Listing house in May. Leaving California for Florida. Signed papers.

California Bay area exodus is real. Property values ridiculous. Low low low inventory. Good time to list. Time for this retiree to hit heavens doorstep. Trying to lockdown a 2A sanctuary county. Any advice appreciated.

 

Congratulations! I’m here in the Bay Area too more in Sonoma county. What part you from?

 

I'm in northern Stanislaus...been for 30 years.

 

Congrats, @Tierhog ! I have no advice regarding where to live in Florida, but I applaud you leaving the dumpster fire behind!

 

Congrats.

 

What area are you looking at?

 

Move to Cape San Blas....

 

Way to go Steve! Congrats.

 

We are open to the whole state except Miami, Tampa, or Orlando. Prefer a 2A sanctuary county. Have three realtors working on it.

 

Thank you sir. Wife nervous, I'm stoked

 

Funny. I see your from Wyoming, whereabouts? The wife and I are seriously debating moving there. I really want to do Alaska but she says it's too far and isolated. The other choice was Montana, but I think Californians have already ruined housing costs there.

 

Yeah they are too crowded. Jacksonville or St Augustine might be okay. There are a few guys on here in that area I thing. Some around Sarasota as well.

 

Good for you! My wife and I moved to the east bay area a year ago and the housing prices have gone up 20-30% in just that short time. It's pretty ridiculous.

 

Just leave California in California if you decide to move.

Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming are all being invaded by Californians fleeing it's stupidity, but bringing it with them, so not sure it'll be any better here in a decade. The northwest corner of Wyoming and along the northern border with Montana are mini-Californias already, so if that's not what you want you'd have to avoid the really pretty parts of Wyoming. Your profession will likely have an impact on anywhere you choose to live. Cost of living in the state is relatively low, and wages are a little lower as well. Don't be surprised if you take a pay cut for the same job, but realize that it's not as expensive to live here either. Except for vehicle registration. Wyoming is terrible on that.

As for where I live; that's private. Lots of people in Wyoming are big on privacy.

 

lol! I can hear everyone now...

"Congratulations on leaving commiefornia!:

:under breath: "As long as you don't come here!"

 

Florida is a pretty diverse place anyway so you probably need to give a little more detail before anyone can really help you?

The whole state seems pretty friendly that way to me and every State Park for example allows Open Carry as there are so many things that can try to eat you there.
Also the Castle Doctrine lives strong in Florida s there is that too!

It might boil down to large town/small town,Old Florida/New Florida,Coast/Inland,South Florida weather/Central Florida weather,Northern weather?

There are so many variables that without knowing any of your other preferences......

It is pretty beautiful anywhere you go too again depending on what you like!

 

Yup. It's because we've seen states that were more free get overrun and turned into the same kind of $#!*holes that they were trying to get away from. The mass exoduses from CA and NY to TX, FL, ID, WY, and MT don't bode well when you look at places that have had similar influxes.

 

I mean if all these companies weren’t leaving would all the Californians really follow? I know I’d go where the job takes me. I find it hard to believe everyone’s just getting up and going, just because. It’s not that easy...is it?

 

Montana is already full...sorry you're too late

 

And think on why the companies leave.... same reason the people do, but they take their stupidity with them and ruin other places the same way.

 

You are open to many possibilities, except hills and curves.
FL in general is 2a approved.
The northern peninsula is more of your southeastern type area.
Lots of southerners, just further south.
Some of the most beautiful beaches you will ever see.
Anywhere down the gulf coast is friendly, welcoming and all around good times.
Anywhere around the Orlando area is a nightmare tourist trap with more headaches than happy smiling travelers.
Northern east coast is nice but watch the college towns as you move inland.
Tampa itself leaves a lot to be desired, but the surrounding areas are really nice.
You can search out the beach that suits you, with smaller crowds.
South of Tampa in Sarasota, Fort Myers and Naples is a little bit of a gem.
Great beaches a fairly high median income and some spots with some of the most wealthy people in the state.
You can find reasonable housing within 20 minutes of the beach.
The Okeechobee area is pretty laid back but you’re in a constant floodplain.
Miami is really not so bad when you get south of town.
If you’re a saltwater outdoorsman and enjoy diving or deep sea fishing south of Miami is a dreamland.
Homestead is really the only place you can find property down there but get into Southern Glades and Key Largo and you have all the saltwater sports you can dream of.
And tropical weather year round.
Get into the Keys and you start to get more of that Southeastern type folk.
Sort of like the panhandle... until Key West.
Key West is it’s own creature and can be fun to watch.
You will be surprised with the Southern feel of the keys and the Panhandle.
It’s like southern charm with a beach.
All in all, Florida is it’s own beast.
Do as much research about the area and the neighborhood.
Things can change in a block.

Enjoy the weather, ignore the flooding and dance with the hurricanes.

There’s only one way in and one way out.
Some don’t make it.
Enjoy.

 

Congrats!!!!! lived in Pensacola and remember white sand beaches and crystal clear water. My daughter lives near Orlando, but as mentioned above the gulf coast is better, imop anyway. Safe Travels

 

Colorado, Arizona and Washington have already fallen. I think Tennessee, Oklahoma, Kansas and Alaska are all I got left to choose from.

 

I’ve been to Pensacola and that white sand with a cool breeze hits different. I would move there.

 

THIS. EXACTLY THIS. NAILED IT.

The heat is ok....and it better be. Californians complain about the humidity in Florida and it can get steamy BUT... The valley in June, July, August, and September...the 102F, 107F etc. Air conditioning running a $700+ electric bill isn't much better.
Got a chuckle out of the Montana comment about being full. That's ok. Beautiful country. I lived in upstate NY. Don't want the snow. It's pretty and adds a nice ambience to the holidays, but I'll take my ocean waves, thunderstorms, and southern hospitality. Wife lived in San Diego when it was clean and we'll run. She wants a taste of that weather and experience again, minus the city.

I'll put more effort in the pan handle. Just want away from the storm surge damage, and inland enough the eventual hurricanes run out of gas.... Hence my northern central approach.

 

Sometimes they don't run out of gas all that fast... Hurricane Michael was still a Cat 2 after it crossed the Florida panhandle and moved well inland to devastate SW Georgia.

 

Great Great news. No advice but my wife and I are looking to do the same thing. Trying to get out of Michigan. Best of luck

 

Virginia ia a prime example of that now.

 

Congrats Steve, good luck on your search/move.