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Cities of FloridaFloridaTampaTravel

How to Find the Right Home in Tampa

Looking for home can give you shelter and memories. But searching for your dream home in Tampa real estate is one of the most important decisions in your life.

Yes, everyone wants to have their own home that they can be with for the rest of their lives, a place where they can be happy and have fun with. But buying your own home is not that easy since it needs time and effort but it can be worth while if you do the right things to do.

If you want to purchase a home in Tampa real estate you do not have to simply go to the market and search for home. You might end up embarrassed and frustrated if you do that.

You have to settle your finances first and foremost. Applying for a mortgage is the best option. But of course, you need to work with the right lender. You have to at least contact few lenders and compare them in order to have the right lender. In finding the right lender, the lender should be willing to give you several options and not let you focus on a particular option only. You need to have several options in order for you to choose the one that can best suit you.

In applying for a mortgage, make sure to fill up the form rightly and honestly. Answer all the questions properly and you need to write legibly, this can help your paper to be process right away.

Before moving to the next step, you have to wait for a pre-approved mortgage. Soon as you have a pre-approved mortgage, you can move to the next step.

As a starter in Tampa real estate, you can work with real estate agent. But you have to hire the right real estate agent and not just an agent. You can ask for recommendation from family, friends and to those investors you know. For sure they will be gladly to help you in giving recommendations. You need to contact few of these real estate agents.

As soon as you contact them, you need to schedule each for an interview, this can help you know them better and know their skills and experiences. Take time in knowing which the right one for you is, make sure that the one you choose is a person that you will be comfortable to be with for several months of working with that person.

Give your real estate agent the features you want in a home and the budget you have in order for the agent to seek homes in Tampa real estate market that matches your criteria. Take time to visit several homes. You need to hire home inspector in order to inspect the home that you are eyeing at.

If things go to your plan, make an offer and close the deal. With all of the factors considered and done, you will be having the right home you want in Tampa real estate.

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Cities of FloridaFloridaTravel

A Day in Valrico

One thing most residents and visitors enjoy about Valrico, FL is the gorgeous weather. They can enjoy all of their favorite outdoor activities year round.

While there are always going to be the occasional rainy day, the weather here is sunny and gorgeous year round. There are many great golf courses nearby in Brandon, Tampa or surrounding cities. You have wonderful choices of great championship courses that challenge even the most seasoned golfer.

Water sports are always popular for all Florida residents. Fishing, boating, canoeing and water skiing are just a few of the fun ways to spend a day basking in the sunshine. There are great local beaches nearby on the Gulf of Mexico, lakes and rivers that residents and visitors can enjoy that are close to home. Play in the sand, pack a picnic, or go for a swim – the water is usually warm!

If you see a theme park adventure in your future, Valrico is in the center of many great ones. Nearby Tampa has great ways to spend a day offering you Busch Gardens, Adventure Island water park, The Lowry Park Zoo and The Florida Aquarium. And with just over an hour’s drive you can make it to Orlando and visit Mickey Mouse at Walt Disney World. With over 6 separate theme parks and many other adventures, Walt Disney World has set the standard for all other vacation destinations.

Avid shoppers will love Valrico. It is in the center of many great shopping venues. Tampa offers The International and Westshore Malls, while Brandon has many strip malls and Brandon Town Centre.

If you love outlet shopping you can drive a short distance to Ellenton and spend the day walking from store to store exploring the great savings and finds these shops have. And don’t forget Orlando. While it is a longer distance of over an hour, there are many great malls, outlet stores and shopping centers here.

No matter how you spend your day, your evening will be a delight too. Nearby Tampa has a wonderful arts center where you can see theatrical plays and musical numbers. If you prefer something low key, stop by Channelside or Ybor City for a drink and live entertainment. You can often sit outside the bars of Channelside and listen to bands playing live music while you enjoy your favorite drink or dinner.

What ever you like to do, Valrico has it! It’s a great city that is near many larger areas which offer the best of everything. You can see small time life here, with big city benefits.

 

photo credit: http://www.floridatikihuts.com

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Cities of FloridaFloridaTravel

Bass Fishing in Florida

For many people, the best bass fishing is to be found in Florida. Everyone wants to go there, and once you have fished for bass in Florida, you will certainly want to return again and again.

What’s So Great About Florida?

The state’s warm climate encourages fish to grow very large, and in many places there is so little fishing competition that the bass are eager to bite at whatever is before them.

