How is the economy and job market in the Orlando area? Should we move?

[TheresaNY]

Hi! We are seriously considering moving to the Central Florida area due to a recent job loss here on Long Island and a total lack of permanent jobs where we are. I have been surfing through real estate web sites and looking at some homes. What makes me very nervous is the tremendous number of foreclosures and short sales. I am afraid that it might be worse there than it is here and perhaps 'The devil you know beats the devil that you don't know' , so to speak. Can anyone living down there give me an honest opinion on your area please. My husband is a Software Engineer (Oracle). I will take any info. you have to offer ! Thanks so much!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

My brother and his partner just left due to employment difficulties and owning 2 houses. They lucked out in that their neighbor had always wanted to buy their house and they had no intentions of selling the other property which was passed down through family (the partner getting it after his sister was killed by a drunk driver).

DH was laid off of his job--we live in Brevard. I know a number of laid off engineers. Ops they have found and been in Tampa, Miami, or in my DH's case the DC area.

The number of foreclosures isn't something you should worry about--the reason? Crazy flippers! No lie. That's why FL got hit so hard with those. Of course it trickled down to the rest of the folks who didn't try to play the property lotto--but it seriously has a lot to do with why our housing situation has gotten to this point.

Do not move down here without a job. At all! Get the job first and foremost! Live temporarily in a shack of an apartment if you have to before fully relocating. But dont' show up without employment in hand.

I know many people leaving Florida (as well as an idiot or two sticking around b/c they are too gosh darn stubborn to face reality) b/c they can't find work in various industries--that is the trickle down effect I was talking about that is leading to more short sales and foreclosures.

Nothing wrong with moving here--I have met a couple of folks who have done that. My BIL and his wife relocated from New Mexico to here during the recession beginning (2008). But in this economy--don't put the cart before the horse. The proof is in the pudding--if he can find a job, then there is no reason that you shouldn't move here.

And as Dave Ramsey says--there's a blue light special going on in real estate.

 

[AshleyW]

Honestly, I think it would probably be worse in Florida than it is in New York. The NY unemployment rate right now is 9.3%, and Florida's is 12.2%.

My parents moved to Clearwater (outside of Tampa) a little over a year ago. My mom had no problem finding a job (she's a nurse), but my dad couldn't find ANYTHING for about 6 months before they moved. He's a network administrator. He managed to get his company in Iowa to let him work from home in Florida, so it worked out, but otherwise he would have been out of luck, pretty much.

I agree with Lisa, though - find jobs first. If you can find good jobs first, then I'd consider it. But I wouldn't even start looking at houses and whatnot until you get a job.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[Aimeedyan]

A close family member is moving out of Orlando soon due to the lack of employment. Unemployment there is HIGH and there are a lot of people out of work, including professionals. Not a great place to be.

 

[TheresaNY]

Thanks Lisa and everyone
I would not move without a job for any reason! He put out a few resumes in Florida. Unfortunately, we are now 3 times bitten and unbelieveably shy as that his last three jobs (over 25 years) were suppose to be jobs that he would work until retirement; meaning they were huge companies that would "always" be around. Yeah, right! So now his latest company declared bankruptcy, was bought out, and the new one has been getting rid of all the original staff.
I really love the Clermont, Windermere, Gotha areas! Would love a big house on a LOT of land. Also like some of the new homes but they seem to be like ghost towns - very few homes occupied and lots of desolate lots still unbuilt. What about commuting from those areas to Orlando? We are usually there 4th of July so I can't judge traffic based on holiday times.

 

[MarilIncredible]

I have to ask, do you only want to move to central FL so you can be closer to Disney? I mean, lots of the jobs there are crappy service industry jobs and it is not really known as a boom area for skilled labor.

I mean, I love Hawaii and love to vaction there, but I am not about to seriously attempt to move there based on blissful days on the beach and fun at a luau.

 

[TheresaNY]

I have to ask, do you only want to move to central FL so you can be closer to Disney? I mean, lots of the jobs there are crappy service industry jobs and it is not really known as a boom area for skilled labor.

I mean, I love Hawaii and love to vaction there, but I am not about to seriously attempt to move there based on blissful days on the beach and fun at a luau.

No, not moving there for that reason. I like the area and am familiar with it. We are also looking at Pensacola (I am originally from Ft. Walton), Tampa, St. Augustine, Ft. Myers, Clearwater, basically anywhere. I prefer Gulf side to Ocean but would consider anything that would pay the bills.

I am just afraid that anything that DH gets where we are now will end up with him having a 2 hour commute into Manhattan only to lose that job in 5 years. Most jobs are contract jobs for 3-6 months with no healthcare anyways. He is getting to that dangerous age of not being terribly employable and too easily replaced by the young college grads so this should hopefully be the "LAST" job he has to get!!