Most Affordable Beach Cities to Live in Florida

Finding a place to live typically has a lot weighing on things like amenities, crime rates, school zones, local to a work place and of course cost.  Cost is sometimes an interesting topic because each household income varies and what one person most affordable beach cities to live in floridafeels comfortable paying relies heavily on the persons own circumstances and opinion.  For many people living by the beach is something they see as over priced and out of their budget but that isn’t always the case. Going off of the average household income in the U.S being around $51,000 as a bench mark there are still beach cities in Florida that are affordable for the average person or family.  The rule of thumb is the more desirable locations are going to cost more but the following list shows some of Florida’s beach towns that are actually affordable!

Indian Harbour Beach

The first one is Indian Harbour Beach which maybe one that even Floridians are not real familiar with.  Their motto is “The Greatest little City in Florida” which could be for good reason!  The city falls under a more well-known Brevard county but has a small census.  The median income in this city is around $56,000 and while this is slightly above the national average this doesn’t drive up the household costs sky high like other beach towns such as West Palm Beach or Ft. Lauderdale.  Indian Harbour is a quaint little town with average house sales around $180,000 keeping this beach town as a top candidate.

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Fort Myers Beach

The next destination takes us to the west coast right on the Gulf known for the white sand beaches and warmer waters.  Fort Myers Beach is slightly bigger than the last location at a population of 6,277.  Fort Myers is more of a well-known city under the jurisdiction of Lee County.  The town is affordable with the median household sales around $185,000 and all the amenities any beach town has.   The location of this town is nicely placed just outside of very desirable areas such a Sanibel and Captiva island which makes it perfect for Saturday afternoon beach days and sightseeing.  Fort Myers’ economy is rebounding much like the rest of the country but there are still many houses that can be found as outstanding deals.

Vero Beach

Last but not least in this list goes back to the east coast of Florida. A more well-known city Vero Beach which falls under Indian River County.  Vero’s motto is “Where the Tropics Begin” which is exactly what you are looking for in any beach town.  The town is larger with around 15,000 people with a median household income of $35,000 in 2011.  The average houses and condos are selling for around $200,000 and are well known for their intercostal waterway “Indian River Lagoon” excellent for fishing, boating and kayaking.  The location is right near the two large shopping malls and specialty shops along the barrier island known as the “Miracle Mile”.

There are many small beach towns in the state of Florida with many different variations in size, population and cost.  Coastal living to most may seem unattainable but by shopping carefully there are actually very affordable beach homes still around.  By using tools like www.MoversAtlas.com your dream home on the beach or inland is just a click away!

If you enjoyed reading this post you will find the main Mover’s Atlas site even more Interesting! There you can discover important information about what surrounds your current or future Florida home or Apartment, give it a look: Mover’s Atlas.

How to Apply for Section 8 Housing

You may or may not be aware of the United States Housing Act of 1937 which requires states to subsidize housing for low-income families through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD administers housing voucherssection 8 housing in florida for those who cannot afford to pay the full price of housing through the local Public Housing Authorities. The PHA has two options for vouchers; one is called tenant-based voucher and one is the project-based voucher. Under the tenant-based voucher, a voucher is provided for the tenant to use in any housing of their choice that offers financial assistance housing so it is valid for more than one area; if the tenant wishes to move, the voucher will carry over. The project-based voucher is valid only for the specific housing unit for which it has been assigned and if the tenant moves, they must reapply for financial assistance. So how exactly do you go about getting this help?

When it’s time to apply for Section 8 housing, be sure to find out where your nearest PHA office is. You can call them to ask about filling an application out online or in person. Either way, there are some things you will need in order to complete the paperwork. The first thing to consider is your eligibility which will be based on several factors. These include your annual gross income, your family size, your immigration status (section 8 is usually only available to US Citizens and persons with legal immigration status), and the median income of the area/city in which you are applying. Most applicants who are eligible for Section 8 are earning annually between 30% and 50% of their area’s median income figures.

Once you have assured yourself of your eligibility for the program, the next step is to collect the necessary paperwork to document your income and prove your need. This will require pay stubs, a letter from your current landlord, any documentation regarding current mortgage or rent payments, and any other paperwork you think will help you in preparing your application. An important thing to remember here is that there are different types of vouchers so you must pick the right one. There is a tenant voucher if you are planning on renting and there is also a property voucher if you simply need assistance paying a housing mortgage or a condominium payment. Note that Section 8 may also be able to help you purchase a small home for a cheaper price to allow you to make small monthly payments on it.

After you have gathered all of your information, determined your eligibility, and understood which voucher you are applying for, you simply call or visit your local PHA office and Voila! The hardest part of the whole process is the waiting game that follows. Because many families apply for Section 8 and there is not always enough housing to accommodate everyone on the list, your name will be placed on a waiting list depending on your need. Your waiting time will vary from city to city but hopefully before long, you will be able to live somewhat comfortably in your new home.

If you enjoyed reading this post you will find the main Mover’s Atlas site even more Interesting! There you can discover important information about what surrounds your current or future Florida home, give it a look: Mover’s Atlas.

Should I Buy a Home in the City or a Home in the Suburbs?

It is difficult to compare things you have yet to experience but it makes it easier looking at the list of pro and cons.  If you were to consult your friends and family on if you should live in the city or suburbs, chances are they would be partial to wherever they currently reside.  Everyone has different thoughts on this because of the different personalities and different times of their lives; it is up to you to decide where you fit in the equation.

Urban living would be mostly enjoyed by the people that enjoy the day to day hustle and bustle.  These are the people that enjoy things being very close, even walking distance.  The city is where all the action is. From a great diversity of people to an array of civic centers to theaters.  The city would be good for people that enjoy staying socially active whether it’s meeting new people, joining the masses at bars, clubs, restaurants or other entertainment venues.  The greatest thing about urban type people is their work is typically situated within a short bus, train, taxi ride or even walk from their front door to their desk.  These places have been well planned to save the city dwellers money on car expenses like fuel and car costs.  Typically the housing situation is make or break, you either love not having a yard to take care of, and you love the condo living or this ends up being your worst nightmare.  Other people loath the thought of parking in a garage with a hand full of grocery bags, riding up an elevator 15 floors and repeating this escapade three times until the car is completely empty.  This would lead you to the other alternative, living in the suburbs.

Suburban living is for the people that enjoy the peace and quiet along with the escape or get away from the stresses of life.  The suburbs allow you your own personal space, more land and larger areas for a house.  The cost of living is typically lower and there is a greater opportunity to own your piece of the pie unlike the city living.  Suburban living is about raising families, enjoying the company of neighbors, cookouts and pool parties.  The suburban living consists of doing house work, yard work and car washing during the weekends and quite Friday and Saturday evenings.

Whether you are looking to live in the city or live in the suburbs you can always find the best research through www.MoversAtlas.com, happy hunting.

If you enjoyed reading this post you will find the main Mover’s Atlas site even more Interesting! There you can discover important information about what surrounds your current or future Florida home, give it a look: Mover’s Atlas.