Those who have relocated to Florida... any tips?

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

I know all of the crew are Florida transplants. Do you have any tips for those of us considering relocation to the area. I think my dream may be coming true.

I would love to hear everyones thoughts/tips on relocation to Florida and the Disney area!!!! We are looking at east coast so I would be about an hour away from the parks. Much better than 16 hours away.

 

[DVCsince02]

Noooooooooooooooooooooo!
Liz, you and I haven't had a chance to meet yet. You can't leave now......

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

Noooooooooooooooooooooo!
Liz, you and I haven't had a chance to meet yet. You can't leave now......

I know we had a very weird turn of events here. We were supposed to move last year and couldnt sell the house and my DH's job couldnt be held any longer. The director called him and said the offer is open again so that is why I was asking about renting your points. However I figured out some deals and we are going to look at property in 2 weeks. Then we are sneaking in a little of the mouse. I will definatly catch up with you before we move. If it is anything like last time we will be stuck here quite a while.

 

[Jacklynn]

My DH and are actually also relocating to the Central Florida area (near Clermont) and I'm interested in some tips as well. We are moving from the Chicago area.

 

[SamIAm21]

My DH and are actually also relocating to the Central Florida area (near Clermont) and I'm interested in some tips as well. We are moving from the Chicago area.

I have driven through Clermont on SR50&US27 on my way to WDW for the past three years, and it is growing by leaps and bounds. You can see what used to be a small rural town and how it has just grown immensely. It's a very pretty area and there even seems to be a bit of rolling hills here and there (small ones of course). There is no shortage of homes going up all around there. Best of luck on your move down there. I envy you getting away from these horrible Chicago winters!!

Not looking forward to another one of those that's for sure!

 

[HunnyBunny]

Stock up on shorts and tees at the end of summer clearance sales!!

Ok, in all seriousness...what kind of advice are you looking for? I've moved back and forth to Florida twice. Try to move in the winter when it's cooler, because unloading a moving truck in 100 degree heat is insane. Houses are getting cheaper by the week around here, but I'd recommend staying an apartment first for 6 months so you can decide on what area you would prefer. Easier to do research when you live in the area. I didn't know anything about Clermont when I first moved here, but I found out it had everything I wanted (a real neighborhood and downtown yet still has a bit of a small town feel)

You could also get subscriptions to the papers in your area to tell you more. Not just Orlando Sentinel, but the local papers for an area you might be interested in. Lake County has a couple of additional papers to choose from.

Hope this helps!

Tonya

Oh yeah, get lots of sandals at those sales too!

 

[alysnwndrlnd]

I've been wondering this for a long time... thanks for asking this, IWISH!

I'm currently an activity director/ event planner for an assisted living facility. I was wondering what the market is like down in FLA. I realize with the large amount of seniors who live there, there are plenty of independent, assisted, and long term care facilities. I also realize that with many facilities, the annual wages would be lower, than in a place that would have fewer facilities, even though it would be easier to get a job.

I am wondering how long of a stretch it would be to work in the travel industry with a background in activities and event planning?? Would it be better to have the job before relocating, or relocate then find a job?

The real estate market here is at a standstill so it would also be a long while before i could sell the house.

 

[safetymom]

Don't move to an area or take a job where you need to use I-4 during rush hour.

Moving to FL was one of the best decisions in my life. I live south of the parks so I can be at the Atlantic or the Gulf in little over an hour.

 

[cyberbox2]

This has been a serious dream of mine for a long while. I tried very hard to make something happen this past March but just couldn't force any doors of opportunity open to save my life. I'm in the I.T. industry and I know that this line of work is needed everywhere, it's just that Florida as a general rule doesn't pay as well in this field compared to norther states Just my luck huh.

I need some serious pixie dust sent my way!!!

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

I was searching for hidden things that I wouldnt normally look for. Such as the home owners insurance is much higher than here. Taxes are about the same. We are looking at the east coast Melbourne area. Just wondering if you love it or hate it. Was it a good decesion. I think staying in apartment might be a good idea but that means moving twice.

I know the pay is alot lower for the healthcare industry but the coast of living does appear to be lower than the northeast.

Are you glad you made the move. That sort of thing.

Oh yeah and the bugs are they really that bad???

 

[safetymom]

I don't live along the coast. My home owner insurance here isn't much worse than it was in PA.

I love that I moved here. I don't like the palmetto bugs but I can live with the others. Not a fan of the fire ants.

I moved here the season of 4 hurricanes. Nothing can chase me away.

