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We are 50 yrs old, and will be empty-Nester next year when our younger son goes to college. Been living in Dallas area for the past 10 years.
Now it seems that we can probably have better life moving to Florida with much more activities than in Dallas. Dallas suburbs are very nice to raise a family, but there are not many recreational options, at least nowhere close to Florida. Looking at the weather apps, its hot in summer at both places, but winter seems to be more fun in Florida.
And planning to switch career to Real Estate in the next 1-2 years. Not set on any specific location in Florida though.
What are your thoughts/experiences? Appreciate the advice
It all depends. Dallas is a great city and plenty fun. What is “fun” to you? If it’s beaches and water activities, then yeah FL is for you. If not, then it depends on which city in Florida you move to in order to accurately compare it to Dallas.
You’ll find lots of work in real estate in Dallas and just about any city FL. As a 50 year old, Tampa/St. Pete is probably the ideal location. Beach is very close by and a calmer way of life than Miami or Orlando, but still an hour or two from either place if you want to visit. Sarasota is also really nice.
Location: Miami (prev. NY, Atlanta, SF, OC and San Diego)
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Are you a beach person?...what part of Florida—Tampa is different from Jacksonville is definitely different from Miami is different from Orlando, etc etc...are you a suburban or more urban/cosmopolitan type?...how hot it gets depends where you live—coastal So Fla gets breezes and does not feel quite as hot during the summer as it does just a few miles inland or the Gulf Coast and Panhandle.
The thing I miss most in Dallas is the ability to drive for a day or two to some nice place. There is not much variety of places around Dallas. However, in Florida, it seems that there are many places like that, and there are even cruises that can be done over a weekend.
I like some hustle and bustle of a city to be nearby. So living in a suburb of happening city is what I would like.
I think I would second that somewhere within the Greater Tampa Bay region would work well then.
There are 8 counties that are considered a part of the media market and each are quite distinctive, so I would look at a number of places in the area. To start, I would suggest you look at the following:
-Brandon/Valrico
-Bradenton/Lakewood Ranch
-Wesley Chapel/New Tampa
-Palm Harbor/Tarpon Springs
Each have somewhat different offerings and vibe, but could potentially fit what you are looking for, individually. I tried to focus more on specifically urban areas, but, if you value walkability, there are little main street areas that could also potentially be mentioned.
For fun? Definitely Florida. It's not even close. For your situation you will also save on property taxes as well of which TX is very unforgiving with seniors.
Florida...by far. Maybe a suburb of Orlando, like Kissimmee. Tampa or South Florida wouldn't be bad either. All are, IMO, insanely more desirable than Dallas.
I agree with everyone saying Florida, specifically the Tampa area. You still get many of the big city amenities you find in Dallas (MLB / NHL / NFL, upscale shopping, direct flights to other big cities, etc.). In addition:
1. You don't have to deal with constant tourism traffic in Orlando.
2. It's slower paced and more "integrated" than Miami.
3. The winters are relatively warmer than in Jacksonville or the panhandle.
4. It's relatively less Hurricane prone than most big Florida cities, because the Gulf waters near Tampa Bay are more shallow and any storms that threaten Tampa would be going against the tradewinds.
5. You're in a reasonable day drive distance to Florida's other big cities because of the central location.
6. COL is more comparable to what you find in Dallas, if not cheaper because of the lower housing costs.
Location: Miami (prev. NY, Atlanta, SF, OC and San Diego)
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You might consider Ft Lauderdale...more suburban but a growing downtown, East Coast/Atlantic Ocean summers are a bit more comfortable than other areas of the state by the water, it’s cheaper than Miami but you are also only 35-40 minutes from it when you want to drive or take the Virgin Brightline higher speed rail to it (or 30 minutes north to West Palm Beach), 2 big international airports (FLL and MIA, an AA hub, plus a 3rd, smaller one—PBI), if you are into cruises you have a port in your backyard and an even bigger one to the south of you, and great annual cultural events (art shows, boat shows, food & wine, music, all 4 pro sports plus tennis, soccer and college ball) in the MSA. Good access to golf, tennis and water sports.
Not sure of your budget but if money is a factor then the other areas in FL are more affordable. Also, SoFla will have more of an international (Hispanic, Caribbean, Canadian and European) flavor along with more transplants from the Northeast US v other parts of the country—if that matters to you as well.
Last edited by elchevere; 06-22-2020 at 01:03 PM..
I agree with everyone saying Florida, specifically the Tampa area. You still get many of the big city amenities you find in Dallas (MLB / NHL / NFL, upscale shopping, direct flights to other big cities, etc.). In addition:
1. You don't have to deal with constant tourism traffic in Orlando.
2. It's slower paced and more "integrated" than Miami.
3. The winters are relatively warmer than in Jacksonville or the panhandle.
4. It's relatively less Hurricane prone than most big Florida cities, because the Gulf waters near Tampa Bay are more shallow and any storms that threaten Tampa would be going against the tradewinds.
5. You're in a reasonable day drive distance to Florida's other big cities because of the central location.
6. COL is more comparable to what you find in Dallas, if not cheaper because of the lower housing costs.
For #1, unless the OP lives nearby or adjacent to the tourist area, he will not encounter tourist traffic. Most of central Florida’s residents live north of the Turnpike which is decidedly removed from the tourist area.
For #2, what does “integrated” mean in this context?
For #4, Orlando and Jacksonville are much less hurricane prone than Tampa Bay. West/southwest Florida is one of the worst areas prone to storms and flooding in the state.
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