r/AskFlorida

Looking for a new place to live and being from the northeast I would like to try somewhere warm even for just a year. Was considering doing a month long rental in either July or September in FL, somewhere along the coast (looked at Daytona and Jacksonville) to test it out.
I work remotely so really what draws me is the coast, weather, and great pricing on apartment complexes.

Am I being naive? Is this something I shouldn’t even consider? Do I not know enough about hurricanes?

And yes, I know I could go to California for warm weather but the price point is what deters me.

my ac is from like 10 years ago and lately it cant keep up with the miami heat/humidity even on mild days with the unit running nonstop and blowing warm air sometimes. im worried about it dying completely right when summer hits hard and bills are already climbing.

called sunny bliss for a quick check and they said the system is on its last legs with low coolant and old parts but repair could buy some time if i dont mind the risk of more issues soon. is it the time to change now or wait and what signs should i watch for before deciding?

thanks for any advice guys...

Anyone know any places or reccomendations to get Good Blue Crab here in Miami? (Cooked or Fresh)

Hello everyone!

My boyfriend and I are relocating to Orlando in July for his work opportunities. Does anyone know any good apartments on the west side of Orlando (commuting distance to Universal)? We have been looking in the Dr Phillips, Windermere, Williamsburg, Winter Garden, and Clermont areas so far. We do have a cat so we need something pet friendly and hopefully with a screened in patio for her (but not necessary). We aren’t from here so we don’t know the good/bad areas of town yet!

Also is there anything we should remember to do before moving?

Thanks in advance 🤍

I know I know, another post about moving. I’ve been lurking the sub for months, I know it’s expensive, I know it’s crowded, I know there are downsides.

Context: 38 years old, divorced in 2021, no kids, bartender, sober.

Live in and grew up in Iowa, city kid not a farmer, lived in Seattle in my early 20s. Currently living downtown in my city.

The plan is to spend this summmer saving money, I intend to move sometime in September/October, based on what I’ve read this seems like the best time to move and find a serving or bartending job, I’m not terribly concerned about finding work and I am not above working at a chain until I get myself established and get to know the area. I will have a few months worth of expenses saved before I move, I’m also aware that whatever I may have saved may not go as far as I expect.

I want to be in or near a decent sized city and based on my research St. Petersburg seems like the best balance of cost and job opportunities. The Tampa area in general. However I have also considered Pensacola for the more relaxed pace. I have also considered the West Palm beach area or somewhere on the east coast further north of Miami, however I think I am pretty set on the gulf side. I looked at tarpon springs and while charming I would worry that it is too small and I could be setting myself up for a nightmare commute unless I scored a job locally.

The dream would be to live within walking distance of both work and a beach where I could snorkel or dive. Obviously the reality will likely be very different. I don’t expect the first apartment or job I land at to be the long term, I just need to get myself to the area and start building the life I want. Even if for example I start in St. Pete I am not opposed to moving to Pensacola if I can find the opportunities I want.

My question is mostly for people who spend time in the water as a hobby, what area offers the best balance of recreation and job opportunities, is it easy to find people to pursue snorkeling and diving activities with? I also want to be able to meet both friends and potential romantic partners so I don’t want to be in the middle of nowhere.

Dunedin has appeal, Clearwater as well, I loved Indian Rocks Beach when I visited last summer, I can’t do another winter in Iowa, there’s nothing to do but drink and I am trying to remove myself from that lifestyle, I know it’s prevalent no matter where you live however I would like to have more options for outdoor activities. I’ve researched other states and even for all of its flaws Florida still tops my list.

So hit me with your experiences, your recommendations, your words of warning. I have nothing to lose and I haven’t been diving in 20 years but it’s truly all I want.

Has anyone made the move from Orlando to Brevard and if so how was your experience?

Specifically interested in Melbourne Beach and Indialantic. How is it for families, schools and getting to know others? Thank you in advance!

OK, so I bought a little Nissan for my daughter two years ago, some things came up she ended up going to go live with her dad for a bit and she got a new one. We never got the car registered and I never could find the title to it and I only have a picture of the bill of sale from me to the other woman, this car is probably worth $1000 at MOST I did not steal this car. It was bought 100% by me. I am wondering if something I can do so I could get this car sold. The DMV route seems so lengthy and annoying. I mean is there like a fake ChatGPT title I can make or something of the sort even to just junk it or would I get in trouble? I’m just trying to get this figured out the easiest way possible I really hate going through court systems it takes forever and this car is just a junker. What do you guys think? Please do not reply on here about things being illegal and don’t do that blah blah blah. I just would like to hear true facts and what would happen if say, I did create a falsified title or bill of sale this car is 1000% not stolen.
Any advice would help! Thank you so much.

Hi!

