Moving to Florida - Things I Wish I Knew Before Moving Here

I moved to Florida roughly 5 years ago. Before living in Florida I assumed quite a bit. Some turned out to be completely true! Some things fell short. So if you're thinking about moving to Florida, here's a few things you should keep in mind!

Ken Pozek
Keller Williams Realty Classic

[georgia-bd]

I'm a die-hard Floridian born and raised. The heat, the weather, the atmosphere period I'm not going anywhere. There's no place like home. I love it here. 🌴🌴☀️🌞🌞

[stugooden]

I don’t care how hot it is, nothing is worse than shovelling snow in -40 degrees Celsius, driving in snow, sliding on ice and not seeing the sun for days, even weeks on end. I’ll take the warmth!

[ranger]

Thank you for the video. Good comments and observations. It's hot and humid, but man-oh-man, those winters! We retired from the rat race up in Washington, DC about 7 years ago and haven't looked back. I don't miss it a bit. All the things you say are true, but, hey, we're living in paradise! There is definitely a GOOD quality of life here! Thanks again for the video.

[dianecenteno]

Many people who move to Florida, unfortunately, do not do their research and have no clue what they are in for on many levels. Makes the current growth situation difficult for everyone. 🤦‍♂️. Thanks for the informative video👍

[DaveM-FFB]

Make a summer "escape plan" to avoid the heat and humidity. Road trips, 2nd home, etc. Whatever you can do to spend time in cooler, dryer climates. And invest $300 in a generator for power outages. The best investment you can make.

[wsmith]

In the summer you need a shower and an outfit change after every project outdoors. Get a good washer and dryer. The traffic in populated areas is terrible. You’ll spend 7 minutes sitting at traffic lights for every 20 minutes of driving. Good luck finding a boat ramp to launch your boat.

[Yormsane]

It's not so much the heat, but the humidity that's so hard for newcomers to deal with. The Orlando area is especially sweltering, with countless lakes that drive the moisture content through the roof. On the coasts, there are sea breezes which cool things down significantly, but in central Florida it's essentially rain forest conditions. Come down over the winter to try it out for a few weeks, then you'll adapt better to the stifling summers.

[hotshoestudios]

Pro tip: once you move here please remember not to vote for the same people and policies that destroyed the state you left. Keep Florida free.

[karlmartin]

Never under sell the amount of humidity. It is brutal. If you sweat, it will be like you jumped into a lake just by standing outside between May to October.

[jeffevans]

The Florida of old was the last vestige of laid back beach parties and drinking beer in the sun, long gone. Like California in the 60's Florida has succumb to the snowbirds in the 80's. Lots of nice places to retire but you better have big bucks to do it, big bucks.

[star_platinum]

with the heat in the summer, I just do things in the morning and the evening outdoors, in the afternoon I will do indoor things such as the mall

[DeborahDoodles]

Mostly I liked living in Florida (Tampa Bay area) for many reasons. Unfortunately my family did not so we moved home after 13 years. The sink holes are predominately on the west coast not so much near Orlando. Also, Orlando has so much to do but be sure you research neighborhoods before you move.
In all that time I only saw one gator, a baby gator.

[Blackdawn]

Not that I want anyone else moving to my home state, specially those from NY/NJ/CA, but: With sufficient warning to prep and even evacuate + home owners insurance, you should be much safer here than any state prone to TONADOS, EARQUAKES and SOCIALISM.

[timfields]

As a Native Floridian, I'm sick of people moving here. In my life time (55 years) I have watched so much of our beautiful natural land disappear just to be replaced with homes, golf courses, and more traffic. Up until the early 80s a drive between Ocala and Orlando consisted of Orange Groves and the amazing scent of the blossoms blooming. Now there's 100s and 100s of thousands of cookie cutter homes jammed in together. Beautiful land destroyed for golf courses. The lakes and rivers we played in as kids now have homes surrounding them that are no longer accessible by the people that grew up here. Florida use to be a laid back relaxed state, now everyone is in a hurry and miss the point of actually living here. Our wildlife are getting pushed out their homes. Then when the northerners see a gator, snake, or any wildlife in their yard they flip out wanting it destroyed. I am grateful the Snowbirds go home in the summer, but honestly...If you can't handle our summers, you don't deserve our winters. Please understand, this is not a hate comment, but just a Native Floridian that is sad watching the beautiful state of Florida disappear and that my own children will never get to enjoy the woods and waterways I played in, because they're gone.

[televisionarchivestudios]

I retired in Florida but I certainly couldn't live off the wages down here. Thankfully I have a pension

[TexasTiago]

WOWWW crazy. You’re right, literally watching this from metro Detroit 😱

[austinstitzel]

I would only visit Florida between November-April.

[sherrymiller]

You didn't mention anything about the BUGS, esp. mosquitos and fire ants!

[robinluther]

My escrow jumped $150 a MONTH this spring and 70% of that increase was homeowners insurance. Managed to knock off some $$ because I had a wind mitigation study when I bought my house 3 years ago.

[JB]

I’ve been there in August and January, I’m never going back. You’re welcome Florida.