Calling all Dis'ers currently or formerly living in the Orlando area

[dash]

Help! DH just received a job offer in the Orlando area! Of course this is a dream come true, given the proximity to our favorite vacation destination!

What is the true story regarding living in the Orlando area? What do you like about it and what don't you like? Where are the best areas to look for a single family home (the job is in East Orlando)? We don't have children, but hope to someday. Thanks in advance for all your comments!

 

[Verandah Man]

I don't have any advice for you, but I just wanted to say "CONGRATULATIONS" on your move to Florida!!!

 

[DVC-Don]

Congrats! We've been looking at buying a second home in East Orlando so I'll see what happens to you folks.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We're looking too! In fact we're going to Orlando this weekend to look around to find a general area we like. We have a spot in Orlando that we like, but housing prices have really gone up in the 1 year since we've been seriously looking, and we need to look at other places. The housing here in Ohio is more stable (depressed) and our house isn't making money for us the way they are in other parts of the country.

A few Dis'ers are heading towards VB area, I don't think we'll get that far away from Orlando on this trip, but we'll look at it before we buy.

Good luck, have a great move!


Bobbi

 

[emememem]

Hi, We are also planning a move to the Orlando area. We bought in Windermere...Our home should be ready in Aug/Sept. There are a lot of new areas being built all around Orlando...Good luck!

 

[Luckymommyx2]

Sorry I don't have any advise to give but I wanted to congratulate all of you that are taking the plunge and moving to Orlando!!

 

[Verandah Man]

I just found out this afternoon that I am able to apply for "early retirement" so my family will be heading south, but we will be moving about 45 minutes north of Orlando.

It's been an emotinoal roller coaster ride for the past two weeks trying to see if I qualify for "early retirement" and I am so glad I finally got the answer I got today!!! Right now I am looking at January 1, 2006 as my official retirement date!!!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Verandah Man, that's wonderful news! Can you name some towns, communities to look at north of Orlando.

Also, a friend of mine who now lives in Tarpon Springs said that one thing that you never know about until moving to Florida, is "sinkholes." Just how prevalent are they? Are they found even in what I would consider an established city, like Orlando?

Bobbi

 

[Verandah Man]

The red star on this map shows the area that we will be moving to, it is a community called Forest Hills in Lake County.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Thank you, we are going up to Orange City on Friday. There was lots of highway construction when we were there last March, and I imagine that it's not finished yet. The Yahoo directions didn't work with highways that didn't seem to exist any more. I think we have a better idea now.

Bobbi

 

[Verandah Man]

Thank you, we are going up to Orange City on Friday. There was lots of highway construction when we were there last March, and I imagine that it's not finished yet. The Yahoo directions didn't work with highways that didn't seem to exist any more. I think we have a better idea now.

Bobbi

I remember driving through that construction last Spring as well on the way back from the Central Florida Zoo.

 

[dash]

Thanks!

Congratulations and good luck to those retiring and relocating as well!

 

[GDUL]

We're looking too! In fact we're going to Orlando this weekend to look around to find a general area we like. We have a spot in Orlando that we like, but housing prices have really gone up in the 1 year since we've been seriously looking, and we need to look at other places. The housing here in Ohio is more stable (depressed) and our house isn't making money for us the way they are in other parts of the country.

Bobbi

It must be the weather up here in the midwest lately - LOL! We too are going down this week to look around and hopefully find a couple of areas that we might like to buy a home in.

Our local paper had a couple of articles in it last week that stated that the median sales price in Florida increased 16% from 2003 to 2004 (first 9 months of each year). Sales of existing homes had a 15% increase in the same time period.

Gary

 

[bobbiwoz]

Have a great trip GDUL!

I've also heard that home owners insurance has sky-rocketed. We were on the west coast of Florida a few weeks ago, and we heard lots of conversations regarding prices and ability to get the home owners insurance, and the joy of trying to get the homes fixed.

Is anyone specifically looking at retirement places, like Sun City Center (east of Tampa), for instance?

Bobbi

 

[GDUL]

Have a great trip GDUL!

Is anyone specifically looking at retirement places, like Sun City Center (east of Tampa), for instance?

Bobbi

Thanks for the wishes! We're really looking forward to this trip!

My in-laws just returned from a month's stay at The Villages near Ocala (???).
They really liked this community and were impressed with all of the activities at night. They also felt that all of the various association fees made it too steep for them to consider buying a home here.

Gary