There’s no doubt that there’s great fishing in Florida. In fact, many lures that were unsuccessful in other parts of the country will work when you use them in Florida!

Top water fishing is particularly great early in the morning and just before dark. It can be thrilling to watch the fish aggressively strike at your lures with all of their might. O

Only Mexico and California rival Florida in the quality of bass fishing to be found. For many people who love fishing, there is no better place to call home than Florida. For some people, Florida bass fishing becomes such an addiction that they will change their lives for the ability to have greater opportunity to fish for bass in Florida. Some bass fishing enthusiasts have even been known to uproot their entire families, life, home, career and all, just to have the chance to live in Florida. That’s how amazing Florida bass fishing can be. Whether you reach that level of devotion or not, Florida bass fishing is an experience that everyone should try at least once.

The Downside of Florida Bass Fishing

It is important to remember weather concerns when looking at Florida bass fishing. Hurricane season is a risky time for all, and many storms have caused great devastation in different areas of Florida. In fact, moving to Florida for the fishing is something that is done with a great potential for pleasure and good fishing, but can also incur incredible risks. Whether living there or just visiting, it is crucial that you think about the possible effects of a huge storm.

Even without the threat of hurricanes, Florida weather can be very challenging. The state of Florida has more thunderstorms than anywhere else in the United States, and fishing when a thunderstorm comes puts you at great risk of being struck by lightning. Boats are the highest things on the water after all, and a bass boat with metal all over it and fishing rods that can attract lightning is particularly dangerous. A person on such a boat when this happens is at serious risk or injury or perhaps even death. Be sure to make your bass fishing decisions taking all factors into consideration.

Even a seasoned bass fisher may need guidance from bass fishing guides when out of his or her own backyard. No matter how skilled you may be, it is in your best interest to work with a guide when you initially begin bass fishing in a new place. Bass fishing guides don’t just teach people how to fish. They can also help clients locate the best spots to score a great catch.

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Cities of FloridaFloridaSarasotaTampaTravelWest Palm Beach

Skip The Hotel– Next Time Choose A Florida Vacation Rental

Why should you choose a Florida vacation rental the next time you’re planning a trip away from home? Because there’s nothing better than waking up to the sounds of seagulls and the breathtaking views found only along the white, powdery beaches of Florida’s Gulf of Mexico coastline. That is, of course, unless you’d rather dance into the wee hours of the morning at Miami’s hottest nightclubs and view some of the finest anatomy you’ve ever seen (even some that money can buy)! Either way, the view you’ll get of this popular tourist destination is guaranteed to be better if you see it from one of the many Florida vacation rentals that are available year-round.

Whether you visit Panama City or Destin in the panhandle, Miami or the Florida Keys in the south, or somewhere in between like the pristine beaches of Clearwater, you need not settle for a hotel when you can enjoy all the comforts of home – plus a view more spectacular than you’ve probably ever seen before – simply by choosing to stay in a Florida vacation rental.

Perhaps you prefer the solitude and roominess of a beachfront home. Or maybe you prefer to be surrounded by all the amenities that only condo life offers. And even if you prefer something in between such as a villa, town home, duplex, or triplex you’ll have no problem locating the perfect accommodations. And with rates that are comparable to what you’ll pay for an ordinary hotel room, choosing a Florida vacation rental makes financial sense, too.

Yes, there’s a Florida vacation rental that’s just right for you. The trouble is, you’ll likely be so comfortable that you won’t want to leave. And that’s okay. Florida is the one state that will beckon you back with open arms year after year!

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Cities of FloridaFloridaMiamiTravel

Why People Flock to Miami

The City of Miami, and Miami Beach as well, has always been enshrined in the American psyche as the “nation’s playground”, for its year-round tropical climate, elegant waterfront homes and condos, lively nightlife, world-famous beaches and its vibrant ethnic diversity.

With its Hispanic essence and live-and-let-live attitude and lifestyle, this area is considered as the most “foreign” city in the US. The area boasts of a psychedelic mixture of architecture and nationalities, fashion and food. On South Beach, at the southern end of Miami Beach, the senior citizens and baby boomers that used to come in droves here have been replaced by the young and trendy; stylish Coral Gables now booms with the posh offices of multinational corporate giants.

