Home Buying 101: Relocating to Florida

Updated on December 5, 2024: This story was originally published on November 9, 2018, and has been updated with new information.

Relocating to a new city or state can be quite an undertaking, but it’s also a time of excitement and anticipation. Many factors probably led to your decision to move to Florida, from a job transfer or desire for a lifestyle change to wanting to be closer to your family. Florida is an amazing place to live and is attracting new residents every day thanks to our warm year-round climate, exciting attractions and outdoor activities, abundant job opportunities, and low taxes and cost of living compared to other states. Central Florida, in particular, is in high demand with Tampa, Orlando, Lakeland, and Ocala all ranked among the 25 fastest-growing cities in the U.S.

Once you’ve decided to relocate, there are a variety of tasks to be completed, including finding your new home in Florida, and your employment status may affect how you go about the big move. We’ve outlined relocation strategies based on four typical scenarios:

• Being transferred from your existing job,
• Working your existing job remotely from your new home in Florida,
• You have a new job already lined up,
• You are planning to move without a job already in place.

Relocating due to a Job Transfer

Relocating because of a job transfer is the least tricky out of these three scenarios for two major reasons - you don’t have to handle the stress of finding a new job, and you don’t have to worry about obtaining a mortgage while changing jobs, which can be a complicated process. However, you will most likely still have to balance remotely searching for a new home and possibly selling your current home at the same time. This is a subject we’ve covered extensively on our blog in the past, and how you handle the situation depends on the real estate market conditions where you currently live, as well as the conditions in the city you’re moving to - Learn more about how to buy and sell homes at the same time.

One of the big advantages of relocating due to a job transfer is the likelihood that your company offers a relocation package. These packages can include anything from covering a moving service to a buyout agreement, which can be helpful if you don’t sell your current home before your scheduled move. Be sure to talk with your employer to find out what relocation assistance is offered!

Working Remotely

Since 2020, when more people started working remotely from home, a world of relocation opportunities opened up. After all, if you can work your job from anywhere, why not work in a paradise like Florida?!

Generally, this is a pretty seamless relocation, but if you are buying your new house in Florida with a mortgage, your employer will likely need to provide a Remote Work Letter confirming your ability to work remotely and the terms of your employment, including your pay and guarantees that your remote work status is a long-term arrangement. Your mortgage lender will let you know the specific requirements to ensure you can qualify for a mortgage as a remote worker

Moving for a New Job

If you’ve accepted a new job in a new city, determining the timing for your move is key, especially if you plan to purchase a home during the transition. While it’s true that obtaining a mortgage during a job change can slow down the process, proper planning and preparation will help. In general, if your new job is in a similar industry or field with an equal or higher income than your current job, it shouldn’t be a barrier to being approved by most mortgage lenders.

If you’ve already started your new job in Florida before you apply for a mortgage, your lender will likely require that you’ve been in that job for at least 30 days and have a pay stub before you can be approved. This means you may need temporary housing for the initial few months of your move to allow you to work for 30 days, obtain mortgage approval, find a home, and go through the closing process. If you’re willing to sign a short-term lease, live with a local relative or friend, or find short-term housing like an extended-stay hotel, this can be a viable option.

Another option is to get preapproved for a loan prior to changing jobs. Once preapproved, you can begin shopping for a home in the city you will be moving to. However, know that when you try to use that preapproval to purchase a home in a town more than 25 miles away from your job, your lender will likely require documentation that will better explain your circumstances. This can include a notice from your current job documenting that they are aware you’re moving and will allow you to work remotely, or documentation of the new job in the town you’re looking to purchase the home in. It’s also important to note that this may slow down the mortgage approval process, so be prepared to wait a little longer to move into your new home.

Relocating Without a Job Lined Up

Perhaps the most tricky, and adventurous, of these scenarios is deciding to move to a new city without a job lined up. It can be a freeing experience to pack up your bags and move without a plan in place, but it’s not for the faint of heart! Florida is a desirable, dream destination for many, so it’s not uncommon to welcome newcomers who may not have a permanent home or job secured. If this scenario is what you’re facing, there are a few things you can do to ease the transition.

First, be sure you’ve done your research on the area you’re moving to. Are there jobs available that interest you and you’re qualified for in the area? Does the cost of living in your chosen city align with the salary those jobs likely offer? Do you have enough savings in place to enable you to live for three to six months without permanent work?

If you’ve satisfactorily answered all those questions, the next step is to go ahead and begin applying for jobs and lining up interviews in your new city. The hiring process can take time, so know your planned move date and line up interviews for as soon as you arrive, unless you’re able to travel back and forth for interviews before your move.

While you’re applying for jobs, also start a search for housing. You likely won’t be able to obtain a mortgage and purchase a new home until you’ve been employed at your new job for at least 30 days, so you’ll need short-term or temporary living arrangements. Once you’ve made the big move and settled into your new job, you can begin the house-hunting process in earnest!

Additional Relocation Tips

Once you’ve found your new home in Florida and sold your current home, it’s time to tackle the nitty-gritty details of moving to a new city:

• Schedule movers
• Reserve a storage unit in either your old or new city, if needed
• Schedule to have your car shipped if you won’t be driving to your new home
• Decide on the essentials to pack in suitcases for easy access
• Setup a USPS Change of Address for mail forwarding
• Transfer or set up new utilities, and shut off your old ones 

No matter the reason for relocation to the Sunshine State, we are glad you’re moving to Florida! Highland Homes is a leading builder of new homes in Florida, offering beautiful homes in top relocation destinations including Tampa, Orlando, Lakeland-Winbter Havem, Ocala, and Bradenton-Sarasota. For more information and to find your new home in Florida, call or email our New Home Specialists today!