Why should you move to Florida?

Welcome to the next episode of Brokers Uncensored. I am Shadd Boucher, managing broker with RE/MAX Alliance Group. I am here with Steve Zaras, also managing broker with RE/MAX Alliance Group. And Becky Dewey, who we can't seem to get rid of. She's also a managing broker with Remax Alliance Group.

Look, it took long enough for me to get here. Okay. Yeah, good point.

That's a good point. Yeah. Well, ten-year journey to to get here. I I get it. So today we wanted to talk about this. There's a lot of buzz going on around Florida right now. You know, there's a lot of things happening in Florida. You know, we're about to have an election, about to get a new governor. You know, long-term governor is going to be leaving, and there's There's a lot of questions with what's going to happen to Florida after this happens. And we just wanted to kind of, as 3 Floridians, kind of talk about what it means to live here, what we see, and, you know, kind of what you guys should know about possibly making a move to Florida or making a move to another part of Florida. So with that being said, Steve, you suggested the topic. Why don't you open it up?

Well, you know, Florida has so much to offer when you compare Florida to other states. First of all, we've got 1,200 miles of beaches. We've got tons of lakes. We have coastal properties. We have inland properties. We have Old Florida. We've got alligators. We've got professional sports, spring training. The list goes on and on and on. And if you come to Florida and you're bored, then you need a checkup from the neck up because there's so much to do here. And of course, the weather is very favorable for a lot of folks that don't want to deal with the cold and don't want to shovel snow anymore.

Yeah.

And we do have Northern Florida if somebody wants a little bit cooler temperatures. And, you know, I got a friend up north and I always joke, she says, oh, how's the weather down there? I said, well, we're in a deep freeze right now. It dropped below 90, you know. So we joke around about it. And everybody's heard that somebody in Florida was on the beach drinking a drink while somebody they know is up north shoveling snow.

Wow.

So there's so many reasons that people are moving to Florida and Talking about politics, yes, we've had the best governor for years, and now we're gonna go through some changes, but I don't think Florida is going to change. I don't think it's gonna make a U-turn. I think we will continue to get better. Yeah, Becky, you could take it from there.

I think it's more of a— I mean, really, Florida is a destination living spot. I mean, people move here, like Steve said, they want to get out of the cold, they want to get out of the shoveling of the snow. You know, and a lot of parents and grandparents whose kids have moved to Florida, they're following them because they want to be closer to their kids and their grandkids. You know, some of it's happening in the opposite direction too, but I think more of the traffic is heading this way because of it is a destination state. I feel like there is a lot to do here. There's, you know, we do have winters for about a month, what, a couple weeks in January.

Well, I think last year, wasn't it last year that there was one day Where we were actually colder than Alaska.

Yeah, there was like one, like one day last year.

Yeah, there was one day where we were colder that day than Alaska. Yeah, yeah, that's a shock, by the way. That's a shock, by the way, to everybody here because nobody owns a coat.

Yeah, well, this is kind of what's— I mean, this would be my selling point. I absolutely love cruising, and we have an abundance of cruise ports. We can go on a cruise from any one of— wait, what do we have, like 8 cruise ports in Florida? So I mean, when I'm looking for a cruise, I mean, it's at my fingertips. I can just have a ball. Yeah, just a few-hour drive.

Yeah, you don't have to drive far. You can absolutely go. In fact, in fact, one of our cruise destinations out of Tampa, you can live in a condo and literally walk to the boat. Yeah, that's what your situation was. So yeah, I mean, I think, I think you guys are right. I mean, I think it's really weird that everybody thinks Florida is tropical. from like the state line all the way down to Key West. And in reality, we have like 5 different biomes. Like, you know, it's not, you know, the northern area of Florida is not the southern area of Florida. I mean, we have Ocala. Ocala might as well be Kentucky because it's all horse ranches, horse farms.

Yeah.

You know, so when you look at it, we have so many different areas. I mean, and then you talked about alligators, right? Not only do we have alligators, we have crocodiles. We have giant cranes that wander around. I mean, Florida is like living in a zoo without fences.

