OT: Yes..another might be moving to Florida thread!!

[JoiseyMom]

Hey guys...from those of you that live in the Orlando area..I need advice. Where can I go, websites, for good places to live, towns..I know Clermont has been recommended. Good schools...private schools..

Foreclosures??? I found one site that had foreclousres for under 80k..not sure how "accurate" that is. Any florida realtors here?? For a price like that I can buy now..sell my current home later!!

Thanks for any and all info guys.

It's funny...I have kinda wanted to do this forever...DH got a bee in his bonnet about this tonight for some reason!! He is ready to move tonite. Will be interesting if we do this when he tells his mom!!! LOL .

 

[JoiseyMom]

OK..since this got moved to this board... which moves so freaking quick...

Anyone??

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

Hello.
I can't help you too terribly much, as we moved to FL over ten years ago, but to the Central Florida area about 7 years ago.

You'll want to know how far your commute to work is each day. Given the heavy traffic in many areas, that will be a major issue.

$80,000 for a site built (non-manufactured/mobile home) in the general Orlando area is more than a frightening prospect.

Expect to pay approximately $200,000 (low end) for a decent (small) home in a fairly safe area.

Look at the surface roads and the major highways that you'll have immediate access to.

I wasn't thrilled with the location of our new home (bought newly built five years ago) but my wife had the sense to see that we were on a major highway that leads to the turnpike, 408 and new western beltway (minutes away for any of those). They are jammed during rush hour however, so not all is well in faerie land.

I'm not a huge fan of Lake County (Clermont is there) so can't recommend living there to you. High impact fees, odd politics (well, that's relative as this is Florida ) and too far away from civilization for me. (My version of civilization, that is).

Can't help much with schools, but will say if you have children of school age, pay close attention to whatever schools they could be sent to. FL schools will be a huge culture shock for you and your children.

Private schools are available for a price, of course. Not all are much better than public. Most have entry requirements, beyond tuition. You'll have to do a search.

What sort of employment do you expect to need/have? That will be a factor in where you may want to live (back to that commuting issue again).

Plan on renting for the first year (we rented for two) so you can get a real feel for the area and not be locked into something you may end up regretting.

There are many, many mid range homes available right now. You shouldn't have a problem finding something in the $200,000 to $250,000 range that you like.

Hope that helps a bit and if you have any more questions, you can PM me (in case this thread falls so far behind it gets lost).

Take care!

 

[portocall]

Okay, I can't help with the realtor info... but there are a lot of nice areas in Orlando, and near Orlando. There are a ton of foreclosures, houses in the area were quickly inflated, only to quickly deflate. Do you have kids? Want kids? Check into the school system first. Would you rather live near the city or near the beach? If it is the beach, there are a lot of nice areas and decent schools in Brevard County (where I lived for 20 years). Do you have jobs lined up and are there jobs to be had in your line of work. Since the economy in Florida has been hit pretty hard, I would make this priority one and then work in a nearby area... Just a suggestion. The price on the foreclosure seems about right and there are some pretty good deals out there.

 

[portocall]

My sister was able to buy her house for $109,000, down from the 349,000 it was put up on the market to start... you will have to look hard for deals, but they are out there. She got a brand new spec house with all the trimmings in a nice neighborhood, but I think the renting first is a really good idea. You don't want to buy to find out your job is further away than you want. But you also really want to look into the schools. Some of the public schools are much better than others. And coming from Jersey you might not like what you find at first.

 

[JoiseyMom]

Hello.
I can't help you too terribly much, as we moved to FL over ten years ago, but to the Central Florida area about 7 years ago.

You'll want to know how far your commute to work is each day. Given the heavy traffic in many areas, that will be a major issue.

DH is self employed adn works from home..so commute isn't an issue.

$80,000 for a site built (non-manufactured/mobile home) in the general Orlando area is more than a frightening prospect.

Expect to pay approximately $200,000 (low end) for a decent (small) home in a fairly safe area.

Look at the surface roads and the major highways that you'll have immediate access to.

I wasn't thrilled with the location of our new home (bought newly built five years ago) but my wife had the sense to see that we were on a major highway that leads to the turnpike, 408 and new western beltway (minutes away for any of those). They are jammed during rush hour however, so not all is well in faerie land.

I'm not a huge fan of Lake County (Clermont is there) so can't recommend living there to you. High impact fees, odd politics (well, that's relative as this is Florida ) and too far away from civilization for me. (My version of civilization, that is).

Can't help much with schools, but will say if you have children of school age, pay close attention to whatever schools they could be sent to. FL schools will be a huge culture shock for you and your children.

Private schools are available for a price, of course. Not all are much better than public. Most have entry requirements, beyond tuition. You'll have to do a search.

What sort of employment do you expect to need/have? That will be a factor in where you may want to live (back to that commuting issue again).

Plan on renting for the first year (we rented for two) so you can get a real feel for the area and not be locked into something you may end up regretting.

Not sure we would watn to do that..seems like a waste of money that could go into the purchase of a home.

There are many, many mid range homes available right now. You shouldn't have a problem finding something in the $200,000 to $250,000 range that you like.

Hope that helps a bit and if you have any more questions, you can PM me (in case this thread falls so far behind it gets lost).

Take care!

Thanks!

 

[JoiseyMom]

Okay, I can't help with the realtor info... but there are a lot of nice areas in Orlando, and near Orlando. There are a ton of foreclosures, houses in the area were quickly inflated, only to quickly deflate. Do you have kids? Want kids? Check into the school system first. Would you rather live near the city or near the beach? If it is the beach, there are a lot of nice areas and decent schools in Brevard County (where I lived for 20 years). Do you have jobs lined up and are there jobs to be had in your line of work. Since the economy in Florida has been hit pretty hard, I would make this priority one and then work in a nearby area... Just a suggestion. The price on the foreclosure seems about right and there are some pretty good deals out there.

Work isn't an issue. Kids yes...that is my big one. I need a good school district or good private schools. I have been trying to look into foreclosures... any sites with accurate info??

 

[JoiseyMom]

My sister was able to buy her house for $109,000, down from the 349,000 it was put up on the market to start... you will have to look hard for deals, but they are out there. She got a brand new spec house with all the trimmings in a nice neighborhood, but I think the renting first is a really good idea. You don't want to buy to find out your job is further away than you want. But you also really want to look into the schools. Some of the public schools are much better than others. And coming from Jersey you might not like what you find at first.

Work isn't an issue. My main concern is schools.. Everyone says our current schools are great.. well I have never thought so. I am orginally from Brooklyn and I thought those schools were much better then where we are now..and I ahve kids graduate from where I live now. I am leaning more towards private..good private schools.