Move to Orlando?

[iwynlea]

We'll be seriously starting our job and home search in the Orlando area as soon as DH graduates in December. We both love the Orlando area, and being able to go to WDW as often as we want is a bonus.

 

[dvcgirl]

We close on our vacation home in Celebration this week! We will spend as much time there as possible. I think owning a home in the Orlando area is a great investment. There are plenty of bargains out there right now too. Good luck to everyone!

Muffy

Bargains? Well, that depends on what you'd call a bargain. We've been here for 2 years now, and the housing prices in that time have gone up around 40-50%. Yes, if you are from California perhaps you'd consider some of the homes in the area a bargain....but they certainly aren't a bargain to many who live here.

As for living here, we like it, but I'm not sure we'd stay here forever. We like the weather the most...the heat doesn't bother us, we've actually gotten used to it. And it sure beats the winters up north.

The downside of living here is jobs. You'll read that there are many, many jobs here, and there are...but they're all low paying jobs. My DH telecommutes and I am a small business owner, so we didn't have to go out and find jobs. There is also a fair amount of crime in Orlando. We're on track to shatter the number of murders in a single year. Police say that about 90% of this crime is drug-related.....but still, some it is random. And it reaches into the nicer areas as well....

As for the parks. We still enjoy them, but we don't get over there all that much. And it's definitely not the same as vacationing at Disney and staying on property. Still, we do enjoy that we can pop over there several times during F&W fest, spend the afternoon in AK, or run over for dinner at Jiko like we did last night. Still though, that total immersion in the magic feeling is gone.

 

[PamNC]

My DH and I actually moved to Orlando and I worked for Disney. This was in 2000. Obviously, we are back home in NC. Not because we didn't like Orlando or because I didn't like working for Disney, that is DEFINITELY not the case. It just wasn't the right time for us financially. And, I can tell you with all certainty that the housing prices are now off the hook! I have a personal story to share.

We moved in late May 2000. I work in advertising and knew someone at Walt Disney World Advertising, now Yellow Shoes Creative. She helped me get my resume to the right person. I interviewed on the phone, in person, long drawn out process and I GOT THE JOB!!!! Not an hourly role, but it still didn't pay that great. I got $7,000 more a year than my job in NC, after MUCH negotiation. We owned a home, our first home. So, we put it on the market, packed up and moved. Disney does give you some living expenses, and they will move your stuff, have your car shipped. All that good stuff. We packed up one car and drove down. Rented a corporate apartment and I started my wonderful job. It was a great experience, but financially we weren't really ready for this. We didn't have a lot of money saved up at the time aside from 401k which we didn't want to touch of course.

My husband is an opera singer and his career hadn't taken off at the time. He was working, but not at all like he is working now. The big problem was our house. It wouldn't sell. After a few months, keeping up two households was becoming a huge financial burden. My husband worked at a restaurant and did okay, but not very well. Well, we found a house we liked with 5 acres and sort of a barn, although not a good barn, but a barn nonetheless (we have horses). It was nothing fancy, a 1500 square foot ranch made of concrete blocks like many FL homes. We went under contract for the house, of course based on our home selling in NC, for $145,000. The house was in Clermont, which is Lake County. Beautiful area - rolling hills if you can believe thta.

Long story short about the house, we decided to not go bankrupt and come home. The timing just wasn't right. Back in January we were at Disney and we decided to drive by the house just for the heck of it. We wanted to go out and buy some oranges and grapefruit anyway. Guess what? It was for sale again. We called the realtor about it just for curiousity sake and the selling price was $448,000. THAT'S RIGHT - went from $145,000 to $448,000 in 6 years. Oh, no - 5 1/2 years. I couldn't believe it!

Back to the story of our decision to come back to NC. Well, not much to say except we did it and now that I'm back I'm glad because things have gone well for us and I now have my dream home with 7 acres and a decent barn for my horses. I've always wanted an old farmhouse and I got one. Ours dates back to 1885. It's got big white columns in the front and I never dreamed I'd get an old farmhouse as nice as this one. Don't get me wrong, it needs work, but that's another story. When we got back home, about 6 months after, my husband's career started to take off. Had that happened while we were in Orlando, we would have stayed I'm sure.

When I put my notice in at Disney, they were so nice. They said they would hold my job for a couple of months in hopes that my house would sell. It didn't. I kept it on the market, but it didn't. We lived in that house for another year or so, and then decided to move further into the country so our horses could live with us. We were leasing 20 acres about 20 minutes away before moving into this house. I love having them with me.

Once we decided to move to the country, NOW GET THIS...I sold my house by owner in 6 months. 2 realtors couldn't sell it. But, I did. Go figure. I learned a lesson. I will NEVER go through a realtor to sell my house.

We loved Orlando and the lifestyle. What you see when you vacation there isn't all that there is. Orlando is a beautiful city and the surrounding areas are even better IMHO. It's not just concrete and theme parks. The downtown area is very nice. We loved walking at Lake Eola. Love Winter Park. So very charming. Loved Oakland. Ocoee. And especially the rolling hills of Lake County. Being there did take the magic away from visiting the parks, a little, but I think that was because we were in such turmoil wanting it to work out.

