Melbourne..Viera..Sebastian..Vero Beach.. relocating from NYC (Orlando, Port St. Lucie: real estate market, condos)

[Florida15]

Michael.....seems like you have all your ducks in a row,your head on straight and really doing your homework. Good for you! Be sure and walk in Viera Realty as well. They have a great setup there with a fountain of information. They helped us out tremendously on one of our visits.

[CrystallineSongs]

You might try a little further south. We moved to Fort Pierce in 1989 and love it here. We found out that most often the negative comments for the area were the results of biased focus and ignorance. Fort Pierce has a large science oriented community that few people know about (IRREC, USDA, IRCC, Harbor Branch, Smithsonian, etc.) The area has changed a lot in the last 20 years. Education on the whole has improved. Gifted programs good. Best community college in the state. Several degree programs now available. Many religious groups in the area including Muslim. Beautiful beaches, nice parks. Downtown weekly Saturday Farmer's Market and Craft Fair can't be beat (fewer vendors during summer). Within 2 hours of most major theme parks, great museums and other Florida attractions. Very good restaurants featuring several ethnic styles as well as seafood and other general types. Its a buyers market for housing at this time. You could easily find a $400K home for under $300K or a $200K place for $125K.

As in any community, you will find what you are looking for both good and bad. Every city will have its good and bad depending on where you look. If you look for biased and prejudiced people you will find them. If you look for people who believe in freedom for all people regardless of race or creed, you will also find them.

[MichaelNYC]

As in any community, you will find what you are looking for both good and bad. Every city will have its good and bad depending on where you look. If you look for biased and prejudiced people you will find them. If you look for people who believe in freedom for all people regardless of race or creed, you will also find them.
***************

Thanks for reminding me....
I lose track of that fact...

I do know there are bias people out there for better or for worse and yes I balance any negative reply.. but it is always good to be reminded.

Thanks !

Michael

PS I will now look into your area

[7micheller]

MichaelNYC, what area have you decided on?

[jrampy]

Michael- I was born in Stuart, lived in Port St Lucie and Ft Pierce, and now live in Sebastian. I live 5 minutes to the beach, and my daughter (9) goes to a very good school here. I personally would not live here if I didn't have to (custody issues with the ex). It isn't that the area is bad, however I would think long and hard before moving to Florida. Hurricanes aside, it will take you forever to get used to this weather here. Job security is getting very hard to come by in this area, with businesses closing constantly. Hopefully, with what you do, you will be ok. My suggestion would be the Sebastian area. It's quiet, and family-oriented, great schools, and no more than 20 minutes to anything exciting to do.

[MichaelNYC]

Originally Posted by 7micheller

MichaelNYC, what area have you decided on?

Hi 7-M,

No decision as of yet.
Just planning a trip to Brevard Cty and a bit south for a 9 day fact finding tour as I did for Pinellas Cty back in Oct.

Will speak to real estate brokers, fellow pharmacists, interview for jobs and basically drive and drive in and out all over the place.

Looking specifically at Melbourne, Viera, Satellite Beach, Indian Harbour Beach, will go down to Sebastian, Vero Beach and maybe further south

[MichaelNYC]

Hi JR,

Thanks for the feedback.

I say the same about Brooklyn (NY) I would not live here if I did not have to
I came back to look after my elderly parents who passed away and am looking to get back out and always wanted to get to FLA.

For work I am lucky.. there is a demand for Pharmacist and will be a demand for years to come.

I will check out all the areas.. and come down in August so I can get hit by the 'worst' weather
Though I have been in FLA in August before...

We shall see,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Originally Posted by jrampy

Michael- I was born in Stuart, lived in Port St Lucie and Ft Pierce, and now live in Sebastian. I live 5 minutes to the beach, and my daughter (9) goes to a very good school here. I personally would not live here if I didn't have to (custody issues with the ex). It isn't that the area is bad, however I would think long and hard before moving to Florida. Hurricanes aside, it will take you forever to get used to this weather here. Job security is getting very hard to come by in this area, with businesses closing constantly. Hopefully, with what you do, you will be ok. My suggestion would be the Sebastian area. It's quiet, and family-oriented, great schools, and no more than 20 minutes to anything exciting to do.

[andrea7902]

hi michael. i've been following your post because i'm planning on moving to florida as well. im from CT and i hate the long, miserable winters!

my aunt and her family moved to fl. 3 years ago and they LOVE it. sure it gets hot, but they would rather have the heat than the ice, snow and freezing weather! they stay indoors during the hot months the same way we stay indoors during the cold weather in CT. my aunt relocated first to vero beach and then to wellington. she would like to move back to vero beach because it is quieter and the homes are less expensive. you can get more for your money. wellington is busier. we are going down next month and are interested in checking out sebastian and the surrounding areas because i've heard good things about those towns.

anyway, good luck with your move. i've read a lot of negative replies here but i know a ton of people who moved to fl and just love it.

one thing we plan on doing is renting my aunts home in vero beach before we buy. we are unsure of exactly what town we want to live in, so i think renting first is our best option.

[MichaelNYC]

Hi Andrea,

GREAT to hear from youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu !!

Yup... stay in during the winter here,, so stay in a bit during the summer in FLA... ok... I never stay in winter time here... it is called 'layers' and I go out in any weather
But do not drive.. that is a hassle with the slush, ice and other NYC drivers... YIKES !

I am looking around the Melbourne area.. a little north like Viera, but more so south... how far south.. I do not know.. maybe done to Fort Pierce, PSL etc... maybe stop at Vero Beach,, dunno till I get there.

My wife is mentioning St. Augustine.. so maybe start there.. or another time. I will probably fly.. but might drive down so there for can pass St Augustine,,, and pass my neice in NC to stay over.

I always wanted to get to FLA and now I/we can.

Baby due in Oct so that delayed it.
Plus I have to retake my Boards (Pharmacy) to work there and that will take time.. so we are planning one year from now.. right after the summer probably..
So one more winter of ice and shoveling snow

Thanks for reading my posts and writing me !

Michael

[Aliza Sojourner]

I, too, have been following this thread since the beginning. Like Michael is planning, we took a fact finding trip and spent a week in Melbourne in June. We also checked out Seminole County but have decided against that area and now are focusing in on the Melbourne area.

A couple of comments: I lived in Tampa Bay for 8 years and understand your concern, Michael, about getting back and forth to the beaches. When I lived in Clearwater it seemed to take forever to get to Clearwater Beach. In June in Melbourne we were wondering where all the people were?? We never had traffic issues back and forth on the causeways.

I also lived in Ocala for 8 years which was mentioned briefly here. Ocala is more like the "South" in mindset. Diverse area with beautiful horse country to the west and the Ocala National Forest to the east. But suffice it to say I'm not interested in returning to the area. I prefer the more cosmopolitan diversity of either the Gulf from Tampa Bay south or the Space Coast on south. But that's a personal preference, of course.

Any one have any good advice about condo complexes in the Melbourne area? We're perhaps looking in the Suntree area off Wickham. The best of all worlds would be to rent in a condo complex where we can eventually buy. We wouldn't rule out the beach areas but doubt we can afford anything there.

We're retired so would like to be near shopping, churches, doctors etc to cut down on all the driving.

It appears to me that a lot of the rental property shows up on Craig's list. Would love to get any feedback possible on how to make a move go smoothly. Since we're coming from Illinois, our target is for October before it's too cold again.

Aliza