Amazed at home prices near Kissimmee........

[loveysbydesign]

Found this interesting website
http://www.bardellrealestate.com/holiday.php

 

[mjkacmom]

I could cry looking at those-- they're $300k houses here. I'd happily live in any of those, especially at that price!

Lol - with alot that big, they could get at least $750,000 here. For $350,000, you get a small 2 bedroom fixer-upper on the outskirts of town!

 

[Dax]

Crime as in North Philadelphia "locked gates on your front door/bars on your windows/children killed in the crossfire of drug deals gone wrong" crime or "mostly misdemeanors with a felony here and there" crime?

Lets just say there was a triple murder 3 streets over about 6mo ago, drug related. Police helicopters fly over frequently, due to this is a popular area for them to run to when they break out of prison.

 

[PigletsPal2]

Dax, we offered on a house in Poinciana, but it fell through. Saw the house after the 2005 hurricanes, and we were so glad we didn't buy it! No offence, but we're glad we're on the other end of the county. Very happy with our house. Close to our doctor, too (inside joke).

Queen Colleen

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

Hm, our schools sucks here, there aren't any jobs, according to some the weather is miserable (but I love it), but houses like those would be $300-$700K+ around here, depending on the neighborhood. So why am I staying here again?

 

[rie'smom]

We live in the Kissimmee zip code, but actually about 15 miles west of the actual city, eight miles west of Celebration. Nicely kept-up neighborhood, but quite a few for sale. We have 3BR, 2BA, FR, DR, TS Kitchen, 2 car garage, screened heated pool, corner lot. Bought in 2003 fully furnished for $145,000, probably lists for about $100,000 now. Property taxes are about $1400 a year, insurance, including hurricane, is about $1700 a year. Does this help?

That insurance isn't bad at all. We're in south Louisiana- no Katrina- about as far from the coast as Orlando is and we pay $3000/ year in insurance. Our taxes are about the same.

 

[princessmom29]

We live in the Kissimmee zip code, but actually about 15 miles west of the actual city, eight miles west of Celebration. Nicely kept-up neighborhood, but quite a few for sale. We have 3BR, 2BA, FR, DR, TS Kitchen, 2 car garage, screened heated pool, corner lot. Bought in 2003 fully furnished for $145,000, probably lists for about $100,000 now. Property taxes are about $1400 a year, insurance, including hurricane, is about $1700 a year. Does this help?

that is about what we pay in insurance on a 1600 sf house 3 years old and 25 mi form the water.

Exactly homeowners insurance is through the roof, and finding an insurance company that will write you a policy is another story...The house I am in now has been insured by Liberty Mutual for years...they are dumping me! Same old story they are all using the hurricane probability excuse. Also add in that 95% of the time you are not going to find a job doing what you are up north for the same pay. Florida is a low paying state.
Also FL sounds great when you are up to your forehead in snow, but come summer you will wonder what is worse freezing cold and snow or heat and humidity!
There are very few places that are perfect. Honestly I am now missing the change of seasons.
But I guess if you are nearing retirement age the lure of beautiful homes at cheap prices is a good draw. But other posters are correct, there are many homes under foreclosure and sitting empty simply because the original owners could no longer afford them because of insurance rates, property taxes and low paying jobs.

they have basically calcelled eveyone south of I-10 here. They have had to go with high risk companies with sky high premiums.

 

[palmtreegirl]

About a year ago I had a discussion with my sister who is a realtor about the good deals in Central Florida....she told me that often the hidden pricetag in this area comes in house insurance...with all the hurricanes that have hit that area it can be very high...still beats the winter cold

Our homeowners is under 500.00 a year because our home qualified for some discounts- built after 2001, hip roof and near a fire hydrant were a few of them. Saved us over 40%.

As far as Kissimmee goes, we lived there for 6 months(off 192, near Animal Kingdom) and when had a chance to get out of our lease(the apartments went condo) we jumped on it.

 

[deedeetoo]

These numbers are so interesting. Here's is a contrast for you. In my town there are only two houses for sale under $200k and both are 2br 1 bath dumps. My house is 1700 sq ft, 3 br, 2.5 baths, 45 years old and would sell for about $450k. Our taxes are $7k per year, but house insurance is only $700/yr.