You know, I will say, when I moved to Florida, I was 8 years old. I moved from Missouri, very backwoods, country-ish area that I lived in.

That makes sense.

When I moved to Florida, I was completely shocked by the amount of bugs and lizards. Like, I'd never seen a lizard before, you know, like there was Some weird stuff. Yeah, that are in Florida.

I was, I was the same. I, I met, I met somebody because I moved here when I was about 16, and I met a girl who literally was at the park, and she goes, you want to see a party trick? And I'm like, sure. She grabbed one of those little lizards that runs around everywhere and put it on her ear like an earring, and I'm going, yeah, okay, this is not, this is not, you know. And then I was, I was one of those people that said, oh, I'm never gonna say y'all. I won't do it.

You're fixing to say it now, right?

One day it just came out of my mouth and I was like, I mean, there's country in Florida, there's city in Florida.

Yeah, well, I mean, Miami is not—

Miami is not Okeechobee, you know. Okeechobee is swamp people, you know, and Miami might as well be LA, you know. And then you've got the Keys. Don't even talk to me about the Keys, you know. If you're a fan of pirates, no shoes, no shirt, no problem. If you're a fan of like pirates and the like the unruly Pirate living. Like, that's what the Keys is. I mean, the fact that there's laws down there, period, kind of boggles my mind.

Yeah.

Yes.

I mean, the other thing—

Yes. The average age in Florida was much higher years ago. Now you have a lot of families moving here, industry, tech, the list goes on. And we are a homestead state, which that has several beneficial rules for every family, which if somebody has questions about that, they can contact us. But there's a lot of pluses to living in the state of Florida. No state tax.

None.

Right.

And then, you know, and then there's some things you got to get used to. Like, you know, our property insurance tends to be higher than other places, you know, and that, that's all due to the hurricanes, you know. And there's— so there's, there's pluses and minuses. But I think when you, when you even it all out, this is a fantastic place to live.

Absolutely.

I mean, you know, how many major sports teams do we have? You know, name a place that has, you know, football, baseball, hockey, you know, soccer. I mean, we have all of that here.

And all the spring trainings are here.

Right. Concert destinations. You know, if you're a big concert person.

Yes. Being from up north, we used to stay inside during the winter. Now we stay inside during the afternoon thunderstorm.

Yeah. Well, and I laugh, I laugh. All my northern friends, I tell them that Florida is backwards. And when, when I say that, they're like, yeah, it is. We heard about Florida Man. I'm like, no, you're missing the point. Up north, up north, you have 3 months of nice weather and 9 months of garbage.

Yes.

Okay, we have 3 months of hot weather that you don't want to go inside. There's thunderstorms, there's alligator mating season, all that fun stuff. And then we have 9 months of the most beautiful weather you've ever seen in your life.

Yes.

So if you make it through the summer and into autumn, generally speaking, for the next 9 months, you're just going to wake up every day so happy it's not even funny. And, you know, yeah, last year was a— was an anomaly, man. It got Way cold last year for a little while.

Oh yeah. Do either of you have a well at your house? Are you all on city? I have a well. So we—I learned the first couple years that I'm because I was in the East Coast of Florida before that moved over here, and my husband is born and raised Miami. He's never heard of pipes freezing in Florida, and we have a well at our house, and I'm like, I have no water. Like I need to shower. I'm like, I think the pipes froze. Oh, the pipes didn't freeze. I'm like. They did.

My parents have a well and they own this big, huge— well, for the bed, but it's a winter coat. Yeah. Yeah. And they put it over the well when it— around October, November. Yeah. They put it around the well.

So it's fun seeing sheets over plants too. Well, I mean, we had a huge freeze. A lot of people lost a lot of landscape this past year.

I came back. Oh yeah, they did. And I came out. I came out to go to work one day. And there was ice on my windshield. And I'm like, I don't own an ice scraper. Like, what am I— so I'm out, I'm outside with a, with a kitchen spatula trying to figure out how to get this ice because it wasn't melting.

