OT topic -- Orlando area house hunting

[Luv2Roam]

Now, when I was selling our house in Omaha, I cleaned, sorted, organized, donated, etc.
It is sad the condition I see houses in that we are touring. And these are not old homes. I think a few of the oldest have been built in 1996. Some just a few years old, if that.
My recent house hunting experiences has now made me realize the value of maintaining a home.
You think your home is cluttered? HA!
Think yours may have a slight pet odor? HA again! Try beyond bad kennel smell, where carpets have to be completly ripped up and replaced., and the walls are probably shot in some areas.
Mold, mildew, matted filth (not dirt), busted water balloons hanging from the ceiling, cabinet doors almost falling off the hinges. Open a closet door -- the knob falls off in your hand....
Out of the houmes I have toured, there are probably only three I can really say were taken care of. And it shows. One home was built in 1996 and was in better shape than most homes two years old.
Many houses are greatly devalued becauseof their condition.
One house I toured yesterday started out at 164900. My realtor says they will be lucky to see 139000.
The tore up homes easily loose at least $10k in value off the top. No question about it.
I never realized how hard kids are on houses until I toured homes with kids. In some houses it is easy to see who rules the roost.

 

[snowgooseltd]

Perhaps you need to change realtors. We were down at WDW in November and early December. We made arrangements to see homes with three area realtors. One took us through some of the worse filth I had ever seen, the second was not quite as bad. The third showed us homes in the same price range but much better kept. We purchased through her. We'll be down next week, redoing the floors and then moving in some furniture. We hope to take three or four months a year to live there and visit during other times of the year.
By the way.....we're having dinner at Epcot on Friday evening. I've waited for years to be able to just go to WDW for dinner whenever the urge came across us. Now we'll be able to......
Keep hunting, you'll find something you like, but consider switching, it might just be the realtor.

 

[Luv2Roam]

I have to say the realtor I am very happy with. Luckily.
Looked ALLLLL day yesterday at homes and drivingby others.
Some day we won't be homeless.
I am still floored at some of the houses we see -- or at least their condition......
And at least only one was REAL bad yesterday. And I am not even a clean freak.
We are at least learning the areas and knowing where to eliminate.

 

[PatMcDuck]

Without sounding like an idiot, what do nice houses sell for in the Orlando area, within about 30 miles or so? Of course it would vary greatly, but I was surprised when you posted about $130,000s, $160,000s. I live in the very inflated NJ market. Can you get a nice house there for $250,000? (in general terms) We plan to relocate when kids are done school, a few more years.

 

[Luv2Roam]

Depends on the area.
SW Orlando -- high.
Winter Garden, nice town/location. And the same type of houses that sell in Groveland/Clermont are $15k-$20k more in Winter Garden.
In Clermont, you get more house for the $. But pay more in taxes.
We have not looked in Kississimee. But I have heard there are good bargains there in housing due to Sept. 11. I have only driven to Kissimmee a few times, and it wasn't house related. What I saw I was not impressed by. But I saw VERY little of that town.
$250k would buy a very nice home here.
Consider -- no basements.

 

[Eeyore's Pal]

Wow.

Here in the over-inflated Washington, DC suburbs, I don't think you can even buy a condo for $250K.

I have not seen a new single-family community with a starting price under $450K in <i>years.</i>

On the other hand.....I love WDW, but I will not retire there. One summer of Orlando heat and all that would be left would be melted blob with a lanyard. I'd rather go North, to New England. (I heard there's some pretty good trading up there, now and then. )

Who am I <i>kidding????</i> I will probably never be able to afford to retire anyway.

 

[KAP]

Robyn is right - my condo here in Germantown would sell for close to $250. The Florida heat would be lovely. Beats the 9 months of cold crappy weather we get here.

 

[Luv2Roam]

When we lived in northern IN, I worked for Bayer. At that time Elkhart, IN was the north American hdq. It was moved to Pittsburgh.
Even with the significant raises and generous relo housing, many passed. And mostly due the high cost of housing on the east coast.
We always said Bayer moved to high rent district.

More house tours today after the Sweetheart run around.

 

[~Kathie]

Well Robyn.......be prepared if you want to move to New England. The closer you get to Boston, the more expensive housing is. Now if you want beachfront in Rhode Island, we're talking 1 million for anything decent. That's for a 3 bedroom cape. I'm sure that Cape Cod is more expensive.

Here in Rhode Island we run the gamut. My son has been looking to buy a 2 family (just starting out) and you can't imagine what they are asking for some dumps. Most houses in my town are not for sale for more than a few weeks.

Oh and if you're coming....bring your mudantes. That's italian for long underwear. It's been pretty cold. Even colder up in Nat's neck of the woods. He's about 1½ hours north of me.

There are lots of traders here. We have Peggie, Dom, Leslie, Cynthia, Leslie, Mario, Joanne & Randy in CT. Lisa in Mass. Nat in NH. Steve (brimel) & Caroline in Mass also. Me in RI.

I forgot......the Maryland contingent was recently annexed to New England. Vince & Suzi usually come here yearly for a pin meet.

So.......come for a visit. Make sure you make it in January so you can see how cold it really gets. Oh course, if you come to RI, you'll have to come to my restaurant. Just that is worth the trip.

 

[Parkhopper]

We wish you all the best of luck in your house hunting! We moved locally last year and remember very well all that was involved. As much as I would love to have a house near WDW, it is clear in my mind what we have recently gone through moving and I have vowed never to move again! LOL

 

[Eeyore's Pal]

It's the New England weather that I'm coming for!!!

As a transplanted New Yorker, these Maryland winters seem like <i>fluff!</i>

I know the rents are high closer in to Boston, but I'm thinking of something more rural anyway. My brother-in-law and family (with a brand new baby girl on 1/30/04! ) are in Lexington, and that's way too close to the city for my tastes.

I'm not much of a beach girl either, so <i>the Cape</i> is not my cup of tea.

Of course, once I sell my palatial, overpriced suburban maryland estate, I should be able to find an affordable two room cabin. My tastes are simple: Indoor plumbing and high-speed internet access.

And I have counted the New Enland concentration of pinpals as a big plus!

I guess I'm looking for something just short of the back woods of beyond.