If you have made the decision to move to Florida, you can congratulate yourself. You have joined a growing number of people who have chosen to escape the cold and snow in favor of a life filled with more outdoor activities and fun in the sun. Sarasota and similar communities are seeing an influx of people from northern states who are settling in the land of sunshine. Here are a few tips to help your move go smoothly.Four of the main things that you need to know when planning for a move to Florida, USA.Check this out to learn all about Florida.

Photo by: Gavin St. Ours

What You Need to Know to Move to Florida

Housing

Gulf Coast cities, such as Sarasota and others, offer a wide variety of housing options, including single-family homes, town homes, apartments, condominiums and manufactured homes. Because the area has become so popular, builders have constructed many new homes in Sarasota, FL that are available for immediate occupancy.
Home prices are generally affordable in the state, and real estate taxes are reasonable.

Shopping

Sarasota County offers a variety of shopping venues to suit your everyday needs and for those special items for important occasions. The Westfield Southgate Mall offers a number of stores for clothing, books and other retail items. The Mall at University Town Center offers another option for all your needs. For dining and an upscale shopping experience, St. Armand’s Circle is the place to go.

For a different experience, try the Towels Court Art Colony for paintings, sculpture and other unique gifts. A variety of supermarkets and farmer’s markets are also available in the area.

Moving In

Once you have decided on the type of residence for your needs, you can begin the process of getting it set up for your arrival. A call to your Sarasota Utilities Department will ensure that your water is on and that billing is in your name. They will inform you of any water restrictions that are in place during periods of drought. Florida Power & Light provides electricity to the community and surrounding areas.

A deposit may be required, which will be credited back to you after a period of time. Call them to ensure that your bill is send to the new resident. Comcast, DirecTV and DishNetwork serves the cable and satellite TV needs of Sarasota. Century Link offers landline and Internet service. A number of cell phone providers serve the needs of the Sarasota community, including Verizon, Sprint and AT&T.

Amenities in the Sarasota Area

Sarasota and similar cities in the area offer the warm Florida sun and gentle Gulf Coast waters to enjoy throughout the year. Many resident enjoy walking on the beaches, swimming, boating or just relaxing in the sun. The Arts & Cultural Alliance of Sarasota offers a wide variety of exhibitions, readings, demonstrations, film showings and other events throughout the year.

Residents can enjoy movie theaters, local festivals, the Mote Marine Laboratory and the Selby Botanical Gardens, as well as the Ringling Museum Complex. Take the children or grandchildren for an afternoon of hunting for fossilized shark teeth at nearby Venice’s Caspersen Beach or kayaking at the Myakka State Park.

Arranging your move takes some time and research, but once these tasks are done, you can sit back and enjoy the many amenities of living in your new location.

Lara Adams lives in Florida having recently moved there for a job in real estate. She often writes about relocating to Florida, finding that many people ask her advice on the subject.

Take a look at this other article to learn all about retiring in Florida.