Thinking of moving...resources for planning?

[SRQ57]

city-data.com

This.

 

[GreatLakes]

Thanks! What did you miss most about the mid west?

We want to get away from the cold winters. If we could swing it we would consider two houses. Still might. I am fine with crazy heat & humidity. I simply cannot take the cold anymore

I hated not having winter. I like the snow and don't want to be anywhere that doesn't have snowy winters. I also missed the vibe and pace of life here compared to Florida. No one felt like they were from there, I met people from everywhere except Florida. In my condo compex alone I met more people from my hometown 1,000+ miles away than I met from the county I was living in. I like being in a place with a longer history as well. The town my now-wife lived in had it's oldest building built in something like 1932. That isn't old.

I also like to run trails and need elevation change. Running on pond-flat trails for miles is boring.

It just wasn't for me.

 

[jerseygal]

Your welcome,

I thinking about this post last night, here are a few communities that you might want to start with,

Winter Garden, Clermont, Ocoee, the Villages ($$$), Lady Lake, Mount Dora,

Lakeland, Winter Haven, Champions Gate

Right outside of Daytona sorta in between - Orlando and Daytona are tons of adult communities - we have a friend that just retired over in this area, and he is super happy he went with a mid-size established community with what he needed and wanted... and has meet lots of nice people... One thing he wanted was a community that had a good mix of permanent residents, instead of some that are almost abandon during the summer... So this is another question that you might want to check on when looking for the right community.

On our last Fall trip, we looked at Winter Garden for semi retirement in the future. We liked it very much, close to Disney, good growth in that area. There is a new area Hamlin/Horizon West which we liked very much, lovely master planned community. A strong possibility for us in the future. I also have done a lot of research on Citidata, find that very helpful. We plan to rent initially to see if we like a particular community. We have been relocated in the past with a corporate move and we rented for a year to get the "lay of the land". It worked out very well. I strongly dissuade anyone moving to a new area from purchasing initially. Imo, much too risky. Good luck with your planning!

 

[TeresaWen]

I hated not having winter. I like the snow and don't want to be anywhere that doesn't have snowy winters. I also missed the vibe and pace of life here compared to Florida. No one felt like they were from there, I met people from everywhere except Florida. In my condo compex alone I met more people from my hometown 1,000+ miles away than I met from the county I was living in. I like being in a place with a longer history as well. The town my non-wife lived in had it's oldest building built in something like 1932. That isn't old.

I also like to run trails and need elevation change. Running on pond-flat trails for miles is boring.

It just wasn't for me.

Thanks! This is very helpful. I’m glad I have time to do research before we actually start looking. I will not miss winter at all

 

[TeresaWen]

On our last Fall trip, we looked at Winter Garden for semi retirement in the future. We liked it very much, close to Disney, good growth in that area. There is a new area Hamlin/Horizon West which we liked very much, lovely master planned community. A strong possibility for us in the future. I also have done a lot of research on Citidata, find that very helpful. We plan to rent initially to see if we like a particular community. We have been relocated in the past with a corporate move and we rented for a year to get the "lay of the land". It worked out very well. I strongly dissuade anyone moving to a new area from purchasing initially. Imo, much too risky. Good luck with your planning!

Thanks! Maybe we will be neighbors one day!

 

[LovesTimone]

On our last Fall trip, we looked at Winter Garden for semi retirement in the future. We liked it very much, close to Disney, good growth in that area. There is a new area Hamlin/Horizon West which we liked very much, lovely master planned community. A strong possibility for us in the future. I also have done a lot of research on Citidata, find that very helpful. We plan to rent initially to see if we like a particular community. We have been relocated in the past with a corporate move and we rented for a year to get the "lay of the land". It worked out very well. I strongly dissuade anyone moving to a new area from purchasing initially. Imo, much too risky. Good luck with your planning!

