Just wondering about all of the British Expats in Florida... (Tampa: houses, income)

Prichard · 06-07-2007, 01:46 PM

Florida seems to be the Mecca for British and Irish Expats. Davenport, Clearwater, Clermont, I'm sure there are other areas of Florida where the British tend to congragate.

My question is "why"? I don't mind British or Irish people living here at all, just wondering what draws so many of them to Florida?

Lisa_from_Debary · 06-07-2007, 01:59 PM

My ex husband was British...its really cheap to fly here, they come here on vacation and love it...

You can fly round trip starting in the UK to Orlando, cheaper then Orlando to London.

Its amazing how many of the British flee the UK as often as posible to get to a warmer place for vacation.

firemed · 06-07-2007, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prichard

Florida seems to be the Mecca for British and Irish Expats. Davenport, Clearwater, Clermont, I'm sure there are other areas of Florida where the British tend to congragate.

My question is "why"? I don't mind British or Irish people living here at all, just wondering what draws so many of them to Florida?

Two for one on the US dollars.

Sueilp · 06-08-2007, 04:48 AM

We are all British and live in vero beach and there are a few of us here....

We came here for about 12 years 2-3 times a year on vacation sometimes getting flights as cheap as equivalent to $200 each. Then the exchange rate would always be good too.

I ttook my Husband 10 years to persuade me to come and live over here...I am a Nurse so had to do the exam and to took 3 years from start to finish to get here. We have been here 20 months now and have been made to feel very welcome by everybody and dont regret it for a minute.

OUr house is huge in comparison to what we had in the UK...our ensuite is bigger than what our kitchen was in the UK !!!! ANd of course the weather doesnt compare whatsoever!!! LOL

Originally we wanted up by Davenport and did have property up there but realised there was a lot more to Florida than the parks and all the vacation stuff.....we liked Vero beach and Sebastian and realised AFTER we bought that we had been through here on Honeymoon and thoght it was an omen!!!

The main reason we chose Vero was becuase I was offered a job I liked here - the other job offer I had was Deland but preferred down here...

brightspell · 06-08-2007, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prichard

Florida seems to be the Mecca for British and Irish Expats. Davenport, Clearwater, Clermont, I'm sure there are other areas of Florida where the British tend to congragate.

My question is "why"? I don't mind British or Irish people living here at all, just wondering what draws so many of them to Florida?

Property prices......a 3 bedroom semi-detached house (the Englishman's home is his castle!) located in greater London now costs a minimum of around £250,000 ($500,000) and this is `bog standard'. Prices are rocketing in the UK because its a small overcrowded island, with archaic town planning regulations, that also make it difficult to build more houses, to meet the rising demand.

Zoom over to FL and in addition to the points raised by previous posters, property prices, by comparison have fallen there by 20% recently....right? Set this statistic against a 10% average rise in the UK. This phenomenon is what Warren Buffet might refer to as `risk arbitrage' opening up property investment possibilities for Brits....especially if its subsequently lettable on a medium to long term basis; i.e not, short term holiday/vacation lets......too much management costs.

Many of us used to look to Spain for a place in the sun, but so many have travelled the Spanish route over the last 20 years, that property prices over there are at least comparable to the UK or even more expensive. But there's "reasons to be cheerful.....one, two, three"!.......who did that one?....Ian Dury about 1978?......with all this cheap air travel, finding residential property is now global. A friend of mine lives in a rented trailer/caravan in Clacton UK during the summer, but has bought a bungalow in Goa, India for £30,000 ($60,000) and lives in it during the winter (letting it out when absent).
Cheers BS
Moderator cut

Obrero · 06-08-2007, 07:19 PM

Everything is cheaper in Florida. Gas is $15 a gallon in the UK, taxes are super high (think 60% if you make a good living) compared to the US and especially to FL with no state income tax.

firemed · 06-08-2007, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UKOK

Everything is cheaper in Florida. Gas is $15 a gallon in the UK, taxes are super high (think 60% if you make a good living) compared to the US and especially to FL with no state income tax.

speedbird · 09-02-2007, 12:06 PM

Where do most of us Brits live in FL?

Sueilp · 09-02-2007, 12:12 PM

We are all scattered about. there are a few of us in Vero beach and I knwo people in Titusville, St, Augustine and PSL. I know a few brits in orlando area and a lot of them are on the west coast too.

gypsychic · 09-02-2007, 01:02 PM

I have heard there are quite a few here in Polk County - Lakeland, Winter Haven, etc. I believe it's because they get a tremendous value for their money in this area, which is very beautiful, and it is centrally located to EVERYTHING (between Tampa and Orlando). They love to vacation here, too. Some have even opened up businesses in the area.