Top Three Reasons to Move to Florida

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

You’ve probably wondered what it’s like to move to Florida when you visited.

What would it be like to live where the sun always shines, it never snows, taxes are low, and everyone enjoys being outdoors near the water? That may explain why Florida became the third most-populous state in 2014, surpassing New York.

We can think of many reasons to move to Florida. Here are just three:

Great Weather

Everyone loves Florida’s weather, especially in the winter. That’s because it rarely freezes south of Tampa thanks to the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Normal seasonal temperatures average 62 degrees in the winter, with a low of 53 degrees and a high of 72, according to the data from the National Weather Service.

Even the summers aren’t as hot as you might expect. The average temperature in the summer is 82 degrees because afternoon showers combined with breezes from the Gulf of Mexico bring cooler temperatures.

The state occasionally faces the threat of a hurricane from June to November. But Florida is well-prepared because new homes are built to withstand hurricanes, the state provides homeowners insurance and weather forecasters can warn you well ahead of time.

Outdoor Recreation

If you enjoy the great outdoors, you’ll love the fact that most of Babcock Ranch will remain a nature preserve forever.

The area that once totaled 91,000 acres was home to the ranchers and farmers of Crescent B Ranch but thanks to developer Kitson & Partners and visionary state legislators, the town of Babcock Ranch will only encompass 17,000 acres. The remaining 74,000 acres of what once was Crescent B Ranch is now owned by the state as a preserve in perpetuity.

Birding is a popular pastime in the Babcock wilderness areas, especially when winter comes and migratory birds fly south. Armed with a good pair of binoculars, you’ll spot storks and other rare species nesting in Southwest Florida. Additionally, Babcock Ranch’s outfitters store located in Founders Square, Curry Creek Outfitters, offers plenty to do for the outdoor enthusiast.

The Gulf Coast is blessed with estuaries rich in wildlife, freshwater rivers and lakes and the Gulf of Mexico’s abundant fisheries. Whether it’s boating, fishing or just reading a good book on the beach, the water is always soothing.

Low Taxes

You’ll have extra money in your pocket because Florida is only one of seven states that does not impose a state income tax on its residents, helping it rank among the most tax-friendly states in the country, according to the Tax Foundation (http://taxfoundation.org/state-tax-climate/florida). In addition, Florida does not levy an estate tax when you die and it repealed its tax on intangible property such as stocks and bonds 10 years ago.

Homestead exemption is another benefit. If you maintain the property as your primary residence, you can receive an exemption of up to $50,000 from the assessed value of your property. This homestead exemption also provides for a cap on how much the assessment can rise annually.

There are other exemptions available for certain Florida homesteaders such as widows and widowers, blind persons, totally and permanently disabled persons, seniors and veterans. Babcock Ranch is in Charlotte County and you can read more about Florida’s homestead exemption law and how to apply for homestead exemption online from the county’s property appraiser here https://www.ccappraiser.com/.

At Babcock Ranch, we can give you many more reasons to move to Florida. Call (941) 235-6900 to schedule a tour or contact us through our website today.