Buying Property in Florida: Summer In Florida

The New York Times article I wrote about - about Florida owners renting their places out in peak season, and only enjoying them during the summer months - got me thinking. Is summer in Florida all that bad?

Yes, the summer is low season. People think of it as being very hot and humid. Too quiet. Empty. And, of course, not to mention that it's also hurricane season. (Hurricane season officially runs from the beginning of June to the end of November.)

All in all, it doesn't exactly sound like the time of year you'd want to visit your property, right? Why put up with all of that when you could instead enjoy your holiday home in winter, when your country is probably cold and grim?

That's not exactly the case. Florida is still very enjoyable during the summer months. I've been to the state a number of times during the summer, and haven't enjoyed my trips any less than when I've been there during winter. Sometimes even more! So let's look at some reasons why Florida in the summer is just as nice:

Yes, it can get very hot and humid in Florida - think temperatures in the mid to high 30s (in Celsius). But southern Europe can get just as hot and sticky, so the weather out in Florida isn't anything unusual for a lot of us. Hey, some years (such as 2003 and 2006) it's even been that hot during the summer in England! But the major difference about all this in Florida is that...they have everything in place to cope with this kind of weather. There is air conditioning everywhere. Some places (shops) have it so cold that you'll need to take a jumper with you to wear indoors. Cars have ultra-powerful air con too. Every home has it. (How many homes in Europe have air con as standard?!) And if that's not enough, you can always jump the pool or sea to cool down.
If you're from England, chances are that the summer you've had so far hasn't been spectacular, weather wise. Like this year. Or last year. So, on holiday, anything that isn't grey and drizzle is a plus. Sun and high temperatures, as in Florida, is therefore fantastic!
If you've ever driven in Florida, you'll recognise that "less congested roads" during the summer is a major bonus.
Who isn't pleased by quieter beaches during the summer? No one wants to sit on a crowded beach, with only a square metre of space for themselves. (Weekends will still be busy on the beaches, of course.)
Summer is also rainy season. Okay, so that's never a plus. But thankfully, rain in Florida tends to consist of a really heavy storm for an hour or so. So you can easily avoid it. And a Florida rainstorm is also a pretty exciting thing to see/be in!
There's certain activities that may well be more enjoyable in the summer. The New York Times article highlights fishing, boating and snorkelling as some examples.
There's also lots of events going on - concerts, sports games, festivals, exhibitions - just as in winter.
"Quieter" doesn't mean completely dead. It means you can get reservations at top restaurants and so on more easily. But there will still be plenty of other people there too! You won't be dining out in deserted places where you're the only customer!
Some places - like South Beach - don't seem to have a "low season". I was there on a Friday night in June, and had to practically fight my way through the crowds of people on Ocean Drive.
Summer also brings the 4th of July - Independence Day. If you're there (or anywhere in America) you'll have a great time taking part in the celebrations. Don't forget to head to your local beach to watch the fireworks display!

So give summer in Florida a go!