I live in Winter Garden, and this is one of the reason that we picked this area, It takes me about 5 or so min's. to get to the Hamlin Publix, and there is a entrance and exit off the 429... which is great... We built in a brand new development, we were in the first 5 to go up, and we have been moved in for 16 months give or take a day... Lots and lots of growth...in our area...

I total agree with living somewhere before jumping in and buying... I totally get the relocation... we moved 5 times in 10 years... DH said all done with that, so we are getting to put down some roots in the community...

 

[jerseygal]

I live in Winter Garden, and this is one of the reason that we picked this area, It takes me about 5 or so min's. to get to the Hamlin Publix, and there is a entrance and exit off the 429... which is great... We built in a brand new development, we were in the first 5 to go up, and we have been moved in for 16 months give or take a day... Lots and lots of growth...in our area...

I total agree with living somewhere before jumping in and buying... I totally get the relocation... we moved 5 times in 10 years... DH said all done with that, so we are getting to put down some roots in the community...

Great to hear. Schools are not a consideration anymore for us, but all of our real estate decisions, which we saw appreciation in our homes, centered around living in communities with excellent schools. Families want excellent schools, which in turn drive appreciation. West Orange High and Windermere HS seem highly rated. As I said for us, we would commit to a year rental; if the area is not what we thought, we will research another. When we set down roots and purchase, it will definitely be one floor living, haven't decided if it will be in a 55 and over or multi age community. We can do stairs now, no limitations at all, but one day down the road stairs will be an issue possibly and for resale one day want to be able to sell to retirees with possible restrictions on stairs.

 

[nkereina]

My parents stay in Florida for the winter each year and have been touring some retirement communities. They like the Villages, but its massive with a wide range of home prices, people, things to do. Its truly a self-sufficient city which is both a pro and a con. They thought Victoria Park in Deland was nice, but didn't love the location. They also really liked the new Margaritaville community near Daytona and said the houses were gorgeous and amenities were awesome, but again, the location wasn't great for them and its a brand new community so construction is bound to be around for a while.

 

[wdwfan51]

There is a facebook group called “Taking the Florida Plunge” that you could check out. People post questions about all kinds of things related to moving to Florida and members respond.

 

[LovesTimone]

My parents stay in Florida for the winter each year and have been touring some retirement communities. They like the Villages, but its massive with a wide range of home prices, people, things to do. Its truly a self-sufficient city which is both a pro and a con. They thought Victoria Park in Deland was nice, but didn't love the location. They also really liked the new Margaritaville community near Daytona and said the houses were gorgeous and amenities were awesome, but again, the location wasn't great for them and its a brand new community so construction is bound to be around for a while.

There is a Margaritaville community going in right down the 429 not sure which city zip code it will have...

 

[_19disnA]

Another option would be to consider the Phoenix area

If you relocate to someplace across the country, also need to consider the cost of travel to visit relatives for holidays/weddings/social functions/graduations/etc.. As you get older, driving across country becomes less practical even if you have a lot of free time. Flying can be expensive and depends on your budget and how often you might travel back to where you used to live. Times we have been in places like LasVegas in July, it was SO hot we barely could stand to be outside. Lots talk about humdity, but we couldn't live someplace where it felt like walking into an oven to just step outside.

 

[jerseygal]

Frigid, cold days are the perfect time to research a future move! Looking forward to semi retirement in a warmer climate. Right now, planning 10 months in Florida, 2 months hopefully in summer to spend with the kids and hopefully grandkids in the future somewhere at the Jersey shore. Sounds like a "plan", hoping to make it happen.

 

[nkereina]

There is a Margaritaville community going in right down the 429 not sure which city zip code it will have..

Is this the one near Daytona? Or is there a second community going up?

 

[jerseygal]

Is this the one near Daytona? Or is there a second community going up?

If I have my limited knowledge of the area correct, I remember taking the 429 when we were researching the Winter Garden area.

