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Random Quote: Work hard, play hard, catch fish.....or tell lies
Is it hard to find work, (making a living) in the Fla keys? I was thinking of moving from Nj to somewhere in South Fla., Iam a Roofing & Siding Contractor, and also have a my 6pac liscense. Is it hard to find a decent home? expensive? any input from someone who lives there would be greatly appreciated!
Take a look at the Keys forum on FS. There are lots of "moving to the Keys" threads. The summary:
High real estate cost
Life style not for everyone
Not very many high paying jobs around (service economy)
But the poeple that do live there for a while love it
I'm sure you will be able to get work in the keys. You do need to be licensed obviously to be a contractor. Housing to purchase is high if you need waterfront trailer on a canal can run 400K. Rentals are available, but again not cheap
If you work in the Hurricane stricken area you get a special dispensation regarding your FLA license. THe state will accept out of state license for the short time being. Legislature passed and Bush signed into law to extend out of state roofing licenses.
After that...you will need to get your roofing license or state GC license. I just got my GC license and it's a biatch to get but worth it.
Mako, i heard the test was easy?, in fact we were first thinking of going to Port St lucie area, and the chamber of commerce sent me the whole package, and it looked easy.....maybe looks are decieving!, the GC test is prob. tougher than just the roofing.... how long did it take for you to get the lisencse start to finish? did it pay off? what could you expect to make in Fla. as a contractor?
Good construction workers are always in demand down here and make above average money. If you're above board and reliable you can do even better. There are a couple outfits with good reputations that most everybody uses. Ask around and look to hook up with one of them.Housing costs are an issue here like most places these days. We have a bigger problem with affordable housing because there's not much land to go around. It's *much* more economical to rent a place in the Keys than to buy. Rents are way below what you could expect to spend on a mortgage. Just don't expect to buy a lot and build a house. Building permits are basically impossible to get. Seriously. All in all, I figure a construction worker will do pretty well around here. It's the waitstaff, teachers, and store clerks who really struggle.
My daughter and her family live in Key West. Yes, it's hard to find work there. Yes, its hard to find a decent home there, unless you plan on bringing a few large bags of money with you. Yes, It is very expensive to both buy and live there. You didn't ask but, YES IT IS GREAT FISHING! Since you are a roofer & siding contractor you ought to consider the Southwest coast, somewhere around Port Charolette or Punta Gorde because you will be able to get good work there for years to come because of our Hurricane damage last year.
Port St Lucie is far north from the keys! It's "mainland, east coast" Florida. That is an entirely different scenario when it comes to living and working in the Florida Keys.
The Keys have evolved into a kinda "never, never land" due to a 100% tourist based economy and virtually no land area to support housing, let alone the future ability to provide everyone with a drink of water and a place to* craap!
St Lucie and Martin counties, on the other hand, have a solid employment base and developable land for affordable residential use plus an avordable life style. Plenty or work too!
The Keys are someplace you visit, quickly get enough of, and gratefully return home, probably in a rolling traffic jam! (And, while trying to get home on Rt # 1, don't give any crummy drivers the "finger" because you'll likely get shot!)
Thats for the replies, Like i said I was "considering" moving to the Keys, but have researched more for the Port St. Lucie area, over the last couple years. I just like getting as much imput as i can about all the options available. The hard part for me is leaving my "perfectly good" contracting bizz here in NJ, which generates over 100k for me, to risk starting the same bizz in Fla. in hopes to achieve the same income. I just cant stand the winters no more! or the cost of living in Nj.....oh and did i mention I love to fish??
Moving to the keys.... 
