[Chanteuse d' Opéra]

Good Afternoon,

My little family is thinking of relocating to Florida from Houston, TX in several years and want to plan saving for it now. I don't want to be a pest and post in every city forum but these are the cities we are researching. Our budget is about 400,000. My husband is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and I am an elementary schoolteacher with a Master's in Curriculum and Instruction. Eventually, I want to leave the classroom and put my M.Ed to use, but I'm still researching what to do with it.

We are looking at both the Atlantic & Gulf coasts but leaning towards the Florida Gulf Coast. Gulf Coast cities that we are looking at are:
-Tampa/St. Petersburg/Clearwater (***really leaning towards Tampa Bay/St Pete's)
-Bradenton/Venice
-Cape Coral/Fort Myers

Atlantic coast cities that we are looking at are:
-Broward County (Plantation/Davie/Pembroke Pines)
-Palm Beaches (West Palm Beach & suburban area)
-Palm Bay, FL

Could anyone more or less break down the cities in terms of affordability and economy/job "stability"?

Thank you so much.

[Veniceman]

I live in Venice and can say for certain that the economy revolves around the elderly, snowbirds and tourists. Most people work in the service sector here. We have a predominantly elderly population so there are jobs here in the healthcare system. Venice does have a large high school. Perhaps someone who works in education here could comment on the prospects in education. Tampa is a much larger city so I'm sure your job prospects would be greater there. Affordability of any coastal city depends on location. The closer you get to the Gulf the higher the cost of housing. You can buy a home in the Venice area for $400,000 but not right on the Gulf. You don't have to go too far inland, though, to buy a $400,000 home. There are many homes in that price range in Venice. I imagine Tampa would be similar. Also, Venice has 2 new hospitals that will be built within the next 2-3 years.

[FLKitties]

I can't speak for the Atlantic side, but for the Gulf side, Veniceman is correct. Tampa/St. Pete is a larger metro area so is going to have a larger number of job opportunities but that's not to say as good or better opportunities don't exist in the other areas, just that there is more volume of jobs to choose from in Tampa if someone happens to lose a job. In that area, though, you have to be more mindful about where you will be living because the commute could end up being longer if you fall in love with one area and have to work in another. Slightly less of an issue in Bradenton/Venice and Cape Coral/Fort Myers. I'd recommend finding the jobs first and then finding the area. All 3 Gulf Coast options are good in their own right, but you have to consider what works best for the two of you. By way of affordability, Cape Coral/Fort Myers is probably the most affordable but you're also that much further from the Tampa area so again, it's all going to boil down to what your specific interests are as to where would be best for you to end up.

[sinatras]

I hope you are not a fan of your great Mexican food options in Texas. Because the Mexican food in Florida is horrific.

[bill mayer]

North Port in Sarasota County is far more affordable, but for jobs etc the Tampa St PETE, Clwtr area is still tops. You could of course live in parts of West Bradenton, Palmetto etc and easy commute to St PETE. You could live in Riverview ( S Hillsborough) and Parrish (n Manatee Cty) and commute to parts of Tampa on the east side for sure.

[Johnathon Hills]

Houston to FL? Why on God's green earth would you consider this?

Stay in Houston! Seriously!

[cfbs2691]

Originally Posted by Johnathon Hills

Houston to FL? Why on God's green earth would you consider this?

Stay in Houston! Seriously!

This

[sinatras]

Originally Posted by cfbs2691

This

Houston is a wonderful city, not too pricey, with amazing culture, airport and restaurants.

[CoreLysium]

I don't want to come off as an arrogant Texan, but...

Rent first. Because when and if you decide you don't like it, you can always move.

Depending on where you are in Houston, you can get to the beach in 1 hr, I guess. Now that Galveston has beaches since Ike. Unless the sand went back into the Gulf, I dunno.

Florida, as a whole, is more of an armpit than Houston is. (Disclaimer: Born in DFW but both mom's and dad's families are in Belle Isle (aka south Orlando) which is kind of an industrial ashtray with humidity. Currently stuck in Alabama (Roll Tide) but aw hell no, Alabama is quite bad.)

I love Florida, and I love Texas, but I don't think I'd consider living anywhere in FL except Miami, and that's probably because I don't know enough about Miami.

Gotta say it again. Rent first.

Rent first.

[cfbs2691]

Originally Posted by CoreLysium

Rent first. Because when and if you decide you don't like it, you can always move.

Gotta say it again. Rent first.

Rent first.

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