Daytona Beach, home of the World’s Most Famous Beach,
is an area where many people from Central Massachusetts choose to relocate when moving to Florida. Many come seeking the paradise of warm winters, extended summers at the beach as well as the tourist atmosphere they had when they came for vacation. Living in Daytona Beach can be a cultural shock for many.
While most facets of life are the same, there are just enough oddities to make it worthwhile to investigate before relocating. So, still ready to pack your bags and come to the Sunshine State? Okay, here are just a few things you need to look at more closely before making the commitment.
Housing in Daytona Beach tends to be a bit more expensive than Central Massachusetts if you rent; buying less expensive. The most important question you need to ask, whether renting or buying, is whether or not the residence has an air conditioning unit like Cielo Breez Plus. Florida State law requires heating in all residences being sold; it does not require air conditioning. Does that seem barbaric? It is not really if you consider cold can kill. There are breezes and you can always go to places where there is air conditioning, or so the reasoning goes. If the residence you want does not have air conditioning consider buying a window unit.
Utilities, groceries, and gas for your vehicle are other considerations. While utilities (especially electric) tend to be a bit lower, groceries will cost more. Florida is an agricultural state and there are also plenty of food animals here; however, most food is grown/raised for export. Local prices, even farmer’s markets, can be much higher than you’d expect. Gas is generally around the national average or above because Florida has no gas pipelines. All gas coming into this state must be trucked in. A smartphone with a gas comparison app is your best bet to finding the lowest price.
Vehicle insurance is another area where Florida differs. The majority of car insurance policies are only 6 months long. This means you must purchase car insurance twice a year. Many insurance agents will cite the high transient rate as the reason; they will not mention the cost hike every six months. You have to either shop around to find a policy that will last a year but they are available. Check out comparison sites to find full coverage insurance at the cheapest price. Getting car insurance is highly important for people who use their car for practically everything, getting them from A to B quickly, however, for some drivers, a previous road conviction may be standing in their way of utilizing these types of deals and finding a good car insurance policy. Insurance companies like one sure insurance can provide this coverage to those who have had speeding convictions, and other road-related legal issues that have blocked them from getting normal insurance in the past. Just like you would with normal insurance deals, these car conviction insurance deals will need to be looked through and decided upon with professionals.
If you’re wanting to relocate your vehicle alongside yourself when you move to the Sunshine State, so you don’t have to shop around for new vehicles at prices you might not be willing to stretch to, you could look into services such as CarsRelo car shippers as well as others, and see for yourself how easy it could be having your current vehicle shipped to your new address.
Pet safety is a big concern in Florida. Yes, that’s right, pet safety. The majority of the time pets will be safe in Florida. Bears in neighborhoods are rare and alligators attacking pets are rare as well. That doesn’t mean you can breathe a sigh of relief and ignore the subject. Bears tend to come into neighborhoods with are near forest. Pets are a likely target if they are outside pets or if you walk them, especially at night. Be aware of this issue. Alligators are a “hidden” danger. They live in fresh water which means small ponds as well as lakes and rivers. Any pond which is not adequately fenced has the possibility of housing an alligator. If you cannot see into the water you do not know what is in there. Alligator mating season (in the spring) is the worst time of year. Male alligators will wander far and wide in search of a mate. Ponds which might normally be safe should be approached with caution.
Okay, now you know the major differences between Florida and Central Massachusetts. Still want to live near the World’s Most Famous Beach? Okay, just head south on I-95!
