NEW FLORIDA RESIDENT BLOG

Welcome to paradise! Believe it or not, Realtors put a ton of thought and effort to purchasing their cars.  Seriously, think about it, many times we will meet a new client at a property and they never get to see our office before they decide if they want to work with us so, the first impression is everything on most days. I have a friend who works in Chicago selling homes and it's super important to have a nice American Made car in that market.  It needs to say "I'm successful and I support all the American AutoMaker's employees in the area".  That doesn't happen here. At all. Most clients want you to drive a high-end luxury vehicle proving that you are successful and therefore know what you are doing.  There is also a solid expectation that you drive a luxury vehicle from Europe.  For some reason an Avalon does not impress anyone, anywhere.  Your Realtor should not drive that.  It calls their judgement into question.  In Fact, there is on...

Welcome to Paradise. I can remember back to my first days in School when I was little.  (It started out as a joke but now my son is convinced I rode a dinosaur to school, which makes me sound cool - so I don't correct him.)  But, I clearly remember the start of school was the start of Fall and rapidly deteriorating weather.  None of us knew any better though, we were all from the same neighborhood and had all been born in the same town.  We were all alike and didn't know anyone outside our small circle. That's not the way it is in Florida.  At least half of the kids in our son's class are from somewhere else.  He plays with kids from Central America, some whose families emigrated from South Asia or Israel, and has fun with them all.   The part we love is that he plays with all these different kids from different backgrounds and seems more accepting and well rounded then some of my college friends.         So, the first da...

Welcome to Paradise. For many people life on a canal in Florida is the epitome of a life well lived.  You're on the water, probably have a boat in your backyard and can enjoy the view from home or zip to a private island somewhere close to your dock.  This is an amazing lifestyle which will impress your friends and family and the only thing that may not be perfect is the poured cement wall behind you home keeping your yard from falling into the canal.  No one has ever said that's a great look wall you've got there. Until now....