Wow, I am getting butterflies in my stomach for you!
You go after your dream, good for you!
So I guess I'll be seeing you when I go down for Oct.
You have captivated me, I just read your whole thread in an hour! Good luck with the move... you are moving to the area I grew up in and I hope that you enjoy it. I didn't appreciate it at the time, but now, looking back, I can and look forward to visiting all the time. My biggest gripe as a kid was no snow, but I am sure you wont have a problem with that. I encourage you to explore your new home as the mouse house is only a very small piece of what Florida is (of course my favorite ), go see a shuttle launch, enjoy the many lakes (but don't swim unless okayed, since alligators are always possible even when not probable). It sounds like a great adventure!
Wow! Sounds like too much fun! DH and I have talked about it, but we're not quite ready to take the plunge DH has a good job with a lucrative income, but we have a lot of bills that need to be paid off (mostly from when he wasn't making as much money) before we can do something like that. Can't wait to hear the rest of your story!
I'm following your story with interest as we are looking to move to the Orlando area.
Can I ask what search engines you're using on the internet to find rentals? I'm looking for rentals in the "Orlando" area but I'm getting pretty confused trying to figure it all out.
Did you find work out there?
Last year, my B.I.L wanted to move there and bring me and the kids too, that was right after my separation and I could not wrap my head around it... ha! ha!
He said that I could find work without any problems... with my French and English ha! ha!
Thanks, I'd love the realtor info.
I will take the realtor information as well. I am hoping to be out there by the end of 2009.
I don't want to be a Debbie Downer, but these are things I think/worry about so I wonder what you think!
With the economy so bad and people out of work, won't there be less need for childcare? I'm seeing a lot of couples working opposite shifts now so they don't have the childcare expense. Are you at all concerned that you won't be able to find work, or families that can afford what you will need to charge? Are the childcare laws different in Florida than in your current state? Will your new landlord allow you to run a childcare business from your home?
I'm sure you have thought all this through--I just want to pick your brain and let you do all the hard work LOL
We moved to Celebration a little over 4 years ago. The biggest mistake we made was not having jobs before we came. We had 2 small businesses we moved with us but it was not enought for long term work and benefits. It set us way back. We came with no debt and a ton of money in the bank. Now we are back in debt and it stinks. I would never move with kids without jobs. Esp. to the Orlando area!
Disney is on a hiring freeze (esp. for seasonal/part time positions.) They have cut many full time positions to 32 hours a week and people are desperate for hours just to make rent. These are people that were making $7/hour to begin with! (That is about what you would make in one of the child care centers.) Salaried positions are being cut and budgets (travel, etc.) are being cut across the bord to try and avoid lay offs. Many other companies are in the same boat. It was hard to find a decent job BEFORE the economy tanked now it is bad news here. Lots of crime and homeless even in/right near Celebration.
Like another poster said-be sure and check any rentals. Owners are in foreclosure and pocketing the rent money and taking off. Then the renters are left with no home!
Not trying to scare you just warn you! We were warned 4 years ago when it was much better here but we still insisted on giving up good jobs up north and moving down. It was "our dream." I miss MA every day. We made $30K more a year up there and it was so much more beautiful than flat Florida. Weather is not everything. We were able to get away and vacation much more when we were making more money. Most people think they will move to Florida and it will be like a vacation but they wind up working so much they never enjoy the parks and beaches!
We made a lot of great friends here and have no kids so we are still able to do a lot of fun things. Would I do it again knowing what I do now? No. I would just keep vacationing in Florida. It has changed so much in such a short time! Avoid Kissimmee-not a nice area.