Childfree 30-something Brooklyn couple looking to move to Florida (Tampa: middle-class, transplants)

[BklyntoFlorida]

Hi everyone!

Thanks in advance for reading this message. I'm planning a road trip to immerse myself in select areas of Florida, because I'm considering moving there, and I'm losing my mind trying to pick out the best places to visit. Here's why we (my husband and I) want to move:

1. I want to own a house one day - nothing huge, just a nice place with a nice yard (new construction preferred; I've dealt with old shoddy wiring that doesn't allow me to run two ACs at once, no thanks!). And that will never happen in New York. Combined salary is in the high five-figures, to give a sense of our budget.
2. I hate the cold. Winters are becoming more and more painful to me, both emotionally in that I feel trapped and unhappy, and physically in that I'm inactive and I can actually feel the impact on my body. I love swimming and the water in general, and even in the summer in NY, the beach water is cold. I would love a place where I could swim, bike, and skate year-round.
3. What makes NYC really special is evaporating. The middle class is disappearing, and culture is getting replaced by homogeneous stores. Everything that is worth experiencing is becoming too expensive.

Now here's what I want in a new neighborhood:

1. Affordable stuff to do! Diverse restaurants, breweries, groups to do water sports with, sports arenas (where the cheap-seat tickets are less than $80; thanks for nothing MSG). Waterfront restaurant/bars, shows (comedy, theater, concerts, etc.). Adult stuff. Ideally, somehow near to both great beaches and also city streets with stuff to do.
2. Weather where I can be outside comfortably at least 10 months out of the year. Anything below 50 is not comfortable.
3. Affordable housing with good land -- again, not huge, but enough for a pool/BBQ setup. Something nicely-sized for two fun people and any fun friends who want to come over.
4. Low crime.
5. OK with driving (despite living in NYC I can do that, haha), but would like some fun stuff to be walkable or bike-able distance.
6. Opportunities to meet new, fun people with diverse interests. So many of the transplants to NY are snooty, trust fund babies who look down on stuff I like. I want to meet people I can throw back a few beers (or scotches... depends on my mood!) with, or talk about sports with, or talking about gaming with, or go to the beach and splash around in the water with, or debate whether Young Griff's absence from the GoT TV series implies that he's not an end-game character in the books with... anyway, people who don't think looking down your nose at other people is a good time.

Sorry this is so long... I don't even know if my dream place is a real place or only exists in my mind anymore. Any advice you can give me would be hugely appreciated. FYI: I will not have to find work, as I can telecommute to my existing job, which I love. I'm primarily looking at the Tampa area and Fort Lauderdale area (and am cross-posting on both boards), but really any location that seems like it might be my dream place would be appreciated.

THANK YOU!!!!!

[Stewabby]

We need your budget.

[Spring Hillian]

What would the employment picture look like? Corporate transfers? Home based business?

Originally Posted by BklyntoFlorida

Hi everyone!

Thanks in advance for reading this message. I'm planning a road trip to immerse myself in select areas of Florida, because I'm considering moving there, and I'm losing my mind trying to pick out the best places to visit. Here's why we (my husband and I) want to move:SNIP................

[PhotoProIP]

LOL
Here NY-ers do that!

So many of the transplants to NY are snooty, trust fund babies who look down on stuff I like.

Try St. Pete. That's where most NY-ers crowd together anyway...

[Pragmaticus]

Originally Posted by Stewabby

We need your budget.

80K to 90K

[Stewabby]

Originally Posted by Pragmaticus

80K to 90K

To buy? Or are you referring to how much you make a year?

[lavender]

My first thought is that Greater Tampa Bay and or Ft Lauderdale are not cheap options. They are warm weather options
but not cheap. The best areas of Tampa tend to be older homes, Old North East - right by downtown which is the probably the area you would like most judging from your comments - a home will set you back quite a lot. If you dont mind a bit of drive other areas of St Pete are not bad, but not so much new housing because much of the county is built out. There are pockets, but new homes to tend to be pretty pricey in areas clustering most popular living spots. New homes are generally farther out from the hub of activity, so you have to drive. Also they tend to be more generic in stores and restaurants. Tampa is developing nicely and there are some great spots too in the downtown areas, but again the prices for homes are high closer to where things are happening. You should spend a lot of time looking closely and talk to a few realtors to get their perspective. Advice is free.
Floridians are from all over, but its a lot more laid back here than the NE but work is just as hard, the middle-class is squeezed here too and we have the same problems as people up north - just less snow with it. (however we do have stinkingly hot summers which make one wish for a blizzard)

[KPB]

Originally Posted by lavender

The best areas of Tampa tend to be older homes, Old North East - right by downtown which is the probably the area you would like most judging from your comments - a home will set you back quite a lot.

Old North East in St Pete rite?
It is a nice area, beautiful historic homes.

[ApolloBeachRetiree]

Originally Posted by Pragmaticus

80K to 90K

Where did you see that? I assume you're being facetious. But, yes, we need her budget.

[dothetwist]

Originally Posted by ApolloBeachRetiree

Where did you see that? I assume you're being facetious. But, yes, we need her budget.

A possible extrapolation of the OP's comment??: "Combined salary is in the high five-figures, to give a sense of our budget."

But to OP: THAT's your income now, in NY....are you sure it'll be the same in FL? Also, if you want to buy a home, how much do you have for a down payment? Or can you purchase with cash?? Or are you looking to rent for awhile?

If you aren't concerned with schools (you're childfree now, but forever??), I'd say downtown St. Pete or if you want a smaller (and less expensive) venue, but check out the historic part of Gulfport, too. We live in Gulfport and love that we can walk to many non-chain eateries, a small beach, fishing pier, marina. Very active beach volleyball and bar/club scene, here. Live music at one place or another any night of the week. Lots of weekend festivals, weekly Fresh Market, twice a month Art Walk nights. Surprisingly quiet in the residential historic area. But new homes, hardly ever. Lots of rehab going on; you're young, buy a place and roll up your sleeves!