Ready for a change - feedback on moving to Florida (Jupiter: home, law school)

[pinalli]

Hi Karla,

Thanks so much for the response.I tried to open your dm in a new window but my firefox popup blocked it.I will log back in and out and try again.
My husband has a stockbroker's license,has a degree in economics and worked for himself as a small business selling stock,annuities,life insurance.He is extremely knowledgeable but business has really dried out in the past year with the collapse of all things financial.

I am really leaning towards Ponte Vedra and it seems to have highly rated established schools while fruit cove is more affordable and has good schools but not as good as the ones in Ponte Vedra.

Thanks,
Philippa

[Chrome Microphone]

Originally Posted by PBJhope2move

Hi everyone. this is my first post. I found this board via a Google search on relocating to Florida and I'm so glad I did! There are some friendly people here and tons of information.

I live and have lived in Maine most of my 31 years and I can't take the brutal winters anymore. Gosh, i really like living in Maine from May-October but that's it. It's a beautiful state with some of the friendliest ppl and it's really clean and safe. My childhood was a happy one. But once November comes I turn into this mega depressed women who feels like home is a prison. I've never been on a ski slope and have no desire too. It's the end of March and there's still 3 inches of ice in some spots of my driveway and a snow bank that won't melt until June. Some ppl don't mind the cold, me I can't do it anymore. I need warmth + flowers and green grass.

You have no idea what it does to me at xmas time ...seeing ppl in warmer climates out getting their xmas trees in jeans and t-shirts. Oh GOD that will be me some day!

My husband is from Jamaica and has lived in Maine with me for the past 3 years. You can imagine how much he hates it here too. Add in the lack of diversity; there is absolutely nothing going on here as far as night life/entertainment, culture, etc. Ok, it's Friday night ....we could either go see a movie, go bowling, walk around the mall or sit at a dive bar playing horrible music.

Florida has always seemed like a state I'd enjoy living in. I'm reading a lot of mixed feedback from ppl who live there though. We have a 2 year old, so school is definitely top priority, but from what I've read, overall the school systems in Florida are poor? Also, being sheltered in Maine and always leaving my car and home unlocked, moving to an area high in crime would probably wig me right out, so there's that to consider. Don't want to move to an area where we don't feel safe.

Ideally this is my dream town: No more than 20 minute ride to the beach; good school system K-12; diversity so my husband doesnt feel like he sticks out like a sore thumb and feel so alone; fair job market where we have a chance at landing a good job making what we make now (combined $70K); nice neighborhood/friendly neighbors; community feeling/town parades/nice town park for kids; less than 1hr commute to major airport.

Will i find that in Florida? I've heard posiive feedback on Orange Park; Weston (but I think that's too expensive/yuppy for us); Clermont; Sanford.......

We plan on taking a trip down in a couple of months after we pick a couple of counties/towns that seem like we'd fit in good.

Our goal is to sell our home in Maine and move within the next 3 years. I'm ready for a change, so is my husband. Life is too short to be completely miserable for 6 months out of every year.....we are ready to better our mental wellbeing and overall quality of our lives. I really appreciate any feedback (positive/negative) you are willing to provide.

Peace!

Wow, a lot of topics to touch on here, lol. I will just comment on what I have highlighted above that caught my eye, and just give it to you straight, as I always do. If I were you and thinking of moving, I'd want the same done for me.

1. Maine: "beautiful, clean, some of the friendliest people, and safe." In Florida, you can find this here too of course, but let me tell you that FL attracts criminals/people hiding from the law in other states/transients like probably no other state does, in my opinion. I am a native Floridian, and I think over the yrs, FL has become less desirable and far less friendly. In FL, as far as the safety issue, you should lock your doors - at home and your car doors. Like I said, FL attracts a lot of criminals/transients.


2. Maine's diversity and culture - lacking. In FL, unless you go to South FL or a big city like Tampa or Orlando, you will find most places, especially in North Florida, to be possibly even less diverse than Maine. Places like you mentioned: Orange Park, Sanford, Clermont are not diverse. Orlando is, but not the towns you mentioned in Central FL. Orange Park is west of Jax, but I dont consider even Jax to be very diverse at all.

