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4:50 AM Florida Emergency Alert Was a Mistake… Sort Of

At 4:50AM this morning, the 99% of us who keep our cell phones within arm’s reach while we sleep got an unwelcome early alarm clock. A loud test of the…

EAS

Geno / Beasley

At 4:50AM this morning, the 99% of us who keep our cell phones within arm's reach while we sleep got an unwelcome early alarm clock. A loud test of the Emergency Alert System made phones buzz and scream, waking many up. Was anything wrong? No. It was just a test.

EAS

At 4:50AM!? Is someone going to get fired over this? Nope. Turns out it was actually planned. Sort of. And guess what? There's another early morning test coming in 2023. And another. And another. And another.

But here's the thing. The test was NOT supposed to be sent as a push to your cell phone, according to Yahoo News. It was supposed to be one of those tests like you see on TV or hear on our radio station. Someone hit the wrong button and it woke up a lot of angry Floridians. Keep an eye on this schedule below just in case because more are planned.

According to the Florida Association of Broadcasters web site, there are 4 more pre-5am tests planned for 2023. Maybe set a reminder to leave your phone in your car that night just in case someone hits the wrong button again! The Florida Division of Emergency Management has since apologized for the early morning wake up and that steps have been taken to make sure those early morning tests don't go to your cell phone again. [Source: Yahoo]

2023 Scheduled Tests
January 20 at 1:50 PM
February 21 at 4:50 AM
March 20 at 1:50 PM
April 20 at 4:50 AM
May 22 at 1:50 PM
June 20 at 4:50 AM
July 20 at 1:50 PM
August 21 at 4:50 AM
September 20 at 1:50 PM
October 20 at 4:50 AM
November 21 at 1:50 PM
December 20 at 4:50 AM

It's a competitive real estate market out there. And moving to Florida has become a popular trend the past few years. This can make it even more difficult to find a good neighborhood to start a new life in the Sunshine State. Whether you're looking to move counties or states, here are the 13 best Florida neighborhoods to buy a house.

We know how tough it can be to find that perfect home for your family. On the bright side, there are some Florida cities where some homes are selling below their asking price. Some cities even include neighborhoods in this list! Niche.com tells us the best neighborhoods in Florida to buy a house. It's a pretty lengthy list, so we only included the top 13 neighborhoods. A few of them are even in the Tampa Bay area. To determine the best neighborhoods, Niche analyzed the following factors: Public schools, housing, crime and safety, nightlife, diversity, cost of living, job opportunities, weather and more.

Maybe you aren't looking to move, but invest in real estate. These neighborhoods would be a great place to start. Or you can check out these 4 cities that are great for investments. Check out the full list of best Florida neighborhoods here.

Here are the best 13 Florida neighborhoods to buy a house:

#1. Harbour Island

#1 on Niche's list is Harbour Island right here in Tampa. This neighborhood had high scores for every factor except cost of living. So if you can afford it, it's great. Otherwise, you may need to look at other neighborhoods on this list.

The 13 Best Florida Neighborhoods To Buy A House

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#2. Quail Ridge

This Pasco County neighborhood made it to #2 on Niche's list. This small suburb is perfect for small families. The only thing is it had a pretty bad rating for nightlife and commute.

The 13 Best Florida Neighborhoods To Buy A House

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#3. Black Diamond

Don't be surprised if you've never heard of this town before. Black Diamond is a super small town in Citrus County with a population of 1,023 people. If you want to get away from all the traffic and big cities, this might be the neighborhood for you. For nature lovers, it's pretty close to many of Florida's natural springs.

The 13 Best Florida Neighborhoods To Buy A House

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#4. Bel Mar

Another Tampa neighborhood on this list! Bel Mar is located in Hillsborough County not far from Bayshore Blvd. Which means the available houses in this area are going to be in the 7 digits.

The 13 Best Florida Neighborhoods To Buy A House

Photo: BBGI

#5. Beauclerc

Coming in at #5 is Beauclerc, which is near Jacksonville. This place is centrally located in Jacksonville and has great ratings for public schools, housing, jobs and nightlife.

The 13 Best Florida Neighborhoods To Buy A House

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#6. Montclair

Another Jacksonville neighborhood to make the list. Jacksonville was also recently named one of the best cities in Florida to work in. This town is actually located right next to Beauclerc.

The 13 Best Florida Neighborhoods To Buy A House

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#7. East Milton

East Milton is a pretty big suburb in Santa Rosa County, which is near the panhandle and Pensacola. You can find some houses for sale here for $200,000. The only catch is you're quite a drive away from any major city.

The 13 Best Florida Neighborhoods To Buy A House

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#8. Bagdad

Another suburb near the panhandle to consider is Bagdad. Reviews say it's a great place to live but the nightlife can be a little boring, but at least you're close to the beach!

#9. East Park

If you love theme parks and can tolerate I-4 on a normal basis, then this might be the perfect neighborhood for you. The median home prices in this area are $320K, so it's totally possible to find a nice, affordable house. This area is located right by the Orlando International Airport, so if you're a person who travels a lot, this might be a good option for you.

The 13 Best Florida Neighborhoods To Buy A House

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#10. Venetia

Another Jacksonville neighborhood makes the list. This area is right by the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, so some of the reviews mention that it can get a little noisy with all the planes.

#11. Christmas

Did you know there was a town in Florida called Christmas? Neither did we! This town is on the East coast of Florida near Titusville. Reviews say there's not much to do in the town but at least you're a quick drive away from the East coast beaches and Orlando.

#12. Audubon Park

This is another suburb close to Orlando. Reviews call it a quite, picturesque neighborhood with lots of trees. It's also super close to the Leu Botanical Gardens in Orlando!

The 13 Best Florida Neighborhoods To Buy A House

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#13. Beach Park

The last neighborhood on this list is another suburb of Tampa. This neighborhood is a quick drive to the heart of Downtown Tampa, so you know there will be plenty of things to do. The median home value in this area is about 500K, but at least you'll be getting your moneys worth

The 13 Best Florida Neighborhoods To Buy A House

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GenoEditor
Hear Geno on the air weekday afternoons. Geno's passions include fat guy food, concerts, sports, travel to Europe and South America. He loves 80s and 90s music, from MTV hairbands to old school freestyle, alternative rock to TRL era jams. Geno's radio career began in his hometown of Portland, Maine. Since then he's been on the air coast to coast from Boston to Las Vegas, Tampa to California.