[maggiekate]

Originally Posted by LHBR702

My husband and I are in our late 20s/early 30s and we've been considering a move from NJ to Florida for about 2 years now. We're looking for a "younger" area, preferably near the beach within 20-30 minutes. I have a couple of questions if anyone would be so kind as to offer some advice. We do not have jobs or family in Florida. We prefer the Southeast Coast. We love South Beach, but are well-aware that the average person can not afford to live there, but we like that sort of a place, with an active, walkable, downtown, lots of entertainment options and a fairly active nightlife. Also, we definitely need to be in an area with a good job market. I work as an Executive/HR Assistant, my husband works in the casino industry, but has restaurant experience. I've been reading the posts on the Florida forum long enough to know that Florida has some major problems, particularly with affordability and cost of living vs. salaries. What we need to do now is establish whether those problems are smaller or larger than those that we're facing up here in NJ and consider this along with what we feel we might gain in terms of the type of lifestyle we want. What would be helpful to us in making the decision whether or not to come to Florida is... how much would you estimate a working couple with no children yet, but the intention of having them would need to make annually to support an average lifestyle? By average I mean that we'd rent initially, but we'd eventually want to purchase a home, probably a small 3/2 home since it would be our first home purchase. We don't need to be in an exclusive, gated community. We do not need to have all the top of the line amenities and upgrades in the home. It can be in an area where the homes may be older or need some cosmetic work, but will still be a good investment. All we really insist on is that it's an area where you can safely get out, ride a bike, walk the dog, barbecue in the back yard without fear, even in early evening and it's close enough to entertainment and jobs not to make for a dreadful commute each time you need to get out in the car.

Basically the main 2 questions are:

1) what areas do you recommend for a couple like us; and
2) what do you think would be the minimum income we'd need to make as a couple to be comfortable?

Can anyone offer any advice? Thanks!

deerfield beach, or since your young, move to either lutz, wesley chapel, and wait, til the dust does settle. meaning insurance etc.

[Tampaman]

Tampa, Channelside area.. Tampa has a hard rock casino. Many restaurants, Channelside area has a town of nice luxury condos walking distance to all restaurants, a trolley to and from ybor area.. and of course a night life..

All walking distance.. Beach is 20 minutes away, port of tampa is walking distance if you ever get into a nice condo you can even get a place to dock your boat out back..

its not cheap.. but its not south beach expensive either..


www.gratehomeloans.com has a bunch of condos for sale " search mls" so you can compare prices