By Moving Forward Tampa Bay

Congratulations! You’ve arrived in Florida!

But…

…Moving to Florida is different from vacationing in Florida.

When you’re visiting, an afternoon thunderstorm may be rather charming. But when you live here:

• that storm may knock out power while you’re cooking dinner.
• Palm trees are beautiful, but they can shed all manner of things on your lawn.
• The swimming pool you imagined floating in is going to need regular attention.
• And that charming little lizard on your patio? He has relatives. Lots of them.

None of this means you made the wrong decision. It simply means Florida is a real place rather than a permanent vacation resort.

If you’re thinking about relocating to the Tampa Bay area, here are some things you’re likely to discover during your first year.

Summer Will Get Your Attention

People moving from the Northeast frequently ask whether they’ll get used to Florida’s heat.

Mostly, yes. But your first summer can be an education.

July and August are hot and humid. Mornings are prime times for walking, gardening, golfing and other outdoor activities. Air conditioning isn’t a luxury; it’s part of the infrastructure of daily life.

But then, while your friends up north are scraping ice from their windshields in January, you’ll remember exactly why you moved.

Winter in the Tampa Bay area can be glorious. Cool mornings, comfortable afternoons, and outdoor dining have a remarkable ability to make August seem like a reasonable trade-off.

Florida Has Two Traffic Seasons

If you’re moving to the Gulf Coast, you’ll discover another kind of season: snowbird season.

Roads, restaurants and stores become busier as seasonal residents arrive during the cooler months.

But then spring arrives, and the seasonal residents head north. Suddenly, getting a restaurant reservation becomes easier.

You’ll learn which roads to avoid at particular times, and that a certain bridge can transform a seemingly short trip into something longer during rush hour.

Every community develops its own rhythm. After a year, you’ll know yours.

You Will Become Interested in Weather

Even if you never cared about weather forecasts before, Florida may change that.

Summer thunderstorms can develop quickly. They can be spectacular, noisy and incredibly intense—and twenty minutes later the sun may be shining again.

And then there is hurricane season. This deserves respect, but not panic.

Long-time Floridians learn to prepare. You’ll learn whether you’re in an evacuation zone, where you’d go if evacuation became necessary, and what supplies to keep available.

Your first approaching tropical system may make you nervous. Over time, preparation replaces much of that anxiety.

Hurricanes are part of living in Florida, just as blizzards, ice storms and nor’easters are realities elsewhere.

Homeowners Insurance May Surprise You

This is one subject you should investigate before buying a house.

Florida homeowners’ insurance can be substantially different from what newcomers experienced in other states. The age and condition of a roof can matter. Flood insurance is separate from standard homeowners’ coverage, and whether a property is in or near a flood-risk area deserves careful attention.

That’s why the price of a house should never be the only number you consider.

Before making an offer, try to develop a realistic picture of the total cost of owning that particular Florida home—including insurance, property taxes, association fees where applicable, utilities and possible flood insurance.

A knowledgeable local real estate professional can help you know which questions to ask, but insurance estimates should ultimately come from insurance professionals.

Florida Wildlife Will Introduce Itself

Yes, there are alligators. No, they are not waiting behind every mailbox.

Depending upon where you live, you’re much more likely to become acquainted with geckos, anoles, squirrels, birds, frogs and the occasional armadillo.

You will also meet insects. But then, for me, the black flies in my home state of Maine were no picnic, either.

Florida is warm, green and biologically “enthusiastic”. That’s part of living here.

Eventually you may find yourself barely noticing the little lizard running across the patio that would have caused considerable excitement during your first week.

You’ll Discover That Florida Is Extremely Local

This is particularly true in North Pinellas County:

• Drive a relatively short distance and the atmosphere can change dramatically.
• Tarpon Springs doesn’t feel like Dunedin.
• Dunedin doesn’t feel like Clearwater.
• Clearwater doesn’t feel like Safety Harbor.
• And Palm Harbor doesn’t feel like any of them.

That’s why we encourage people contemplating a move not to choose a house before choosing a community.

Spend some time in each area.

Have lunch there. Visit on a Saturday morning. Drive through neighborhoods. Go back after dark. See how far the grocery store, medical facilities and restaurants are from the neighborhoods you’re considering.

A house can be remodeled, but its location cannot.

You May Miss Things You Didn’t Expect to Miss

Sometimes it’s the small things that catch newcomers by surprise.

A favorite neighborhood restaurant. Autumn leaves. A particular grocery store. The first snowfall—although nostalgia for snow tends to diminish considerably when somebody sends you a photograph of their driveway in February.

Moving isn’t simply changing addresses. You’re exchanging familiar routines for unfamiliar ones. So give yourself time to establish new favorites.

Find your coffee shop. Your restaurant. Your beach. Your walking trail. Your doctor. Your mechanic. Your neighbors.

When you do those things, Florida gradually stops being the place you moved to and starts becoming home.

You Don’t Have to Live Like a Tourist

One of the pleasures of living in the Tampa Bay area is discovering how much exists beyond the famous attractions.

You don’t need to visit a theme park every weekend. Instead, you can spend Saturday morning wandering downtown Dunedin, have lunch near the Sponge Docks in Tarpon Springs, walk along Safety Harbor’s waterfront, catch a baseball game, visit a farmers market, explore a park or simply sit outside in February because you can.

Eventually visitors may know the tourist attractions better than you do.

You’ll know something better — how to live here.

Give Florida a Full Year

If possible, don’t judge your Florida move after three months.

Experience a complete cycle:

• See summer.
• Experience hurricane season.
• Watch the seasonal residents return.
• Spend your first Thanksgiving without worrying about an approaching snowstorm.
• Celebrate Christmas when it’s 70 degrees outside.
• Open your windows on a beautiful January morning.

Then, sometime around February, check the temperature where you used to live. That particular exercise has reassured more than a few Florida transplants.

Don’t Rush the Decision

Florida isn’t right for everybody. And even if Florida is right for you, the right Florida community matters enormously.

That’s why we believe relocation should begin with exploration rather than a real-estate listing.

Come down, look around, drive the neighborhoods. Talk to people. Experience the communities. If you’re considering Tarpon Springs, Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater or Safety Harbor, spend enough time in each to understand their differences.

Your goal isn’t merely to find a Florida house. It’s to find the Florida life that fits you.

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Thinking About a Move to North Pinellas County?

I’ve lived in this area since 1993 and have worked in Florida real estate since 1995. Moving Forward Tampa Bay was created to share the kind of practical local information that can be difficult to find when you’re researching a move from hundreds—or thousands—of miles away.

If you have questions about relocating to the Tampa Bay area, I’m always happy to talk—even if you’re just beginning to think about it. Call or e-mail me anytime – 727-643-7100 or bethfrederickre@gmail.com.