Get in and turn your defrost on and give it a minute.

It was not coming. It was thick. It was thick. It was not coming off. So I was like, okay. So I went and got a spatula and had to take it off the, you know, then I went and bought a plastic paint scraper. And that's what I have in the garage now. But yeah, it's— and again, I think that's kind of the part of Florida. If there's something you enjoy, Florida has a biome for it. Florida has an area. Like, if that's what you enjoy, Florida has an area. You know, we have wineries down here. We have, you know, all— and we have weird wineries down here. You guys ever been to Keel and Curly in Plant City?

No.

Keel and Curly Winery makes blueberry wine.

Oh, we've got that here locally in Bradenton.

Yeah.

They have, but they have a beautiful winery there with a, with a, with a restaurant and an outdoor entertainment space. And yeah, it's gorgeous.

Oh, but wait, don't forget about the happiest place on earth. Oh yeah. Or maybe it should be renamed the most expensive place on earth.

You know, I don't think it's the happiest place on earth. I don't have to go there anymore because my kids have grown up. Right. But if I have a burning desire to stand in line all day and do nothing, I'll go there.

Yeah. Yeah, we— so I'm gonna go ahead and I guess be the outlier. We go every year at Christmas.

Yeah. Okay. Well, you're one of those people that said, I could care less if I ever go again now that my daughter's grown, but now my grandkids love it.

So, well, now we actually— for years we got, we got lucky, and, and I'll credit my wife for this. When my kids were born, we got a Chase Disney credit card. And we're like grandfathered in on their original rates. So basically 5% of everything I spend gets paid back to me in Disney dollars.

Oh, nice.

And then I go to the parks with their money.

Cool. Becky, what do you think of this? I think our next time we record a podcast, uh, Shad should wear the Mickey Mouse ears.

I have them. Which ones would you like? Another outfit? Which one would you like to see?

I have them. I mean, you should wear the other one.

Yeah, well, we won't talk about that.

Yeah, yeah, we won't talk about that.

But, but no, I mean, if you think about it, let me share my screen.

I'll show everybody. Go ahead, share your screen. Oh, you'd be— I'm a big Christmas guy, and let's be honest, they decorate for Christmas. But, and, and if you're, and if you're into Christmas, I can literally give you a plan to go to Disney and not go into the parks but still see beautiful Christmas.

Oh yeah, like, you know, Christmas. I'm an 8 Christmas tree in my house girl.

Then, then Then let me tell you how to go there and basically enjoy it, see all the Christmas, and not have to go to the parks. Like, it starts—

I think I feel a meeting coming on in December, don't you, Becky?

Oh, we need a road trip, a field trip.

Yes.

Yeah, 100%. I go every year. You guys want to join me, feel free. The whole family will be there.

I think it'll be fun.

Plus, plus, to be honest with you, they have their mall there, Disney Springs, or now it's— yeah, it's no, downtown, whatever it is.

Disney Springs.

All of my Disney dollars work at that mall.

Oh, that's cool.

So I can buy Lululemon for my daughter. I can buy all kinds of stuff.

Cool.

It usually culminates in us eating at one of their fancy restaurants. So no, if you do Disney right. But yes, it is expensive, but it is again an attraction for this state and it's only one of our theme parks.

Well, literally, I mean, that's like— or the— or that Orlando alcove with all the theme parks and everything. And I mean, they got, you know, care. It's just, it's a world of its own. Like, literally, you could spend a month there and not see everything.

You know, I guess I hate to use the term, but it's its own biome. It's its own encapsulated area. St. Augustine. I mean, if you want to go walk into history and you want to see a settlement that's been in Florida since the 1500s, you know, it— and, and if you're in Tampa, it's a 3-hour drive. Yeah, it's a— that's my happy place.

The original Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City. Have you been there? And we did the tour with the manager. They've got the actual summons on the wall from Babe Ruth when he was drinking whiskey during Prohibition.

