Best Reasons to Move to Florida

Best Reasons to Move to Florida (and How IVL Can Help!)

More Americans are Moving to the Sunshine State than Ever Before. More are on the Way.

Americans Are on the Move

Americans are a restless bunch.

We move all the time, and for all sorts of reasons—including better job prospects, better home prices, a lower cost of living, better public services, a better climate, better educational opportunities, and safer communities.

And those are just a handful of the things that will convince Americans to pack up and leave their old life behind in order to start again somewhere else.

Read Here:10 Tips To Consider Before a Long Distance Move

Packing up

In many ways, this sort of wanderlust is a constant in American life. It’s part of our national character— and the statistics prove it: every year, millions of Americans move from one part of the country to another, and millions more move overseas or return home.

Over the last few years, the number of people moving inside the United States—particularly from one state to another—has been rising steadily.

Mass migration out of California, New York, and Illinois has been the subject of countless new stories—and continues to grow—but what’s a little less publicized is where all of these people have been going.

So Where is Everyone Headed?

A lot of people are moving to the US Southwest. Some are moving to the Carolinas and Tennessee, mainly for work opportunities but also for a higher quality of life overall.

But an even greater number of Americans are moving even further south—to a strange and exotic land of sun sandy white beaches and truly stunning cultural and ecological diversity. To the place, older Americans continue to associate with the Mercury and Apollo missions. The place where both the people—and the weather—are known for keeping things a bit… lively. The place where alligators and crocodiles live together in peace and harmony (sort of), where English and Spanish have begun to fuse in fascinating, novel ways (see “Miami English”), and where millions of visitors from every corner of the globe come to visit some of the world’s most famous theme parks.

The State of Florida. That state that, according to a wide variety of metrics, sits head and shoulders above all the others.

Read Here: Cost of a Long Distance Move – What to Expect

Where Exactly Are People Moving to in Florida?

According to a mid-2023 story at US News & World Report, seven of the 10 cities that Americans are moving to most are in the state of Florida – including, top to bottom, Sarasota, Fort Myers, Lakeland, Port St. Lucie, Ocala, Daytona Beach, and Naples. 

That’s a stunning stat, but other reports largely confirm Florida’s popularity with Americans of all ages and backgrounds who are also thinking about relocating. A March 2023 report from the real estate outfit RedFin, for example, ranks Miami as the city that Americans want to move to most. Four other cities in Florida feature on the list, with Tampa at #5, Orlando at #6, Cape Coral at #7, and North Port-Sarasota at #9. The rest of the list is dominated by destinations in the US Southwest – a reminder that the exodus from California continues.

Florida, in short, is absolutely crushing it when it comes to attracting people who’ve made the decision to relocate across state lines.

And one moving company—based in Coral Springs, Florida—is working harder than any other to satisfy the needs and meet the demands of new arrivals to the Sunshine State: International Van Lines (IVL), a full-service mover consistently ranked as one of the best moving companies in the United States.

IVL is the only partner you need if you’ve made the decision to move to Florida. We’ve been here since the day we launched 25 years ago, and we know Florida better than any other mover, national or local. We can’t guarantee you’ll love Florida (although we’re pretty sure you will) – but we can guarantee a flawless, stress-free move, regardless of your point of origin that we’re sure of.

Know More Here: How to Hire Trustworthy Long Distance Movers

Feel free to use IVL’s moving cost calculator 

 

You can get a rough estimate of what moving to Florida might cost.

OK, But Why Florida Exactly?

Florida has long had a reputation for being popular with elderly Americans. It’s a bit of a cliche at this point, but it’s true: Florida’s beaches and climate suit older Americans who’ve had their fill of harsh winters and have managed to put a little something aside for some fun in the sun. 

What’s interesting though is that Florida is becoming more and more popular with younger Americans—especially Millennials—who see a unique blend of opportunity and affordability in the state. Like so many others, they’re moving to Florida to save money, but also to make money.

