Orlando area residents

[RadioNate]

Can you tell me about where you live? We might have to move and I"m just sick about it. The job is good (not with Disney) but I've been looking at realtor.com and I just want to cry.

I know people keep saying it is a buyers market but I can't seem to find anything decent. Everything in our price range is old (like built in the 60s) or small (1400 sq ft)

I have 2800 sq ft of stuff...my house here is less than 300k and we are the 1st owner.

I'm so upset. We can't afford 400-500k on a house, my son needs a good school and dh can't make a super long commute.

I just don't know what to do.

 

[Metro West]

I live in NW Orlando..not too far from Ocoee and I understand your frustration. I bought my house last September for $129K and now everything else in the neighborhood is in the $170K range. Since I don't have any kids, I really can't help you in the schools in the area. If the new job is in downtown Orlando, DO NOT move anywhere that you have to deal with I-4 everyday. I work downtown but take 408 (East-West Expressway) to and from work and rarely have any problems. Everything here is still WAY overpriced thanks to the investors and over anxious buyers who just had to pay thousands over the home's value. Now were all stuck in the same boat...can't sell and can't buy.

 

[RadioNate]

The job would be in the Maitland area. I'm not sure how far off of I4. The suburbs around there all look nice but a house similar to the one we are in seem to be 500k plus. Totally not affordable in my eyes. I know we are spoiled here (TX) but I can't imagine losing 1/2 our space. We feel crowded already!

I just don't know what to do. My DH's contract here is up at the end of the year and the will not renew. They will go month to month but who knows for how long. Moving is a risk but so it staying.

 

[CPM]

Did you try Oviedo? One of my neighbors just moved there. She has a beautiful home for less than she paid for the one she had here. She never did tell me the price. Also, she loves her kid's schools. The HS is brand new and the elementary school is an A school. She said the neighborhood is full of kids. I know it's not too far from Maitland either.

 

[ducklite]

Unfortunately you're probably not going to find a 2800 s/f house in your range, unless it's in a bad school district or needs a lot of work.

That said, you'd be surprised how roomy a lot of FL home floorplans feel, even if they are smaller in s/f then you are used to. Vaulted ceilings and open floor plans make them feel very roomy. I've got 2980 s/f of living space, and everyone is surprised at this--they all say it feels like a LOT more because of the high ceilings and floor plan.

In the $300K range, you should look in Oviedo, Winter Springs, and Lake Mary. That said, you're only going to get 2000 s/f of living space for your money.

I don't know how the schools are in Altamonte Springs, but if they are acceptable, you can get more there for your dollar than in other areas. Generally speaking I believe that Seminole County schools are considered better than Orange County schools, something to keep in mind.

That said, we have no personal income taxes in this state. We moved here from NJ, and our car insurance is half of what it was there. Our electric and water are lower, the taxes and other utilities are comparable. Some grocery items are higher, other lower, it all works out to be about the same.

I don't live in that area, but am up there every couple of weeks on business, and if you ahve a specific address you'd like me to drive by and let you know what the neighborhood is like, I'd be happy to.

Good luck!

Anne

 

[JustHolly]

If you're willing to commute a bit to Maitland, Real estate is a little cheaper west of Disney. Here in Auburndale the schools are EXCELLENT! We're zoned for 2 schools that have an "A" grade. You could easily get a 2500-3000 square foot home in your price range, especially if you have it built. The commute to Maitland would be an hour....

 

[ducklite]

If you're willing to commute a bit to Maitland, Real estate is a little cheaper west of Disney. Here in Auburndale the schools are EXCELLENT! We're zoned for 2 schools that have an "A" grade. You could easily get a 2500-3000 square foot home in your price range, especially if you have it built. The commute to Maitland would be an hour....

Actually my guess is that during rush hour it would be longer than that. It usually takes me every bit of 45 minutes to get from the intersection of I-4 and the 408 to the Maitland exit during rush hour. Add up to another 15 minutes to get to the job once you get off I-4, and another half hour from Auburndale to basically downtown...that's a hellish commute--even when there isn't a wreck--which isn't often.

Anne

 

[SillyMe]

I don't know the area and I'm not from Florida, but I was just down there. Whatever you do, stay away from I-4. It only took us one hour to get to Disney from my sister's house in Deltona. It took us almost 3 hours to get back and there wasn't even an accident.

 

[KristinBelle]

I don't know the area and I'm not from Florida, but I was just down there. Whatever you do, stay away from I-4. It only took us one hour to get to Disney from my sister's house in Deltona. It took us almost 3 hours to get back and there wasn't even an accident.

That is really good advice, you do not want to be commuting down I-4.

 

[Virgo10]

If you're willing to commute a bit to Maitland, Real estate is a little cheaper west of Disney. Here in Auburndale the schools are EXCELLENT! We're zoned for 2 schools that have an "A" grade. You could easily get a 2500-3000 square foot home in your price range, especially if you have it built. The commute to Maitland would be an hour....

Hey Holly.... You're Alive! How's teaching going?

OP I'm another Auburndale person. Love this town but it would be a hike for where the job is.

 

[MushyMushy]

Good timing. DH and I are mulling over the same thing.

 

[taylor1293]

We live in Tampa now, but moved from Oviedo. It's a great area with A rated schools!! However, IMO, it's quite expensive. Houses in our old neighborhood, no pool, about 1300 - 1600 sq ft were going for $250,000 to $280,000 which is insane.

If you want any more info on Oviedo, feel free to PM me

Good luck!

 

[RadioNate]

Thanks for all the replies.

Oviedo has actually caught my attention so I'm glad to hear peope mention it. DH grew up in a small Oregon town and does NOT do commutes well. He just can not handle traffic nightmares. It really needs to be closer to 30min. He'd completely lose it in an hour bumper to bumper traffic. I grew up on the south side of chicago and that doesn't phase me but he gets very stressed out.

I don't mind going a little smaller. We have HUGE bedrooms here that aren't totally necessary. We also have a really big formal living room and dining room that we don't need. I am also willing to give up some of my extras like granite counter tops. I was seeing a lot of 1400-1500 sqft homes for 375k and I was dying.

I don't really want a pool. Too much liability for me. I really wish their were basements...that would be huge. We don't have them here either and I really miss it.

We are in TX, there is no state income or personal property tax here either. The job people were using that as a huge selling point becasue the salery was a little on the low side. DH has asked for some clarifications about some things so we really can't act until the replies come back.

Thanks again.