Clermont suggestions (Orlando: estate, insurance, rental)

[kvoss016]

Can anyone provide me with a little information on the city of Clermont? I am interviewing with a company there. From what I have found was it is a small community with lots of growth over the last couple of years. Is it a good place to raise a family? Any suggestions on good schools? We currently home school, but my wife is a teacher so we may send them if we find the right school. Also any suggestions on home developers or neighborhoods in the area to look for. We will need a minimun 4 bed 3 bath in the 300-400k range. Any help is appreciated.

[gatorace]

Clermont is growing crazy fast. The only problem I have with Clermont is the lack of entertainment in the town. No movie theater. No mall. Not even a bowling alley (at least the last time I checked). A lot of these type of things are moving into town, but for right now, it's mostly Wal-Mart and Super Target along with the chain restaurants that dominate Orlando.

There are some great communities out there, however. Lots of golf and some great lakes if you're lucky enough to find property with access. It's also home to the only hills in Central Florida.

The Legends has always been one of my favorite communities out there. Great golf course and facilities (including pool, tennis court and restaurant).

[Dee2e]

While gatorace is correct, you can get to Orlando, the themed parks, and malls pretty quickly. I used to think Clermont was the end of the world. Now I'm there often. It's a pretty nice place. There are lots of nice communities nearby too.

If you have any questions, pm me.

[StephanieScrapbooks]

Wow I guess I have taken PianoGals role in defending East Orlando for the South Lake area.

First off I'd like to say it's funny that the bowling alley has recently been completely remodeled becasue it was sooo old, it's been here forever and is a great place for teens to hang out on thier night as weell as moms during the morning and an older crowd at night. The mall will be open in the fall of 08 which will have a movie theater and other great assets. There is a Kohls, a Belks, 3 Publixs (4 next month), an indoor inflatable play area for children coming soon, an awesome dance school, plaster cottage where for no studio fee you can paint ceramics, plaster and do mosaics or jewelry making and on friday nights you can send you school age child for around $10 to have a pizza, movie and painting party. There is a unique art store that is interactivein many ways and the dowtown partnership holds many many farmers markets and craft fairs.
And if you want great food Clermont is the place to be from PAPAS Diner on Hwy 50 where for 4 byucks you can get 2 eggs, a plate of homefries or grits, toast and when you order bacon you dont get 2 pieces you get 5, the best biscuits and gravy, coffee, homeade corn beef hash and good company. If its pizza your looking for the locals have Spiros, lil Anthonys and Darios to choose from and BBQ Brodus' takes the cake! Wonderful delis in the downtown area and just good fun.
This area has great groups for home schooling, charter schools, private schools and great organizations for moms of younger children as well. From the MOMS Club to MOPS there are so many ways to make new friends. There are great play areas and parks as well as YMCA, Little League and Pop Warner that are doing very very good with enrollment.

All in all there are many many things to do in Clermont. Was there 10 years ago---no but there was no need for it then. I am just so happy to livei n a place where Hwy 50 is the largest rd still and the sunsets are to die for! Oh and the water situation, theres always somewhere to put in a boat and thankfully we have a great chain of lakes to explore!

Maybe I am not as political or as great a definitive writer as Piano but when you love where you live you just LOVE EVERYTHING!!!!!!

[pianogal]

Thanks, Stephanie! I don't know alot about Clermont, but I did see on one of the local TV stations this week, that it made the 2007 list of the Top Ten Places to Retire. I have looked online and saw many new, nice homes for much more reasonable prices than you will find in Orlando. It is growing and building up just like most of Central Florida.

I don't know anything about the schools, but the area is beautiful. As Stephanie mentioned, there are lots of lakes. It is one of the few areas of Florida where the terrain is not flat. I love the rolling hills. I have driven through in the mornings while there is still a little fog/mist over the ground and it reminds me a little of Kentucky Horse country only with lakes. Your home owners insurance should be cheaper there as well.

DH and I are looking into the area for our retirement because we can find a home in a nice community there for about 80K-100K less than the same size home in our community in Orlando and it still has that small town atmosphere.

[kvoss016]

Thank you for the feedback. The more we look into the area, the more attractive it seems. Does anyone know anything about Highlander Estates in Clermont? Is this in a nice area? We are looking at a home in that community. Are the schools good for this area? Any help/suggestons are appreciated.

[sworlando]

I would check greatschools.net for school info. It's a great resource.

I believe Highlander Estates is an ok neighborhood. You want to be fairly close to hwy 50 and hwy 27 and avoid any and all short term rental communities towards the south end of hwy 27 if you're concerned about resale.