House-hunting in Orlando --- Need Advice Please!

[April76]

DH and I are flying to Florida next week to look at some communities around Orlando (we've been told to take a look around the Clermont area).... I've never paid much attention to the area during our trips since our focus has always been on WDW whenever we've been down there (of course ).... so I would really appreciate any advice on where to look or avoid.... especially any hints from "locals".

Some areas I've been told about:

Poinciana
Sunset Ridge
Pine Bluff

I still can't believe that we're going to live near WDW!!!!

Thanks!!!!

 

[marlasmom]

We just moved to Winter Haven - 35 minutes from WDW. Housing is very cheap. It's a retirement home for us - but we paid $120,000 for 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, eat-in kitchen, large "great room," two car garage with opener, screened in pool and lanai. Taxes are $1,600. PM or e-mail me for more info. You may want to check this out.

 

[Lucky4me]

April, I'll be down there in three weeks looking around for housing too. Clermont is one area we are interested in as well as Winterhaven. I'll be interested in what you find.

I've heard parts of Poinciana are pretty bad, but there are some new areas that are okay. I haven't heard of the other two. We are going to want to move out at least 20 minutes away from Orlando.

Marlasmom, I can't believe your taxes are so LOW!!! Ours are almost triple that here, for a less expensive house. How are you adjusting? Do you like living there? Are you going to Disney a lot?

 

[marlasmom]

Yes, taxes are MUCH lower than New Hampshire - of course we pay sales tax (not on food though) which kills me every time I have to pay it. I ordered toys from etoys so I could avoid shipping charges and taxes.

Not significant but we also pay $100 per year for homeowners association.

There are lots and lots of brand new developments (our house was 9 months old)- lots of lakes in Winter Haven (30 of them) although I am afraid of alligators and lots of parks. We bought seasonal passes to Disney which means we can't use them from December 21 through January 4, Easter week and two months in the summer, which are not times we want to go anyway. We also bought two year passes to SeaWorld and Busch Gardens. Those don't have blackout dates.

I miss my friends and family a lot. People are nice - I counted 8 people saying to me in the supermarket yesterday, how are you today mam, have a nice day. Prices for services (like appliance repairs and car service) are much cheaper. You have to shop around for insurance. We were quoted $1,100 from State Farm for our house insurance, $600 from someone else and our loan broker found some for a little under $400 (which is about what we were paying in NH for a much bigger, much more expensive house). Car insurance is also more expensive. (They have a lot of accidents in Florida.)

If you want call or pm or e-mail me when you get here. I'll be glad to show you what I know.

 

[April76]

Marlasmom --- thanks for the information..... it's so hard to gather information about an area that you're totally unfamiliar with (I really only know WDW).... glad to hear that you are happy there.

Lucky4me -- I will definitely pass along any info I find. Good luck with your hunting too!


Any other bits of advice??