Polk County Real Estate | Move to Lakeland
This Quaint Town Won’t Be Florida’s Best Kept Secret For Long
There are a lot of things to like about Florida. The weather is amazing. There are beaches galore. Disneyworld! While most people know the “big” cities of Florida, like Miami, Orlando, and Tampa Bay, the real charm is in the countless smaller towns throughout the state.
Lakeland, Florida, has quietly established itself as a premier relocation destination for families and retirees alike. In fact, US NEWS recently rated Lakeland in the Top-15 out of 125 “Best Cities for Retirees”. With a great location, burgeoning art scene, and affordable housing, Lakeland won’t be a Florida secret for much longer. Here are the top-3 reasons to move to Lakeland!
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
You can find Lakeland nestled about 40 minutes inland from Tampa Bay, and 60 minutes from Orlando. This puts it fairly central in Florida, which means you aren’t too far from anything! For example, both Tampa and Orlando feature international airports for you jet setters out there. Orlando, of course, is also the home of Disney World and Epcot Center, and Universal Studios. Meanwhile Tampa Bay is home to the Super Bowl Champion Buccaneers, along with MLB’s Tampa Bay Rays. You’re less than 2 hours from some of the most amazing beaches in the country, including Treasure Island. And of course, true to its namesake, there are 38 beautiful lakes throughout Lakeland.
For those of you wanting the bright lights of the big city, Lakeland is only about a 4 hour drive from Miami. Close to it all, but far enough away to enjoy the quiet, location is one of Lakeland’s top features.
AFFORDABILITY
Not only does Lakeland’s central location make it great, but it is also affordable! According to recent data, Lakeland’s housing is 30% lower than the US average, and the cost of living is 13% lower. Additionally, property taxes are less than the National average, and also less than the Florida average. Throw in the fact that Florida does not have any state income tax, and you can see that not only is it more affordable to live in Lakeland, your money goes further. For example, the median price of a home in Lakeland is around $290,000. This is still lower than the Florida average of about $321,000.
For those looking to relocate here, as opposed to retire here, job market growth is projected to outpace the National average by about 9% over the next 10 years. That means that there is a great opportunity to move to a desirable location, that is affordable, and can provide good work and career opportunities. For example, Lakeland is home to one of Florida’s largest hospitals, Lakeland Regional Medical Center, which provides great career opportunities in health care. Lakeland also has major industry opportunities in education, transportation and logistics, and agriculture.
CHARM
Yes, charm is subjective, but it is a thing! Lakeland is rich in history, boasting 7 registered historical districts. Downtown Lakeland at Munn Park you will find a local artisan market on the First Friday of each month, and food truck rallies on the second Thursday of every month. Saturday mornings are the Sidewalk Farmer’s Market. There are tons of antiques and collectibles shops throughout Lakeland, several museums, including the Florida Air Museum, and it is home to the largest one-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture!
In addition to a beautiful, vibrant, downtown scene, Lakeland is full of beautiful lakes and nature preserves, like the Circle B Bar Reserve, where you can find alligators and bald eagles. There is great hiking found at Colt Creek State Park, and if you want to get really wild, you can even go on an actual safari at Safari Wilderness! Safari Wilderness was voted one of the “10 Best Safaris in the US” by Fodor’s Travel.
Ready to Move to Lakeland Yet??
These are just three of the best things about Lakeland, Florida. There really is even more to discover about this amazing little city of ours. The DRJ Real Estate Team is proud to have been serving the Lakeland community for over 20 years, helping families move here, retirees settle here, and even helping those moving on to new adventures elsewhere. DRJ Real Estate is your full service, premier Lakeland real estate agency, serving all of Polk County!
If you are curious about selling your home in Polk County, or moving to the area, CONTACT DRJ REAL ESTATE today for more expert advice and insight. Don’t forget to ask us about Homes for Heroes benefits if you are in fire service, law enforcement, health care, education, or military! We also offer online seller’s and buyer’s courses to help you learn all the best home selling tips and buyer’s secrets.
If you are looking to move into the beautiful Polk County Florida area, or you are looking to sell your house, then CONTACT DRJ REAL ESTATE right now to put us to work for you! We are Polk County’s premier, full service real estate team that specializes in Polk County and Lakeland real estate.
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Polk County Real Estate | Move to Lakeland
