Looking for IDEAS on a Small beach town to move to
Dec 28th, 2013, 07:13 PM
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Looking for IDEAS on a Small beach town to move to
My fiance and myself are looking to possibly move out of Indiana and looking for a small beach town. We do have a very young child not of school age yet. We have our eyes currently on Tybee Island, GA. We have lived in Indiana our whole lives and want to be done with this cold winter weather and looking for a change in our lives. I have always wanted to live near the water as well. I don't want to move somewhere that is too touristy, in example Panama City, FL etc. I like the Gulf Shores but also like the Atlantic side but not too far up North more Southern. Somewhere affordable to the average income family.
I do have my dreaded fears of moving of course. But I suppose the "unknown" is always fearful. But I also want to see what's out there.
I do have my dreaded fears of moving of course. But I suppose the "unknown" is always fearful. But I also want to see what's out there.
Dec 29th, 2013, 04:28 AM
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There are lots and lots of potential great places, but Clarkgriswold has hit on the biggest issue: how will you support yourself?
If you had a trust fund, that would be great, but otherwise supporting oneself in a seasonal economy isn't easy, and housing can be very difficult. Where I live, most locals work a couple of jobs in the season to make up for the lack of work in the off season. Many people do The Shuffle: they can only rent for 9 months of the year since seasonal renters will pay more for a week than they do for a month. Sometimes families will move in together for affordable seasonal housing. People who own their own houses often do the same thing so they can rent them at a high rate.
It is possible to run a virtual business.. When I semi-retired, I had a consulting practice with clients from Oregon to Florida, and I know other people who do the same. It is next to impossible to maintain yourself as an artist, crafts person, or musician without a couple of day jobs. If the local economy is growing, anybody in the building trades can find work. I don't know about Florida. Nurses, mechanics, repair people are always in demand. A commercial driving license (trucks) will open a lot of doors for men and women both.
I won't warn you about heat in the summer because I lived for two years in Indiana, and the summers are pretty horrible there. You don't want to be cold: if that mean "frost free", you are going to have to go into southern Florida. If it means " cold mornings are okay if it goes to 60 most afternoons", that opens up a lot more territory.
Finally, health care can be an issue. Schools are usually pretty good in seasonal communities because taxes on seasonal properties support services that the owners don't use!
If you had a trust fund, that would be great, but otherwise supporting oneself in a seasonal economy isn't easy, and housing can be very difficult. Where I live, most locals work a couple of jobs in the season to make up for the lack of work in the off season. Many people do The Shuffle: they can only rent for 9 months of the year since seasonal renters will pay more for a week than they do for a month. Sometimes families will move in together for affordable seasonal housing. People who own their own houses often do the same thing so they can rent them at a high rate.
It is possible to run a virtual business.. When I semi-retired, I had a consulting practice with clients from Oregon to Florida, and I know other people who do the same. It is next to impossible to maintain yourself as an artist, crafts person, or musician without a couple of day jobs. If the local economy is growing, anybody in the building trades can find work. I don't know about Florida. Nurses, mechanics, repair people are always in demand. A commercial driving license (trucks) will open a lot of doors for men and women both.
I won't warn you about heat in the summer because I lived for two years in Indiana, and the summers are pretty horrible there. You don't want to be cold: if that mean "frost free", you are going to have to go into southern Florida. If it means " cold mornings are okay if it goes to 60 most afternoons", that opens up a lot more territory.
Finally, health care can be an issue. Schools are usually pretty good in seasonal communities because taxes on seasonal properties support services that the owners don't use!
Dec 29th, 2013, 06:28 AM
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Are you independently wealthy? If so then St Augustine Beach is great, Flagler Beach and the farthest south I would go would be New Smyrna Beach. I am not a fan of the gulf side of Fl. I live on the east coast.
Dec 29th, 2013, 05:52 PM
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Employment would be only a concern for my fiancee who has different work trade options. Such as construction and flooring (tile, hardwood, etc) and fine dinning restaurant. I actually work a pharmaceutical job from home and it doesn't matter where I am, so that would not be an issue for myself. Yes we would like to be outside of a big city/ town that would provide employment for him. We are really stuck on Georgia unless we can get persuaded haha! Thanks all for you input and advice gives us ideas and conversation to go with to discuss this!
Dec 30th, 2013, 03:42 AM
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It's pretty hard to do fine dining and building trades in the same place because their busy season are the same. His trade will be steadier work if the local market has not been killed by foreclosures.
If you take the scouting trip Gretchen recommends, you should allow enough time for him to visit the building department in the towns you like to see how much is being permitted and goes on to construction. A visit to a big real estate office to explore rentals and ultimately purchasing will give you useful information. I have found the folks in small town visitors centers to love to talk about this kind of thing when they are not busy. Finally, you reference librarian is your friend. Drop in the local library and tell them what you need to know.
Other thing to consider: taxes: how much is sales tax, what is it on, how much are license plates, property taxes, car insurance? Where is he nearest major medical center if one of you has a serious accident? Lifestyle: does everyone in the town go to church, is it a dry county, do they stringently enforce laws on smoking dope, are gay people out or closeted? What are the laws on proprty ownership and income tax for a cohabiting couple? will yo become common law huband and wife whether you want to or not? How do these agree or disagree with your own beliefs and lifestyle?
My wife and I have moved nineteen times, so I have some experience in this kind of stuff. My brother lives in St Simons Island, Georgia, and likes that area and adjacent Brunswick a lot. Visit first, then move and rent, the decide for good.-- or for thsi stage in your life.
If you take the scouting trip Gretchen recommends, you should allow enough time for him to visit the building department in the towns you like to see how much is being permitted and goes on to construction. A visit to a big real estate office to explore rentals and ultimately purchasing will give you useful information. I have found the folks in small town visitors centers to love to talk about this kind of thing when they are not busy. Finally, you reference librarian is your friend. Drop in the local library and tell them what you need to know.
Other thing to consider: taxes: how much is sales tax, what is it on, how much are license plates, property taxes, car insurance? Where is he nearest major medical center if one of you has a serious accident? Lifestyle: does everyone in the town go to church, is it a dry county, do they stringently enforce laws on smoking dope, are gay people out or closeted? What are the laws on proprty ownership and income tax for a cohabiting couple? will yo become common law huband and wife whether you want to or not? How do these agree or disagree with your own beliefs and lifestyle?
My wife and I have moved nineteen times, so I have some experience in this kind of stuff. My brother lives in St Simons Island, Georgia, and likes that area and adjacent Brunswick a lot. Visit first, then move and rent, the decide for good.-- or for thsi stage in your life.
Dec 30th, 2013, 03:46 AM
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Consider Indialantic FL. A small residential beach city, but 10 minutes from Melbourne that has most middle sized city conveniences and 75 minutes from Orlando with all metropolitan features. If you visit, you will be charmed.
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