 

[bentleygirl22]

I know all of the crew are Florida transplants. Do you have any tips for those of us considering relocation to the area. I think my dream may be coming true.

I would love to hear everyones thoughts/tips on relocation to Florida and the Disney area!!!! We are looking at east coast so I would be about an hour away from the parks. Much better than 16 hours away.

If your moving that way .. Move to Clermont it very nice area .. we lived there for 5 years and loved it !!

 

[HunnyBunny]

I never owned a home before I moved here, so I can't really compare taxes, insurance etc. I find that having pest control services is imperative. Can't do it well enough on our own. Just figure that into your monthly bills. Living in Clermont, I almost never have a need to take I-4 and to be honest, almost never leave Clermont unless I'm going to Disney. I work from home and DH works a short ways down 50 in Ocoee. As for moving twice... yeah we did that, but we kept most everything in boxes knowing we were looking for a house, plus we didn't have kids at the time so I know that made it easier. But, in this market, I'd hate to buy house only to find I don't love the area I'm in. Good luck in your search... and if you're looking for a nice house, there's one for sale in my neighborhood!!

Tonya

 

[mjperry]

I'm thinking about moving too, if I could just find a job there.

 

[Jacklynn]

I never owned a home before I moved here, so I can't really compare taxes, insurance etc. I find that having pest control services is imperative. Can't do it well enough on our own. Just figure that into your monthly bills. Living in Clermont, I almost never have a need to take I-4 and to be honest, almost never leave Clermont unless I'm going to Disney. I work from home and DH works a short ways down 50 in Ocoee. As for moving twice... yeah we did that, but we kept most everything in boxes knowing we were looking for a house, plus we didn't have kids at the time so I know that made it easier. But, in this market, I'd hate to buy house only to find I don't love the area I'm in. Good luck in your search... and if you're looking for a nice house, there's one for sale in my neighborhood!!

Tonya

We are moving near Clermont in about a month (Montverde actually) I'm curious how you get to WDW without taking I4. Do you take some sort of back road, is it faster?

 

[HunnyBunny]

We are moving near Clermont in about a month (Montverde actually) I'm curious how you get to WDW without taking I4. Do you take some sort of back road, is it faster?

Clermont is essentially located at the intersection of Hwy 50 & US27. You can take 27 to 192 and head east to Disney. That is the fastest way from my location. And yes, I do sneak in some back roads once I hit 192 that brings me right to AK Lodge. From Montverde, you are closer to the turnpike. You can take the turnpike to 429 south, which also hits 192 a bit closer to Disney than 27 does. And again, you'd just head east on 192. If you'd like I can give you even more backroad ways to get there (just send me a pm)

 

[HawkeyeThad]

Can anyone tell me about Winter Garden? My mom moved to The Villages recently, and while I was down visiting her in June, we passed by this area several times on our to/from WDW. It looks like a pretty nice area, and looks like you could get anywhere in the Orlando area without having to use I-4. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[bawstngrl]

My DH and are actually also relocating to the Central Florida area (near Clermont) and I'm interested in some tips as well. We are moving from the Chicago area.

I actually live in the Clermont area so ask any questions you might have...either on the board or you can PM me

bawstngrl/Marianna

 

[bawstngrl]

I was searching for hidden things that I wouldnt normally look for. Such as the home owners insurance is much higher than here. Taxes are about the same. We are looking at the east coast Melbourne area. Just wondering if you love it or hate it. Was it a good decesion. I think staying in apartment might be a good idea but that means moving twice.

I know the pay is alot lower for the healthcare industry but the coast of living does appear to be lower than the northeast.

Are you glad you made the move. That sort of thing.

Oh yeah and the bugs are they really that bad???

I would NOT live along the coast....very HIGH homeowners insurance sue to hurricanes ( several have come close to Melbourne area!)

Homeowners is sometimes hard to get (depending on how old your house is)and expensive down here...due to hurricanes of 2004

Pay is definitely lower accross the board in all industries ( I was a teacher when I moved here and pay was about 10,000 lower)

real estate taxes vary tremendously among communities...a thing to check before buying

I would also strongly suggest renting first to determine where you feel most comfortable

bawstngrl/Marianna

 

[jezebella]

Winter Garden is awesome! You're minutes from the back entrance to Disney, but without all the tourists like on 192. They just opened Winter Garden Village, which pretty much has everything you'd need on a day to day basis, so you don't have to drive to Clermont or Ocoee anymore. There's a mixture of housing with a lot of townhouses and single family homes. The schools are great (for Florida) and the downtown area is charming! We love it here!