Here’s what they like about the Sunshine State:

1) No State Income Tax: This is a good one for sure. Much of the popularity of moving to Florida undoubtedly stems from the fact that Florida has no state income tax. This allows younger people, in particular, to put aside a bit more money – money they can use to buy a home, start a business, or go to school. “No income tax” is a solid selling point. This is among the major reasons why people choose to move to Florida.

2) Reasonable Home Prices: Median home prices are comparatively reasonable in Florida, especially if you’re coming from a state like Virginia or California, where you’ll need $750,000 to buy a two-bedroom home. In Florida, median house prices are about half that – around $400,000. That’s a lot of savings.

It’s true that home prices in Florida are a bit higher than normal at the moment. Some attribute this to issues with insurance coverage. Things are also skewed somewhat by the fact that some of the wealthiest communities – and most expensive individual properties – in the country can be found in spots like Coral Gables, Boca Raton, and Naples (which is home to America’s most expensive property development, Gordon Pointe, currently listed at just under $300 million). Real Estate pricing is one of the major factor people consider when they move to Florida.

Don’t worry though. You don’t need to live in Gordon Pointe. Much of Florida remains perfectly affordable, including areas of St. Petersburg, Cape Coral, Daytona Beach, and Jacksonville. Affordable homes remain abundant.

3) Cost of Living: Florida isn’t the cheapest state in the Union by a long shot, with the overall cost of living, per person, averaging somewhere between $4000 and $4500 a month. However, it’s important to keep a few things in mind.

Hawaii and California – the other most popular destinations in the United States for sand, sun, and general happiness – have far higher prices.

Inflation, unfortunately, is resulting in higher prices for food, fuel, and utilities at the moment, though this is likely to ease as inflation cools. This is one of the main reasons to move to Florida.

4) Beaches, Beaches, and More Beaches: Florida is blessed with some of the best beaches in the world. From Siesta Key and Anna Maria Island to Palm Beach, Clearwater Beach, and Marco Island – and many more.

Florida’s hundreds of miles of powdery white and golden sand help people of all ages, younger people and senior citizens alike, stay active and energized. The scenic beauty of the state is one of the prime reasons to move to Florida.

5) A Dynamic Economy: Florida has the fourth-largest economy in the United States, behind California, Texas, and New York. Florida’s economy, however, is unusually dynamic, featuring strong overall growth, rising wages, and declining unemployment.

6) Unfiltered UV Light: Florida – not Philly – is the place where it’s always sunny. Well, almost always: Florida averages a mind-blowing 230-250 days of sunshine per year, second only to the Great State of Arizona.

Know More Here: All About Moving From New York to Miami

Moving Your Possessions to Florida: The Moving Company You Can Trust

One full-service moving company, more than any other, has taken the lead in helping Americans start a new life in the Sunshine State: International Van Lines (IVL).

How has IVL managed to take pole position?

The answer is simple: IVL knows Florida better than all of the other moving companies put together. Local or national – it doesn’t matter. When it comes to the complex logistics of moving to Florida, IVL is king of the hill. No other moving company comes close.

Florida is home – The #1 Reason People Choose IVL for their move to Florida

IVL is active across North America and in more than 180 countries globally – offering a full range of international moving services – but Florida is our home and has been for 25 years.

We’re based in Coral Springs, roughly 20 miles northwest of Fort Lauderdale. We’re a full-service international mover, and also a local mover (inside the state of Florida) but nothing has kept us busier over the last few years than interstate relocations from places like California, New York, and Illinois to states like Arizona, Nevada, Texas and Florida. And perhaps Florida most of all.

The reason to move to Florida – from our perspective – seems to have become something of a national pastime. Florida is now the fastest-growing state in the country. The total population rose by just under two percent between 2021 and 2022, meaning that close to half a million Americans living in Florida today weren’t there only a couple of years ago.

Needless to say, we’re extremely proud of having played such an important role in helping these new Floridians find their feet.

Get in touch with International Van Lines (IVL) for a Painless, Stress-Free Long-Distance Move

For anyone who’s thinking about coming to Florida, International Van Lines stands ready to make your move as painless and worry-free as possible.