Topless sunbathing is also tolerated on certain designated areas of the beach. The TV show Miami Vice helped make the area immensely popular. Miami Beach, particularly Ocean Drive of what is now the Art Deco District, was also featured prominently in the Al Pacino movie Scarface.

photo credit: http://www.miaminewtimes.com

South Beach is a major late-night haunt, where revelers eat breakfast at lunchtime, and can choose from a wide array of restaurants and cafes serving continental, European, South American and Asian cuisines. One of the beaches’ best food haunts is 11th Street Diner, which is open 24 hours a day and Nemo, along 100 Collins Avenue, for its eclectic cooking focusing on seafood, and outstanding desserts. Visitors could also go for a relaxing swim in the sea or in a pool at any of the over-the-top hotels on South Beach, like at the Marlin hotel, or in the extravagant Venetian Pool in Coral Gables. Most visitors would say that it’s a public pool that looks like a Hollywood film set.

A major player in the pop-music world, Miami in general, and South Beach in particular, loves to party. The best clubs are on Washington Avenue, South Beach. Clubs like Crobar, The Mansion, Opium Garden and Shadow Lounge, and a lot more, are filled up on weekend nights, while on nearby Ocean Drive, one could hear live bands clutter the outdoors.

Miami, as well as Miami Beach, may not be like Los Angeles or New York, cities where movies are constantly being shot around every corner. However, Miami has certainly has its fair share of filming. The movie Scarface, which is considered a cult classic, is a tale about Tony Montana, played by Al Pacino, who comes to Florida as a Cuban refugee. After becoming a gangster, as a result of the 1980s cocaine boom, he rises to the top of Miami’s organized crime world, only to fall back down.

Most of you would still remember the equally zany film, There’s Something About Mary. One of the funniest movies to ever hit the screen, this film starred Cameron Diaz as Mary, a girl whom men were willing to go to great lengths to impress. Among the Hollywood blockbusters shot on location in Miami Beach and its environs are the Al Pacino football thriller Any Given Sunday, as well as the Martin Lawrence and Will Smith action-flick Bad Boyz.

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Cities of FloridaFloridaTravel

Mend Your Broken Heart In South Florida, Refinance Your Move

A nasty breakup with a lover of six years can be traumatic. Wherever you go, you see painful reminders. Isn’t it about time you move on – literally?

Beat the blues

Moping and moaning about a lost love won’t get you anywhere. While the object of your affection is having fun, you are at home wading through your tears and drowning your sorrows in ice cream. Instead of wasting your time, latch on to a computer. Look for best home buys in South Florida. Refinance your one big leap to the future and a new love.

Talk to your boss about a transfer and present the advantages of having you based in the South Florida office. Surely, the boss can see the light of day with your convincing argument. When the go-signal is given, start packing. You need not panic at the financial aspect of the move to South Florida. Refinance your existing loan and get a little extra for the refurbishing expenses of your new place. With all these hectic preparations and shopping for a house and a South Florida refinance company online, you’ll soon be forgetting that cute heart breaker.

A single’s place

Being single and employed, your budget will be perfect to get a mobile home when starting a new life in South Florida. A mobile home can take you around the State during the weekends and holidays. In addition, you can meet new friends and find new things to do. Make yourself at home anywhere with your mobile home. A little apartment will do well for you too but if you are still on the mend, get around South Florida. Refinance your current loan to purchase a mobile home. Getting on the road is more fun than watching the clock tick time in a small apartment.

Prep yourself to living in a mobile home. Look out for rusts and cracks when checking out the unit for sale. Go over the anchoring straps because good working straps will assure your mobile home’s safety from strong winds. Just a tip: when you hear a hurricane alert, go the safest area. You don’t want to be gone with the wind, mobile home and all.

Keeping yourself busy in South Florida

If you have an artist’s eye and hand, paint the beautiful landscapes. You can put up your paintings for sale. If you love snorkeling, join a snorkeling crew. Get yourself certified and make a living giving lessons. Join the local clubs and meet new people.

You can go to the museums, art centers, theme parks, and to Disneyworld. You can visit a lot of places, really, but you will find you lack the time, so ask the locals for the top ten things you have to do in the south of Florida before getting around.

You will be amazed at how quickly your life has turned around in sunny South Florida. Refinance your future now while you are still full of life and vigor. In this part of the US, you can have a piece of the Caribbean anywhere you take your mobile home. You’ll forget you ever had a broken heart.

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Cities of FloridaFloridaLakelandMiamiOrlandoSarasotaTampaTravel

Care Options In Florida

In the state of Florida, almost one quarter of the residents are over the age of 60. Quality long-term care is very important for many of these older Floridians. The Florida Agency of Health Care Administration (AHCA) regulates Health Care Facilities throughout the state and also administers Florida’s Medicaid program.

