MOVING TO THE SPACE COAST FROM PA (help)

[SouthernBelle3]

Originally Posted by surfrider

My wife and i are in are mid 20's with a 10 month old little girl,we are moving to florida in about 10 months and just want feed back on life on the space coast .My wife is a banker and has a transferable job,i on the other hand am a jack of all trades.I have all my own tools and a truck ,i'm very skilled in all aspects of home repair and remodeling.I'm wondering what chance i have of landing a good job.I make over 25 dollars an hour now.any one with info on good neighborhoods or anything to give me a better idea of the cocoa beach/melbourne area i would appretiate it.

Not to discourage you, but $25.00 an hour is double what you will make here in construction. My husband used to hire crews in construction, and the ones from the northeast were the most shocked about the wages. Companies in Florida usually don't pay that well. The other post are correct, construction has slowed down considerably and I personally know people who were laid-off in the construction related fields. Without a contractors license, you are very limited in having your own business. You can only make minor repairs. Florida Licensed Contractor Listing - Builders Association of North Central Florida

[TriMT7]

I agree. You MIGHT be able to make $25/hour if you go out on your own to do your own handyman business or something like that (rent-a-husband)..... but $25/hour is a bit unheard of (though of course cost of living will be lower on the Space Coast than up North). Are you good at welding, that sort of thing? You can make over $20/hour doing that sort of work...... I know Stuart (a couple counties South of the Space Coast) has a little industrial area that has some good paying opportunities (My mother's fiance makes pretty good money Welding and such at a boat accessory manufacturer in Stuart).

[irish36]

Handyman jobs are close to nil, promises to be a busy hurricane season though so that may change. Taxes and home insurance are high. City-data is wrong in sex-offenders, the official registry has at least 100 per zip in Palm Bay (thats about 300). Rural meth labs and grow houses. Try North Melbourne, newly renamed "Viera"-it has zoo, courthouse, parks, better streets for family

[surfrider]

Thank you for the reality check.I think i may have to look outside my profession for a good job.What about UPS or something along those lines maybe a utility company.My friend works for UPS and loves it.also were coming down in december to lock in exactly were to move,i see alot of 3 and for bedroom houses that are brand new on craigslist for around a 1000 a month.were im from thats pretty amazing.I 'm wondering if there in bad areas or in a flood prone area.please give me all the feed back u can on decent neighboorhoods in the space coast.

[irish36]

The nicer areas of Palm Bay are Bayside Lakes Subdvsn and Town of Malabar. Unfortunately the street system is not so good, if you work in Melbourne it may take you 45 minutes to get home b/c traffic. Suntree and Viera have the Outlet Mall, Courthouse, Zoo, Wal-mart, sports complex, and new overpass for easier driving. As for your job, try handyman stuff through school board or public works through the city...I say this for better health insurance. I have a house in Malabar on 1.3 acres, we have chickens/goats....$315,000...if your interested. Suntree and Viera are still better cities though.

[MyPSJdotcom]

Originally Posted by smash731

lol edwards what is up with all the steelers fans...I'm in Canaveral Groves (Cocoa) and I've been puzzled by why my neighborhood sports dive is Steelers Nation since I moved in 2 yrs ago

I love to walk in sporting my Baltimore RAVENS gear.

surfrider...Cocoa is a very slow area for jobs, you will have more luck with Melbourne. I will strongly agree that Port St. John is a no-no.

I am puzzled by this remark that Port St. John is a no-no.... I have lived in many places in Florida. I commute 1 hour to Lake Mary every day. I have yet to see a negative in this area. We have so many wonderful families, and it is so children oriented. I haven't seen such a family atmosphere in such a long time. Everyone is active in Sports, the local schools are great... I just don't get this remark...

[Denise in Fla]

Originally Posted by MyPSJdotcom

I am puzzled by this remark that Port St. John is a no-no.... I have lived in many places in Florida. I commute 1 hour to Lake Mary every day. I have yet to see a negative in this area. We have so many wonderful families, and it is so children oriented. I haven't seen such a family atmosphere in such a long time. Everyone is active in Sports, the local schools are great... I just don't get this remark...

I lived in PSJ for two years, never had any problems.