Well, that's where the Cuban sandwich was born. Yeah, I mean, all of that stuff. So this is just the history in this state, the, the, the art, you know, the Straz Center, being able to see Broadway-style plays downtown Tampa. And other places, I mean, in Jacksonville, other places, you know, going up to Jacksonville during the summer and watching the powerboat races. Yes. You know, I mean, all of this is just amazing stuff. And I think everybody should really look into Florida because if you want to retire right, this is the place to come.

Yes, absolutely.

100%. And we, let's be honest, we haven't even talked about The Villages. Yeah, we haven't even talked about The Villages. I mean, take it for what it is. You know, it's a destination.

They're a great place though to live and retire. And if you're active and want to be involved and, you know, I mean, they got pickleball— I mean, pickleball and golf and golf carts and, you know, their little city centers. And I mean, it's a city within a city.

It is correct. It is. Yeah. And so, I mean, that's the whole thing is, is there's a place for you in this state. Whatever you're into, whatever makes you happy, whatever brings you joy, There's a place for you here.

And it's also about having an active lifestyle, especially when you get older or up there in age, whatever you want to call it. But you want to stay active. You don't want to be a couch potato because then your body starts to break down. You've got to keep moving, and you've also got to keep exercising your brain, which means being social and just having things that are fun to do and hobbies. Yep, I think.

Yeah, 100%. Absolutely is. It absolutely is. The water's warm. Come on down. The water's warm. The air's warm. Just don't go into any of the freshwater ponds because there's probably a giant dinosaur lizard in it. You know, I mean, that's that's the. But you get used to it. I mean, it's funny. I saw I saw a video the other day, and it was one of our golf tournaments because the PGA plays down here. So if you're into golf. If you're into golf, this is the state to be in. I mean, the PGA is actually here.

Yes.

But they actually had a video the other day from one of the, one of the PGA events, and it was called Who Lives in Florida, Who Doesn't. And the one golfer, his ball landed next to a lake or a water trap, and there was a gator like 3 feet from the ball. And he's like talking to the judge like, what do we do? And then the next video cuts to a Florida golfer who who walks over, taps the gator on the tail, and it goes back into the water and he hits his shot. So it's who lives in Florida, who doesn't, you know?

Yes.

So yeah, it's just, this is the greatest place ever. And you want to talk about, you know, maybe we'll get a little, you know, America here, but the melting pot, this place is the melting pot.

This is it.

Oh, it definitely is.

This place is the melting pot.

Yeah.

And it's got a place for everybody.

Very diverse. It is a joke when you're talking to people and they're like, oh, I was born and raised in Florida. Like, oh, you're a minority.

Well, yeah.

And well, that's the other thing too, finding, you know, I, you know, the number one state— I know that the numbers are usually Texas, California, and all that. I run into more people from Ohio.

Yeah.

Than Northeasterners here.

Yeah. Oh yeah.

I run into more people from Ohio. And yeah, which is, which is always funny because when I go on vacation, because, you know, Everybody here, that's always the question. Where do you vacation? Well, we go where it's cold.

Right.

We would like in the mountains because we would like some relief from the heat. But— or cruise. Or cruise.

Right out in the ocean and feel cooler, cooler, saltier.

Whenever I head into the mountains of Georgia or up into Tennessee or whatever, and I go into these little shops and I talk to people and I'm like, oh, it's a gorgeous little shop. They're like, yeah, we retired. I'm like, oh, where from? Florida. I was like, yes. So they're halfbacks.

We call them halfbacks. They go halfway back.

Yeah, they, they go, they go up there and, and other people come down here. So yes, I think, I, again, I think it's the melting pot. I think it's the greatest place to live on the planet. And if you've been thinking about it, if you're even looking into it, I highly suggest you explore it. Absolutely. It is the place.

We have some good realtors if you need some help.

Yes. And come down for a week.

We have a lot of them. If you're, if you're going to do anything on the West Coast, we have you covered. Which is, which is kind of a nice thing. So, all right, guys. Well, I appreciate you guys sharing your thoughts today. I think this was awesome. And, um, we'll see everybody on the next episode.