A Dancing with the Stars pair have opened up about their decision to trade California for a new chapter in Florida.
Peta Murgatroyd and Maksim Chmerkovskiy made the move with their three sons — Shai, Rio and Milan — after more than 10 years of building a life in Los Angeles.
The professional dancers said they were drawn to a calmer lifestyle and a more joyful setting for their children.
In a heartfelt YouTube video chronicling the family’s fresh start, Murgatroyd acknowledged that walking away from the city she had called home for 16 years was an emotional decision.
‘It’s been a fun ride, LA,’ the 39-year-old said. ‘But we have to move on to new things, new life and new adventures, and make new memories.’
The couple later shared that they had put down roots in Boca Raton, Florida, and said their new life has already turned out better than they hoped.
‘There are tears you don’t expect, goodbyes that hit harder than you imagined, and moments where you wonder if you’re making the right decision,’ Murgatroyd wrote alongside an emotional Instagram clip of the couple crying in their packed car.
‘But sometimes you have to leave what’s comfortable to find what’s meant for you.’
Peta Murgatroyd and Maksim Chmerkovskiy have relocated with their three sons after spending more than a decade building their lives in Los Angeles
She said she knew they had made ‘the best decision’ for their family.
‘Our boys are so happy, our hearts are full, and we’re incredibly grateful for this new chapter,’ she added. ‘Goodbye LA. Hello Florida.’
The move was met with an outpouring of support from viewers, many of whom welcomed the family to Florida and said they would never look back after making similar moves themselves.
One fan commented: ‘You’ll be wondering why it took you so long to move to Florida. This place is heaven!!!’
Another wrote: ‘Welcome to Florida! We love it here!’
The move also marked the end of another chapter for the family.
The Los Angeles home the couple had rented for the past two years has now been listed for $18,000 a month, offering a glimpse inside the upscale property they left behind.
The roughly 4,300-square-foot residence in Valley Village – around 30 minutes from Downtown LA – features four bedrooms and five bathrooms, along with a resort-style backyard complete with a pool, covered entertaining area and built-in barbecue.
In an emotional YouTube video documenting their ‘new beginnings’, 39-year-old Murgatroyd admitted leaving the city she had called home for 16 years was far from easy
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The move also marked the end of another chapter for the family. The Los Angeles home the couple had rented for the past two years has now been listed for $18,000
In a later post, Murgatroyd said leaving the luxury pad had been a difficult decision but in the end, every challenge involved with relocating had been worthwhile.
‘Leaving behind the place we’d called home for so many years wasn’t easy, but sometimes the biggest leaps lead you exactly where you’re meant to be,’ she wrote.
‘The happiness, the slower pace, the sunshine, watching our boys love every second of it… It’s everything we hoped for and more.
‘Worth every box. Every goodbye. Every unknown. No looking back… only looking forward.’
The couple’s new hometown is part of South Florida, a region long associated with retirees thanks to its warm climate, beaches and slower pace of life.
In recent years, however, it has also become increasingly popular with younger families and professionals relocating from higher-cost states.
The move wasn’t without drama. While packing up their Los Angeles home, Murgatroyd revealed one of their son’s bicycles disappeared after they had left their garage open while moving boxes.
She said the family had also encountered a young homeless woman searching through their trash the night before.
The couple later revealed they had settled in Boca Raton, Florida, saying the move has already exceeded their expectations
The couple’s new hometown is part of South Florida, a region long associated with retirees thanks to its warm climate, beaches and slower pace of life
‘We went through our fridge,’ Chmerkovskiy said in the YouTube video, explaining they gave the woman food and blankets.
Although Murgatroyd suspected the woman may have later taken the bicycle, she said she wasn’t angry.
‘I told Maks, ‘Let them. Let them,” she said. ‘They need it more than us.’
The family’s departure comes as California continues to see residents leave for other states.
Research from the University of California’s California Policy Lab found that since the pandemic, the share of residents moving out of the state’s higher-income communities has risen significantly, with many households citing affordability pressures.
High housing costs remain one of the biggest challenges.
Separate research has found the average California household has about 35 percent less disposable income than the national average after accounting for housing, energy, taxes and other living expenses.
California also continues to contend with one of the nation’s highest unemployment rates, at 5.3 percent last month, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, while the state’s Legislative Analyst’s Office has described recent job growth as sluggish.
For Murgatroyd and Chmerkovskiy, however, the decision ultimately came down to quality of life.
