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Moving to Florida?

Nestled between the Atlantic and the Gulf coasts lies the state of Florida, which is one of the most densely populated states in the United States. Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon named the state Florida, which in Spanish means “feast of flowers.” The state is also known as the “Sunshine State” due to its warm climate. The culture of the state is a reflection of multiple influences, among them Native American, Hispanic, European American and African American. These influences can be found in its cuisine and architecture.

Before the invasion of colonial powers, Florida was inhabited by various Native American tribes such as the Apalachee, Calusa, Jaega and Tequesta. The Spanish were the early settlers but later on Florida became a bone of contention between the English and the Spanish. Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mose became the first settlement in North America that comprised of free slaves.

Florida has emerged as a favorite tourist destination with its theme parks, Disney World, Universal Studios and SeaWorld. Crystal River is the only place where you can enjoy a supervised swim with the endangered manatees. Also, Cape Canaveral is famous for being the launch pad for various American space flights.

If you’re moving to Florida, there are a lot of things you’re going to need to know. Luckily, you’ve come to the right place.

Things to Know When Moving to Florida

Florida Climate

• To the north of Lake Okeechobee, Florida exhibits a humid subtropical climate, while the region that is south of the lake and the coastal area exhibits a tropical climate. Owing to the tropical climate, Florida rarely experiences snow, while frost is more common during the winter months. The region of Central Florida is called the lightning capital, as it experiences more lightning strikes than anywhere else in the country. From June to November, Florida is prone to hurricanes. There is also a defined rainy season from June to September where Florida is at a much greater risk of tropical cyclones and thunderstorms. Florida is situated on a peninsula, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Straits of Florida. Britton Hill, standing at 345 feet, is the highest point in Florida. (Helpful Link: Florida Weather)

Moving Specifics

• Registering your Car: You have 10 days to register your car in Florida from the date of the beginning of your residency in the state. Registration can be done at any Florida DMV office, and you must produce proof of ownership, get your VIN number verified, and show proof of Florida insurance requirements. (Helpful Link: Florida DMV)

• Obtaining a Florida Driver’s License: If you have a valid out-of-state license, then you can get it converted into a Florida license without having to take the written or road test by producing proof of identity, proof of Florida insurance, your original out-of-state title and verification of physical inspection of the vehicle's VIN. Every year the DMV offices issue over 800,000 licenses, so it is advised to check your requirements and prepare before going to the office.

• Real Estate: The average listing price for homes in Florida is $413,077, while the median sales price is just over $236,000. The Florida Association of Realtors is the official real estate resource for the state of Florida.

• Moving and Storage: If you are looking for a moving company or storage facility to help you with anything, you should check to make sure the company is registered with the United States Department of Transportation or with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. (Helpful Link: Florida State Moving Resource Page)

Schools

• The Florida education system is made up of public and private schools, a state college system, the state university system of Florida, and independent colleges and universities. The Florida Department of Education administers public, primary and secondary schools through various boards of education established in a school district within a county. During the 2010-11 school year, a constitutional amendment was passed to limit the class size to 18 in lower grades and to 23 in high school. As a part of higher education, the state university system of Florida administers 10 public universities such as Florida Atlantic University, the University of Florida, Florida State University, the University of Miami and a public liberal arts college. About 28 community colleges and state colleges are funded and managed by the Florida college system. (Helpful Link: Florida Schools)

Crime Rankings

As of 2011, Florida was ranked 43rd out of 50 states in violent crime, with a total of less than 45 violent crimes for every 100,000 people in the state.

Economy of Florida

Industries

Florida features a wide range of industries such as agricultural products, tourism, healthcare research, simulation training, aerospace and defense, and commercial space travel. Florida has been named as the third best state for business in 2011 by the Chief Executive Magazine. Florida is the leading producer of citrus, sugarcane, tomatoes, lime, strawberries, eggs, peanuts and beef cattle. Phosphate mining in the Bone Valley produces almost 75% of the phosphate that is utilized by the farmers in the U.S. Tourism also contributes a major chunk of revenue to the economy. Florida, with its warm weather, miles of beaches, amusement parks in Orlando like the Disney World Resort, Universal Studios and Sea World, continue to attract millions of tourists every year.

Employment Statistics

• As of early 2012, the state of Florida had an unemployment rate of 9.4 percent after seasonally adjusting it, which is higher than the national average of 8.2 percent. (Helpful Link: Florida Employment and Labor)

Average Income

The median household income in the state of Florida is $47,661, while the average per capita income for the state is $26,551.

Important Locations in Florida

• State Capital: Tallahassee

• Largest Cities:
  1. Miami
  2. Jacksonville
  3. Tampa
  4. Orlando
  5. Fort Lauderdale
  6. Daytona
  7. West Palm Beach
  8. Tallahassee
  9. Gainesville

• Major landmarks and attractions: Amelia Island; Castillo de San Marcos; Universal Orlando Resort; Fort Lauderdale Beach; Kennedy Space Center; Walt Disney World; Key West; South Beach; the Florida Keys. (Helpful Link: Top Tourist Attractions in Florida)

• National Parks:
  1. Biscayne National Park
  2. Big Cypress National Preserve
  3. Dry Tortugas National Park
  4. Everglades National Park
  5. Canaveral National Seashore

• State park System: The state park system is comprised of 160 parks that span over 700,000 acres and 100 miles of sandy white beach, making it one of the largest in the country. These parks offer a range of versatile outdoor activities that are suitable for various age groups. From swimming, snorkeling with the Manatees and diving, to fishing and birding or hiking and riding on scenic trails, Florida's parks offer a sense of place where you can experience some of the best natural and cultural sites of the state. (Helpful Link: Florida State Parks)

• Major Airports:
  1. Orlando International Airport
  2. Orlando Sanford International Airport
  3. Daytona Beach International Airport
  4. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport
  5. Jacksonville International Airport
  6. Key West International Airport
  7. Melbourne International Airport
  8. Miami International Airport
  9. Southwest Florida International Airport
  10. Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport
  11. Pensacola International Airport
  12. Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport
  13. St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport
  14. Tampa International Airport
  15. Palm Beach International Airport

Helpful Links

• Florida Homebuyers Resource Page
• Orlando International Airport
• Florida Department of Transportation
• Florida Department of Education
• Florida Traffic Updates and Traffic Information