I am interested in doing a boudoir photoshoot for myself but don't know anyone in my area who has had one done. So, I'm looking for advice here. Does anyone have a photographer or company they went with and personally had a great experience? I've talked to a few companies that have beautiful portfolios, but still want other opinions. Anywhere around the Orlando FL area. Thanks!

I keep wondering how much research is actually enough before you commit to a place. Like, is checking reviews on two or three platforms sufficient, or are there local Florida-specific resources or forums where people flag issues that never make it onto the big booking sites?

What I'm really curious about is whether any of you have shown up somewhere only to find something that should have been disclosed but wasn't, whether that's a maintenance issue, a sketchy situation with management, a neighborhood thing, or anything else that made you feel like you didn't do enough homework beforehand. And if something like that happened to you, did you have any real recourse, or did you just chalk it up to a lesson learned?

I'd love to hear what your actual vetting process looks like before booking a stay in Florida, especially for beach areas. Any tips, red flags to watch for, or sites you swear by would be really helpful right now

Moving to SWFL in the next few months. Two cities I’m considering are Port Charlotte and Lehigh Acres. They both seem like quiet retirement areas, which I’m okay with, and they appear to have affordable housing. I’m wondering if anyone has a preference between the two cities and if they have any recommendations on areas to stay away from.

Throw away so my ex can’t find where I’m moving too.

My husband has a job offer near Cape Canaveral and we're seriously considering leaving Missouri for it. We have three young kids and my in-laws already live in Florida so we'd have some family nearby. We love the idea of warm winters and being close to the coast but I'm nervous about the reality of raising a family there. Schools, safety, hurricane prep, cost of living, I don't want to romanticize it just because we've had good vacation visits. For parents who moved to Florida with elementary age kids, what surprised you the most once you settled in? And specifically around the Cape Canaveral / Merritt Island / Viera area, are there neighborhoods you'd recommend or avoid?

In your experience, can you negotiate the percentage that a real estate agent charges you for selling your home? Seems like the going rate is 4% right now. I’m ready to bargain. Thoughts.

Hi All, I am looking for a Florida defense attorney for a baseless injury claim which has been made against me personally. I don't think the complainant has a case but I want to err on the side of caution. Would prefer someone proactive, not some sleepy backstreet shop. Thanks in advance!

Been watching a lot of YouTube videos about sovereign citizens lately and I noticed a lot of similarities between them and maga.Who do think is more intellectually challenged, maga or sovereign citizens???

I love St. Andrews state park, but haven’t been camping in the south EVER or a beach.

It’s only 2 nights,

And then we go further south to a beach house. I don’t need EVERYTHING like a griddle

Or kettle …

But can you suggest 2 breakfasts and 3 lunch/suppers? (I’m thinking picnic food at the beach, but maybe there’s an idea I’m

Not considering!)

Also, are there things I should

Think of, like Sand in tent, shoe in tents kind of rules to set? 5 kids, 2

Parents, 2 tents.

AC died 5 days ago. Pompano Beach. 3 bedroom, 2 kids (7 and 9). Single mom, no partner to split this with.

Lowest quote so far for a full replacement is $7,800 (Goodman 3 ton). I have about $4,200 in savings. I cant put the rest on a card without maxing it.

The companies pitched me financing through Synchrony and GoodLeap. One was 0% for 12 months (which I would never pay off in 12 months) and one was 9.99% for 7 years which adds another $2,500 in interest over time.

Is there ANY world where a full air conditioner replacement happens for under $6K? Or is that just not the market in 2026? I keep seeing online "$5,000 to $7,000 for a basic install" but every local quote starts at $7,800.

Should I be looking at:

Used or refurbished units (do these even exist legitimately)

Replacing just the condenser and not the air handler

Some kind of payment plan that isnt 24% APR

Trying not to make a panic decision but the kids' rooms hit 88 last night.

I’ve been trying to understand what “normal” AC use actually looks like in Florida life, especially outside of peak summer. I know humidity and heat are a given, but I keep getting mixed answers on whether people really just run air conditioning almost constantly or if there’s more of a seasonal rhythm to it.

Do most households basically treat AC as an always-on utility from spring through fall, or do people still open windows in the mornings and try to cut back when they can? I’ve also been curious what energy bills look like in practice for an average place, not the extremes you see online.

Coming from a place where AC is more of a heatwave thing, the idea of it being a daily baseline rather than occasional use is interesting to me. I’m also wondering if people develop habits around it like closing blinds all day, adjusting thermostat schedules, or just budgeting for higher electricity costs as a normal part of living there.

Would love to hear what the day-to-day reality actually feels like from locals, especially in apartments vs houses. It seems like one of those things that sounds simple but probably shapes daily life more than people expect.