Are there any affordable towns in Florida?

[lucyanna girl]

DD and I constantly try to get DH to move closer to the Mouse. We own and operate a small over the road trucking company so that part is do-able. The price of homes in the immediate Orlando area is very high compared with our small Louisiana town. I would be happy just to be within 2 or 3 hours of WDW. Do any of you live in Florida and know of any areas that fit this description? Thank You.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I'm not sure what your base home price you are searching for...but you can go here to check a cost of living calculator to find a city:

http://www.homefair.com/homefair/calc/salcalc.html

2-3 hours from Disney is anywhere from Jax down to West Palm on the East and maybe Lake City to Tampa on the West. So avoiding the panhandle and the southernmost portion of the state is your best bet. Proximity to interstate will impact one city versus another (i.e. a city could be farther away--but a shorter driving time depending on the roads).

Lots of towns between St. Augustine and Gainesville--I'm trying to think of one right now--but it escapes me. (Just checked--Green cove springs may be a possibility)

Map of Florida

 

[rparmfamily]

St Augustine, Palatka, Gainesville, Starke, Green Cove Springs, Keystone Heights are all small or small-ish towns you might fine more affordable. Depends on what kind of job you are looking for. Ormand Beach, Daytona, Palm Coast area also possiblities. I'd say LOTS of the state is within 2-3 hrs of Orlando.

St Augustine and Gainesville would get my votes.

Jacksonville is about 2 to 2 1/2 hrs directly north of Orando up I-95.

 

[Virgo10]

Most of the towns in Polk County are reasonable, at least by Massachusetts standards. No, seriously, we're only 30 minutes from WDW and you can find homes here in the $150K and up range. Same with surrounding towns.

Do a search for Winter Haven, Lakeland, Polk City, Lake Alfred, Cypress Gardens (which is actually part of Winter Haven) and my town

Auburndale, FL

Good luck!

 

[lucyanna girl]

Thanks for all the help. We are still trying to convince DH that he would love Florida as much as we do.
Penny

 

[horseshowmom]

Most of the towns in Polk County are reasonable, at least by Massachusetts standards. No, seriously, we're only 30 minutes from WDW and you can find homes here in the $150K and up range. Same with surrounding towns.

Do a search for Winter Haven, Lakeland, Polk City, Lake Alfred, Cypress Gardens (which is actually part of Winter Haven) and my town

Auburndale, FL

Good luck!

I was also going to suggest Polk County (Lake Wales is another small town in the area, and I think there's one called Eagle Lake).

 

[minnie56]

and had a peek at this thread.
While here I paused to look at your kitties.....
Ahhhhhhhhh....so sweet
and God Bless you for being so kind

 

[What the Heck]

I just moved from Ocala. It is a great town, and very affordable. It is starting to get to cost more, but we bought a 3 bedroom 1400+ square foot home (no garage) for $105,000 in June of last year (and sold it for $137,000 in April). I just couldn't find work that would pay me what I needed to live there. Check Marion County, Sumter County as well as Polk (I also highly recommend Lake Wales, depending on what you are looking for. Ocala would still be my first choice though).

 

[Donalds_best_pal]

Florida deffinitely isnt as cheap as it use to be. Your obviously going to pay more to be closer to the coast. Polk County is ok but in my opinion it gets more storms and its hotter from being landlocked.

Matt

 

[MissMinnie]

I live in the West Palm Beach area and the housing, utility and insurance prices are going through the roof!!! The entire Southeast area is pretty much the same. Even the not so desirable areas are expensive. That is why I am leaving along with many others I know. If you want to be in FL, from what I have heard, your best bet would be the northern part of the state. Like What the Heck said, I have heard good things about the Ocala area and that it is still affordable. You should make a move in the next year or so if you decide to go, because I know people from the WPB area are starting to look at cities up there. That will just eventually drive up the prices there too.

 

[ChristmasElf]

I live in the West Palm Beach area and the housing, utility and insurance prices are going through the roof!!! The entire Southeast area is pretty much the same. Even the not so desirable areas are expensive. That is why I am leaving along with many others I know. If you want to be in FL, from what I have heard, your best bet would be the northern part of the state. Like What the Heck said, I have heard good things about the Ocala area and that it is still affordable. You should make a move in the next year or so if you decide to go, because I know people from the WPB area are starting to look at cities up there. That will just eventually drive up the prices there too.

Where are you moving to MissMinnie? Will you be staying in Florida? You are so right about South east Florida, 2 of the houses in this area that recently sold, were snapped up by people that were moving up from South Florida. One family from West Palm Beach area and another from Boca Raton. The one lady was telling me that they bought the house here in Orlando for 150K LESS than the one thay were selling there, plus this house here was 1400 feet larger than the one they were leaving!

 

[Southern4sure]

Land O Lakes in Pasco County is a nice place and about an hour or so drive to WDW. 20-30 min. drive to downtown Tampa. It is a small town feel but within minutes and I be to some of the best shops and entertainment.

 

[palmtreegirl]

We lived in Ocala for 6 months before moving down here, it's a great town and very affordable.

 

[MissMinnie]

Hi ChristmasElf!! (Love the name!!) I actually am leaving Florida for Virginia, the Blue Ridge Area in the southwest. We haven't settled on a town yet, we are going up there in June to scout out housing. We originally were looking at a city in North Carolina but my husband got a much better job offer from a company in VA. From what I have seen, the cost of living is much lower and the living conditions better (less crime, etc.) Since I have family in Jersey, it will be easier to see them more often too. Oh well, my "commute" to the Mouse will be longer, but still manageable.!! We did consider moving to the Orlando area last year, but it seems out of our reach as well financially. We want to do more than just work to pay a mortgage. Whoever bought that house by you got a deal!!