Below are a few of the long term care facilities regulated through AHCA:

Assisted Living Facilities: Provides housing, meals and some personal services for residents. Residents have to meet certain functional criteria and must be ambulatory and able to perform daily living activities like eating and able to care for basic bodily functions. Bed ridden residents are not accepted. Medicaid will pay for such a facility if both the resident and facility are eligible.

Adult Day Care: These are less than 24 hour care facilities. They offer therapeutic programs impaired adults. These centers offer many activities such as exercise, education, health screening and behavior modification. These centers also serve as a reprieve to the primary caregivers. These programs may be covered by Medicaid.

Adult Family – Care Homes: These family-type living arrangements provide a private home for up to 5 aged or disabled people (not related). The owner lives with the residents. The residents must not be bed ridden and are subject to other criteria as described in Florida law. Adult family care homes are for residents that do not require more care than can be provided by the owners. In some cases Medicaid will pay if both the resident and the AFCH are eligible.

Hospice: Hospice is a program that coordinates professional services including nutritional counseling, pastoral services, social work, and many other services for the terminally ill. These services can be provided at the hospital, hospice facility or the patient’s residence.

Medicare or Medicaid will pay for these services if the patient is eligible.

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AttractionsCities of FloridaFloridaTampaTravel

A Trip To Busch Garden in Tampa

If you love the exhilaration of twisting, turning, and flipping at high speeds then you will love the roller coasters at Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida. There are so many roller coasters to keep you busy that the park will be closing before you know it. But, even if you aren’t a fan of the rides you will still love this amusement park. There are many different shows, restaurants, gift shops, and games that will entertain you as well. If you like rides and the other activities then you will really get a good deal for the entry price!

The best time of year to visit Busch Gardens in Tampa is in early spring or late fall. The reason why is because there will be less crowds and the weather is warm and comfortable, which makes walking around all day enjoyable. If you go in the dead of summer you will be scorched by the hot Florida sun and wait for hours to get on the rides. This can turn an amazing vacation destination into a miserable day of waiting and sweating. Of course, if you visit in the summer you will still have a lot of fun, but it will be considerably more enjoyable in the spring months of March and April or the fall months of September and October.

photo credit: orlando attractions

Another really cool attraction at the Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida, that is worth a visit on its own is the safari. Here you can take a tram, or even a private safari, and see zebra, giraffe, lions, and other wild animals. It is excellent and a whole lot of fun. You will feel like you are in Africa and it’s the easiest way to safari while you are still in North America !

You can come to Busch Gardens Tampa for a day or you can create a full week of fun and include nearby Walt Disney World, Sea World, Universal Studios, and the like in your vacation itinerary. When you visit Tampa, Florida there are so many fun things to do in and around Busch Gardens that you really should take advantage of everything while you are here!

If you are worried about having tickets before you arrive then consider buying them online. There are websites that offer discounted tickets and even combination Busch Gardens-Sea World tickets where you can save some money. You can also buy your tickets at the gate when you arrive. Just make sure you have some cash on hand to pay for parking!

 

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Cities of FloridaFloridaTravel

Guide to Living in Florida

If you’re new to Florida, then you’ve probably already realized how diverse culture is in the Sunshine State. The cost of living, schools, and people will vary from the Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama connections of life in the Panhandle, to Latino influences in the most southern tip. The good news about getting adjusted to life in Florida is that you’re not alone. Most of the people who live there have relocated from another state; therefore, you are surrounded by millions who know exactly what it feels like to be a newbie. Besides contacting the Chamber of Commerce in whichever community you end up in to get all of their new resident information, you can count on the following to be consistent throughout most parts of Florida.

photo credit: americanprogress

Big tax breaks on property and personal income tax are some of the big bonuses to living in Florida. Be sure to file for the Homestead Exception to see if you qualify for further cuts. Unlike getting a driver’s license, filing for the Homestead Exception, registering to vote, or filling out a declaration of domicile, will establish your residency in Florida. A driver’s license will only establish your intent to reside in Florida.

Various permits, forms, and licenses are also necessary for boats, the use of beaches and coastal areas, docks, burning, vehicles and fishing. These will often vary according to county. StateofFlorida.com offers information specific to each of these needs and breaks them down into categories. It also has links to Florida State agencies to help relocating individuals or businesses.

photo credit: travelchannel

Getting the right insurance for your Tampa Bay Florida real estate property and belongings while you live in Florida is a necessity. The recent rash of hurricanes has inspired the Office of Insurance Regulation to reorganize themselves to serve this important aspect of Florida living. Crosscheck some of their links to make sure that your insurance covers all of the possibilities.

