Leaving CA for FL - advice (Orlando, Lakeland: crime, credit, how much)
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This is a great resource and I am hoping that there is someone out there who will take a moment to read this thread and respond without negative emotion.
We are planning a relocation to Florida in the next two months. With the credit crunch and adverse economy ravishing across the nation, we sadly lost our home, business died and we have looked at every possible option to stay in CA but just cannot see a way forward.
It is a big move, west coast to east, and so I was wondering if anyone out there has done this move, and how you managed to get back on your feet once in Florida? We are in our early 40's, kids are grown up and out of the house. We are looking at central Florida, possibly Lakeland or surrounding areas.
Is steady work available? We are both in the print industry and are prepared and willing to start on any suitable level to get back on our feet.
If anyone has made this move I would be humbled to hear how you have faired in the transition.
Honestly you are probably looking at the worst state you could consider moving. Wages are low, jobs are scarse, and cost of living is high. Try a state with positive job growth like Texas, you may do much better there in the long run.
This is a great resource and I am hoping that there is someone out there who will take a moment to read this thread and respond without negative emotion.
, Why even ask if you don't want honest opinions?
Someone will soon come along and tell you what you want to hear.
Quote:
Originally Posted by afritrax
We are looking at central Florida, possibly Lakeland or surrounding areas.
Honestly you are probably looking at the worst state you could consider moving. Wages are low, jobs are scarse, and cost of living is high. Try a state with positive job growth like Texas, you may do much better there in the long run.
I agree 100%, Texas would be a much better choice imho.
This is a great resource and I am hoping that there is someone out there who will take a moment to read this thread and respond without negative emotion.
We are planning a relocation to Florida in the next two months. With the credit crunch and adverse economy ravishing across the nation, we sadly lost our home, business died and we have looked at every possible option to stay in CA but just cannot see a way forward.
It is a big move, west coast to east, and so I was wondering if anyone out there has done this move, and how you managed to get back on your feet once in Florida? We are in our early 40's, kids are grown up and out of the house. We are looking at central Florida, possibly Lakeland or surrounding areas.
Is steady work available? We are both in the print industry and are prepared and willing to start on any suitable level to get back on our feet.
If anyone has made this move I would be humbled to hear how you have faired in the transition.
Thank you much
Most people here on this forum know me for my usually upbeat, Florida-promoting posts, but honestly I cannot in good conscience advise you to move here under your circumstances. As the others have pointed out, the economy here is terrible, one of the worst in the nation. The last thing you need to do is go from the frying pan into the fire. Is there a reason you picked Florida, do you have family here? If so, that might make a difference if you have a place to stay.
If not, I second what another poster suggested, that you maybe look at Texas for now. It is one of the few states that seems to still have some jobs, and from what I hear, the overall cost of living is pretty good, depending on the area.
I am very sorry to hear of your misfortunes, these are terrible times for so many right now. I do wish your family the best of luck.
Honestly you are probably looking at the worst state you could consider moving. Wages are low, jobs are scarse, and cost of living is high. Try a state with positive job growth like Texas, you may do much better there in the long run.
I was going to suggest Texas but figured I'd be run out of here for being " negative "
The very thought of packing up and running to Florida with no job or a place to live is really very laughable, no offense to the O.P.
Most people here on this forum know me for my usually upbeat, Florida-promoting posts, but honestly I cannot in good conscience advise you to move here under your circumstances. As the others have pointed out, the economy here is terrible, one of the worst in the nation. The last thing you need to do is go from the frying pan into the fire. Is there a reason you picked Florida, do you have family here? If so, that might make a difference if you have a place to stay.
If not, I second what another poster suggested, that you maybe look at Texas for now. It is one of the few states that seems to still have some jobs, and from what I hear, the overall cost of living is pretty good, depending on the area.
I am very sorry to hear of your misfortunes, these are terrible times for so many right now. I do wish your family the best of luck.
I should have known better than to expect anything positive, and I totally respect all the views and opinions without being biased. Yes we have looked at other States, such as Arizona, Texas, Minnesota, Oregon etc., but having moved here to the USA in 2002 we don't have the luxury of family spread across the nation, and have to rely mostly on the advice and input of people on the ground in those areas that we think might be a good place to start over.
The reason we were leaning towards Florida, is because a very good friend of ours has opened their home for us to come and stay and slowly get started again, until we are on our feet.
Of course being realistic is necessary in light of the current economic meltdown, but when you have already lost everything, how much worse could it possibly get imo?
Thank you all for your input, this is still a fantastic resource for information hunting.
ps. if anyone is considering relocating California, I would have to chime my negative bell...having spent 6 years here, the cost of living is unjustified regardless of "the sunshine". You have to be either wealthy, or a family earning no less than $100k to break even and live in relative comfort.
Honestly you are probably looking at the worst state you could consider moving. Wages are low, jobs are scarse, and cost of living is high. Try a state with positive job growth like Texas, you may do much better there in the long run.
Texas would be the last place to move to.
It is much safer in Florida.
They just aired some info on the drug gangs in Texas, they have now moved in Arlington Tx by the hundreds and the cops cannot handle them all.
Texas is a total mess with all the illegals and gangs.
Keep looking for a job in Florida, it is not worse then anywhere else.
If it means anything one of our friends just got the axe in Durham NC like so many others and found a job of all places in Denver.
They just aired some info on the drug gangs in Texas, they have now moved in Arlington Tx by the hundreds and the cops cannot handle them all.
Texas is a total mess with all the illegals and gangs.
Keep looking for a job in Florida, it is not worse then anywhere else.
If it means anything one of our friends just got the axe in Durham NC like so many others and found a job of all places in Denver.
Are you on drugs ? Florida rates higher in crime than Texas and Florida ( Orlando ) is the only one that rates in the top 25 most dangerous. We all know that if gangs are bad in Arlington then TEXAS must just be overrun with them... I mean, In a state that takes 12 and half hours to drive through from East ( Orange ) to West ( El Paso ) and 13 hours from North ( Amarillo ) to South ( Brownsville ) A state with HUGE metros in Dallas/Ft. Worth, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and El Paso just to name a few, How can you claim that crime is bad based on Arlington, A SUBURB of Dallas ?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Going-2-Florida
Yes, take a look at Texas, top of the heap for lost jobs in 2008.
Not a good place to move to at all.
Are you insane ? Texas is one of the few states that the economy did NOT damage. I'll take it that you never lived in Texas ? The only things in Texas that aren't dirth cheap are property taxes ( still on average with Florida ) and electricity ( a little higher than Florida )
The unemployment rate in Texas is 5.1 the unemployment rate in Florida is 6.6
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, Why even ask if you don't want honest opinions? 