 

[Mrs.Milo]

The 429 toll road goes north/south along Disney’s western edge, up to Winter Garden and Apopka and south to 192 and connects to I-4. The new Margaritaville is on 192 east of the 429, south side of 192 near the super Target shopping center.

 

[LovesTimone]

If I have my limited knowledge of the area correct, I remember taking the 429 when we were researching the Winter Garden area.

This community is right off the 429, Disney is exit 8, - Margaritaville resort is exit 6.

I use the 429 almost daily, I can get home using exit 15 which is considered Hamlin, or exit 19 which is Winter Garden Village( shopping center). I love living here in Winter Garden, it meets all our needs, and wants... we spent a year checking all over, and kept coming back to the area that we built in.

 

[TeresaWen]

This community is right off the 429, Disney is exit 8, - Margaritaville resort is exit 6.

I use the 429 almost daily, I can get home using exit 15 which is considered Hamlin, or exit 19 which is Winter Garden Village( shopping center). I love living here in Winter Garden, it meets all our needs, and wants... we spent a year checking all over, and kept coming back to the area that we built in.

Any particular communities in Winter Garden you would suggest? I am enjoying checking out homes & communities online. Keeping the dream alive

 

[nkereina]

The 429 toll road goes north/south along Disney’s western edge, up to Winter Garden and Apopka and south to 192 and connects to I-4. The new Margaritaville is on 192 east of the 429, south side of 192 near the super Target shopping center.

This community is right off the 429, Disney is exit 8, - Margaritaville resort is exit 6.

I use the 429 almost daily, I can get home using exit 15 which is considered Hamlin, or exit 19 which is Winter Garden Village( shopping center). I love living here in Winter Garden, it meets all our needs, and wants... we spent a year checking all over, and kept coming back to the area that we built in.

Are you guys talking about the Margaritaville resort or the Latitude Margaritaville housing community that you buy and live at? I'm talking about the housing community, which I think is where the confusion might be coming in. I'm not familiar with the new resort, but I know that's near Orlando. The housing track going up that my parents have toured is near Daytona Beach, right off 95. They are patio homes with an HOA fee and amenities for 55+. I just went to their web site and they have two other housing communities going up as well - one in the panhandle and one in Hilton Head, SC.

 

[LovesTimone]

Any particular communities in Winter Garden you would suggest? I am enjoying checking out homes & communities online. Keeping the dream alive

There is Stoneybrook, which is just a regular (large) community, with a golf course...
Then Hamlin is going in right now which is just right off the 429, Several community off of Avalon Rd... Several communities off of Marsh Road.... Twin Waters, and Waterside at John's lake - both are on John's Lake.... there is another community that they are clearing for right now, but un-named as of yet...

If you travel down Marsh Road, it becomes Hartfield Marsh Road in Lake County which the city is Clermont.. more communities some established, some brand new, some they are clearing the and are un-named as of yet.... as well as Legends which is off Hwy 27 in Clermont...

Most of these communities have more than the traditional home, some have patio homes sorta a tri-plex , some have what the called rear load ( as the garage is in the back), which are stand alone homes, with a very small yard... some have resort style pools with on site gyms very upscale, club houses, Tot Lots ( play grounds), some have traditional townhouse living..

Down the 429 there are even more going in...

 

[LovesTimone]

Are you guys talking about the Margaritaville resort or the Latitude Margaritaville housing community that you buy and live at? I'm talking about the housing community, which I think is where the confusion might be coming in. I'm not familiar with the new resort, but I know that's near Orlando. The housing track going up that my parents have toured is near Daytona Beach, right off 95. They are patio homes with an HOA fee and amenities for 55+. I just went to their web site and they have two other housing communities going up as well - one in the panhandle and one in Hilton Head, SC.

From what I understand this will be a mixed resort style community... with patio homes, cottages... as well as a hotel, and vacation rentals - from what I gather....I think that the clubhouse, and hotel are almost done... I did notice alot of clearing, and laying out the roads... looks like it is going to be a huge community...