DVC Poster/Lurker here needs help with..How to find a HOME SWEET HOME close to WDW

[Mai Ku Tiki]

Aloha! First...if you didn't know...the HUMANE SOCITY in FLA is accepting donations to help the many animals who are lost or hurt from CHARLEY.
Now for my request....

I have been noticing how many of you live right under the palms and MY castle!

Does anyone have advice on how to start looking for my dream home? Will be purchasing SOMETHING in next few years but not sure what areas/neighborhoods are really near WDW (30 min. commute or less?)

We collect Disney but doing it from up here in NJ with an annual trip to WDW isn't easy...(unless someone out there wants some cool BRUUUUUUUUUCE stuff...)

Soon as DS finishes college, we are FLA bound (at least i am...DH won't move out of NJ until BRUUUUUCE does)

Thanks for any tips!
~Rose~

 

[LynniethePooh]

hi Rose
Sent you a PM.

 

[Mai Ku Tiki]

Aloha!

Anyone else out there that can help me make my dreams come true?

I'm ready to order the 'NO DOWN PAYMENT' kit!

~Rose~

 

[Raulandpinboy]

Hurry I'm seeing property values in Florida go nuts townhomes that used to be in the $80's are now in the $150's.

The closer you get to the mouse the more expensive it is.

You might want to look at these little towns around Orlando like me I'm in Gotha 15 minutes away from WDW if the traffic is bad.

Gotha was a little sleepy town in my subdivision alone there were 5 homes for sale and that was a year ago, now there are none, and if one pops up its gone within a week.

I had an agent drive by stop and said a couple had made an offer on our house, sad part is it was not for sale. He said they just drove by and liked it so they made an offer. it was a nice offer but I could never replace it now and still be close to the mouse.

I would look at places under construction like through Centex or Ryland homes, but again the new sub 7 minutes from Disney has not broken ground yet and the homes are 90% sold and you have to be put on a waiting list.

So hurry everybody wants to live here, and can you blame them. Oh sure there is a hurricane here or there but for the most part it is great.

 

[Luv2Roam]

I looked at (too) MANY homes from the first week of January to mid February this year. We settled on a home in Winter Garden, in the city limits and are very happy. We just like being around the corner from everything. And with the nearby highways, most everything is a convenient drive.
Our home is in a newer subdivision (3 - 4 years old)

The further west of here and WDW the houses are, the more house you can buy for the $. But the taxes are much higher too.
We got less side perks for our money than if we bought in Clermont or near Groveland. But our taxes are lower and we don't have car to car traffic to fight.
IMO the Clermont area has built up too fast to handle the cars on the roads. And the homes just keep popping up everywhere.
That use to be the hot spot in this area to buy 3 - 5 years ago. Now people move away due to traffic and road issues.
The closer you get to WDW, the higher prices in homes and durable goods, more traffic, less stores you are likely to buy from as a resident, and more rental homes.
We even toured houses in a gated community that we found out later was mostly rental. That is something you want to keep in mind.
We found it hard to find a home in this area in our price range that had been kept up. Even newer houses were trashed or neglected.
Most houses here are under a Homeowner's Assoc and also have annual dues to pay. Golf communities often charge $100+ a month just for their community fee. Condos can be $200+ a month. Those expenses are in addition to your mortgage and insurance.

I am not sold on gated communities. We lived in a gated apartment complex right outside of WDW before buying our home. Vandalism was common.
I have also been told that police have to be invited into a gated community. So they do not patrol like they do city streets.
And most gated communities leave the gates open during the day and early evening. (So what's the point?)
The gated communities with the guards cost more, understandably.

My realtor was great. LMK if you care for her name and number. You won't find the perfect house. But you will find one suited for you.