3. Schools - hit or miss. Some good, some bad, just like anywhere else really. But overall, not nearly as good as Maine. That's just the reality of not keeping good teachers in the state, not enough funding, retirees dont wanna give a dime because they are from the Northeast, and dont have any kids/grandkids in FL schools, etc...

4. Miserable weather in Maine for 6 months. In FL, we have miserable weather too for 6 months, its called summer. Your basically trading in one form of misery for another. Other than weather, from what you have described as important (safe, diverse, good schools), I think you could do it here in FL, but it's gonna take some reseach. You may have to trade in far less diversity, but in return, get more friendly of an area, or trade in being 20 minutes to the beach for being an hour away, or something similar.


I think your toughest obstacle is to find something in FL with all 7 or 8 characteristics... but I think if you could settle for 4 or 5, you could choose a place like Clermont or Sebring, Orange Park or St Augustine, or a place in the panhandle or a place below the panhandle but close to the beach in a place like Citrus County or Levy County.

[Chrome Microphone]

Originally Posted by pinalli

Hi Karla,

Thanks so much for the response.I tried to open your dm in a new window but my firefox popup blocked it.I will log back in and out and try again.
My husband has a stockbroker's license,has a degree in economics and worked for himself as a small business selling stock,annuities,life insurance.He is extremely knowledgeable but business has really dried out in the past year with the collapse of all things financial.

I am really leaning towards Ponte Vedra and it seems to have highly rated established schools while fruit cove is more affordable and has good schools but not as good as the ones in Ponte Vedra.

Thanks,
Philippa

Yes, Ponte Vedra and Fruit Cove are nice definitely. On $70k income, I am not sure that would be enough for PV, but maybe it is. I just know it's pretty expensive there, but I guess it depends on your debt and how much money you can put down on a house, etc...

[pinalli]

Hi everyone,

Thanks for your input.
I will post back when I return after my training.
The crime issue scares me though.Is there a lot of crime in St John's county as well?

Thanks,
Philippa

[Chrome Microphone]

No, I find SJC to be pretty safe. One of the safer counties in FL I would guess. I'd just stay away from the bad areas in Jax, and if you wanna be away from the unfriendlies, dont go to Palm Coast, lol.

[kbarjae]

if you find ahouse in ponte vedra for 300,000 that would be a score i think 1,5 on the low end would be more like it however you can pick up a lot around 295

[Chrome Microphone]

^^^Say what now?

[blakesq]

So, is the big difference in Taxes good or bad, or do you pay less or more taxes?

Originally Posted by Karla with a K

I lived in NJ before moving down here, there is a big difference in the taxes you will be paying .
I lived in Ponte Vedra and while you may pay a bit more for a house there as opposed to Fruit Cove the close proximity to the beach may be worth it.
I sent you a DM with more detailed info on the difference.

You didn't say what what end of the financial services your husband is in but there are some big companies here, Citibank, CIT, Chase to name a few

The weather is suppose to be great this weekend 78 to 82

[Karla with a K]

Philippa
I know your in training and might not see this till Monday,
If you have the time I would look at both areas and compare which area will fits your needs regarding schools and homes.

blakesq

The taxes here are much lower, one of my friends in NJ is in a home that would be equal to a home here in the $350 k range and pays over $10k a year in takes

[300zxluvr]

I want to thank all of you for your input on my move! Sadly, I will not be moving to FL at this time, as I thought to check on my insurance and medical coverage and it will totally disappear if I move to the state of FL...different states have different rules. Govt health care is NOT the same in all states and I am happy that I thought to check this out before I moved or it would have wiped me out!!!
I'll remain in NC for now, which will be great for my son, and I will look to the coast of NC or SC or GA for the kind of place I will be happy>>>one with beaches, fishing, sunny warmth. You've been interesting folks! Good luck to all of you!