The Sunny Side of Life

The tax-friendly state of Florida welcomes new residents every year to upscale retirement and residential communities with resort-style amenities that can be enjoyed year-round.

0.93% average property tax rate— 10% below the national average

Homestead exemption: up to $50,000 in assessed value; additional $50,000 for residents 65+

Sales tax rate: 7%, groceries, prescriptions, and over-thecounter medications exempt

No estate or inheritance taxes

Florida has no state income tax, nor does it tax income from pensions, IRAs, 401(k) plans, or Social Security benefits.”

Every winter, snowbirds from colder climates flock to Florida for some warm-weather relief. Many of them take the time to explore beyond their vacation destinations and find luxurious new communities designed for a more active and healthy lifestyle.

While there are well-equipped fitness centers in every community these days, Floridians generally like to get outside for their exercise. Florida has more golf courses than any other state—1,250 at last count—and many clubs last year welcomed a record number of players. There are also 900,000+ recreational boats in Florida and full-service marinas everywhere. From racquet clubs with new pickleball courts to naturepreserve hiking trails from the Panhandle to the Everglades, Floridians enjoy a healthy outdoor lifestyle 365 days a year.

New Florida residents are also delighted to find an abundance of cultural diversions, gourmet restaurants, and upscale shopping centers all around them. The closer you look, the more that Florida has to offer.

Kennedy Space Center

Located on the Florida Space Coast less than an hour east of Orlando, the Kennedy Space Center is a living museum with an IMAX theater, a garden of giant rockets, and hands-on learning exhibits for kids of all ages. It’s also NASA’s primary launch pad for new satellites, unmanned interplanetary missions, and SpaceX crews heading to the International Space Station.

KennedySpaceCenter.com

Pickleball Heaven

Pickleball may not be the most popular participant sport in Florida— yet—but it’s undoubtedly the fastestgrowing, with new courts by the dozen opening every month in public facilities and private communities throughout the state. And the Minto US Open Pickleball Championships returned this spring after a one-year hiatus with 2,000+ players at the 60-court East Naples Community Park complex.

USOpenPickleballChampionship.com

The Florida Keys

The Florida Keys are a bucket-list travel destination, a series of tropical islands connected by the 127-milelong Overseas Highway. World-class sport fishing and eco-tours that include scuba diving on the coral reefs are primary recreational attractions. Key West features historic sites like the Hemingway Home and Museum, the Tennessee Williams Theatre for performing arts, and the new Truman Waterfront Park Amphitheatre for music concerts.

Fla-Keys.com

Jacksonville

Vibrant Riverfront City

Downtown Jacksonville straddles the St. Johns River and features the Southbank Riverwalk and the Five Points neighborhood with its trendy cafés and shops. It’s the business hub of northeast Florida and just a short drive from popular oceanfront destinations like Amelia Island, Jax Beach, and Ponte Vedra.

Population: 1,505,000 (metro area)

Transportation: Jacksonville International Airport

Healthcare: Jacksonville’s Mayo Clinic and Baptist Medical Center are rated among Florida’s top five medical-services facilities.

Culture: The Florida Theater stages weekly productions, the Cummer Museum of Art features traveling exhibitions, and MOSH! is the city’s signature Museum Of Science and History.

Must-see: The Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens is one of the nation’s finest, with natural habitats for 2,000+ animals and 2.5 acres of blooming sculpture gardens.