7 Things I Wish I Knew Before Moving to Florida

Moving to Florida sounds pretty straightforward.

Pack your stuff. Head south. Trade winter coats for flip-flops. Start thinking 65 degrees is somehow cold.

And while I’m very happy to officially call Florida home, there are definitely a few things I wish I’d known before making the move.

Not because any of them would have changed my mind—but because they would have made the whole process a little easier.

Some are practical. Some are things I never thought to think about. And some you really only learn once you’re actually here.

So, if Florida is somewhere on your radar, here are seven things to know before moving to Florida that might make your own transition a little smoother.

1. Florida Is Bigger Than You Think — And That’s Kind of the Fun Part

This sounds painfully obvious, but hear me out.

Saying you want to “move to Florida” is a little like saying you want to “move somewhere on the East Coast.”

There are very different versions of Florida.

You can live in the middle of a busy city, in a quiet beach town, in a master-planned community, somewhere with a little more land, or in a neighborhood where you can bike to the water.

And even places that don't look terribly far apart on a map can feel completely different once you're actually there.

Before you start looking at houses, spend some time thinking about what you want your everyday life to look like.

• Do you want quiet or busy?

• Beach town or city?

• Walkability or space?

• New construction or an established neighborhood?

• Do you need to be near an airport?

• How close do you actually want to be to the beach?

You don't necessarily need to know the exact town—or even the exact county—before you start exploring. You just need to know what you want your version of Florida to feel like.

2. You Might Be Surprised by How Different Each Area Feels

This was probably one of the biggest things I learned.

Florida isn't one giant collection of palm trees and Publix stores.

Okay, there are a lot of palm trees... and Publix stores.

But every area has its own personality.

Some places feel distinctly coastal. Some are newer and more suburban. Some have charming little downtowns and established neighborhoods. Others have restaurants, shopping and practically everything you could ever need within a few miles.

That's why I think one of the best things you can do before relocating is explore more than one area.

Drive through neighborhoods. Go to the grocery store. Grab coffee somewhere local. See what traffic looks like on a normal weekday.

Try to experience the place as someone who lives there, not just someone visiting for the weekend.

Because you're not just choosing where to buy a house.

You're choosing where you're going to live your Tuesday afternoons.

And that's a very different question.

3. Yes, Insurance Is Different Here — But It’s Something You Can Plan For

Florida homeowners insurance gets plenty of attention, and if you're moving from another state, there are definitely some differences worth understanding.

But this isn't a reason to panic.

It's a reason to get informed early.

Things like the age of a roof, construction type, wind mitigation features, flood zone and other property-specific factors can affect insurance costs.

That means two homes with similar purchase prices may have very different ongoing expenses.

The good news?

You don't have to figure any of this out by yourself—or wait until you're halfway through buying a house to start asking questions.

Getting an insurance professional involved early can help you understand what you're looking at before you make a decision.

It's simply another part of buying a home in Florida, and knowing about it ahead of time makes the process a whole lot less intimidating.

4. Florida Weather Has a Personality of Its Own

Yes, Florida is hot.

I knew Florida was hot.

You know Florida is hot.

That did not stop me from discovering that Florida summer heat and humidity are their own special experience.

The heat and humidity take some adjusting to. Although I will say, living on the east coast, there’s almost always a breeze—so summer honestly hasn’t been as bad as I expected. And that’s coming from someone who runs hot, so take that for what it’s worth 😂

Then there are the afternoon thunderstorms, which deserve their own category entirely.

If you love a good thunderstorm, you're in luck. During the summer, you can practically count on the daily 3 p.m. storm rolling through. It can be gorgeous and sunny, suddenly look like the apocalypse is approaching, absolutely pour, and then go right back to being beautiful.

Apparently we're all just supposed to carry on as if that's normal.

Eventually, you do.

But there’s also a pretty great flip side to Florida weather.

Outdoor mornings. Palm trees. Beach days that aren't limited to a tiny window of summer. Sitting outside in January.

And the first time you see your old hometown getting buried in snow while you're looking at blue skies outside your window?

Yeah. That part is pretty nice.

If you've only ever visited Florida during peak winter weather, though, I'd still recommend spending some time here during the warmer months before moving. You should know what August feels like.

Florida isn't perfect weather 365 days a year.

But personally? I'll take this version.

5. There Are a Few Florida-Specific Homeownership Things You’ll Learn

Every part of the country has its quirks, and owning a home in Florida comes with a few of its own.

You'll start hearing terms like wind mitigation, flood zones, hurricane shutters and impact windows considerably more often than you probably did before.

You'll also learn that being near the water doesn't automatically tell you everything you need to know about a property's flood risk.

Flood zones, elevation and insurance considerations can vary from one property to another, which is why it's important to look at the actual house rather than making assumptions based solely on where it appears on a map.

None of this needs to be scary.

Think of it as Florida Homeownership 101.

Once you understand what to look for—and have the right people helping you evaluate it—it becomes another part of choosing the right home.

6. Your New Normal Starts Feeling Normal Surprisingly Fast

When you're preparing for an out-of-state move, suddenly it feels like you need to rebuild your entire life at once.

• Where are you going to live?

• Who will your insurance agent be?

• Where's the good grocery store?

• Who's your vet?

• Where do you get your hair done?

• Which DMV do you go to?

• WHY ARE THERE SO MANY THINGS?

And yes, there are a lot of little details involved in relocating. But one thing I wish I'd understood sooner is that you don't have to figure all of them out before you arrive.

Some things are actually easier to figure out once you're here.

And surprisingly quickly, the unfamiliar stuff starts becoming... normal.

You find your coffee place.

You figure out the back roads.

You know which beach access you like.

You develop very strong opinions about which Publix is your Publix.

And somewhere along the way, the place that felt completely new starts feeling like home.

7. Moving Here Is About Building a Life, Not Just Buying a House

This is probably the biggest thing I've learned from relocating myself.

Finding the house is one part of moving to Florida.

The actual move is everything surrounding it.

You're changing routines. Doctors. Veterinarians. Grocery stores. Service providers. Maybe schools. Possibly jobs.

You're figuring out registrations, insurance, utilities, neighborhoods, hurricane prep and approximately 47 other things you didn't realize belonged on your list.

But you're also finding...

• Your favorite restaurants

• Your favorite beach

• Your new weekend routines

• The route you automatically take home

• The places you bring people when they come visit

You're not just moving your belongings from one state to another. You're building a life somewhere new.

And honestly, that's the exciting part.

Looking Back, Would I Still Move to Florida?

Absolutely. 100%.

Most of the things I wish I'd known before moving here aren't things that would have made me reconsider the move... They're things that would have made the transition easier.

And that's a big reason relocation has become such a natural focus of my real estate business.

I've been on the other side of the move.

I know what it's like to research areas from another state, pack up a house, start over somewhere new and have approximately a million little questions along the way.

So when I work with someone who's considering a move to Florida, I'm not only thinking about which houses might work. I'm thinking about the bigger picture.

Thinking About Making the Move?

You don't have to know exactly where you want to live yet. In fact, that's often one of the first things worth figuring out.

I’m based in Vero Beach and work with buyers throughout the Treasure Coast and beyond, and I’m always happy to help you think through the different areas, what you're looking for, and what the move itself might realistically involve.

And if Florida is still just a 'maybe someday' idea?

That's okay too.

Start exploring. Ask questions. Learn the areas.

Then, when you're ready, we'll figure out what comes next.

ASHLEY CANNARD, REALTOR® | REAL BROKER, LLC | VERO BEACH, FLORIDA | ASHLEYCANNARD.COM