All in all - things work out for the best. One day, we may go back, but it'll be when we're much older and when we're READY financially.

That's my story.

PamNC

 

[ReneeA]

My DH works as a estimator/project manager in the tile industry. Michigan's economy has stunk for a couple years, and he was just made aware of an opportunity in Celebration. Basically, he would be sent down with some installers from the union, and he would run the crew. It sounds like a 2-3 year job, and we would pay a reduced rent on a condo in Celebration.

I got so excited at first. It's not a for sure thing but it's starting to make me nervous. I'm starting to weigh the pros and cons...it's pretty even.

Pros:

Tons more work down there for DH
Things are so slow that DH may be laid off eventually
A bit more money - not a ton, but a bit
The entertainment, obviously
Just a change of scenery sounds great


Cons:

I am starting nursing school in the fall, and only have 2 years left
DS is starting kindergarten in the fall
All our family is in Michigan
I like the 4 seasons
Too darned hot year round
We would have to sell our house and the market stinks right now

I would be surprised if all this goes through anyway, so I'm not going to stress myself out until it's a for sure thing.

 

[Jason71]

Pros and cons of living in Orlando:

PROS
Close to WDW
Never be bored--ton of things to do, restaurants, etc.
No snow, beautiful weather 6 months out of the year

CONS
Low wages (worse in outlying areas, by the way)
Rising housing costs
Daily traffic jams
Mediocre (at best) schools
Insanely hot weather from May to October, with daily rain during rush hour and the occasional hurricane

 

[Ellajoan]

A friend just moved to Orlando for her husband's job and is not happy there at all. She loves the warmth, but hates the traffic, the bugs, the insane amount they had to pay for their tiny house, the "showiness" of the people, the crime, and most of all, the schools. She is fairly certain they will move as soon as they can.

After hearing her horror stories I would think twice before moving there without doing some serious research!

 

[Simba22]

DBF and I are planning to move to the area in 2008...we are looking at Orlando & Kissimmee

 

[safetymom]

Gosh, I must not be living in the same Orlando that some people are describing. We live 12 miles from the parks. In fact we get Tampa TV. I don't find the traffic any worse than when I lived in PA. In fact it is much better here. I live in an area with not much crime. I can look out my back windows and see cows grazing and orange groves. I did move at the right time and have seen the value of my house almost double.

It gets as hot here as it did when I lived in PA, maybe for more days but at least I have A/C here.

I don't have to worry if it is going to snow, did the forecasters predict the snowfall correctly?

 

[Jason71]

Gosh, I must not be living in the same Orlando that some people are describing. We live 12 miles from the parks. In fact we get Tampa TV.

In fairness, if you get Tampa stations I imagine you must be west of the parks, which are already on the western outskirts of Orange County. The major development is to the east of WDW, particularly Seminole County (and lately Volusia County, particularly Deltona). So, yes, not quite the same Orlando... (You might not want to brag about all the open space, actually, the developers will be on you in no time!)

I would agree about crime, I don't know that Orlando is worse than any other city, although we are looking to have a record murder rate this year. As for traffic, tho, from John Young Pkwy to 436, 25 minute delays are routine, 40 minutes is common, and 90 minutes is not unheard of. Some surface streets are equally bad (Sand Lake Road and 436 spring to mind immediately).

I grew up in CT, and while we would typically get two weeks or so of brutal heat, we get four straight months down here. And thanks to the hurricanes I spent more days without power in just 2004 than in 18 years in CT. But I confess, it is kind of worth it not having to shovel snow every year!

Just trying to stress that Orlando is not a utopia...moving here is not a permanent vacation. I love it here, plan to stay for the foreseeable future, but I wouldn't want anyone pulling up their roots because of a mirage.

 

[PatriciaH]

Agree with the other posters-have a good job before you come! DH and I took serious pay cuts after moving here- about $10 less an hour! It is no cheaper here than up north either. I am from NY DH is from north of Boston. It is just as expensive here as both those places. We love the weather (even the heat.) LOVE being close to the parks. It has not lost its magic at all. Celebration is very nice but way overpriced. We got our condo at the right time. Doubled in less than a year-crazy. Houses are really sitting on the market now though-months for some. The taxes and insurance here are getting insane. There are so many service jobs. Most are in the $6.50-$8.50/hr range. Imagine that salary with a mortgage of $300,000 and expenses like up north. So many forclosures (a lot in Celebration by the way.) Lots of stores closing here and in other towns (Balwdin Park, etc..) There are some great things to do here Lots of fun! Just be prepared with a good job! Remember it is not just the service jobs that pay low wages. I could not believe what some professional positions were being paid!

