[sparksmom]

Originally I'm a West Coaster. Lived all my life in the Pacific North'wet'. Spent 6 years in NY where my hubby was born and raised. For the past 13 years we've been back here in the Pac. NW. started HATING it about 3 years ago. Nothing to do north of Seattle. Housing prices are Outrageous here. 3 bedroom 2 bath house for just under $300,000 in a place where 91% of the people make less than $15 an hour (and 45% of them make under $9 an hour) Gas prices are astronomical in Whatcom County. Plus we miss family from NY (who are now starting to relocate to FL.)

So...now we are trying to figure out the best place to look and relocate in FL. We have family in Naples, Family Friends moving a bit north of Orlando and a few just now living outside of Tampa. We've looked at Spring Hill and some places outside of Orlando.
We aren't exactly beach people, we like communities but not nosey neighbors. My husband is an IT Professional (works for a bank at the moment). I'd like to find a new'er home for under $200,000.
Any tips, advice on where to look. We've been to Florida a couple of times so it's not too new to us. I'd just rather have 9 months of sun and the rest in potential hurricanes than have 10 months of constant rain and two months of sun.

[memoriesbre]

I don't know what you will get in a newer home for under $200,000. Many of the new homes are starting in the $250,000 and up range in SW Florida.

If you can deal with sun all the time and the heat then maybe you would enjoy Fl. Hurricanes aren't anything to look forward to either. Once you get a direct hit from one, your home may just not be there anymore. Alot of people that went through the hurricanes the last few years ended up moving out of Florida, including me. Hurricane Charley changed my whole outlook on living there. We are back up north and loving it. I missed the change of season, the snow, etc. I will take the blizzards anyday over the hurricanes!

Florida is a transient state. People just don't stay put. I lived there for 7 years and 15 of the houses around me had new people in them more than twice. You will start to miss family back wherever you are from eventually.
They say they are going to move down, but change their minds, or move back up north!

[Moo Du Kwan]

Move inland....Closed chapter!
We were living in Orlando when Charley hit and by the time it reached Orlando, all that happened to us was a few downed trees.
No damage to the house. I love the coasts of FL, but would never live there.
We're moving back to Hunter's Creek/Orlando in 3 months.
Keep those blizzards and sub-Arctic cold ***** temps.
Wouldn't move back to the NE at gunpoint!
I'll take my chances with the occasional cane.

[House4Sale]

I sent you a private message but I see you won't be ready 'til 2008. Ours wouldn't be able to wait that long. Sorry.

[House4Sale]

Moo Du, Check yours too. Thanks.

[House4Sale]

We have one Memories.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by sparksmom

Originally I'm a West Coaster. Lived all my life in the Pacific North'wet'. Spent 6 years in NY where my hubby was born and raised. For the past 13 years we've been back here in the Pac. NW. started HATING it about 3 years ago. Nothing to do north of Seattle. Housing prices are Outrageous here. 3 bedroom 2 bath house for just under $300,000 in a place where 91% of the people make less than $15 an hour (and 45% of them make under $9 an hour) Gas prices are astronomical in Whatcom County. Plus we miss family from NY (who are now starting to relocate to FL.)

So...now we are trying to figure out the best place to look and relocate in FL. We have family in Naples, Family Friends moving a bit north of Orlando and a few just now living outside of Tampa. We've looked at Spring Hill and some places outside of Orlando.
We aren't exactly beach people, we like communities but not nosey neighbors. My husband is an IT Professional (works for a bank at the moment). I'd like to find a new'er home for under $200,000.
Any tips, advice on where to look. We've been to Florida a couple of times so it's not too new to us. I'd just rather have 9 months of sun and the rest in potential hurricanes than have 10 months of constant rain and two months of sun.

Check out beautiful Lakeland. Small town feel with bigger city amenities, and commuting distance to Tampa or Orlando. No beaches, but many lakes give you the feel of a waterfront town. It is in the center of the state, on some of the highest ground in peninsular Florida, so not too many hurricane worries. Lots of arts and shopping. Best of all, real estate prices, taxes and homeowner's are some of the lowest in the state - you can find a very nice home under $200,000 here!

Good luck!

[sparksmom]

Thanks for your insight.
We've had our fair share of hurricane type winds since I was a child. (last winter the winds were up to 60+ miles an hour snapping power lines and blowing transformers up and down our road, and ripping off the roofs to the rafters) Funny thing is that this happened over an entire week and we never saw any of it on the news. We had people without power and water for nearly a month in some areas. It was pretty bad. Then the snow storms and school was out for weeks which threw our kids' school year two weeks longer into the summer (which there isn't much of to begin with) There were drifts up to the roofs of peoples homes and they couldn't get out of the driveway. (our best friends were one of those 'trapped'.) Then the flooding
Mold in outhis area is excessive. We had to move out of a home because of standing water under the house and it went into the walls. So...we aren't without the disasters. ...*sigh* I could go on and on....
This June its been rainy and/or over cast and under 60 degress all but 2 full days.

However, Floridians seem to know what to expect, take it in stride and plan and prepare. We noticed how clean Orlando was even compared to our areas. Anyways, I digress...thanks for your insights....and I'll check my message box.

[2peaches2oranges]

My sister and her four children moved here to SW Florida from Sammamish back in 2005. She lives out on Boca Grande. She is happy with the schools here. Her kids were always sick from the moldy homes and schools in the Pacific Northwest. You can buy a new home here within 5-10 miles from the beaches from $180 to $300K in nice neighborhoods. Great schools in Charlotte and Sarasota counties, shopping malls close by (no Costco though except in Ft. Myers!). I would look at North Port, Englewood, Rotonda West. I also have 4 children and my kids go to the schools here. It is quiet, safe and beautiful here.

[burbsgirl]

We live in FishHawk ranch in Lithia (just outside Brandon, Riverview area) its a new community for Tampa we have great schools A+-all grades, our own town center, banks and shoppes the house prices and sizes vary a great deal however you can purchase in the 250's-300's quite easily especially with the market down turn. We in fact will be moving to the east coast of FL at the end of the this school year 2008, so our house 4/2/2, 2000 sq ft under A/C, on water, is up for grabs but we would need to lease it back from you until end of school year. Our daughter is graduating this year from Newsome High school and off to college in fall. We have lots of fun here in FishHawk and lots of action at the town center (Park Square) so ck out the website. Check out the schools- FishHawk Elem, Bevis Elem, Randall Middle and Newsome High.