Santa Rosa Beach is a charming Florida destination on the Gulf of Mexico between Pensacola and Panama City, FL, and very close to Destin. If you’re moving to Santa Rosa Beach or Walton County and need as much information and data about the place as possible, you’ve come to the right place! Southern Self Storage, the self-storage leader in Florida, put together this useful Guide you’re reading right now! Read on to discover everything you need to know before moving to Santa Rosa Beach!
Relocating to Santa Rosa Beach, FL
Depending on where you currently live, a relocation to Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, might be quick and painless or exactly the opposite. For example, if you’re coming from further north, you’ll probably need professional movers to pack, load, and deliver your things. You might do all the moving, which is possible although much more stressful. To help you lower that stress, below is a list of things you must do before leaving your current home and moving to Santa Rosa Beach.
- Contact three or four moving companies and get estimates.
- Choose a mover and lock in your moving and delivery dates.
- Sell, donate, or throw away anything you don’t need, use or want. (Movers charge by weight!)
- Gather together all of your essential paperwork and documents, including school transcripts, professional licenses, vehicle titles, investment and retirement paperwork, etc.
- Schedule to have your utilities disconnected, including electricity, gas, water, garbage, internet, and any memberships you might have with local businesses.
- Reserve a self-storage unit in Santa Rosa Beach.
What are the Best Neighborhoods in Santa Rosa Beach?
Santa Rosa Beach is an admittedly small area on the Gulf Coast of Florida and, for that reason, doesn’t have a lot of neighborhoods to speak of. Nearby Destin, Florida, does have several, though, and it’s those neighborhoods we’re going to list below. Just FYI, most are within a few minutes drive of Santa Rosa Beach.
- Blue Mountain Beach
- Cinco Bayou
- Downtown Destin
- Lake Lorraine
- Midway
- Miramar Beach
- Niceville
- Shalimar
- Valparaiso
- Watercolor
Pros and Cons of Moving to Santa Rosa Beach
No matter where you live in America, small town, or big city, all have positive and negative sides. The same can be said for Santa Rosa Beach, although it must be noted that the city has more Pros than Cons. The 2 lists below will be very handy in finding out exactly what those are.
Pros of Moving to Santa Rosa Beach
- The beaches here are gorgeous
- Most nights feature a surprisingly serene sunset
- Warm weather and sunshine year-round
- Walking and biking trails are everywhere you look
- The highest building in town is 50 ft. or less by city ordinance
- Boating and fishing are a way of life here
- The community spirit in Santa Rosa Beach is surprisingly high
- The seafood is simply spectacular
- Beautiful Choctawhatchee Bay!
- The local High School is highly rated
- There’s a beautiful state park nearby
Cons of Moving to Santa Rosa Beach
- Tourist sprawl in winter is problematic
- The nearest airport is not close
- The summer comfort index is 3.8, thanks to the sweltering heat and high humidity.
- The cost of living is higher than in many other towns in Florida
- Home prices are very high
- There are many more homeowners than renters
What is the Cost of Living Like in Santa Rosa Beach?
There’s no sugarcoating the fact that Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, is an expensive place to live. The main reason is that real estate, with a cost index of 246.3, is 2.5x the national average! That puts median home prices in Santa Rosa Beach at $931,000. Compare that to the Florida average of $362,400 or the U.S. average of $338,100 and affording a home in Santa Rosa Beach will be much more difficult than in many other Florida towns. We’ve listed the major cost indices in Santa Rosa Beach below for comparison. Remember that 100 is the national average, so anything above that is higher than the U.S. average and vice versa.
Overall. 144.8
Groceries. 108.3
Healthcare. 100.6
Housing. 246.3 (Extremely high.)
Utilities. 102.5
Transportation. 93.7
Miscellaneous. 100.1
Median home cost. $931,000
What is Santa Rosa Beach Known For?
If there’s one thing that stands out about Santa Rosa Beach, it’s not surprisingly the beaches. They are gorgeous, with white sugar sand, beautiful turquoise waters, and all the amenities you could want. Most beaches in Florida, including Santa Rosa beach, are free to use and have free parking, restrooms, and showers. Many also have snack shops and restaurants close to the beach, making a day of fun in the sun extremely easy for the average Santa Rosa Beach resident. This is what seaside living is all about!
Take Care of Your Storage Needs with Southern Self Storage
Southern Self Storage is your best choice if you’ve just arrived in Santa Rosa Beach and need to find storage while searching for a new home. For example, we offer three state-of-the-art storage facilities in Santa Rosa Beach and another in nearby Panama City Beach, FL. All three locations offer several types of storage, including car, commercial, and climate-controlled storage. Southern Also offers a convenient size guide if you need help determining what size storage unit you need. In other words, Southern Self Storage has everything you could need when it comes to self-storage in Santa Rosa Beach, FL. Call us today, stop by the nearest Southern Self Storage facility, or reserve a storage unit online. Either way, we’ll see you when you get here! And hey if you’ve already arrived in Santa Rosa Beach, FL, welcome home!