[DGibson]

We will be moving to Lakeland FL from Oregon. We have visited Orlando in September, but what is Lakeland like? What are the high temps for each month and howis the humidity? Does anyone know if there are nice housing communities in Lakeland? Any help would be appreciated. We are going into this move without really visiting so all information is a help. Thank you.

[Jammie]

Hi D, I don't even live in Fla. so my info is limited, but I wanted to say that it's a very nice town. One of my neices lives there and loves it there. Since you already know what the humidity and warm temps are like in Orlando, it's the same way in Lakeland. You are SO brave to move somewhere without having been there. We're also hoping to move to Fla. about a year down the road and it's scary even though we've been to a few of the areas down there. It will be the first significant move of our lives. We live right in the area that we were born in and that was a long time ago.

[t-town]

Lakeland, like every city has good areas, and not so good areas. I haven't been to Lakeland that much, so i'm not sure about which area is which. But yes, there are very nice, brand new housing communities being built in Lakeland. The highs, lows, and humidity is just about the same as Orlando, Tampa, and the central part of Florida.

I would suggest you look up online some of the new communities being built. Hope this helps!

[seaski]

Lakeland was recently named the 4th best place to purchase in the U.S., based on potential real estate appreciation. It's close to Tampa and less than an hour from Orlando. Lots of lakes. Very nice place! Not too small of a city, nor not too big. You'll like it there.

[Floridasunshine]

You are picking a great and reasonable place to live in Florida.

We just moved to polk county a year ago, from Tampa, because the home are so reasonable.

Highland homes are building new subs. They are quality built but lot for your money.

South Lakeland is more expensive, North Lakeland is by the Mall. Load of new Subdivisions in both areas.

We bought a Bowen Family Home, in north lakeland, but we loved the Highland homes would not start building in time for us.

[Floridasunshine]

I forgot to mention. This tip. When looking in new subdivisions in Lakeland when you see for sale by home or for sale never moved in. These homes are jacked up in price by investors. They buy at beginning of subdivision at low price and after built flip the house for 50,000. more.

You are better off builting your home with the builder, you get better price.
We lucked out and someone warned us early . We almost got ripped off.

[christa17]

bowen has there own investors that buy the homes at preconstruction prices and jack up the price.There homes also have major problems and they exploite migrante workers stay away from Bowen!!!!!!!!!

[FitCAGal]

Hey there, I am moving to Lakeland in 3 weeks from California and asked the same question a few weeks ago. Look up Lakeland in the forum. Keep in touch - it will be a new experience for us both since I've NEVER lived in Florida and am not familiar with the area either. Best of luck to you!

[AJ67]

Wow I never Heard that About Bowen, There Homes are very Nice...
Try Cassidy homes Also Very Nice...its a smaller Builder but the homes are awesome...
Not Sure where The Person was going to Buy a Bowen Home at , but we were Looking at buying a Pre Constructed Home by Bowen Last yr... and the price was the same as the Model..
I think soon you will find the Builders Trying to Get rid of them homes, there are a ton of homes that are new never lived in , and are up for sale...I think if they are new and up for sale by a Realtor , You can make and Offer right?

[Floridasunshine]

I have a Bowen Homes built 9-2005, It was good experience they took care of any of my issues. I do have concerns about Investors buying up the homes before being built and jacking up the price. If you buy a home look on the county appraiser site for sales prices and see what the neighbors paid. We paid 170 for our home 2140sq ft . now the investors are selling for 300,000. Or the homes are being rented out to low class people who dont take care of yards. use sheets for curtains etc. The homeowners has not taken over yet, due to sub not complete. Lots of unhappy people here due to Renters. We were promised no more than 20% investors able to buy when we signed our contract. First 100 homes had only 18 owners rest were investors. So you see what is happening. But not only here. US HOME, Highlands HOmes, Cassidy doing the same thing. Just watch out for price of homes. CDD fees and investor homes. We wont be staying here due to renters. We love Lakeland , we have lived everywhere over last 40 yrs in Tampa area,