moving to tampa florida

3 Top Reason Why You Should Move To Tampa Florida

If you are considering moving to one of the absolute best destination in the United States, Florida would be an excellent choice. But where exactly in Florida should you plant your roots? Consider Tampa!

The west coast of Florida especially the Tampa Bay area has some of the most beautiful beaches, sunsets, and attractions yet still is affordable and has so much to offer. The following are just a few of the many reasons why you should move to Tampa, FL.

1. The Economy

The city of Tampa Bay is located in Hillsborough County and consists of a large natural harbor along the Gulf of Mexico on the west coast of Florida comprising Hillsborough Bay, Old Tampa Bay, Middle Tampa Bay and Lower Tampa.  These areas are not just incredible places to visit but support great economics also.  For instance the unemployment rate just a few years ago has progressed in a strong downward spiral beginning at 8.1% to 6.5% a year ago and now currently sitting at just 5.5%. Tampa was also just ranked 24th among the 150 best cities to find a job.

2. Attractions

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Much like Orlando being known for Disney World, Tampa is known for Busch Gardens. Not only does Busch Gardens draw a crowd but there are many other options such as the thrilling water park Adventure Island, the top rated Florida Aquarium, and the awesome family-friendly Lowry Park Zoo. If you haven’t been to these entertainment destinations you will be pleasantly surprised.

Whether you are looking for one of the top 5 rated roller coasters plummeting hundreds of feet in a matter of seconds or access to nearly 30 acres of water rides and thrills and even the up close encounters of wild life from one of the top 10 aquariums in the country or the #1 family-friendly zoo. Tampa has a large following of thrill seekers but that isn’t what continues to make this location a great place to call home.

3. The BEACH!houses for sale in tampa bay fl

Ahhhh the beach! If you know anything about the west coast white sand beaches of Florida you will understand why people never want to leave. There are some 35 miles of beach in the Tampa area with many of the beaches winning all sorts of awards and accolades. Some of the beaches in the Tampa Bay Area include:

This just scratches the surface of all the desirable reasons why people decide to move to Tampa but this city has so much more to offer including great schools and universities, fishing and boating, paddle boarding, football, baseball, hockey, and even drinking homegrown freshly brewed beer. Tampa has endless possibilities.

The housing situation is plentiful ranging from high-rise condos to suburban neighborhoods to homes on the beach. If you are thinking about moving to Tampa, Florida be sure to research your new potential neighborhoods and communities on the MoveMap at www.MoversAtlas.com. Happy house hunting!

buy a house, townhome or condo in florida

House, Townhouse, or Condo – Which is Best for You?

For some, a single family home is the only thing that pops in their mind when they think of home ownership and this makes perfect sense BUT there are other options. Depending on your situation a Condo or townhome may be the best option for you. In fact I bet there are a number of people that like the idea of not having to deal with regular maintenance and mow the yard every week!

There is no right or wrong answer when you are choosing the type of home you are looking to purchase but rather what works best for you in your individual situation. We will go over just some of the advantages and disadvantages of each type of home.

To start off, the single family home besides being the flagship of the American Dream has many advantages but also has just as many disadvantages:

Advantages

  • You will have access to your own yard
  • Single family homes are typically larger
  • Single family homes have more storage, including a basement, attic, and garage
  • It is easier to obtain financing compared to a condo
  • Less rules such as animal sizes, parking situations, and exterior requirements

Disadvantages

  • Any maintenance issues including repairs, landscaping, and snow removal is your responsibility
  • Single family homes are typically more expensive than condos and townhouses
  • Utility bills are usually considerably higher due to the larger size
  • Homes may still have an Home Owners Association as aggressive as one of its townhouse or Condo counterparts

The townhouse is referred to the type of construction for a building that is 100% owned to include the property it sits on while sharing one or more walls with the adjacent building. By owning the land the building sits on, no ownership can happen above or below unlike a condo. The advantages and disadvantages to living in a townhouse are as follows:

Advantages

  • Lower utilities
  • Much of the exterior maintenance including yard, landscaping and exterior paint is included
  • Typically has common areas such as parks and even pools with club houses that can be utilized with no up keep of your own
  • Enter Directly into the unit from the outside with a garage and patio with back yard
  • Lower home owners insurance due to the HOA being responsible for the exterior

Disadvantages

  • Typically higher HOA fees
  • Sometimes difficult to qualify for financing depending on additional fees which are included during the qualifying process
  • A lot of restrictions including pets such as animal breed and size
  • May have more renters in the community
  • Could have sound issues

Last but not least would be a condo, the “simplest” of living. The condo is somewhat very beneficial to some but may not be for everyone.