 

[OhMari]

Those homes are really inexpensive!

We still have to have jobs and from what I hear good ones are hard to find in central Florida. Doesn't anyone else on this thread still have to work? And if so, what about finding jobs?

They are building a rail system between Tampa and Orlando. Those jobs should be available soon.

 

[lesroi]

I am a Realtor down here and business is doing well. We have a lot of cash buyers and first-timers getting in the market. I am so happy to help the first-timers now vs. a few years ago. They can actually afford a lot of house now!

The prices are really wonderful now that they are stabilizing to a reasonable level. They were ridiculous for quite some time.

Right before Christmas I closed on a home that sold for $87000. This house was less than 20 minutes to Disney and sold for well over $200,000 a few years ago.
There are some great deals to be had!

We have lived here for a few years and really love it. The prices are crazy low compared to what they were, even when we moved here.

Tracy

 

[lesroi]

Exactly homeowners insurance is through the roof, and finding an insurance company that will write you a policy is another story...The house I am in now has been insured by Liberty Mutual for years...they are dumping me! Same old story they are all using the hurricane probability excuse. Also add in that 95% of the time you are not going to find a job doing what you are up north for the same pay. Florida is a low paying state.

Our homeowner's insurance is quite reasonable. Right at $1000 a year for a 2500 square foot house with a pool, built in 1996. It is not a $50,000 home either.
Do you live near the coast? We are just northwest of Disney, so smack in the middle.

Tracy

 

[zalansky]

They are building a rail system between Tampa and Orlando. Those jobs should be available soon.

Really? I live in Tampa and the proposed tax for the high speed rail did not pass in the November elections. I don't see that ever happening.

 

[loveysbydesign]

Loving this thread and so happy I started it. I'm loving hearing everyone's opinions on this, especially those who live there now. I really wish that I could see into the future 1 1/2 years from now.
I am praying prices do not raise drastically by then!

 

[loveysbydesign]

I am a Realtor down here and business is doing well. We have a lot of cash buyers and first-timers getting in the market. I am so happy to help the first-timers now vs. a few years ago. They can actually afford a lot of house now!

The prices are really wonderful now that they are stabilizing to a reasonable level. They were ridiculous for quite some time.

Right before Christmas I closed on a home that sold for $87000. This house was less than 20 minutes to Disney and sold for well over $200,000 a few years ago.
There are some great deals to be had!

We have lived here for a few years and really love it. The prices are crazy low compared to what they were, even when we moved here.

Tracy

May I ask whereabouts you live? I am working on narrowing it down to 7-10 communities to choose from that are within 30-45 minutes of WDW!

 

[okeydokey]

Really? I live in Tampa and the proposed tax for the high speed rail did not pass in the November elections. I don't see that ever happening.

They have been fighting about this for years. I wouldn't make a move based on the availability of the rail system.

 

[canadianjovigirl]

Another one here who has been dreaming of moving to Florida for over 20 years. But for me being a Canadian citizen we would be purchasing a condo as we can only spend 6 months at a time in the US. We still have kids in school and didnt plan on buying a winter home in the warmth until the kids were done school, but keep looking at the prices and thinking we maybe better to buy it now when we could afford to pay cash for it and then just use it for vacations until the kids are older.............

Also confused as to where we would like to live in Florida, love the beaches and fell in love with Clearwater so would like to be within driving distance to beaches for day trips but also would like a safe nice neighborhood to relax in..............we also enjoyed Davenport area. Thinking our next florida trip we will have to explore other areas of the state.

 

[loveysbydesign]

Found this interesting article:
Best Places to Live in Florida
Dec 26, 2010
This article, the fifth in a 50-state series, ranks the best places to live in Florida based on three criteria: (1) median household income (adjusted for cost of living); (2) educational attainment (% of residents 25
AdChoices
years and over who have earned a bachelor's degree or higher); and (3) property crime rates per 1,000 residents (burglary and automobile thefts). For purposes of these rankings, "places" are incorporated municipalities with populations greater than 2,000.

