Over the centuries, many indigenous American people have made this great land their home. Some of the first people to live here were the Timucua, Apalachee, Calusa, the Tequesta of Biscayne Bay, the Jeaga, the Mayaimi, and later on, the Seminole. 

The name was given to this region by Juan Ponce De Leon, one of the first European explorers to arrive in Florida and who reached its shores in 1513. Since he arrived on Easter day, he named the land after Spain’s Easter celebration known as “Pascua Florida,” or “Feast of Flowers.”

During the 1500s, French and Spanish settlements were established in Florida. The Spanish maintained control of Florida until 1763–1783 when Florida was briefly controlled by the British Empire. Spain eventually regained Florida for a short period of time. The United States purchased Florida in 1821 and it officially became a state in 1845. 

Florida is the southernmost point of the United States, with most of the state on a peninsula. The region is made up of four main land regions: the uplands, the Everglades, the Florida Keys, and the coastal plains. Across these regions, you can find marshes, springs, lakes, rivers, swamps, and of course, beaches.

The overall climate is ideal for those who love warm weather. The coldest average temperature in the state rarely goes below 45 degrees during the winter (and that’s usually at night!) while the state manages to average over 270 days of sunshine annually. In fact, it’s one of the sunniest places in the U.S.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Florida is one of the largest states in the country population-wise, with 21,538,187 residents. The population of Florida increased by nearly 3 million people over the course of a decade (from 18.8 million residents in 2010 to 21.5 million in 2020). 

Think the state is just for retirees? Think again. Nearly 80% of the state’s total population is under the age of 65 years old. 

It seems that everyone wants to live here, and for good reason. In fact, Florida has one of the biggest economies in the state.

While the primary focus of Florida’s economy was farming and agriculture for generations, today, Florida has an extremely robust and diverse economy. While agriculture and also tourism still play a big role, other main players include aviation and aerospace, defense and homeland security, life sciences, manufacturing, professional sports, and more.

The need for skilled labor and technical experts has benefited Florida’s vast education and university sector, which has the ability to offer students the rare opportunity to partner with industry leaders, like Lockheed Martin, Walt Disney, and NASA, for internships and career opportunities. Sports have also helped make Florida a top tourist location.

There are 28 community and state colleges in Florida, with dozens of other private colleges throughout the state. The University of Miami, the University of Florida, Florida State University, The University of Central Florida, and Florida International University are among the 12 state universities in Florida. Many offer discounted tuition to Florida residents. 

The one thing that’s hotter than the weather? Florida’s real estate market. Florida property is sky high and only continues to climb higher. Many people are migrating here, and while there is some new home construction going on, it’s not enough to keep up with demand. This is driving home prices higher still. 

While this might seem to spell bad news for many first-time buyers, the good news is there are deals to be found in some select areas of the state. Places that are outside of the main cities, more rural areas, are where you can find Florida real estate that’s in a more reasonable price bracket, meaning you’ll get more square footage for your money. 

The other great thing about buying property in Florida is that once you’re on the housing ladder, you’ll be able to sit back and watch as the value of your property (ideally) increases over time. Strong housing appreciation across the state and good economic growth prospects mean that owning a slice of Florida real estate can be a solid investment.

To top it all off, Florida also does not have income tax. It has lower than average property taxes. It also has exceptional asset protection laws that can protect your home from civil judgments. 

Rest assured, the sunshine state is always welcoming new residents who come for the thrills and stay for the long-term. If you’d like help on the next step of your journey, it’s a good idea to get in touch with a highly reviewed, local real estate agent, who will be able to act as your buyer’s agent. This will help you to ensure that you’ll become aware of properties that meet your criteria as soon as they become available, saving you from missing out on your dream property in this hot and quickly moving seller’s market.

If you’re not sure about Florida real estate, then come visit and see for yourself why hundreds of thousands of people are relocating every year to this state. Who knows? You just might end up liking it so much that you decide to stay. 

Closing 
If you are looking to own your very own slice of paradise, then Florida can’t be beat. It’s one state that has just about everything that you can imagine: a great economy and good career prospects. Not to mention striking beaches, easy access to theme parks, balmy weather year-round, and beautiful, lush subtropical surroundings. 

When you awake to see the soft, beautiful light streaming through your windows, sit outside and listen to the palms swaying in the gentle breeze, or feel the soft, white sand beneath your feet, you’ll know that you’ve made the right decision in choosing to call this state home. As you’ll soon discover, Florida is a world away from the rest of the states. But that’s not a bad thing.