relocating to florida from the uk

**Tina Blackwell** · 02-03-2004, 03:02

i wonder if any one could give me some advice, my husband, myself and our 2 children are looking to relocate to florida. we are hoping to move to the melbourne beach area and buy either a lawn maintenance or fishing tackle shop their. would this be the ideal place to relocate to. we are a quite family not into pubs and clubs and would like to move to a fairly peaceful low crime rated area with good schooling for the girls. my husband is a very keen fisherman (actually he lives and breathes for it) and his dream would be to run his own bait and tackle outlet and to teach long distance beach casting. do you think this would work? what is the best area to move to and would we be accepted there. what sort of problems could we encounter with visas. which are the best and easiest way to get out there. we have around $450,000.00 to buy a business and property how far would this get us. please someone help and give us some advice we would like to move by the end of the year if poss. cheers

**chrizzy100** · 02-03-2004, 03:38

quote:Originally posted by Tina Blackwell

i wonder if any one could give me some advice, my husband, myself and our 2 children are looking to relocate to florida. we are hoping to move to the melbourne beach area and buy either a lawn maintenance or fishing tackle shop their. would this be the ideal place to relocate to. we are a quite family not into pubs and clubs and would like to move to a fairly peaceful low crime rated area with good schooling for the girls. my husband is a very keen fisherman (actually he lives and breathes for it) and his dream would be to run his own bait and tackle outlet and to teach long distance beach casting. do you think this would work? what is the best area to move to and would we be accepted there. what sort of problems could we encounter with visas. which are the best and easiest way to get out there. we have around $450,000.00 to buy a business and property how far would this get us. please someone help and give us some advice we would like to move by the end of the year if poss. cheers

Have you found a business to buy yet.....and have you talked to anyone about your plans.....like a visa lawyer........cost wise......you need very deep pockets to move here....even without the cost of buying a business....the age of your children is also important.....school wise..FL is not known for its good schools..so before you find a place to live....make sure the schools in that area are OK.......and visa wise you don't want your kids to timeout and get sent back to the UK.....so the younger they are the better....

**Tina Blackwell** · 02-03-2004, 03:42

chrizzy thanks for your reply our girls are 4 and 8 we have talked in short to both a british and american lawyer in respect to visas but really want to know more from a personal point of view on what living and working in florida would be like and if our employment ideas would work. we fish for fun and not for food we just enjoy the sport. thanks again for your reply

**chrizzy100** · 02-03-2004, 04:09

quote:Originally posted by Tina Blackwell

chrizzy thanks for your reply our girls are 4 and 8 we have talked in short to both a british and american lawyer in respect to visas but really want to know more from a personal point of view on what living and working in florida would be like and if our employment ideas would work. we fish for fun and not for food we just enjoy the sport. thanks again for your reply

We moved over here 4 years ago....the best thing ever for my son.....I'm not so sure about my daughter.....
My husband had a job offer so we had no costs....everything was paid for by the company....which was lucky because the move itself would of taken a lot of our money.....
I find living here now no different then living in the UK...if not for the US flag everywhere I could still be home....but then I live up here in the North so I don't have year round sunshine......
[msnsad]......what made you pick FL.......?

**Tina Blackwell** · 02-03-2004, 04:21

we run a gardening business here in the uk and immediately thought about relocating to the u.s. and as florida is the sunshine state we figured it would be the best place to relocate to and work all year round. also my husbands love of fishing would be accomodated in florida. open to other suggestions as this is not set in stone just had enough of the uk and lack of oppotunity for both us and the kids need a change of lifestyle but reading some of the posts has got us a bit worried.

**chrizzy100** · 02-03-2004, 04:42

quote:Originally posted by Tina Blackwell

we run a gardening business here in the uk and immediately thought about relocating to the u.s. and as florida is the sunshine state we figured it would be the best place to relocate to and work all year round. also my husbands love of fishing would be accomodated in florida. open to other suggestions as this is not set in stone just had enough of the uk and lack of oppotunity for both us and the kids need a change of lifestyle but reading some of the posts has got us a bit worried.

Your kids would have a great life here if you find the right schools and area.......its you that has all the worry.....if you ask me Maine or anywhere along the coast of New England could also be worth looking at......not all year round sunshine......but houses are cheap there so I'm told.......and the school are good...I'm also told...a friend of mines just moved down from Maine to FL....and is thinking of moving back.......I think if you're thinking of moving over here.....looking into the pros&cons of a few areas maybe your best bet......

**esprit** · 02-03-2004, 06:37

Melbourne is nice. Good beach, quite surfy, not too far from Orlando if you want some expat contact. Going with something you know is geat I wish we had) so I would say either business would work. First you have to find one however. I would suggest looking on www.fbba.com for one and also emailing all the Melbourne realtors. Come and look if you can. For property, have a look at www.realtor.com and search on Melbourne. I think the location is a good decision as you wont get the agressive competitiveness over there of Orlando. Have a look at Vero Beach also. That is a bit further south and is so nice that Disney have a hotel there.
If you are looking for an E2 visa, contact Lesley at www.investorvisausa.com. She really is hot on E2.

**Tina Blackwell** · 02-03-2004, 12:05

thanks guys for your replies. its nice to get some first hand advice on where to go. looks like we may have picked the area. i am told the schools in melbourne beach are fantastic and have grade a reports, which is our most important aspect obviously for our girls. England is finished and within the next 10 years will be a third world counrty and i dont want that for my girls. fortunately we land here which is up for residensial developement so should be fairly financially secure, we intend to come over with no belongings and start completly from fresh, we are willing to work and work hard for our childrens future and figured we may as well well do it in a beautiful state with friendlier people than here, a better property and better weather. hopefully make a few good friends and feel like we actually have a future which we dont in this country. once again guys thanks. if you ever want a chat let me know and ill stay up late especially (lol) will be over for a couple of weeks soon to have a good look round. talk to you soon hopefully. tina[msnsmile2]

**Bamboo Benny** · 02-03-2004, 12:35

A good website to checkout is http://fl.living.net . All you ever wanted to know about Florida. Very helpful for relocating and gives comprhensive advice on different areas.