Moving to South Florida? Here are eight things you should know.
1. Don’t fret about South Florida, it does not just consist of a fast paced city full of perfect bikini-clad bodies (not that there is anything wrong with that). There is a community for everybody, horse-lovers, soccer moms, socialites, singles, retirees, children, college students, etc. We can golf, boat & play baseball year-round here. With a little research you can find the perfect neighborhood for your lifestyle.
2. Use a Realtor, unlike some states, Realtors in Florida share listing information. Your Realtor can show you almost any property on the market. A good pointer would be to use a Realtor with experience in relocations that can anticipate your needs.
3. In South Florida, children attend the public school assigned to their neighborhood. All public schools are provided with a grade “A through F”. So check out the schools assigned to the neighborhood, before settling in. Even if you do not have children, homes in well-rated school districts are great for resale.
4. South Floridians love their cars! Almost everyone I know drives and most people have a daily commute of at least 25 minutes to work. The metro Miami area does have the Metrorail, but its route is limited. Both Broward & Miami-Dade counties have buses. All three counties have the Tri-rail train travel through them, however the route is again very limited. If you do not drive, review the public transportation routes & consider a community that can accommodate your needs.
5. Leave your state income tax forms behind, you don’t need them in South Florida. Florida has no state income tax!
6. There is no real winter in South Florida. So leave your extensive winter clothing, snow tires, etc. behind. We don’t wear mittens, scarves & don’t even know what to do with ear muffs. We do use sunglasses, flip flops & sun screen, almost everyday of the year.
7. Cost of living varies from city to city, even everyday items like milk can be differ. Use our site’s Cost of Living Tool to compare your current area to South Florida.
8. Get ready for culture, fine dining & fun! Culture is easy to find, opera houses, art exhibits, concerts, plays, botanical gardens, we have it all. Some of the best cuisine is here in South Florida, laid-back barbecue joints, Cuban comfort food & world renown chefs all in one area. The fun never ends in South Florida, everything from taking a weekend cruise to a visit to the Everglades, our river of grass.