 

[Rudy6]

I have thought of moving to Florida. From what I have heard the cons are the heat and the bugs. Are there bugs everywhere? I would guess that there are bugs. Are there alligators everywhere, too. I have this vision of an alligator eating me when I am in the pool late at night. Traffic would be a major let down, too. I once (and only once) drove I4 from Universal to WDW - on Thanksgiving Day. Wow - it took forever and ever. Right now I have a two minute drive to the office. I have heard nightmares of people who commute an hour or more to work. I suppose that could be an average in most cities. I live in a very small city - or at least they call it a city, I call it a town. I live in Northern Michigan, where it is perfect as I am typing this. Actually, I love the seasons, but after a month of snow, they can have the next three or four months - so a perfect time for me in Florida would be to work January until March. Finding a job would be a bit of a challege. I suppose WDW hires seasonal CMs. It is a dream.

 

[LISAMWDW]

I've thought about moving there seriously a few years ago. The Gainsville area. But I decided it's just too much fun to go to Florida! I don't want to ruin that!

 

[laceemouse]

Agree with the other posters-have a good job before you come! DH and I took serious pay cuts after moving here- about $10 less an hour! It is no cheaper here than up north either. I am from NY DH is from north of Boston. It is just as expensive here as both those places. We love the weather (even the heat.) LOVE being close to the parks. It has not lost its magic at all. Celebration is very nice but way overpriced. We got our condo at the right time. Doubled in less than a year-crazy. Houses are really sitting on the market now though-months for some. The taxes and insurance here are getting insane. There are so many service jobs. Most are in the $6.50-$8.50/hr range. Imagine that salary with a mortgage of $300,000 and expenses like up north. So many forclosures (a lot in Celebration by the way.) Lots of stores closing here and in other towns (Balwdin Park, etc..) There are some great things to do here Lots of fun! Just be prepared with a good job! Remember it is not just the service jobs that pay low wages. I could not believe what some professional positions were being paid!

Agree 100%. Dh and I left Florida (Jacksonville) 7 years ago. Since that time housing prices all over Florida have doubled and tripled, salaries have not come anywhere close to keeping up! His family live mostly in the Orlando area now. They beg us to move back to Florida. On the occasion that he sees a job ad for his line of work, we look at the pay and look at what kind of house we could afford there on that. NO THANKS! I have a huge house here now (4400 sq. feet!) I ain't giving that up without a fight! As for the bugs, heat, gators, and hurricanes, well, dh was raised in Florida and I was raised in Louisiana so that stuff doesn't bother us too much......Any bug smaller than my foot is not problem to me, gators and hurricanes are rare in reality, and it's getting hotter all over folks!

 

[AllyBri]

We close on our vacation home in Celebration this week! We will spend as much time there as possible. I think owning a home in the Orlando area is a great investment. There are plenty of bargains out there right now too. Good luck to everyone!

Muffy

Welcome and Congrats!

 

[schmitty]

I like living in Orlando. Granted I live there for college its still a good place to live. House prices are pretty expensive and I know farther south in Hollywood,3.5 hours away, they are having affordable housing projects, where you can get 3/2's and 2/2's and stuff for 150K. I dunno if there are such plans in Orlando. There is alot of different places to eat and do and I dont feel like Disney has lost its magic at all. I go basically every weekend and love it.

 

[IHeartTink04]

I have always thought that moving there would take away the magic. I think that half the fun is the hotel and feeling like you are in another world. If your life was just right outside the parks it would be taken away. I do remember telling myself on my first visit as a child that I wanted to move there!

 

[Luckymommyx2]

I have always thought that moving there would take away the magic. I think that half the fun is the hotel and feeling like you are in another world. If your life was just right outside the parks it would be taken away. I do remember telling myself on my first visit as a child that I wanted to move there!

After going rounds with my DH about this, we both agree with what you have said. Half of the fun for us is the planning, staying at the hotels, even the rides on the plane and DME!

We've just come to realize that we need to win the lottery and permanetly live at various resorts at WDW or at the very least take very long vacations, very often! I go to WDW to escape reality...I think I would be disappointed when WDW would become an everyday reality, if that makes any sense. I just don't know where I would go to escape reality if I was already there!
(Maybe I'll try to say this better after a few doses of caffine! )

 

[safetymom]

I think living here adds to the excitement of the parks. I can visit the resorts anytime and I do.

I travel a lot for work and it is great when I arrive back at MCO know that I live here now.

You can still escape reality when you visit the parks. At least I do.

 

[sPaRkLeSpAz]

It would be cool if we could, but I don't think my parents would be happy about that idea. =]. Lolz.

 

[safetymom]

Jason71, everyone seems to be painting Orlando with the same broad brush. How many people that post on the DIS actually live in Orlando? How many visitors have ever visited Orlando???? I know I didn't until I moved here. Just like when I lived outside a big city in PA I avoid the city.

12 miles from the parks doesn't put us that far away. I still don't think here in FL. that the traffic is as bad as areas around where I used to live in PA. Yes I do know where the major backups and delays are here in the Orlando area. The crime rate isn't any worse either. It seems a lot of people expect Orlando to be crime free because of Disney.