If you’re looking for a holiday home, odds are strong that you are looking for a place to escape harsh winters, blowing snow, and the three hour traffic jams that they cause. If this is the case, there may be no place better to purchase than in the state known for its sunshine: Florida.
Affordable Home Prices
The median home price in Florida is $162,900, making it a state that is highly affordable to the average house buyer. That’s one advantage. Another advantage is that Florida offers home buyers a great amount of variety. You can buy near the beaches of Tampa, near a golf course in almost any town, in a rural area of Jacksonville, and even in the mountainous terrain of Britton Hill.
No Income Tax
Per the Herald Tribune, Florida is one of the handfuls of states that have no income tax. While this might not be too tempting of a bonus if you are simply visiting Florida for a short time (and, thus, not likely to become employed during that time), it is a perk for people who want to pick up holiday work at a department store, a mall, or amusement park.
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Perhaps one of the biggest advantages to having a holiday home in Florida is getting away from the cold, dark weather and possibly avoiding Seasonal Affective Disorder (abbreviated with the appropriate acronym SAD).
According to the Mayo Clinic, SAD is a type of seasonal depression that tends to hit during the autumn and winter months. People who suffer from it are likely to experience a wide range of symptoms, including hopelessness, anxiety, malaise, a heavy or leaden feeling in the limbs, anti-social behavior, oversleeping, loss of interests in activities that were once enjoyed, appetite changes, weight gain, and inability to concentrate.
People who spend their winters in Florida are less likely to suffer from SAD. One reason for this is Florida’s perpetual sunshine, but it also has to do with its geography. Florida is among the states closest to the equator, which automatically makes those who reside or visit there less likely to have this seasonal depression. The farther away from the equator, the more likely you are to suffer.
The Other Benefits of Florida
While the above may be more than enough to sell you on the Sunshine State, Florida does offer other benefits.
One of these benefits is the foliage. With endless sun rays, trees and plants bloom all year long. This not only means that flowers are always on display, but it also means that fruit trees produce fruit year round. This can be a major benefit to those who like to garden or farm.
Florida also offers a variety of recreational opportunities. There is lake and ocean fishing, walks on the beach, surfing, swimming, golfing, waterskiing, snorkeling, and several professional sports teams to root for. Many of the colleges are also dominant in certain sports.
For the cultured, Florida offers a variety of orchestra performances, theater performances, ballet shows, and museums. It also is well known for its diversity, with the local shops and restaurants reflecting the American melting pot. Miami, for instance, is well known for its Cuban food and nightclubs.
Finally, Florida is home to some of the most sought-after places, at least if you ask the child in your life. From Disney World to Epcot in Orlando, from Animal Kingdom to Legoland in Winter Haven, Florida is the perfect state to make sure it’s a happy holiday for all.