Advantages

  • Little to no maintenance
  • Usually secure with both cameras or an onsite security guard
  • Typically attached parking garage with assigned spots
  • Fees can include water, sewer, garbage and outside maintenance
  • Most have conference rooms, gyms, pools and even tennis courts

Disadvantages

  • Privacy at times seems difficult with many units in one building sharing hallways, elevators and other common areas
  • Could have sound issues
  • No attached garage
  • Less storage
  • Typically if the building hasn’t been managed properly it takes many years of good management to turn around which can greatly affect your resale value
  • Also may have high HOA fees

Any of these types of homes have pros and cons to consider but shouldn’t be too difficult of a decision based on what you are looking for and the lifestyle you enjoy. The condo is the most worry free option that enables you to pack a bag and travel with the ease of locking the door behind you, no lawn to take care of and little up keep is necessary. The single family home is the epitome of upkeep and cost but for some they wouldn’t have it any other way.

We hope this has helped you determine the best type of home for you. If you are looking to buy or rent in Florida make sure to check out www.MoversAtlas.com to research valuable information about your potential new home and the surrounding neighborhood and community.

should I move to cocoa beach fl

Why Cocoa Beach FL is a Great Place to Live

Cocoa Beach is a hidden jewel right in the heart of Brevard County Florida. Some may think there are other great beach cities in Florida but this place has a lot of reasons why it is a fantastic place to live with even greater amount of growth coming its way.

The population size is around 17,000 people and the people that call Cocoa Beach their home range from the typicalcocoa beach fl real estate tanned beach bum 20-somethings all the way to the white-haired snowbirds. The median house cost in Cocoa is right at $94,000, which is very affordable for most, and the cost of living is 12.70% lower than the rest of the US. Oh and that isn’t all, the unemployment rate is 6.30% and still falling.

Just to scratch the surface of Brevard county, it has a lot of large companies paired with a low cost of living. Many professionals live here and work at companies like Harris Corp, Brown and Brown insurance and Halifax Media group. There has also been a recent addition of a lot of aerospace and engineering jobs thanks to the privatized space flight industry.

This town at one point was voted as one of the worst places for employment and the very best place to retire in America, however, those tables seem to be turning. Considering this recent growth in employment opportunities with a very low cost of living and reasonably priced housing you may be getting in on the ground floor of a big upswing if you decide to buy a home in Cocoa Beach, FL.

Cocoa’s best qualities aren’t all about economic growth; there is also plenty to do and it is an awesome place to raise a family.

First and foremost would be the benefits of the beach, between fishing and surfing along with boating and kayaking. There are many other activities ranging from casino cruises to the Brevard zoo…There are always a ton of fun things going on. Also the distance from Cocoa to Orlando is only about 45 minutes so if you are fan of the the thrill rides and roller coasters or if your family wants to go visit Mickey Mouse at Disney it is only a quick drive inland for a day trip to one of Orlando’s many theme parks.

The other aspect would be the tourist industry; the Port of Canaveral is a cruise, cargo and naval authority and one of the biggest cruise ports in the world. There are nearly 2.8 million multi-day cruise passengers per year and other larger ships destined to be added.

Besides the higher education school “Eastern Florida States College” formerly known as Brevard Community College, there are other great grade schools local to Cocoa Florida. There are 4 primary and secondary schools with one of the elementary schools “Freedom 7 Elementary School of International Studies,” having a rating of 10/10. The following junior/senior school grades 7-12 are also scoring high with a rating of 9/10.

In summary you can understand why Cocoa Beach has many great reasons to live here. I didn’t even get into the weather or the year around flip-flop and bathing suit attire. There are many other great reasons but you have to find what works for your situation, whether it’s the kids, living the single life or even wanting to drive the convertible year round, Cocoa Florida may be perfect for you. To help you make your decision on where to move in Florida take a look at the www.moversatlas.com MoveMap to research cities, communities, and neighborhoods in FL.