Florida - apologies in advance for the fairly obvious first post content
 

Firstly where's better Gulf of Mexico side or Atlantic? Secondly house price crash, myth or reality? Searching craigslist etc can't believe some of the value available for approx. $400K. Would anyone recommend leasing for a year to see if you settle in OK? Moving from the UK.
Any other; tips, links, advice etc. on moving to the area gratefully received.

Re: Florida - apologies in advance for the fairly obvious first post content
 

RAAAAYYYY!!!!!!

Re: Florida - apologies in advance for the fairly obvious first post content
 

As a general rule, I recommend renting for at least a few months whenever you move, even if it is from one city to another city within the US. There are simply so many variables you cannot know until you live in an area for a few days, weeks, etc. The real estate websites simply don't tell you enough information (also recommend http://www.realtor.com/)

Things like:

Is it next to a firestation where the sirens go off every night?
How far to the grocery: liqour: pub: school: doctor: mall: movies, etc?
How bad is the traffic nearby?
Who lives in the neighborhood (habla espanol?)
Is it downwind of a sewage plant (yea, that happens)

etc etc etc.

And then there the whole "WTF was I thinking moving to this country" event that will happen in a few months.

Re: Florida - apologies in advance for the fairly obvious first post content
 

You rang .....

which side ??? north or south ??...
So much would depend on you own likes/dislikes
impossile to say ...I'm central west ...but there are people
that would like to live in Orlando .. (yes really)

and of course housing costs .... taking say Tampa on the gulf coast
as a central point the further south you go ..it get more expensive

go north from Tampa and the price go down..

house price crash, myth or reality....reality ...... property taxes and Insurance has rocketed..

look through www.realtor.com

Renting for a year may be good if you have no idea
where you want to be ... but for most people
their job would give them an area ..then I would say just get
a monthly vacation rental...to look around ..

You say you are moving from the UK ...
what visa would you be using !!!

Re: Florida - apologies in advance for the fairly obvious first post content
 

careful OP - his bark is worst than his bite... but from what I've heard he gives a NASTY suck.

Re: Florida - apologies in advance for the fairly obvious first post content
 

LOL..actually my bite is worse than my bark ....

Re: Florida - apologies in advance for the fairly obvious first post content
 

Another factor to take into consideration is which side is more prone to extreme weather, e.g. hurricanes, flooding. This will impact on the cost of home insurance.

Re: Florida - apologies in advance for the fairly obvious first post content
 

Hey, no chatting about hurricanes! I am coming to Florida for a cruise first week in October:p

Re: Florida - apologies in advance for the fairly obvious first post content
 

And which would you say is the more prone side ...

Actually the Insurance is more interested in where the sink holes appear nowadays ..

Re: Florida - apologies in advance for the fairly obvious first post content
 

Ray, that little dog must be worn out, let him nap!:zzz:

Re: Florida - apologies in advance for the fairly obvious first post content
 

He is on duracell ...

Re: Florida - apologies in advance for the fairly obvious first post content
 

More like Viagra!:blink:

Re: Florida - apologies in advance for the fairly obvious first post content
 

Thanks for the replies guys, I'm convinced (as are others) that I can set up a US version of my UK internet based business which has a good USP and is now well established - well as much as trading since 2002 (cash positive since 2004) gets you. Whilst a lot can be done virtually, and yes Delaware looks attractive etc.;) it sitll requires representation IMHO.

Been scouring the web and wondered if I'm being seduced by what looks like incredible value for money, compared to what's on offer in the UK for the same money it doesn't compare.

Perhaps leasing a place for a year on a tourist visa, whilst exploring the state and perhaps venturing further afield, whilst we decide if we prefer living there might be the best strategy. Monthly rentals look expensive to me. Plenty of deals about where the developer will reduce the price by the lease payments at the end of the term, if you then want to buy.

Fortunate in a sense that we could buy something modest without having to sell the UK house so have the opportunity to hedge my bets. I'm 42 with two teenagers and one 6 year old so the gamble needs to be limited in some ways.

Re: Florida - apologies in advance for the fairly obvious first post content
 

You want to sort your visa out, that's what will kill off post peoples dreams.

You also need to be aware how crap the education can be in FL depending on the area, it's not a retirement state for a reason...also house insurance, can you even get it in the areas your interested in? and how much? because it's bloomin' expensive, same with car insurance etc, etc.

Welcome to BE though :)

Re: Florida - apologies in advance for the fairly obvious first post content
 

No, it is crap in FL fullstop!

You cannot get a tourist visa for a year, only six months if not on Visa Waiver and even then it is tough and not many VWP countries get it unless they're wrinklies.