Among the twenty best places to live in Florida, most are suburbs or exurbs of either Miami, Orlando, or Tampa. By county, three of the best places to live in Florida are located in Miami-Dade County, three in Palm Beach County, two each in Brevard, Broward, and Collier Counties, and one each in Indian Rivers, Lee, Manatee/Sarasota, Martin, Orange, Santa Rosa, Seminole, and Pinellas Counties.
http://***************************/article/6132132/best_places_to_live_in_florida.html


hmmmm..that's odd it won't post the link. I'll post them below!

 

[loveysbydesign]

1. Best Places to Live in Florida - Windermere, FL (Orange County)

Population: 2,582

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $103,616
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 54.9%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 0.39

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Jacksonville, FL: 155 miles N
Miami, FL: 235 miles SSE
Orlando, FL: 12 miles NE
Tallahassee, FL: 245 miles NW
Tampa, FL: 82 miles SW

2. Best Places to Live in Florida - Sewall's Point, FL (Martin County)

Population: 2,010

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $109,056
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 59.9%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.99

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Jacksonville, FL: 252 miles NNW
Miami, FL: 109 miles S
Orlando, FL: 141 miles NNW
Tallahassee, FL: 387 miles NW
Tampa, FL: 173 miles WNW

3. Best Places to Live in Florida - Key Biscayne, FL (Miami-Dade County)

Population: 9,655

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $79,811
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 64.9%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.45

Distance to Familiar Cities:
Jacksonville, FL: 352 miles NNW
Miami, FL: 11 miles NNW
Orlando, FL: 241 miles NNW
Tallahassee, FL: 488 miles NNW
Tampa, FL: 288 miles NW

4. Best Places to Live in Florida - Palm Beach, FL (Palm Beach County)


Population: 9,519

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $94,327
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 53.6%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.79

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Jacksonville, FL: 285 miles NNW
Miami, FL: 71 miles S
Orlando, FL: 171 miles NNW
Tallahassee, FL: 417 miles NNW
Tampa, FL: 203 miles NW

5. Best Places to Live in Florida - Indian River Shores, FL (Indian Rivers County)

Population: 3,387

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $122,510
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 53.7%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.66

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Jacksonville, FL: 211 miles NNW
Miami, FL: 146 miles S
Orlando, FL: 106 miles NNW
Tallahassee, FL: 360 miles NW
Tampa, FL: 145 miles WNW

6. Best Places to Live in Florida - Pinecrest, FL (Miami-Dade County)

Population: 19,055

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $110,846
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 61.6%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 4.09

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Jacksonville, FL: 356 miles NNW
Miami, FL: 13 miles NNE
Orlando, FL: 245 miles NNW
Tallahassee, FL: 487 miles NNW
Tampa, FL: 263 miles NW

7. Best Places to Live in Florida - Parkland, FL (Broward County)

Population: 23,993

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $88,547
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 52.8%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.38

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Jacksonville, FL: 313 miles NNW
Miami, FL: 46 miles S
Orlando, FL: 202 miles NNW
Tallahassee, FL: 449 miles NNW
Tampa, FL: 234 miles NW

8. Best Places to Live in Florida - Sanibel, FL (Lee County)

Population: 5,601

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $88,647
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 52.8%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.38

Distance to Familiar Cities:
Jacksonville, FL: 316 miles NNE
Miami, FL: 161 miles ESE
Orlando, FL: 175 miles NNE
Tallahassee, FL: 386 miles NNW
Tampa, FL: 147 miles NNW

9. Best Places to Live in Florida - Longboat Key, FL (Manatee and Sarasota
AdChoices
County)

Population: 7,277

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $102,410
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 53.1%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.89

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Jacksonville, FL: 249 miles NNE
Miami, FL: 241 miles SE
Orlando, FL: 131 miles NE
Tallahassee, FL: 295 miles NNW
Tampa, FL: 61 miles NNE

10. Best Places to Live in Florida - Weston, FL (Broward County)

Population: 63,564

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $78,973
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 50.9%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.66

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Jacksonville, FL: 336 miles NNW
Miami, FL: 32 miles SSE
Orlando, FL: 205 miles NNW
Tallahassee, FL: 452 miles NW
Tampa, FL: 227 miles NW

