[Billy&Daryl]

My lady and I have been looking at homes in Florida for about three years. We will be re locating from Northern New Jersey. On our last house hunting trip, we seem to like Deland and Deltona. We saw some houses with a bit of land (which we like) and pretty easy to access to I-4 so Daytona is 30 minutes north and Orlando only 40 minutes south.

We are very interested in hearing about these two areas. We are ready to put in a few offers. Any help would be great.

Thanks,

Billy & Daryl

[stevetogo]

The most I can offer to you is that Florida Real estate doubled to tripled in the last 3 to 4 years.

Wait till the summer season (= hurricane season) is over. With very little luck neeeded, as the recent trend has proven, we will be hit by another hurricane.

Then you should be able to find quite a few desperate sellers.

[Jill & Sean]

We are also looking to leave New Jersey and are looking into Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, Deep Creek areas. It seems that you get a nicer house for the money, and in a nice area as well. I have been doing alot of research on schools, etc. and am going down in March to look at some homes. Anyone have any knowlege of these areas, I would like some advice-good or bad!! thank you

[clhamblin]

Geneva is THE place to be. Still a small town with lots of Indian history, small town folk -- they have bluegrass jams at the VFW on the weekends. And to top it off, it's about 25 miles from Orlando and about 35-45 minutes from Cocoa Beach and Daytona Beach (i.e., you are safe from hurricanes). Disney is around the corner and the economy is booming. Better hurry though, people are snatching up the land and houses quickly.
We are selling land right now and here's the link:
URL removed
Our website has a lot of great Geneva links for you to check out the area online.
Good luck searching!
Candy
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[cakeprincess]

DON'T LIVE IN DELTONA!!! Deltona is the Sinkhole City. Alot of houses, both old and brand-new, had to be destroyed because of sinkhole. You can research on the internet yourself and find out.

Deland is not bad at all. The crime is getting little higher each year. The historic area is beautiful, but very expensive to live there.

I am moving to NC because I want to buy a bigger home for my growing family. I can't afford $200k FL home as that's what the prices are right now.

Good luck.

[snowbird51]

We lived in Marion County for 2 1/2 years, crime was not a big problem, (3 hurricanes) schools ok. Cost of living was no different than in the Northeast! Everyday staples were high ie bread, milk, gas etc. Property was going up...way up! As for work...your husband by trade is a carpenter...he might stand a chance if self employed...lot of red tape with building codes. If you go to Florida MAKE sure you have a lot of back up money to live on. We moved back to NE in November we are looking into Rocky Mount and other areas of NC for health issues. Can't handle the cold and snow here in MA!
I don't want to discourage you or anyone else considering moving to FL...but it is not Sunshine. I wish I had someone telling me the reality of what it could really be like living there. As we were told by the l"Natives of Florida" "it is a culture shock moving to Florida" at first we did not get it...then we got it.
Hope this helps...but not discourage you from moving there, millions love it there. It is also said if you make it there for 2 years you will most likely remain...I started looking to come back before my 2 years was up. Everyone has their own lifestyles that they enjoy...perhaps you will like it there.
Good luck

[richkat]

We've lived here for almost 3 years and are looking to move on. The first year was awesome for us and then we started seeing the problems. It's very transient here (snowbirds, tourists, and transplants moving to and fro) and people keep their allegience to their home state and so it doesn't feel like a community. Like somebody else said, it's like being on vacation. But after awhile, you want the vacation to stop.

[snowbird51]

Cakeprincess is right, it is the sinkhole of the planet. Big expensive houses were lost to sinkholes! Crime is on the rise, check out the story about the "Deltona 6", it took place in 2004, (check newspapers and TV web sites for useful information on all areas) for information about . Also check out Orlando's crime, it is not Disney World! On the west coast side is Crystal River, in Levy County it is a nice area. Cedar Key is a nice ocean community.
Before deciding check into the employment and healthcare systems.

[Summerbreeze]

This is to "Snowbird 51" ...and you all too.... My husband is a Painting Contractor and we were from Connecticut. In Ct. you just send in your money and get a license. And most don't even do that, no biggy. ...HERE! OMG! It's a nightmare. You have to take a test for 4 hours and pay 300.00 and they test you on law and business...to paint a freakin wall!! You're better off being an illegal alien and get all the work you want! I love Florida for the way it looks, it's like paridise, but for work and the laws they have here...I've never heard of such ridiculous things in my life. We hate that part. and the roads! Who in Gods name designed this place? You have to go like two miles down the road to turn into a store and come all the way back up! There is a fee for EVERYTHING here also. It's a money rip off totally. We got side swiped by an old man with no insurance, and he just kept on driving, and my husband got his plate #, but after three weeks of calling, the police said, "We don't see any evidence of anything on his car so...." They asked us after the accident if we wanted them to give him a ticket for leaving the scene of an accident? Why were they asking us? Isn't that a crime?!! This place is really sickening sometimes....but it's beautiful....that's the only good part.

[tuscany609]

Florida is no paradise only if your on a vacation i have a home 1/2 mile from ocean and ive been here 3 months and havent even had a chance to see it cause i been doing work on house after hurricane wilma thats why i went to the mountains thats true heaven if you have to work here its a hell hole