Pros and Cons of Moving to Florida: A Relocation Guide

TL;DR

• The biggest pro is taxes. Florida has no state income tax, and homesteaded homes get an exemption plus a cap on yearly assessment increases.
• The biggest con is insurance. Insurance.com put Florida's average homeowners premium at $8,471 a year in summer 2026, the highest in the country and about three times the national average of $2,872.
• Housing is mid-priced, not cheap. Florida Realtors reported a statewide single-family median of $415,000 in August 2026, and Orlando's metro median was $400,676.
• Summers are long and hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30. Inland Central Florida avoids storm surge, but you still need a plan, and you should check every home's flood zone.
• Where you land matters more than the state. Taxes, insurance, commute, and lifestyle change a lot from one county, city, and neighborhood to the next.

Florida keeps showing up on relocation shortlists for good reasons: no state income tax, year-round outdoor living, and more house for the money than much of the Northeast and West Coast. It also comes with real trade-offs that out-of-state buyers tend to underestimate, starting with insurance.

I'm Nicole Mickle, a Central Florida relocation and new construction specialist. I grew up here, have worked in real estate since 1996, and spent 23 years running a title and closing company, so I've seen which surprises show up after closing. This guide lays out the pros and cons plainly so you can decide with real numbers. If Orlando is already on your list, also read the pros and cons of living in Orlando.

Is moving to Florida worth it?

For most households moving from a high-tax state, moving to Florida is worth it financially, as long as you budget for higher homeowners insurance and pick your location carefully. Florida has no state income tax, a homestead exemption, and statewide median home prices near $415,000 in August 2026. The trade-offs are insurance costs, hurricane risk, long hot summers, and car-dependent cities.

Florida pros and cons at a glance

What are the financial pros of moving to Florida?

The main financial advantage is that Florida has no state income tax. If you're moving from a state with an income tax, the savings depend on your income and where you're coming from, and for higher earners they can be substantial. Florida funds its government largely through sales tax instead. The state rate is 6%, and most counties add a local surtax. In Orange County, the combined rate is 6.5%.

Homeowners get two more benefits. Florida's homestead exemption reduces the taxable value of your primary residence, and the Save Our Homes cap limits how much a homesteaded home's assessed value can rise each year. Florida voters also decide on November 3, 2026, whether to expand the homestead exemption. According to Ballotpedia, the non-school exemption would rise from $25,000 to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, with a phase-in for people who move to Florida after December 31, 2026.

Is it expensive to buy a home in Florida?

Florida home prices sit in the middle of the national range. Florida Realtors reported a statewide median sale price of $415,000 for single-family homes in August 2026, up just over 1% from a year earlier, and a median just under $298,000 for condos and townhouses. In the Orlando metro, the Orlando Regional REALTOR Association reported a median of $400,676 the same month.

Prices vary widely by area. In Central Florida, a budget of $750,000 or more opens up lakefront and golf communities in Windermere and Dr. Phillips, new construction in Lake Nona and Horizon West, and historic streets in Winter Park and College Park. Compare them in Dr. Phillips vs Windermere, Horizon West vs Lake Nona, and Windermere vs. Lake Nona vs. Winter Park.

What are the biggest cons of moving to Florida?

The biggest con is homeowners insurance. Insurance.com reported a Florida average of $8,471 a year in summer 2026 for a policy with $300,000 in dwelling coverage, the highest of any state and nearly three times the national average of $2,872. Coastal South Florida pulls that average up, and inland Central Florida typically runs lower, but premiums still surprise most newcomers.

The roof, the age of the home, and the flood zone drive your quote. Newer homes built to current Florida building codes are usually easier and cheaper to insure. Older homes often need a four-point inspection, and a roof near the end of its life can limit which carriers will write a policy. Flood insurance is a separate policy, so check the flood zone of every home you consider, not just the ones near water.

Other cons to weigh:

• Heat and humidity. Summers are long, hot, and humid, with afternoon thunderstorms most days from June through September.
• Hurricane season. It runs June 1 to November 30. Inland areas avoid storm surge but can still see wind damage, power outages, and flooding.
• Traffic and growth. Florida added about 196,000 people in 2025, according to Florida Trend, and roads in fast-growing areas haven't always kept pace.
• Limited public transit. Outside a few corridors, you'll need a car for almost everything.

How do you prepare for hurricanes as a new Florida homeowner?

Preparing for hurricanes starts before you buy. Choose a home with a newer roof and impact-rated windows or shutters, confirm the flood zone and elevation, and read your policy's hurricane deductible, which is often a percentage of the dwelling coverage rather than a flat amount. Once you move in, build a supply kit, know your evacuation zone, and consider a generator.

Most Central Florida buyers live well inland, outside storm-surge evacuation zones. That doesn't remove wind or rain risk, but it changes the calculation compared with the coast. When I ran closings, insurance binders were one of the most common last-minute delays, so start shopping for coverage as soon as you're under contract.

What is daily life like in Florida?

Daily life in Florida moves outdoors for most of the year. Florida has about 1,350 miles of coastline, hundreds of freshwater springs and lakes, and golf, boating, and trails within a short drive of most cities. In Central Florida, you're within about an hour or two of both coasts and close to the theme parks, Kennedy Space Center, and the state's natural springs, including Blue Spring State Park, where manatees gather in winter.

Florida's major metros, including Miami, Tampa, Jacksonville, and Orlando, each have professional sports, arts, and dining scenes of their own. Many newcomers find the biggest lifestyle change is the calendar: outdoor living peaks from October through May, while summer becomes the season for pools, early mornings, and indoor plans.

Wildlife is part of the deal too. Alligators live in most freshwater lakes and ponds, so keep a safe distance and never feed them, which is illegal in Florida. Watch for venomous snakes on trails, and supervise small pets near the water.

What most people get wrong about moving to Florida

The most common mistake I see is choosing Florida before choosing a place in Florida. The state is huge, and the difference between a coastal condo, an inland lake home, and a new home in a master-planned community shows up in your insurance, taxes, HOA and CDD fees, and commute. Two homes at the same price can carry very different monthly costs.

The second mistake is budgeting on the seller's tax bill. Save Our Homes keeps a long-time owner's assessment low, but when you buy, the assessment resets to market value the following January. From the closing side, this is the surprise I've had to explain to relocating buyers more than any other. Run your real payment in the mortgage calculator, and read the real monthly cost of a $1 million home in Orlando and closing costs on new construction.

Moving from another state?

These guides cover what changes when you move from specific states:

• Moving from New York
• Moving from Illinois
• Moving from Massachusetts
• Moving from California
• Moving from Washington, D.C.
• Moving from Georgia

For the full picture of buying in Central Florida, start with the luxury buyer's guide to relocating to Orlando, browse Central Florida neighborhoods, or see current new construction.

Not sure where in Florida fits you? Take the neighborhood quiz

Florida works best when the neighborhood fits how you actually want to live. Take the Central Florida neighborhood quiz to see which communities match your budget and lifestyle, and I'll follow up with homes that fit.