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I've been unemployed for awhile and I need to make a change. I'm not sure what to do next but the job market up here sucks and I don't want to renew the lease on my apartment for a 5th year. My family owns a home in the Florida Panhandle, which is currently sitting empty. We'd love to sell the house but the housing market is horrible in that part of Florida and we don't have the ability to manage renters from all the way up here. My idea was to move down there into the house for a year. This would allow me to do several things: Live in a nice home rent-free (the only expense is utilities) instead of a crapped apartment. Save up some money working part-time. Clean/upgrade the house so it'd be ready for sale once the market turns around. And work on some creative projects I've been holding off on.
My biggest concern is I'll get down there and I'll be completely alone and bored because I don't know anyone in Florida. (I was thinking maybe a roommate would make the house less lonely and also bring in extra cash.) I'm hoping the job market will turn around a year from now when I decide to return. How hard do you think it'd be to find employment here once that time comes around? I've never lived anywhere else but up here in the NJ/NYC metro area and really have no desire to permanently move out of this area. Is it a good idea to go? Please help!
I live here in Florida (Tampa). We moved from NJ 4 years ago. My husband was relocated and then was laid off 5 months ago with only 2 job interviews. We are stuck with a house that is worth $75k less. We are stuck here. I would move back in a heart beat if we could. Like you said, the job market is terrible, but it is terrible down here.However, if you are already without a job and want to see what it is like here in Florida, I would go for it. You say your only expense will be utilities. Does that include the costly electric bill to cool your home? Ours is $300 a month in the summer (for a 2,300 square foot home). Does that include the water bill. We pay $50 a month. What about lawn care (mowing, weed control, bug/termite control)? We do all this ourselves now (except for the termite, we hire someone for $500 a year to take care of that). Before my husband was laid off, we paid $45 per mow, $100 - $200 each time the lawn maintaince guy came to spray the lawn (about every 6 weeks). I assume your family will pay the mortage, taxes, and insurance. Don't forget, things are a little bit further away, so your gas expenses will go up. They say Florida is cheaper to live. Other than the price for a house, it is not really cheaper. Food, gas, clothing are all about the same. Are you confident that you can find a job here in Florida? What would happen if you got down here and couldn't find work down here either? A friend of mine has been out of work and looking for ANY job she could get for 7 months now. I would not worry about the return to NJ/NYC. You can always find another apartment. Hopefully the job market will be better in a year.I would still go. It should be an adventure. Who knows, maybe you will really like it down here and decide to stay.
The house is owned outright and we're alreadying paying the water, electric, cable, etc. each month for an empty house! Once I move there I'll just be taking over the utility payments while I'm staying in the house. The family will continue paying the taxes and insurance. I just came back from visiting the house two weeks ago and it's in good shape and there is plenty of room for me to get a roommate to help with expenses. We have a guy who does the lawn but he stops in the fall, which is when I plan on moving down. I do expect to find a job there but it may take some time. In any case, I have nothing to lose since I can't find a job up here either. Also, I'm still on unemployment which I can continue to collect when I move to Florida. My biggest expense would be purchasing a car, gas, and car insurance.
The house is owned outright and we're alreadying paying the water, electric, cable, etc. each month for an empty house! Once I move there I'll just be taking over the utility payments while I'm staying in the house. The family will continue paying the taxes and insurance. I just came back from visiting the house two weeks ago and it's in good shape and there is plenty of room for me to get a roommate to help with expenses. We have a guy who does the lawn but he stops in the fall, which is when I plan on moving down. I do expect to find a job there but it may take some time. In any case, I have nothing to lose since I can't find a job up here either. Also, I'm still on unemployment which I can continue to collect when I move to Florida. My biggest expense would be purchasing a car, gas, and car insurance.
I would go for it then. I think it will be fun. You will LOVE Florida's winters. If you live near the Tallahassee area, there are many trails for biking. Another friend of mine moved from Tampa to Tallahassee and loves it there. Good luck!
annaegel,
No, it's the panhandle area next to Mobile, Alabama.
njkate,
I don't think it'd be too hard to find another apartment once I decide to move back. Plenty of cheap rental inventory up here.
Then go for it Explore the whole gulf coast area from where you are right to the Louisiana border....great food, great people in that area and Mississippi has casinos on the gulf if you are into it...from where you are that should only be about a 2 hour drive...explore & enjoy
in thinking more about this, i wonder how this will look on your resume when you decide to resume your job search. i don't know your line of work or your age, but it's something to think about.
annaegel,
No, it's the panhandle area next to Mobile, Alabama.
njkate,
I don't think it'd be too hard to find another apartment once I decide to move back. Plenty of cheap rental inventory up here.
get your Bible ready and bring the booze, dry county? Maybe. Have you been there before and liked it ?
Last edited by stevemorse; 06-30-2009 at 02:55 PM..
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Explore the whole gulf coast area from where you are right to the Louisiana border....great food, great people in that area and Mississippi has casinos on the gulf if you are into it...from where you are that should only be about a 2 hour drive...explore & enjoy 
