TL;DR: Why Wait for Winter? Make Florida—and St. Mark Village—Your Year-Round Home
Each winter, many seniors head south to escape the cold—but why not enjoy Florida’s warmth year-round? Here are five compelling reasons to make the move permanent:
- Year-Round Sunshine
Enjoy the health benefits of Florida’s abundant sunshine, including improved mood, better sleep, and more opportunities to connect with nature—without the hassle of snow, ice, or seasonal chores. - Predictable Living Costs
Avoid the unpredictable expenses of snowbird living. At St. Mark Village, our maintenance-free lifestyle and Life Care promise help you plan ahead with confidence and peace of mind. - Stronger Connections
Build deeper, lasting friendships by living in one welcoming community year-round. At St. Mark Village, Residents enjoy a vibrant lifestyle full of meaningful engagement and shared experiences. - Financial Advantages
Florida offers significant tax benefits, including no state income tax, estate tax, or tax on capital gains. Plus, our admission fee may offer tax deductions and legacy-friendly return options. - A Vacation That Never Ends
Embrace the freedom of living where others vacation. With amenities, wellness programs, and social events available every day, life at the Village feels like a permanent getaway.
To learn more about life at St. Mark Village, visit www.StMarkVillage.org or call (727) 785-2577.
Every winter during “snowbird season” many seniors escape the cold temperatures and flock to Florida—but wouldn’t it wonderful to enjoy the warm sunshine year-round? Here are 5 reasons to move to Florida permanently.
5 Reasons to Move to Florida
- Year-round Sunshine
- Predictable living costs
- Stronger connections
- Financial advantages
- A vacation that never ends
1. Year-round sunshine
You bet! Living where the sun shines just about all the time is good for you in many ways. You can get outside more and soak in the benefits of Nature. You can join friends for daily walks outside. Or take the grandkids to the park. Sunshine is a natural stimulant that puts you in a good mood and gives you a spring in your step. It provides Vitamin D, supports bone and muscle health, regulates your blood sugar, and can help improve the quality of your sleep.
And just think, all that sunshine means you aren’t outside in the fall and winter shoveling snow, sweeping leaves off the front porch, and worrying about walking on icy sidewalks or driving on treacherous roads. You’ve put in your time doing all that; now it’s time for some year-round sun! Just ask any Florida resident.
Related: The Healing Power of Nature: Outdoor Activities for Seniors in Palm Harbor, Florida
2. Predictable living costs
When you’re part of the snowbird season, you are subject to constant changes in the price of just about everything: Florida winter rentals, gasoline for driving back and forth, local price increases on groceries and utilities, and much more. It’s hard to budget year-to-year just how much it’s going to cost you to go back and forth. And even if you own a property in Florida, you are faced with the costs of maintaining that property when you’re not there, not to mention what it could cost you to have someone take care of the residence you call home.
As a year-round Florida resident, you erase all that anxiety of unpredictable costs. And as a resident of a maintenance-free lifestyle such as you’ll find at St. Mark Village in Palm Harbor, Florida, you know ahead of time what your monthly fees will be. There’s no worry about what’s coming around the bend; with our Life Care promise, you already have a plan for every season, including your future.
3. Stronger connections
One of the top reasons to move to Florida is the comfort of knowing you can build lifelong friendships with people who are right next to you. So, no matter what comes along, there’s someone there who shares your perspective and can lend a helping hand, no matter the season. Snowbird season and Florida winter rentals can interrupt friendships and leave you feeling like you never really get to know your neighbors, which can affect your overall health and wellbeing. Having strong friendships and being around others is vital for senior health.
At St. Mark Village, residents can spend time with friends and family in multiple ways inside our community, and outside as well, all year long, enjoying our garden, pool, club room, special events, wellness programs, fitness activities, group outings and so much more.
Related: The Importance of Socialization for Seniors and How Senior Living Can Help
4. Financial advantages
Becoming a full-time Florida resident can be good for your pocketbook as well as your overall portfolio. Not only do you no longer have to budget for all the costs of maintaining a second residence, but you also benefit from several other perks of not being a part of the snowbird season. Here are a few financial reasons to move to Florida:
- No state income tax: The most impactful financial benefit is that Florida levies no state income tax on wages, pensions, 401(k) distributions, or Social Security benefits
- No state estate or inheritance tax: Florida does not impose a state-level estate or inheritance tax, which can be a key part of your legacy planning. This contrasts with many other states that levy estate taxes above certain thresholds.
- No tax on capital gains: Florida does not have a state tax on capital gains, helping to maximize returns from investments.
- No tax on “intangible” goods: Florida does not tax “intangible” goods, such as investments, which further helps your portfolio grow.
Should you choose to become a Florida resident and make St. Mark Village your retirement address, you benefit even more. Your buy-in (admission) fee money is considered a prepaid medical expense by the IRS, so tax deductions may be available. In addition, you may also have the option for up to 90 percent of your buy-in fee to be returned to your estate or designated beneficiary.
5. A vacation that never ends!
Talk about having great reasons to move to Florida! Imagine feeling like you’re on vacation all year long. No worries about what you’ll have to pack up in the winter, driving a long distance to get to warm temperatures. No more saying goodbye to a neighbor and hoping your home stays safe. No need to coordinate Florida winter rentals.
Instead, you’re enjoying the good life every day—especially if you become a resident of St. Mark Village!
We have even more reasons to move to Florida. We’d love to tell you more about how you can live your best life right here, at St. Mark Village.
