Peta Murgatroyd & Maksim Chmerkovskiy Say Goodbye to Los Angeles — and Hello to a New Life in Florida

Who Are Peta and Maksim?

If you’ve ever watched the TV show Dancing With the Stars (or "DWTS" for short — it’s a show where celebrities pair up with professional dancers and compete in ballroom dancing), then you probably know Peta Murgatroyd and Maksim Chmerkovskiy. They’re both professional dancers who became famous on that show. They got married in July 2017 and have three little boys: Shai (9), Rio (3), and Milan (1).

For 16 years, Los Angeles (LA) was their home. But recently, they made a big decision that had a lot of people talking…

The Big Move: Los Angeles → Boca Raton, Florida

Peta and Maksim packed up their entire lives and moved from Los Angeles, California to Boca Raton, Florida. That’s really far — like packing all your toys, clothes, and furniture and driving across the whole country!

They shared the whole emotional journey with fans:

• In a YouTube video posted on Monday, Peta documented the family’s final moments in their LA home
• On Instagram, they posted a video of themselves crying in their car with moving boxes in the backseat — showing just how hard goodbyes can be

Peta wrote on Instagram: "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."

Why Did They Leave LA?

Leaving a place you’ve called home for 16 years is never easy. But sometimes, you have to leave what feels comfortable in order to find what’s truly meant for you.

Here’s what helped them feel confident about the decision:

• They wanted a better life for their three young sons
• They were drawn to Florida’s slower pace and sunshine
• They felt it was "the best decision" for their whole family

Peta shared: "Our boys are so happy, our hearts are full, and we’re incredibly grateful for this new chapter. Goodbye LA. Hello Florida. ."

She later added: "The happiness, the slower pace, the sunshine, watching our boys love every second of it … it’s everything we hoped for and more."

It Wasn’t All Happy Tears — There Was a Sad Moment with a Bike

Every big move has hiccups, and this one was no different. During the move, something upsetting happened:

1. The day before, Peta and Maksim had been helping a young homeless woman who appeared to be in her 20s and said she was from Georgia
2. They gave her all the food they could find, plus blankets — they even went through their entire fridge!
3. Unfortunately, their eldest son Shai’s bike was stolen from their garage
4. Peta suspects it may have been taken by the homeless woman or her boyfriend (since the garage door had been left open so she could see what was inside)

Peta said: "I told Maks, ‘Let them. Let them.’ They need it more than us, so anyway, that’s that."

Even though it stung, Peta chose to be understanding rather than angry — showing a really generous spirit.

The Emotional Goodbye to Their LA Home

In her YouTube video, Peta got very emotional as she walked through what used to be their family home — now completely empty after all their belongings had been packed up. Imagine walking through the rooms where your kids took their first steps, where you shared thousands of meals, and where so many memories were made… and it’s all bare and quiet.

Despite the sadness, she stayed positive:

"It’s been a fun ride, LA. But we have to move on to new things, new life and new adventures, and make new memories."

Their Friends and Co-Stars Showed Love and Support

When you bravely do something hard, it means a lot when the people around you cheer you on. Peta and Maksim received lots of supportive comments from their Dancing With the Stars family:

• Jenna Johnson (Maksim’s sister-in-law and fellow DWTS pro): "I’m liking this post but crying while doing so! Miss you already ."
• Sharna Burgess (DWTS alum): "Love you miss you and I love this for you and the fam. It looks good on you babe coming to visit soon!"
• Carrie Ann Inaba (DWTS judge): "Bravo for bravery. new beginnings… it takes so much courage to move. I’m inspired!"

Summary

Here’s the simple version of what happened:

• Peta Murgatroyd and Maksim Chmerkovskiy moved from Los Angeles to Boca Raton, Florida
• They’ve lived in LA for 16 years, so the goodbye was emotional
• They made the move for the goodness of their family and their three sons
• A sad hiccup happened — Shai’s bike was stolen, possibly by a homeless woman they had helped the day before
• Peta responded with kindness and understanding instead of anger
• Friends and former co-stars flooded them with love and support
• The family is happy and excited about their new chapter in the Sunshine State

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Why did Peta Murgatroyd and Maksim Chmerkovskiy move from LA to Florida?
A: They wanted a better, slower-paced life for their family. They felt Florida would be a happier place for their three young sons to grow up.

Q: How long did they live in Los Angeles?
A: For 16 years — that was their home from before they got married through all the years of raising their kids.

Q: What happened to their son Shai’s bike?
A: It was stolen from their garage during the move. Peta suspects it was taken by a young homeless woman and her boyfriend, whom they had actually helped the day before by giving them food and blankets.

Q: Does Peta regret helping the homeless woman after the bike was stolen?
A: No. Even though it was upsetting, Peta said "Let them — they need it more than us," showing she chose compassion over anger.

Q: How did their Dancing With the Stars friends react?
A: They were incredibly supportive! Fellow dancers like Jenna Johnson and Sharna Burgess, as well as judge Carrie Ann Inaba, all sent love and encouragement to the family.

Sometimes bravest thing you can do is leave the familiar behind to find something better. Peta and Maksim are proving that new chapters can be beautiful.