There are definitely a few important things you have to do when you’re moving to Florida – before, during, and after the move itself – but when you partner with IVL, it all becomes easy. IVL does it all: we’re a full-service moving company that can move you around the block, across the country, or between continents.

What’s the IVL Advantage?

Because of IVL’s size, versatility, and experience, we’re more flexible than our competitors. We can do more, we can do it better, and we almost always do it faster.

Florida is a state we know inside and out. Top to bottom. Every possible issue or complication is something we’ve seen and experienced – and dealt with – many times before.

IVL has the connections, the personnel, the infrastructure, and the flexibility that so many other long-distance moving companies wish they had. And it goes without saying that we treat your personal possessions as if they were our own, using packing materials and techniques that ensure a safe and successful move each and every time. This gives you a better reason to choose IVL to move to Florida.

Read Here: All About Relocation With a Company Like IVL

We’re the most reputable moving company in the business and we pride ourselves on our transparency. Feel free to use our moving cost calculator to get a rough estimate of what it’s going to cost you to move to Miami, Tampa, Orlando, or anywhere else in Florida or the rest of the country. Moving costs ebb and flow, but we’re always up front with our customers. The final bill is never a surprise.

And when you want to talk specifics or receive a free quote, contact IVL directly.

Any time. We’d love to hear from you.

Click here too for more information on other types of long-distance moves inside the US. Other moving companies simply can’t match IVL’s overseas network and infrastructure, as well as our knowledge and experience.

IVL’s Complete Suite of Long-Distance Moving Services

Here’s what IVL offers, regardless of where you are or where you’re headed:

• Full-service packing services
• Furniture assembly/disassembly
• Short-term and long-term storage services (click here for details)
• Debris removal
• Vehicle transport (an IVL specialty—no vehicle is too big or too small!) 
• Liability protection (contact IVL about full value protection)
• Personalized options for challenging long-distance moves involving unusually valuable and/or fragile personal items (think pianos, artwork, antiques, and electronics)
• Comprehensive interstate moving services for corporate and military clients, including relocation of employees or enlisted personnel
• Live chat and customer service 24/7, before, during, and after your moving date
• Easy tracking!
• Transparent, easy-to-understand long-distance moving quotes and a final bill that is always surprise-free (check out IVL’s online pricing calculator!)

Contact International Van Lines for more information.

Is There Anything Else I Should Know About IVL?

• To promote speed and efficiency, we sometimes partner with local movers. 
• IVL requires a deposit—typically one-quarter of the final bill—though this is refundable in the event of cancellation. Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page for more information. Check out the moving tips offered there as well. They cover almost every imaginable moving scenario.

Is International Van Lines Properly Licensed?

Always. IVL is licensed by DOT, FMC, and AMSA. 

What Do the Experts Say?

IVL is consistently ranked the best professional mover – domestically and internationally – by some of the most respected publications in the country, including Forbes, USA Today, and Consumer Affairs.

We’re renowned for our international moving services, our domestic moving services, and our local moving services. Over the last few years, our role in helping create so many new and happy Floridians is something that makes us enormously proud.

As long-term residents of Florida ourselves, it’s been great to see so many people decide, like us, that Florida is a wonderful place to call home.

What Do Our Customers Think?

Customer reviews of IVL at Trustpilot average 4.8/5 stars.

When you’re ready, click here for a free moving quote you can trust.

Remember…

If you’re going to hire a national moving company to manage your relocation to the Sunshine State – and you definitely should – hire the professional mover that’s based in Florida, who knows Florida like no other moving company, and who offers a suite of standard and additional moving services that none of the other interstate moving companies can match.

More Info – Why Choose IVL for your move to Florida

Simply put, most national moving companies aren’t invested the way we are. We live and work in Florida, and we’re certain that you, like us, will come to appreciate Florida’s unique blend of energy, beauty, and opportunity. Choose Florida and contact IVL today. We’re looking forward to having you as a neighbor!

Contact IVL today for your move to Florida! For a free moving quote click here!