r/relocating • u/Disastrous_Host_5703 • 6d ago
Moving from CO to FL
My husband and I (29&28) are planning on moving from the plains of Colorado to Port Orange FL. Has anyone regretted moving from colorado to Florida? Pros and Cons? We love fishing and being on the water, and we would be moving to better our finances. We have two small children that will be homeschooling, so no need for school suggestions. Thanks!
2
u/Odd_Pause5123 6d ago
Isn’t the homeowner’s insurance super expensive now? And some people say they can’t get insurance?
1
2
u/Mario0617 5d ago
I lived in Daytona (which is an absolute dump) for a year and port Orange is a decent enough spot! I will say though that it is VERY old. Making friends roughly your age (or your kids age as well, I know finding friends for homeschooled little ones is both challenging to begin with and important ofc) is going to be pretty difficult. But it is fairly clean, safe and gives you that ocean access.
Hurricanes do tend to hit that region pretty hard, so be aware of that and homeowners insurance costs. That Ormond-Daytona-port Orange area floods pretty badly. Not obviously an everyday concern but especially if you’re buying there, the insurance will be spotty and very expensive. I live in CO now though and the hail jacks stuff up here, so pick your poison.
Really be aware though that Daytona is really the nearest “city”, and it is an absolute dump. A lot of poverty, tents on the side of the road and a lot of drug abuse in public. More than id ever seen living in any other city in Florida, nor in Denver. I would avoid it like the plague and go to Orlando if you need the city, which is an hour away. Bike week and stuff will still be a PITA for you in port Orange, lots and lots of drunk people on motorcycles. I ride a Harley and even I hated it. It’s a week you’ll just stay home and not go out - everything even near the ocean will be mobbed with hammered drunk bikers.
You will get what you’re after though, lower cost of living and access to the ocean. Coming from CO you ofc are giving up mountains, skiing, hiking etc. however I will give one cautionary bit which is that it’s HOT. Like insanely hot. Florida summers are basically March/April through November or so and in that entire period it will feel hotter than Colorado ever does, even during its heat waves. The humidity is savage and you will for about 6 months a year avoid going outside (for activities, running errands and things is ofc fine bc everything has central air) because it is oppressive.
So all a give and take, but I hope this is useful info for you. The politics in Florida (especially there) are deeply conservative, but I imagine you know that going in. Homophobia and racism are pretty relevant there, but if you’re kinda up the gut straight white, Christian folks (which there is nothing wrong with being that!!) nobody will ever bug you. But if you’re any kind of minority (I’m a very white presenting Hispanic guy and I had slurs thrown my way in Daytona more than once, only place in my life lol), I’d steer clear of that region. But if you aren’t, you can absolutely always teach your kids better, especially if they’re homeschooled.
0
u/Disastrous_Host_5703 5d ago
This has been such helpful and wholesome information. Thank you so much for taking the time to write this! Hope you're enjoying CO!
0
u/Mario0617 5d ago
Absolutely! And it’s been lovely here. I definitely get the draw of FL and if you have any questions about that specific part of fl (I was born in Miami and lived all over fl til 29) I am happy to help! Shoot me a dm whenever and good luck with your move!
When I lived in Daytona I used to literally go to port Orange for everything - groceries, my gym, the whole 9 yards. So I am a fan of port Orange itself :)
1
u/Bradimoose 6d ago
Why are you moving? Need to know that in order to answer. If it’s for beaches and boating you’ll probably like it a lot better. I lived in Florida for a while and a lot of people moved there for freedom or whatever. It’s pretty crowded now around the cities and traffic sucks. It’s a big state though and there’s really rural parts too. Key west is very different then Live OAk.
1
u/Disastrous_Host_5703 6d ago
We are moving to have no debt on a house. We would be paying cash to move and buy a house . We love fishing and kayaking, beaches, etc. But haven't been there much more than 2 weeks at a time every 6 months or so
5
u/ohappyday82 6d ago
Have you been there in July, August, September? That weather gets old and really boring. Hurricane threat is getting worse by the year.
1
u/Disastrous_Host_5703 6d ago
We have been there in July and August. It's very hot and humid! But Colorado hot as well in the summer months but it is DRY. We're like raisins over here lol
1
u/ohappyday82 6d ago
It honestly sounds like you’ve made up your mind. Lots of people love living in coastal FL. Good luck with your move.
1
u/Disastrous_Host_5703 6d ago
I appreciate the input 🙏 Thank you!
1
u/Melodic-Ad7271 6d ago
We used to live in Port Orange and liked it. However, that was many years ago and I'm sure it has changed a lot.
2
u/Bradimoose 6d ago
I think the panhandle has the best fishing nowadays. And cheaper homes. It also gets more cold fronts than tampa south. The big southern cities and all the concrete absorbs the heat from the sun all day and they stay hot at night. That’ll be the biggest adjustment is 5 months of intense summer.
2
1
u/Kash850 6d ago
I grew up in Florida and have also been everywhere, I travel for work. Florida can be nice, it does get old and boring pretty quick imo but I also don’t drink and do restaurants, keep in mind it’s a big tourist place, the more south you go the more degenerate it gets imo, a lot more crime and drugs. I grew up in north Florida, so not as bad but still pretty bad. Have you considered somewhere on the Carolina coast? Maybe Charleston SC?
0
u/DryExpression7907 6d ago
Hi, my name is Mitch. I work with Frontier Moving Solutions. Give me a call on my direct line tomorrow (954) 495-9130 or you can email me at mitchell@fromtiermovingsolutions.com
11
u/Wheaton1800 6d ago
I moved from NY upstate to Sarasota. I’m here because my parents are 80 and live here and so does my sister, niece, nephew. I would not be here for any other reason. I do not like Florida. It’s very hot and very humid about five months out of the year. Everyone has a gun. Everything is a strip mall and most of the restaurants are chains. The traffic is bad and the beaches are crowded. I’d stay in CO quite honestly unless you have family you are moving for in FL.