Why Fort Lauderdale and Other South Florida Cities May Be A Great Place to Retire

For those who are looking to retire south Florida is the place to be. That’s according to a new study by the financial services company Bankrate.com. This is due to the fact that Florida is close to the United States southern border, which is within easy driving distance and has warm weather year round.

Low Cost Living in Florida

Florida is also the second lowest cost state to live in, according to the study. Researchers used the two most popular methods to evaluate a metro area: the median income, or income after accounting for the cost of living, as well as annual local taxes and insurance premiums. They also looked at the crime rates, weather, and travel times.

Other Factors Involved

“It’s not just the cost of living. It’s things like crime, environmental conditions, and education level,” explains Sarah Berger, a personal finance expert at Bankrate. Researchers say the area south of Miami will become even more appealing to retirees in the coming years as their quality of life improves.

Fort Lauderdale

The benefits of living in Fort Lauderdale are considerable. The city has a cost of living for real estate second only to Manhattan and an average home price of $453,000.

Locals will complain about the traffic, beach sand, and congestion, but locals also take pride in their community and act like a family. Fort Lauderdale is famous for its carnivals, which bring in tourists from all over. The local population is about 90 percent white, 9 percent black, 3 percent Latino and 1 percent Asian.

Fort Lauderdale is also known for its beautiful natural surroundings. It is located on the southeast Florida peninsula and has a humid subtropical climate with a cool, rainy season and a dry season. The warmest month is January, and the coolest month is August. February is the driest month with about one-fourth of an inch of rain. Fort Lauderdale has many unique attractions and museums. Fort Lauderdale Beach on the Atlantic Ocean has sand that stretches 4.6 miles from Miami to Pompano Beach. (Five miles of it is public beach and the rest is private.)

Fort Lauderdale is the third-most popular cruise port in the world, according to Cruise Critic. Fort Lauderdale is also the hub of Cruise Fort Lauderdale, the world’s largest and longest running cruise business, with more than 60 excursions offered daily to seven Caribbean ports.

The benefits of living in Fort Lauderdale can’t be overstated, particularly the safe community feel. We appreciate the efforts to clean up and rebuild Fort Lauderdale over the last few months, and we’re looking forward to a continued high quality of life. The emergence of a new generation of retail, tourism and residential properties in the last few years has bolstered the overall positive growth. As a diversified real estate investment trust, we focus our business and management attention on income-producing properties and not the often fluctuating profits associated with real estate speculation.

Fort Lauderdale History

But the rich history of Fort Lauderdale and, indeed, Broward County is what people will most want to explore. The city of Fort Lauderdale dates back to 1839 when the U.S. Military occupied the area. The area was used to store ammunition and rifles for the military at the beginning of the U.S. Civil War, but was mostly uninhabited. In 1867, General Philip Sheridan, commander of the U.S. Army in the Western Theater, used the Fort Lauderdale area as a rest camp for the Union Army. It was here that he reportedly decided on the famous phrase “To hell with Fort Sumter.” On January 17, 1889, Fort Lauderdale was incorporated. With the opening of the Florida East Coast Railroad in 1893, the region experienced a massive increase in population and development. The population grew as industries, both large and small, established themselves in the area.

“Fort Lauderdale is where I call home and to many that I have been able to help find beautiful homes within their price ranges.” – Heather Gregory, Fort Lauderdale Realtor

Downtown Fort Lauderdale is currently in the process of a major redevelopment project known as “The Inlet,” which will be built in conjunction with new housing developments, hotels, offices, and shopping areas in The County. The construction of the I-95 was a critical step in further developing the region, and new access roads were built to allow people to drive or to take the train into the city.

In addition, many of Broward County’s major resorts were built in Fort Lauderdale and, together, the two cities became known as the “Sunshine State.” The new communities attracted many well-to-do northerners who lived in luxury in a climate-controlled environment.

During World War II, the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport was built in the area. The population and prosperity of Fort Lauderdale continued to grow in the postwar period. By 1960, it had increased from a population of 15,000 to over 100,000, and the region became known as the “Globe of the South.” In 1962, Fort Lauderdale suffered from the worst blackout in U.S. During that year, Broward County experienced an unprecedented population boom. The population nearly tripled during the decade. By the mid-1960s, the City of Fort Lauderdale had one of the strongest economies in the nation and ranked among the most competitive and well-managed cities in the world.

Sunny Isles Beach

Sunny Isles Beach is known for being the affluent northernmost beach area of Miami Beach. It features tall, stately mansions on large stretches of white sand. It has easy access to beaches along Biscayne Bay, as well as access to shopping and fine dining. Miami is known for its nightlife, beaches, and restaurants. It is also famous for its vibrant arts community, world-class performing arts center, and the Vinoy Renaissance Hotel & Golf Club.

Miami

Miami has a population of 628,000. The Miami metropolitan area, which includes Miami-Dade County and its suburbs, is the 23rd-largest metropolitan area in the U.S. The area had a 2016 GDP of $325 billion. Over 400 species of birds live along the coast and in Biscayne National Park, which is located in Miami-Dade County.

Riviera Beach

Riviera Beach, which is east of Fort Lauderdale, has a population of about 59,000. It’s located within the Everglades and is known for its weather and fresh water. Located on the western coast of Florida, the greater Fort Lauderdale area is home to nearly 4.5 million residents and about 1,400 businesses.