11. Best Places to Live in Florida - Gulf Breeze, FL (Santa Rosa County)

Population: 6,689

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $77,417
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 48.3%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.54

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Jacksonville, FL: 360 miles E
Miami, FL: 676 miles SE
Orlando, FL: 453 miles SE
Tallahassee, FL: 197 miles E
Tampa, FL: 451 miles SE

12. Best Places to Live in Florida - Melbourne Beach, FL (Brevard County)

Population: 3,130

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $70,176
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 44.2%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 0.32

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Jacksonville, FL: 182 miles NNW
Miami, FL: 177 miles S
Orlando, FL: 76 miles NW
Tallahassee, FL: 330 miles NW
Tampa, FL: 134 miles W

 

[loveysbydesign]

13. Best Places to Live in Florida - Highland Beach, FL (Palm Beach County)

Population: 3,988

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $72,479
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 49%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.26

Distance to Familiar Cities:
Jacksonville, FL: 307 miles NNW
Miami, FL: 49 miles SSW
Orlando, FL: 193 miles NNW
Tallahassee, FL: 440 miles NW
Tampa, FL: 225 miles NW

14. Best Places to Live in Florida - Atlantis, FL (Palm Beach County)


Population: 2,074

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $76,011
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 40.4%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.45

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Jacksonville, FL: 292 miles NNW
Miami, FL: 63 miles SSW
Orlando, FL: 180 miles NNW
Tallahassee, FL: 426 miles NW
Tampa, FL: 212 miles NW

15. Best Places to Live in Florida - Oviedo, FL (Seminole County)

Population: 33,382

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $84,986
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 41.3%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.33

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Jacksonville, FL: 131 miles NNW
Miami, FL: 233 miles SSE
Orlando, FL: 18 miles SW
Tallahassee, FL: 274 miles NW
Tampa, FL: 103 miles SW

16. Best Places to Live in Florida - Indialantic, FL (Brevard County)

Population: 2,930

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $76,758
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 51.7%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 7.85

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Jacksonville, FL: 180 miles NNW
Miami, FL: 176 miles S
Orlando, FL: 72 miles NW
Tallahassee, FL: 327 miles NW
Tampa, FL: 133 miles W

17. Best Places to Live in Florida - Belleair, FL (Pinellas County)

Population: 4,073

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $75,425
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 47.7%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 5.89

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Jacksonville, FL: 220 miles NNE
Miami, FL: 268 miles SE
Orlando, FL: 108 miles NE
Tallahassee, FL: 241 miles NNW
Tampa, FL: 24 miles E

18. Best Places to Live in Florida - Naples, FL (Collier County)

Population: 21,587

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $63,390
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 45.1%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.98

Distance to Familiar Cities:
Jacksonville, FL: 331 miles NNE
Miami, FL: 117 miles ESE
Orlando, FL: 191 miles NNE
Tallahassee, FL: 407 miles NNW
Tampa, FL: 162 miles NNW

19. Best Places to Live in Florida - Marco Island, FL (Collier County)
AdChoices


Population: 15,713

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $64,615
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 37%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.46

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Jacksonville, FL: 345 miles NNE
Miami, FL: 103 miles ESE
Orlando, FL: 204 miles NNE
Tallahassee, FL: 420 miles NNW
Tampa, FL: 180 miles NNW

20. Best Places to Live in Florida - Coral Gables, FL (Miami-Dade County)

Population: 42,784

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $66,373
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 58.3%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 13.14

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Jacksonville, FL: 351 miles NNW
Miami, FL: 7 miles NNE
Orlando, FL: 240 miles NNW
Tallahassee, FL: 486 miles NW
Tampa, FL: 270 miles NNW

Source(s):

"All Cities in Florida," City-Data.com
" Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 ," U.S. Census Bureau
" 2006-2008 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates ," U.S. Census Bureau
" 2009 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates ," U.S. Census Bureau
"Uniform Crime Reports - Florida," Federal Bureau of Investigation
"Crime Reports 2010," Village of Pinecrest, Florida