Possible FL move? Any tips? sorta long sorry

[sbpebbles]

I'm sorry, I don't know where else to post this so here goes:


I have been playing around with the idea of moving to Florida for a few years now and even more seriously the past few weeks..Personally I am tired of the Winters here in WI, the past 2 years have been down right HORRIBLE and this winter is suppose to be just as bad according to Farmer's Almanac. I am also really tired of the lack of jobs here and it's been that way here for a LONG time, I'm talking before the recession. My parents plan on moving to TN in the next 5-10 years and my younger sister has been living in FL for over a year now..I am not thinking of moving for at least 8-12 months so I can save up..My children, DD7 and DS1, are currently living with my parents due to lack of jobs here but they have promised come tax time they will give me money to help me move to get a fresh start provided I can find a job, housing, etc..

So I'm wondering if Florida could be the right place for us? DD does have a learning disability and we will soon find out if she will qualify for SSI..So we would need a place with really good schools, good community environment, reasonable housing for at least a 2 bedroom apartment or duplex, and most importantly job availability. I use to work for a large resort that has properties here and in Ohio and I was one of their top sellers, I left when I had my son and due to too many workers, not enough hours they didn't have a job for me to come back to...i LOVE working in the hospitality industry but due to some problems I had here in WI i believe Disney jobs may be outta my reach..

Am I totally crazy for considering doing this now? and if not can anyone recommend a good city for us? My sister lives in Ococee and she will NOT help me out in anyway so I can't count on her...I just want to give my kids and I a fresh start that we seriously need..Anyone have any words of wisdom or advice for me??????? TIA so so much

 

[lillygator]

what kind of jobs are you looking for?

 

[LadyZolt]

It's a tough thing to think about, but I would sit down with the immediate family and find out what everyone's desires are with regard to a new location. There are "top 100 places to live" lists and even books that list best large, medium and small cities and the pros and cons of each, and use numeric scales for aspects like crime, average housing price, average taxes, public transportation, parks and recreation, theater and entertainment, arts and museums, etc. That's what I used when researching where we wanted to retire after my husband's military career. We picked New Mexico for a variety of reasons, among them the climate (dry high desert -- mosquitoes are rare and there's very little humidity or mold. We get four seasons here, but mild -- hot, but not humid in the summer; snow, but rarely more than an inch in the winter in the city and if you want more, you can go skiing in the nearby mountains), the distance to family, the job market at the time, and the housing prices and property taxes. You should research what you plan to do for housing and perhaps get an apartment for a while as you look at the housing and schools to see where you want to live. So, I'd start with making a list of what you want your new home to have and then research to see what areas can meet most of your needs. As someone who moved the family to a totally new location, I can relate to what you're going through and I hope that you will find a new location where you and your family will be truly happy.

-Dorothy (LadyZolt) (moved to New Mexico 13 years ago and still liking it!)

 

[OhMari]

Hi Sarah,
I live in Wisconsin too, and I know what you are talking about with the rotten winters. I'm tired of them too. I know jobs are scarce in WI, but you have to know, Wisconsin has excellent schools, hence, our income and property taxes are considered one of the highest in the U.S.

I don't think moving to Florida is really the answer. Sure the weather is nice, but from June till October you will need to run your air conditioning and I've heard some electric bills run $500-$600 a month. I've seen a few people on here, that wanted to work for WDW, and they all basically have said, it is great for supplement work, but it is very hard to make a living working for them.

But maybe other parts of Florida, you could find work, in your field of interest. You will be closer to to WDW, just not living near WDW. Plus you really have to know where to live in the Orlando area. There are some really scary area's. So really do your homework, if you do move down in that area.

If your parents are moving to TN, why don't you go to that area. The weather is better than WI. I drove through the area, last January, when it was -20 below in WI, and they had a high of 20 that day. So at least it was still bearable, and they had no snow like we did. TN has resort area's, in Nashville, or over in the Smokey Moutain area.

Good luck with whatever you do, I know life's decisions can be hard to make.

 

[sbpebbles]

Well I don't want to move to TN because I want to give my parents their life back..my kids and I have been living with them on and off and I'm ready to try and stand on my own for a change..I"m almost 27 but lately feels like I'm still a teenager ya know?

I want to work for a hotel, doing either Front Desk work, or reservations since that is the kinda work i LOVE..or I was thinking, wishful thinking, that I might one day start up a vacation planning company and could plan peoples trips to like Disney and whatnot..I'm always checking room rates and airfares for both family and sometimes even people on here lol..that's how much i love it..

Personally I don't think Wisconsin has that great of schools..or maybe it was just the school district we lived in before since they missed my daughter's learning disability and I even mentioned it at the beginning of last year..thankfully when we moved back in with my parents in the middle of the year DD had to switch schools and they caught it RIGHT AWAY..

I know I want to be in the South, close enough to visit family but not too close ya know? I just want a safe area for my family

Thanks for the help so far, keep it coming

 

[Jason@dvcstore]

I moved to Orlando, FL from Waterloo but at the time just graduated from college and no family so much was very easy for me.

The winters here are great but be sure you are aware of the summers.

I have no complaints about the summers. They are hot, humid, and afternoon rain shower almost daily but that doesn't bother me.

If you are moving to Central Florida be aware that in my opinion everything is 30 minutes away.

I grew up in Waterloo, Iowa where everything was a mere 5 to 10 minutes away. There are so many suburbs of Orlando and the city is spread out. My suggestion would be to avoid living where you DON'T have to take interstate 4 majority of the time or you will be wanting to head back to the Wisconsin winters.

If you decide to make the change I wish you the best. The real estate market is down in Orlando and you can get great deals on houses right now.

 

[sbpebbles]

I moved to Orlando, FL from Waterloo but at the time just graduated from college and no family so much was very easy for me.

The winters here are great but be sure you are aware of the summers.

I have no complaints about the summers. They are hot, humid, and afternoon rain shower almost daily but that doesn't bother me.

If you are moving to Central Florida be aware that in my opinion everything is 30 minutes away.

I grew up in Waterloo, Iowa where everything was a mere 5 to 10 minutes away. There are so many suburbs of Orlando and the city is spread out. My suggestion would be to avoid living where you DON'T have to take interstate 4 majority of the time or you will be wanting to head back to the Wisconsin winters.

If you decide to make the change I wish you the best. The real estate market is down in Orlando and you can get great deals on houses right now.

Well where I live in WI you have to drive about 30-45min to even to go a decent size grocery store so that won't be a problem for me..and I'm not looking to buy a house, i won't have that kinda money lol i'm a single mom with 2 children and honestly not much in savings..and i don't think the summers would bother me..It gets to about 60 here and i'm cold, I much more prefer the warm hot weather..

We don't have to live in the Orlando area, any other areas you could recommend for a small family?

 

[GeorgeG]

Central Florida, especially the Orlando area, has lots of hotels... lots! It sounds like work is going to be the key to your move. Central Florida is a very big area, bigger than many people think, and there are hotels all over the state.

Cost of living varies by area, the more expensive being the coastal areas. The central counties don't pay anywhere near the property insurance that the coastal counties do since hurricanes aren't as much of a risk (providing you have a house that is built to the latest state codes).

Schools also vary by county and that may take some research to find what you're looking for.

Research everything that you need and want and you will narrow down to a good place to live. There are some less than nice areas, but there are a lot of nice ones.