7 reasons to relocate to Florida’s Orlando/Daytona Beach

Pretty much every New Yorker thinks about leaving New York City at one point or another. As we all know: it’s expensive, space is tight, and the weather can be brutal. Popular places to relocate include upstate, New Jersey, or across the country to California.

There’s another option where real estate is affordable (especially compared to NYC prices), the economy is robust, and it never snows: Florida’s Orlando and Daytona Beach area.

Read on for seven advantages to buying a house (or second home) in this region of the Sunshine State — that don't include the (fabulous) weather. But just so you know: Orlando has an average of 233 sunny days each year, far above the national average. Just saying.

1. Get double the space for half the cash

“The average price for a single-family, three- or four-bedroom house is $420,000,” says Frank Filippelli, an Orlando area-based broker of 50 years who oversees 55 agents as president of Southern Realty Enterprises. For homebuyers who don’t need that much space, have a smaller budget, or don’t want the hassle of owning a house, condos are an appealing and solid alternative. The median price for a 1,500-square-foot condo is about $300,000, while the median sales price for a Manhattan condo is $1.6 million.

2. Low taxes, and several incentives

If you didn’t know, Florida has no state income tax, which means you’re taking home more money with each paycheck. Additionally, real estate taxes are far less than in New York County, where according to the Tax Foundation, the typical homeowner pays more than $10,000 annually in property taxes.

Comparatively, in Orlando’s Orange or Seminole counties and Daytona Beach’s Volusia County, the average property tax paid is about $3,500. Incentives such as the state’s Homestead Exemption can save homeowners up to $50,000 on the taxable value of their primary residence, and further tax breaks go to members of the military and owners over the age of 65. Additionally, current proposed legislation could reduce property taxes statewide even further. 

3. You can have a yard. And a pool. Or both.

Say goodbye to gardening on the fire escape. Filippelli estimates that the lot size of a typical home measures from a quarter to one full acre. “People plant vegetable gardens, or have some chickens running around,” he says. And more than half of Southern Realty’s listings have pools.

For New York City-area homebuyers wary of the bylaws imposed by homeowner associations, Evelyn Hartnett, an Orlando-area agent with Southern Realty for more than 30 years, says that many have adopted more flexible policies. “HOAs used to be known for tight rules. I’m seeing more and more communities letting people express their individuality,” she says.

4. Employment opportunities

Orlando has emerged as one of the top U.S. cities for job opportunities, and according to the Florida Department of Commerce, was the fastest-growing large employment center in the U.S. in 2024. A longtime center for hospitality professions, the city now includes healthcare, finance, technology, and aviation among its robust employment sectors.

In addition to working with tech and service industry employees, Filippelli notes that his clients also include people in professional services such as accountants and attorneys.

5. Southern Realty’s Buyer Benefit package

Southern Realty provides a soft landing for new arrivals with its FREE Buyer Benefit package. Perks include a home security system, wholesale discounts on flooring, cabinets, countertops and furniture, and reduced rates on movers, plumbers, electricians and other services.

6. Local, experienced agents

Most of Southern Realty’s team of 55 agents have worked with the company for 30 years or more. All of the firm’s agents live in the area, and some are bilingual, speaking languages including Spanish, German, and Chinese. 

“You need an agent that really lives and breathes the community. They know the things that are going on,” says Hartnett. “And they’re the ones doing the negotiating for you.”

7. A one-year warranty

Most homes sold by Southern Realty come with a one-year guarantee, which covers heat, air-conditioning, plumbing, electric, roofing, and the hot water heater.

Still not sure you’re ready to commit to buying a house in Orlando or Daytona Beach? Southern Realty can still help. “We also do rentals,” says Filippelli. “People can rent for six months or a year and see if they like it or not.”

Ready to find your home in the Orlando or Daytona Beach area? Contact Southern Realty at 1-800-771-0031 or 407-869-0033.