Be sure to call or visit the website for the Florida Department of Education to find out how local schools rate in your area. In fact, selecting your property according to school districts may be a good idea if you have, or expect to start, a family in Florida. Each school also has a report on it done by the School Advisory Council Report which rates schools on performance, attendance and various features.

Afternoon thunderstorms are a part of life almost everyday for Floridians during the summertime. This is just one of the features of Florida’s weather that relocators should know about. Being prepared for Florida’s weather will make the transition of relocating much easier. Be sure to ask your neighbors how they prepare for hurricanes and heavy rain. Make sure that you have supplies on hand throughout the year. Also, ask your local authorities about what you should have on hand, what to expect, and who to contact for help.

 

Expect to see a lot more of your friends and families now that you live in Florida. Visiting you will become a vacation for many of them. It may save you money in the long run to buy year passes to some of the attractions in or around your town or city. It also wouldn’t hurt to collect some brochures from the local Chamber of Commerce, so you have a mini-library of resources at your fingertips for day trips and exciting attractions. Remember that Florida relies on tourism for one of its biggest economies. Your loved ones will still consider Florida one of the top vacation spots long after you have become accustomed to living in the Sunshine State. Be sure to keep any welcome packages you receive from your real estate agent or home owner’s association at finger’s reach for yourself, and for visitors.

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Cities of FloridaFloridaTravel

Where is Amelia Island

Amelia Island, Florida is today’s one of America’s few remaining unspoiled island paradises. It lies in the northernmost part of the chain of Atlantic coast barrier islands that stretch from North Carolina to the state of Florida. It has a very rich history, and is now widely acclaimed for its wonderful beaches, moss-covered oaks, fishing, boating, and stunning sunrise and sunsets, as well as friendly locals, making Amelia Island, Florida more than just a place to visit.

The Location

Amelia Island, Florida, as mentioned earlier, is the northernmost barrier island on Florida’s Atlantic Coast. It is on the way to a number of other enchanting destinations in the state, making the Amelia Island an ideal place for every Florida traveler, especially those who are traveling by car down Interstate 95, a mere 15 minutes west of the Island.

It is said that many frequent visitors, including the island settlers as well first discovered Amelia Island, Florida as a friendly, comfortable and entertaining way station on the way by car or boat to somewhere else. Aside from serving as a final vacation destination, it is nice to know that Amelia Island, Florida has long been considered as the perfect place for tranquil day or evening respite from the hustle and bustle of getting to another destination nearby, or getting home at the end of the vacation father to the south.

How to Reach Amelia Island

Vacationers can reach Amelia Island, Florida primarily by car. They can use the Exit 129, the Fernandina Beach or Callahan exit off Interstate 95. All vacationers need to do is to simply heed the signs east for 15 minutes or so to the widely known historic Fernandina Beach.

The Amelia Island, Florida can also be reached by air through the Jacksonville International Airport, which is just 30 minutes drive away from the Island proper. Note also that there are private, corporate and charter aircrafts out there that can utilize the facilities at the Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport. And, from and to the airport, rental cars are highly available for the vacationers.

The Weather

Since Amelia Island is located on the northern part of Florida, it’s no wonder that it is cooler in summer than further south. Many have also discovered that the island has cool sea breezes. It is long and narrow, with only two miles wide. It is important to note that on one side of the Amelia Island, Florida is thirteen miles of beaches, while the other side is identified by marsh wetlands.

Having such kind of condition, the months of April, May and June are the lovely months in Amelia Island, Florida. However, for those who come for golf, the area is best during cooler winter months. And, with temperatures from the 60’s, the visitors probably won’t swim in the ocean, though the hotels’ heated pools would still be fun.

Just like other destinations on earth, the Amelia Island, Florida is often visited by brief thunderstorms, which are so common, especially from late spring into autumn. The Amelia Island is lucky enough not to get hurricanes.

 

photo credit: http://osprey-village.com

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About Me

About Me

Stephen

Stephen operates multiple businesses and is very passionate about Florida and helping others follow their dreams of moving to the Sunshine State. Stephen relocated from Indiana to Tallahassee, Florida in 2003 and now enjoys the Tampa area with his wife and 2 boys. He started the private facebook group, "Official Moving to Florida", to help others do the same. The group is a thriving community allowing members to discuss any issues related to moving to Florida.

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