  Here in Jacksonville, instead of seeing Santa on his sleigh, you are more likely to see him on his sloop as we have the yearly Parade of Boats that glide by the Jacksonville Landing.

That’s right, all you boaters, you can sail at Christmas or even New Year’s Eve down here.  Instead of decking the halls, you can choose instead to haul in some fish from the back of a charter boat.  How cool is that?

Birds of a Feather

That’s another reason why the Sunshine State experiences something of a population explosion every winter as snowbirds flock to our beaches.  This is also one reason many people choose to buy a second home or condo, so they can spend the summer up north and the winter in sunny Florida.  It’s also another reason more people retire to the Sunshine State than any other state.  The warm weather and low cost of living give Florida a magnetic attraction to retirees and younger folks looking to move to a more affordable locale.

Business as Usual

Image courtesy of Pxhere

If you are a business owner, Florida is business-friendly.  Whether you run a brick and mortar business or one that exists online, Florida is a great place to start or move a business.  In the first place, Florida has no state income tax.  That’s great for everybody.  But it also exempts “S” corporations from state taxes.  Online businesses and software developers can benefit yet further since B2B software sales are also tax exempt.

The Tax Foundation currently ranks Florida as the fifth most business-friendly state in the union.

Making the Move

Once you’ve decided to relocate to the Sunshine State, there are a few things you need to know:

      1.      Weather Worries - While a parka is not necessary, you can expect brief periods of cold weather during the winter months that necessitate wearing a jacket.  This means while you can deep six those snow boots and winter gloves, keep an insulated jacket, winter scarf and warm hat handy. 

      

      Pack Your Rain Gear – Florida is one of the few states in the union where thunderstorms can occur at any time of the year.  As fronts pass through the Sunshine State, storm clouds form that delivers wind, rain, thunder, and lightning on a regular basis.  The good news is that most of these storms are short-lived and the sunshine will soon return. 

      2.      Life’s a Beach – If you’re looking to spend a lot of time on the beach, you’ve come to the right place. That’s because the state boasts 2,276 miles of beaches.  Some of these beaches are on the Atlantic side, and those on Florida’s west coast face the Gulf of Mexico.  This means that finding a beach isn’t the problem, it choosing a beach that’s the issue.  Just make sure you bring plenty of sunscreen if you hail from the north.

      3.      Lots of Attractions – When it comes to things to do, Florida has an embarrassment of riches.  Orlando has Disney World, Miami is a celebrity magnet, Key West is like the Big Easy, and Daytona offers everything from auto racing to beaches.  I could go on, but one blog could never do justice to all the attractions that Florida has to offer.

      4.      Golf, Anybody? – If you’re into Golf, Florida boasts more than 1,250 courses, the most of any state in the union.  Unlike most states, our courses are open for business year around.  Everything from PGA courses to public courses galore makes Florida something of a Mecca for golfers of every stripe.

      5.      You Can Bet on It – If you enjoy playing games of chance, Florida offers everything from full-blown casinos, to horse and dog tracks, poker parlors and even gambling cruises that will take you offshore for a few hours to try your luck.

      6.      Spring Training – Professional athletes and sports teams train in Florida every year.  15 MLB teams have spring training in Florida, including the Atlanta Braves, the Baltimore Orioles, the Boston Red Sox, the Houston Astros, both the NY Mets & Yankees, the Phillies and Pittsburgh Pirates, just to name a few.

      7.      Making Your Move – The best time to move to Florida is November through May.  That doesn’t mean a winter move is out of the question since we don’t really have much of a winter down here.  The question is, how bad do winter conditions get where you’re moving from?  The only time you should avoid making your move to the Sunshine State is when the sun is shining the brightest.  I’m talking about the summer.  Not only do afternoon temperatures shoot up to 90 degrees or higher day in and day out, but passing thunderstorms can also be a daily hazard as well.

Image courtesy of Scott's Discount Movers

If you’ve been thinking about moving to Florida, don’t wait until the last minute to line up your moving crew.  That’s because with more than 1,000 people a day moving here, waiting too long can be another way to get burned in the Sunshine State.

With over 5,000 moves, Scott's Discount Movers has handled moves of all sizes, including local and cross country. If you are looking to move your home or office, you can depend on Scott's Discount Movers to provide a stress-free relocation.