Windermere, FL - UPDATE: he got the job!

[KodakFigment]

Congratulations!! DH and I made the leap in May. Actually DH did, I'm still here in western NY until 8/25. We looked all over the same area as you. We chose Windermere for the feel and the location. We rented a great 4BR/3Bath home in Summerport. There are a lot of rentals right now. We know that Windermere is our choice, but each individual subdivision has it's own personality. We liked Independence more, but couldn't find a suitable rental. Lakes of Windermere is nice too. If you want to see the fireworks you probably need to be a little closer than we are. We can hear them, but not see them. The new construction is really a good deal right now. We wanted to rent to be sure, but the low rates and great deals are very tempting. Looks like we'll be new together. Check out the adults board, there's a group of local DIS'ers who get together about once a month. Can't wait to be able to join them You can PM me if you want some specifics on the rental market.

 

[dvcgirl]

Just one small piece of advice.....rent, don't buy. We did our homework (or at least we thought we did).....and lived in Orlando from 2004-2007. We knew that there was "some crime" in the area when we moved there, but it really exploded about a year into our stay there. I started a business when we lived there and spent a lot of time driving around the Windemere area. I like it there, and there are a *ton* of new developments with *tons* of rental properties.....the people just couldn't sell them.

And so I would choose a school first, then a neighborhood....then find a rental home. You'll have plenty of time to buy before that real estate market picks up again....trust me.

 

[KodakFigment]

Good Advice DVCgirl We had a lot of people telling us to buy because of the great deals, but how can you really know where or what to buy until you've lived there a while, checked out the schools AND figured the commute. Even being new we have learned this is a BIG factor.

 

[JDUCKY]

Congratulations!! DH and I made the leap in May. Actually DH did, I'm still here in western NY until 8/25. We looked all over the same area as you. We chose Windermere for the feel and the location. We rented a great 4BR/3Bath home in Summerport. There are a lot of rentals right now. We know that Windermere is our choice, but each individual subdivision has it's own personality. We liked Independence more, but couldn't find a suitable rental. Lakes of Windermere is nice too. If you want to see the fireworks you probably need to be a little closer than we are. We can hear them, but not see them. The new construction is really a good deal right now. We wanted to rent to be sure, but the low rates and great deals are very tempting. Looks like we'll be new together. Check out the adults board, there's a group of local DIS'ers who get together about once a month. Can't wait to be able to join them You can PM me if you want some specifics on the rental market.

One thing to be careful of is that the development you eventually decide on for a purchase isn't nothing but renters. There's a new development off Reams just off the north end of World Drive that is pretty much that...all rentals.

The development we bought in has it in the HOA that one must live in the house for at least a year before renting it out or selling (unless some sort of unforeseen circumstances occur).

It's better to have neighbors will who will stick around than seeing people moving in and out all the time and yards not being kept up, etc. All about property values, eh?

 

[dvcgirl]

One thing to be careful of is that the development you eventually decide on for a purchase isn't nothing but renters. There's a new development off Reams just off the north end of World Drive that is pretty much that...all rentals.

The development we bought in has it in the HOA that one must live in the house for at least a year before renting it out or selling (unless some sort of unforeseen circumstances occur).

It's better to have neighbors will who will stick around than seeing people moving in and out all the time and yards not being kept up, etc. All about property values, eh?

This is a good point. Even with the rule of your HOA (where you need to live there a year before renting it out), I do think that the ratio of renters will be very high in the states that saw mega-decline in prices. One thing to watch for with respect to renters is that your future neighborhood does not allow *vacation* rentals.