[lavender]

1. what the weathers like most year round, wheres the best place for sun, i need warmth (but not to humid or is that a package?) eg, in england we got 9 months cold winter followed by 3 months of rainy humid clouds and if were lucky a day of sun. South Florida is the hottest in summer. North FL, Jacksonville/Tallahassee has cooler winters. Inland can be quite cold in winter months - Dec-Feb (that's a long winter - shorter is Jan/Feb)
nearer coast is best summer and winter, as water keeps it warmer in winter and cooler in summer.

2. the nice areas to bring up a family and the places to avoid Tampa Bay area is nice, I am not partial to west coast dade/broward connurbation too fast, too dirty, too crowded too much crime.

3. would we be welcome, are people friendly in certain areas?? I find almost everywhere except gtr miami very friendly

4. and a rough price of a mortgage to pay per month for a 3 bed housedepends on how much you pay for it. You would probably need to put down at least 25% and you would have no credit so you can figure on around 5% mortgage rate at least. I just purchased a nice little 3bedroom on a lake, very pretty in a very good school district for $180,000 - safe streets, good neighbours, close to shops and beach is 3 mins away.

The best of luck to you in your endeavours to move hereas others will say and have said, getting the visa is the tough part

[lavender]

Hey Toots from Scotland, you will find many changes in the Miami/Palm Beaches area if you have not been back since the mid 90s. It's probably unrecognizeable now to you. If you liked the cosmopolitan nature of Miami then you might find NC a little bit quieter. Unless you move to somewhere like Raleigh/Durham area. It can be pretty cold there in winter too, I have been to quite a few events there during the Nov to Feb months and its been freezing outside.