British Expatriate Network

Can anyone help with information on central Florida ???
I'm looking for info on houses, schools, running a business, etc.
I'm going to be applying for an L1 visa next year & will be buying a business in the 'states to facilitate this.
Any advice, experiences etc will be appreciated. 8)

Only been there on vacation, sounds like you may need to take a trip over if you haven't already. I suggest you go between May & September to see what you 're up against weather-wise!!
We love Florida, particularly the SW, lovely beaches, some nice towns and very laid back feeling. We visit every Thanksgiving. It's usually in the 70s and 80s then, very nice and sunny and lower humidity. I know the houses are cheaper than alot of parts of east coast US. Alot of people here buy houses in Florida for investment purposes. If you want to live near the coast however you need to factor in the hurricane season. shock

My husband used to work in Lakeland, Central Florida. Very 'gunrack' oriented community, bubba

Thanks for that, but what do you mean by gunrack?

It's a rack attached to your pick-up truck for carrying your guns.

or in your house. I've seen too many cartoons.

We're looking at the area in a couple of months. Where are the best areas to live, shop etc

Happy New Year razz

"Best" is very subjective but areas which have "Large" shopping areas are obviously going to be the Metro areas like Orlando, Tampa, Miami etc.

Similarly, where is the 'best' place to live depends very much on what you're looking for in a community. If you're looking to razz it up every night, then South Beach, Miami is probably THE place to be in FLA and a good place to start - getting a little quieter as you move North up the East coast.

OTOH, If you want to feel like you've gone back in time and the only deafening sound you're likely to be subjected to is the sound of crickets in the evening, then cross over to the West coast of FLA and take a look at Naples, Cape Coral, Sanibel. Things get slightly noisier (but only very slightly) as you move up the West Coast.

As you move into middle of the State, FLA gets a little more hardcore and, as someone mentioned above, it's less touristy, less teeth, more 'gunrack' and possibly more inbreeding too.

I used to work in Lakeland too and there were several employees who seemed to spend the whole day discussing guns, gunshows and how they would mete out 'justice' to criminals - and the chef in the staff cafeteria. As someone who is against capital punishment, I found it a little disconcerting but after working there for only a week, I began to warm to the idea of making an exception for the chef.

Thanks for that, Russ.
I'm starting to go off the Lakeland area based on your comments & those of other members. I see you're in Tampa - what's your opinion of the surrounding towns such as Brandon, around the bay & down to Sarasota?
We've got two children (7&3) & will probably have my Mum with us eventually (oap). I know it's subjective, but where would you go to live in Central Fl if you had the choice?

Regards

:lol:

I live in an area called 'New' Tampa (aka - Tampa Palms) which is to the North East of 'Old' Tampa and about 15 miles/15 minutes away from Brandon on the I-75.

The main drag where I am used to be nothing but orange groves and has grown noticeably in the last 4-5 years with all the new housing and the resultant increase in traffic congestion.

I mention this because Brandon underwent the same transformation about 10-15 years ago. The traffic in Brandon is pretty bad (and getting worse) but the town itself is OK. It's main attraction for those who live there is its nearness and access to Downtown Tampa, plenty of local shops and malls but it still provides some sense of being in a quiet 'burb' - although this feeling is disappearing fast. The same thing is now happening where I am.

As you move further South, the traffic congestion disappears almost entirely. By the time you get to the Sarasota/Siesta Key areas, it suddenly feels more like the quiet and sultry Florida of the brochures. Go even further South to Cape Coral/Sanibel/Naples and you drift into Hemingway’s Florida. Of course, these more southern areas mean that any commute into Tampa is going to be measured in hours rather than minutes.

Those areas are a little too quiet for my tastes but I can definitely see the attraction. Safe as anywhere on the planet too - ‘safe’ that is, if you disregard the mortal danger that you’re in from the totally blind and infirm geriatrics down there who still manage to hold on to their driver’s license. :shock:

I don’t know if my choice of where to live in Florida is going to be relevant for someone with two small ones in tow. Ours are grown and have flown the nest, so I can be more selfish now.

With two young kids that age, it depends very much on what you want for them while also choosing an area that works for you and your other half’s daily routine.

Where are you going to work? You mentioned that your applying for an L1 visa with the intent of running a business. Will that business require a commute or a lot of travelling ? (I never know whether to use one or two 'L's when posting on a Brit board while in the US).

I met a couple from Bolton who came over here by buying a bicycle/scooter/jet-ski business in Siesta Key. Obviously that kind of business doesn't involve much travel.
They are still there and loving every minute of it.

If your planned business does not require you to be tied to a metropolis, then you could do a lot worse than Sarasota and the surrounding areas on the FLA West Coast.
Safe, the kids will love it (at least until they reach their teens and want some nightlife) and it's still only 30-45 minutes from Tampa and maybe 90 minutes from Mickey Land.

Thanks for the info, Russ. Very interesting to hear from someone close to the area we're thinking of moving to. grin
We're over at the start of next month to view areas - have you any thoughts on hurricane resistance with homes close to the coast? I'm a bit worried that the closer to the coast, the more likely that your house will be damaged or flooded.

Regards

The building code changed after hurricane Andrew hit in 1992. Since about 94/95, all the homes in FLA have been constructed with concrete block.

Many of the coastal areas have ceased any new building and the existing homes are old and wood frame construction. Some don't even look very sturdy.

The main problem during hurricane season for coastal region dwellers is timing their evacuation. The evacuation routes are very narrow and become very congested during an exodus. They are often at or below sea level, so they flood quickly and once that happens, you're stuck if you haven’t already left.

This means you have to leave early if you want to be sure of being safe. The recent hurricanes that hit FLA have bounced around like pinballs, frequently changing their course and confounding all the predictions. Whether to go or stay is not as straightforward as it sounds.

e.g. We decided to go East once it became clear that Charlie was coming up the West coast as a Cat 4 or 5. It changed course at the last minute and the eye of the storm passed right over the hotel we stayed at in Orlando/Maitland (quite an experience). Had we remained at home, we would have experienced little more than a strong wind. So, the next storm saw us staying put and it did NOT change course.

After that everyone was calling me to find out where we were going/staying so they could go in the opposite direction :lol: .

Then there is the added cost of maintaining these older beachfront properties and the cost of Insurance (if you can get any) is very high.

So, if you absolutely must live on the coast, then none of this will dissuade you but living inland, with a pool and overlooking a lake is not a bad substitute. If you must have a boat, then living on an inland waterway with sea access is another alternative to consider.

Either way, the beach can still be only 20-30 minutes away for a day or weekend retreat.

Useful info - thanks Russ grin

I appreciate the time taken to help.

We're having a good look around at the start of next month - I will be back with more questions than I go with.

Regards