Should I move to South Fl? (Miami, Tampa: apartment, condo, job market)

[SouthernBoy12]

Originally Posted by Coconut1

I would actually recommend you move north or try and get a job with the federal government. If you move north, get into a union.

If you're set on FL, you're best off in South Florida, specifically Miami. Ft. Lauderdale also does well, but Miami is bigger.

I really want to stay in the South... It's going to be hard to leave Louisiana as it is. I've lived here all my life, but there's just notihng for me anymore. My family used to go to Destin in the early 2000's before the economy got bad, at least I know Florida. Are there any big coastal cities in the panhandle?

[hashbrown]

Check out Houston. Learn a trade and start your own business. Much better opportunity than anywhere in FL and you will be closer to home. If you move to South Florida you will feel like you have left the South.

[Coconut1]

Originally Posted by SouthernBoy12

I really want to stay in the South... It's going to be hard to leave Louisiana as it is. I've lived here all my life, but there's just notihng for me anymore. My family used to go to Destin in the early 2000's before the economy got bad, at least I know Florida. Are there any big coastal cities in the panhandle?

Sometimes what you want and what's best for you contradict each other.

I think you've answered your own question.

[valicky]

Originally Posted by SouthernBoy12

Thanks for the complement! I've heard that Miami is pretty crazy and hard to live in. Is there anywhere in South Florida or Florida as a whole you can recommend to look into? I have heard that Sarasota outside of Tampa is a good place?

It might be better, but that doesn't mean it's good. Just maybe a little less bad. I think it's incredibly hard to make it here with a minimum wage job and no family to help you. Do you speak any Spanish? Maybe a city like Austin or Phoenix would be easier since you don't need to be bilingual and it's cheaper than here.

[SouthernBoy12]

what about tallahassee?

[Coconut1]

Originally Posted by SouthernBoy12

what about tallahassee?

The only real metropolis in FL is the Miami metro.

Coming in behind Miami would be Tampa, Orlando and in a very big stretch, Jacksonville.

[valicky]

Originally Posted by SouthernBoy12

what about tallahassee?

My son lives in Tallahassee and is very happy there. He has a few very good friends there so he is not totally alone. He lucked out with a job in retail where he has a great boss giving him a wonderful opportunity and he is finally going to make a decent salary. He had to put in his time not making too much and we had to help him out. The cost of living is lower for him especially the rent. I think it's easy to find roommates to live with too since it's a real college town. Around May and June is usually a good time to find a job when the college kids have gone home and left theirs. Other times of the year, it's pretty hard because there are so many kids there looking for work.

My son would rather starve up there than move back down to Miami. He likes the smaller town feel, the Southern feel (Miami is not the South). You also have 4 seasons there. Not in Miami. You should see if you can check it out for a few days to see what you think. What one person thinks is great, another might not.

[valicky]

Edited to add that Tally is not a big city. It may be considered a small city or big town. Might not be what you're looking for.

[r_k]

To the OP: You have a good reason for leaving your current town (no jobs). However, you are proposing moving to another area (south Florida) which has one one of the nation's highest unemployment rates, and that also without a job. I recommend you widen your search to anyplace where you can find a good job (not a temporary hourly, preferably), move there, work for a while and get experience, possibly even some schooling, and then think about moving to a specific area or city down the road if you're not happy.

[doggiebus]

^^^That is the best advice OP. Make sure you have a job lined up before you come or one year of savings to live off.