[erdb915]

Hello everyone
I'm new to this site -We plan to move to Florida (with husband and 2 small children). I have read the forums and are very overwhelmed with all the
problems with rising HOI, other types of insurance and Property taxes. In your opinion,
which area do you think is more affordable. East Orlando (Oviedo and surrounding areas) or Northport (and surrounding areas). Please factor in
the different types of insurance and property taxes Looking to buy a house under 200k
-could be an older house too. Our total household income will probably
be around 65K. We are stuck between those two areas. We don't want to be drowning in payments. Anyone who lives in those areas, please give me some
advice. We cannot afford a house in New Jersey and the property taxes here are about 9-10k. We plan to move in about 6 months so any help would be great =) . We will probably have to rent first to see the area but I would really appreciate some GREAT advice =)

[cnccoco]

Oviedo, which is Seminole County is a great place to live, schools in Seminole County are supposed to be top notch! Sales tax is 7%. If you don't mind driving a little bit, you can look in Chuluota which is on the Seminole/Orange County line or Geneva. Both are a little more country setting. Very nice areas, very little crime.

East Orange County is 6.5% sales tax and the area is booming. Waterford Lakes is part of East Orlando that is growing rapidly but it is a great location, lots of new schools as there are alot of new neighborhoods. Orlando is part of Orange County School Systems.

Not sure exactly what info you are looking for as far as property taxes and insurance. Remember when you buy a house, the taxes will not be what the seller is paying as it will be re-appraised at today's value.

I moved from Boston about 25 years ago and love Florida!

Hope this info helped somewhat.

[jamesdsimpson]

I moved to North Port 5 years ago and like it very much. Like most other areas of Florida, real estate prices have skyrocketed over the last few years, but prices have come down considerably. Some of the builders have some good deals on new homes. I just bought a new 3/2/2 home in North Port for $176,900 that I am renting to my son.
I live in a 2000 sq. ft. home on 3 acres that I purchased in 2001. My insurance is a little over $1000 for $185k coverage. Taxes are about $3000.
You will read a lot of negative remarks about Florida on this forum, but I have never regretted moving here. I have had enough of driving in snow or black ice, shoveling snow until there is no place to put it, being housebound for most of the winter and all the other stuff that comes with northern winters.
The people who don't like it here can go up north and freeze their butts of in the winter. They don't know how much it hurts when you have stayed outdoors too long in the winter and your fingers and toes begin to thaw out. It's enough to make a grown man cry.
One advantage of North Port is that it is far enough from the Gulf to make insurance reasonable, but it is only a half hour drive to the beach.

Good luck!

[erdb915]

Thanks for the input. How is the commute to Sarasota? If we move to Northport that's probably where our jobs will be. Are we required to have
wind insurance/hurricane insurance in Northport? I heard there was some hurricane damage in Port Charlotte. Was it the same in Northport?
Also, have you heard if the schools are good in Northport? I heard Seminole county had great schools -that's why I'm stuck between the 2 areas...
Thanks for everyone's opinions =)

[jamesdsimpson]

You can get to most parts of Sarasota in about 30 minutes.

If don't have a mortgage, the decision whether or not to have insurance is up to you. Of course a lender will require insurance which will include wind coverage. I don't think you can get insurance in Florida without wind insurance due to state laws. I pay $1000 total for both with 185k coverage.
Although I am not in a flood zone, I chose to buy flood insurance for an additional $300.

There was very little damage in North Port from Charley and none from the other recent hurricanes.

My son was in the 10th grade when we moved to North Port and he attended North Port High the first year after it was built in 2001. In addition to the new high school there is a new middle school and new elementary schools. There is another middle school and additional elementary schools planned.
We are part of the Sarasota school system and we were very satisfied with my son's educational experience.

Your children may also be interested in North Port's skateboarding park which was built about 5 years ago. A bmx park is also in the planning stages.

If you decide to look at new homes let me know and I'll send you a list of the better builders in town. There are plenty of new homes already built if you don't have time to have one built. Many are under 200k.

I know nothing about Seminole county so I can't help with a comparison. In 2000 I was doing pretty much the same thing you are doing. We spent a month in Florida searching for a place to retire and decided on North Port primarily for two reasons: Homes were affordable and we believed that my son would get a good education here. So far no regrets.

[SLANTO]

I am a New Jersy resident for many years and I am also considering a move to North Port or Port Charlotte, Florida....I would be most thankful if someone could provide me the current property tax rate per $1000 of assessed value in Port Charlotte. What other municipal tax or fees will I have to pay?...... .

I could also use a list of the better buiders in North Port .................
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH...................................SLANTO