DisneyKevin
Kelvis
- Joined
- Jun 20, 2005
- Messages
- 10,257
We've been coming to central Florida since 1971 and really exploring the area since the early 80s.
My folks purchased their home in 1988 and I purchased the home that John and I lived in in 2000.
When we started really looking to buy a home in the 80s, Clermont was farmland and Hunters Creek, Baldwin Park and Celebration didnt exist.
As a matter of fact, Baldwin Park was a Naval base.
Something anyone moving here needs to keep in mind is that Orlando is a fairly young city. It's been around a long time, but it really blossomed in the last 40 years (thanks to Disney).
Older cities grew in smaller and tighter areas because there was no transit, so you have much tighter, better developed downtown areas. Orlando...not so much.
We have a downtown ....but Orlando and all of the surrounding towns are very spread out. Clermont, Celebration, Baldwin Park and St Cloud are like 4 points on a compass.
St Cloud is an hour from Clermont and 45 minutes (with absolutely no traffic issues) from Baldwin Park. Celebration is closer, but still takes 30 minutes.
Those people that are giving you advise about making sure that you live either close to work or somewhere along a major travel artery are not joking.
I dont know what it's like where you live, but Florida police dont believe in clearing even the most minor accident from the highway meaning the slightest fender bender can delay you for quite a while.
For several years, I lived in St Cloud and worked in Ocoee. It was an hour commute via the FL Turnpike and it could easily take 2 if there was a fender bender.
God forbid there was a serious accident or they closed the turnpike. Surface roads would take 2 or 3 (or more) hours during rush hour.
I'm not sure where Planaholic's friends and family live, but I dont travel through many seedy or unsafe areas and I move around the area quite a bit. Dont get me wrong, there are seedy and unsafe areas, but after your first trip through, I'd imagine you'd figure out a way to circumnavigate that area so as not to go through it again.
As with anywhere in the country.....the more desirable the location.....the higher the prices. Baldwin Park, Celebration, Hunter's Creek, Dr Phillips, Windemere, Winter Park...these are all highly developed areas and command higher prices.
Clermont and St Cloud are a bit farther out and have developed at a slower rate. Pricing is more reasonable.
My 3000 sq foot house was purchased for less than my 900 sq ft townhouse was worth at the peak. Pricing is either at it's rock bottom or quickly getting there. We heard a report the other day that said Florida real estate may never actually recover, even to it's "pre-bubble" levels.
If you are looking to buy property in Florida.....it's certainly reasonable and may stay that way for quite a while. That's great if you are looking for a home and not so great as an investment.
Rents on the other hand have gone back up and have seemed to stabilize. There doesnt seem to be many bargains in the rental area.
Hope everyone has great luck finding what they want.
My folks purchased their home in 1988 and I purchased the home that John and I lived in in 2000.
When we started really looking to buy a home in the 80s, Clermont was farmland and Hunters Creek, Baldwin Park and Celebration didnt exist.
As a matter of fact, Baldwin Park was a Naval base.
Something anyone moving here needs to keep in mind is that Orlando is a fairly young city. It's been around a long time, but it really blossomed in the last 40 years (thanks to Disney).
Older cities grew in smaller and tighter areas because there was no transit, so you have much tighter, better developed downtown areas. Orlando...not so much.
We have a downtown ....but Orlando and all of the surrounding towns are very spread out. Clermont, Celebration, Baldwin Park and St Cloud are like 4 points on a compass.
St Cloud is an hour from Clermont and 45 minutes (with absolutely no traffic issues) from Baldwin Park. Celebration is closer, but still takes 30 minutes.
Those people that are giving you advise about making sure that you live either close to work or somewhere along a major travel artery are not joking.
I dont know what it's like where you live, but Florida police dont believe in clearing even the most minor accident from the highway meaning the slightest fender bender can delay you for quite a while.
For several years, I lived in St Cloud and worked in Ocoee. It was an hour commute via the FL Turnpike and it could easily take 2 if there was a fender bender.
God forbid there was a serious accident or they closed the turnpike. Surface roads would take 2 or 3 (or more) hours during rush hour.
I'm not sure where Planaholic's friends and family live, but I dont travel through many seedy or unsafe areas and I move around the area quite a bit. Dont get me wrong, there are seedy and unsafe areas, but after your first trip through, I'd imagine you'd figure out a way to circumnavigate that area so as not to go through it again.
As with anywhere in the country.....the more desirable the location.....the higher the prices. Baldwin Park, Celebration, Hunter's Creek, Dr Phillips, Windemere, Winter Park...these are all highly developed areas and command higher prices.
Clermont and St Cloud are a bit farther out and have developed at a slower rate. Pricing is more reasonable.
My 3000 sq foot house was purchased for less than my 900 sq ft townhouse was worth at the peak. Pricing is either at it's rock bottom or quickly getting there. We heard a report the other day that said Florida real estate may never actually recover, even to it's "pre-bubble" levels.
If you are looking to buy property in Florida.....it's certainly reasonable and may stay that way for quite a while. That's great if you are looking for a home and not so great as an investment.
Rents on the other hand have gone back up and have seemed to stabilize. There doesnt seem to be many bargains in the rental area.
Hope everyone has great luck finding what they want.
Great info!
Thats crazy!!! Lmao are there any other hidden costs I should know about???
