Rural/exburban Florida—what is the draw?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some posters obviously have no idea what they're talking about. It's not about horses, retirees, or poor people.

Central Florida is one of the fastest growing areas in the country. This is has been going on since prior to the pandemic then got an extra boom during the pandemic. Lots of young professionals (both singles and families) are moving there. Areas that used to be LMC/MC are now becoming UMC. Lots of UC areas too.

Some of these pp's clearly have an agenda against Florida for going red and voting in Trump and DeSantis. You're entitled to hate the politicians, but you're not entitled to make up your own facts.

This thread isn’t about “central Florida.” It’s about “rural/exurban Florida,” as you may be able to tell from the title.

OP, we have friends who moved to Ocala and I have NO IDEA what the draw is. He commutes to Disney from there, FFS.

Ocala is literally where most of the horse action is.

I have nothing against Ocala, but I think you'd have to be a serious horse person for Ocala to be worth a 1.5 hour daily commute. There are plenty of little towns and suburbs/exurbs closer to Orlando.

[Anonymous]

Ocala is a popular town for many reasons, horses the main one but John Travolta likes living in a community where everybody has their own airplane and there's a private runway. He also likes being an hour away from his scientology crap.

Wellington down near W. Palm is another high end horse area in Florida.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some posters obviously have no idea what they're talking about. It's not about horses, retirees, or poor people.

Central Florida is one of the fastest growing areas in the country. This is has been going on since prior to the pandemic then got an extra boom during the pandemic. Lots of young professionals (both singles and families) are moving there. Areas that used to be LMC/MC are now becoming UMC. Lots of UC areas too.

Some of these pp's clearly have an agenda against Florida for going red and voting in Trump and DeSantis. You're entitled to hate the politicians, but you're not entitled to make up your own facts.

Right but people don’t just wake up one day and decide to move to a rural area with limited job opportunities. That’s a different draw than say, Wesley Chapel or Oviedo that have the benefit of being accessible to a major city but also space, good schools, good weather. The reason exurbs are rapidly growing is because the cities are rapidly growing. OP said exurbs but given the “no industry” comment I think they meant more rural places, something like N. Central Florida between Gainesville and the Georgia line. I can’t imagine the draw to that kind of place unless you want a rural lifestyle with a bunch of land. It probably is horsey people and possibly retirees.

I’m from the “Nature Coast” (called that because it’s only salient feature are the natural swamps, marshes, and scrub). Few beaches because of the wetlands. Little industry, schools are pretty limited but generally safe. Went there with my spouse and they thought they were on another planet.

I grew up in a major city in FL and there's a lot I love about the nature coast, but definitely a culture shock to someone from the DMV. I suspect that the growth it's experiencing (if any) is just slowly spreading out from Tampa rather than people specifically choosing that area. Not that people don't choose it, but I can't imagine the average family from somewhere like NY or DC deciding that Homosassa is where they want to put their roots.

sure, why not? Lots of people have no desire to live in a busy metro area like Tampa Bay. Traffic, COL, wanting somewhere more quiet/nature-y...areas like Homosassa are really popular with transplants.

Because a lot of people from those areas would probably shit a brick if these were their neighbors: https://www.redfin.com/FL/Homosassa/23-Mayflower-Ct-S-34446/home/129591092 (look at the 3D walkthrough, not the photos)

That Last Supper in the dining room is priceless.

[Anonymous]

Rural Florida is gorgeous in its own way. It’s not a showy beauty but it is pretty. Some people like it.

[Anonymous]

My relative is moving to Estero, in the west coast. Nice home reasonable priced. Their house in broward county sold in 2days to a nice family from Arlington. So there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can shoot stuff riding on your ATV and no one is the wiser.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rural Florida is gorgeous in its own way. It’s not a showy beauty but it is pretty. Some people like it.

I agree. If I was not a POC, I would consider moving there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some posters obviously have no idea what they're talking about. It's not about horses, retirees, or poor people.

Central Florida is one of the fastest growing areas in the country. This is has been going on since prior to the pandemic then got an extra boom during the pandemic. Lots of young professionals (both singles and families) are moving there. Areas that used to be LMC/MC are now becoming UMC. Lots of UC areas too.

Some of these pp's clearly have an agenda against Florida for going red and voting in Trump and DeSantis. You're entitled to hate the politicians, but you're not entitled to make up your own facts.

Right but people don’t just wake up one day and decide to move to a rural area with limited job opportunities. That’s a different draw than say, Wesley Chapel or Oviedo that have the benefit of being accessible to a major city but also space, good schools, good weather. The reason exurbs are rapidly growing is because the cities are rapidly growing. OP said exurbs but given the “no industry” comment I think they meant more rural places, something like N. Central Florida between Gainesville and the Georgia line. I can’t imagine the draw to that kind of place unless you want a rural lifestyle with a bunch of land. It probably is horsey people and possibly retirees.

I’m from the “Nature Coast” (called that because it’s only salient feature are the natural swamps, marshes, and scrub). Few beaches because of the wetlands. Little industry, schools are pretty limited but generally safe. Went there with my spouse and they thought they were on another planet.

I grew up in a major city in FL and there's a lot I love about the nature coast, but definitely a culture shock to someone from the DMV. I suspect that the growth it's experiencing (if any) is just slowly spreading out from Tampa rather than people specifically choosing that area. Not that people don't choose it, but I can't imagine the average family from somewhere like NY or DC deciding that Homosassa is where they want to put their roots.

I actually live on the Nature Coast. Well not right on it because hurricanes LOL . Anyhow, this area is growing like madhouse and most people coming here are from 'up north' like me. Homosassa is north of me and too far a commute to Tampa IMO but I guess some people who are hybrid can do it occasionally, taking the Suncoast Parkway. I do the commute daily (yep! please play a tiny violin for me hahaha). I think many folks commute to work in Tampa or even Pasco county-the area around SR 52 and SR41 is EXPLODING with housing, schools, stores and the new Moffitt cancer campus. SR 54 in Pasco is also.

I'd say-there are many up north people where I am making it 'purple' and likely in Homosassa too-but in between is the 'red' zone (cough cough Brooksville).

[Anonymous]

PP here-I can't afford to live where I work (Tampa) and closer in places like New Tampa and Wesley Chapel are out of budget also.

There are some beaches-Pine Island in Hernando and SunWest park in Pasco. Not amazing but good family beaches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some posters obviously have no idea what they're talking about. It's not about horses, retirees, or poor people.

Central Florida is one of the fastest growing areas in the country. This is has been going on since prior to the pandemic then got an extra boom during the pandemic. Lots of young professionals (both singles and families) are moving there. Areas that used to be LMC/MC are now becoming UMC. Lots of UC areas too.

Some of these pp's clearly have an agenda against Florida for going red and voting in Trump and DeSantis. You're entitled to hate the politicians, but you're not entitled to make up your own facts.

Right but people don’t just wake up one day and decide to move to a rural area with limited job opportunities. That’s a different draw than say, Wesley Chapel or Oviedo that have the benefit of being accessible to a major city but also space, good schools, good weather. The reason exurbs are rapidly growing is because the cities are rapidly growing. OP said exurbs but given the “no industry” comment I think they meant more rural places, something like N. Central Florida between Gainesville and the Georgia line. I can’t imagine the draw to that kind of place unless you want a rural lifestyle with a bunch of land. It probably is horsey people and possibly retirees.

I’m from the “Nature Coast” (called that because it’s only salient feature are the natural swamps, marshes, and scrub). Few beaches because of the wetlands. Little industry, schools are pretty limited but generally safe. Went there with my spouse and they thought they were on another planet.

I grew up in a major city in FL and there's a lot I love about the nature coast, but definitely a culture shock to someone from the DMV. I suspect that the growth it's experiencing (if any) is just slowly spreading out from Tampa rather than people specifically choosing that area. Not that people don't choose it, but I can't imagine the average family from somewhere like NY or DC deciding that Homosassa is where they want to put their roots.

sure, why not? Lots of people have no desire to live in a busy metro area like Tampa Bay. Traffic, COL, wanting somewhere more quiet/nature-y...areas like Homosassa are really popular with transplants.

Because a lot of people from those areas would probably shit a brick if these were their neighbors: https://www.redfin.com/FL/Homosassa/23-Mayflower-Ct-S-34446/home/129591092 (look at the 3D walkthrough, not the photos)

There are lots of weirdos in NY or the DC area too. You've never seen "Zillow Gone Wild"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some posters obviously have no idea what they're talking about. It's not about horses, retirees, or poor people.

Central Florida is one of the fastest growing areas in the country. This is has been going on since prior to the pandemic then got an extra boom during the pandemic. Lots of young professionals (both singles and families) are moving there. Areas that used to be LMC/MC are now becoming UMC. Lots of UC areas too.

Some of these pp's clearly have an agenda against Florida for going red and voting in Trump and DeSantis. You're entitled to hate the politicians, but you're not entitled to make up your own facts.

Right but people don’t just wake up one day and decide to move to a rural area with limited job opportunities. That’s a different draw than say, Wesley Chapel or Oviedo that have the benefit of being accessible to a major city but also space, good schools, good weather. The reason exurbs are rapidly growing is because the cities are rapidly growing. OP said exurbs but given the “no industry” comment I think they meant more rural places, something like N. Central Florida between Gainesville and the Georgia line. I can’t imagine the draw to that kind of place unless you want a rural lifestyle with a bunch of land. It probably is horsey people and possibly retirees.

I’m from the “Nature Coast” (called that because it’s only salient feature are the natural swamps, marshes, and scrub). Few beaches because of the wetlands. Little industry, schools are pretty limited but generally safe. Went there with my spouse and they thought they were on another planet.

I grew up in a major city in FL and there's a lot I love about the nature coast, but definitely a culture shock to someone from the DMV. I suspect that the growth it's experiencing (if any) is just slowly spreading out from Tampa rather than people specifically choosing that area. Not that people don't choose it, but I can't imagine the average family from somewhere like NY or DC deciding that Homosassa is where they want to put their roots.

Well, a lot has changed since you were growing up. Fewer DC transplants, but Pasco and Hernando are chock full of New Yorkers. Probably the most numerous species there.