Clermont area any areas/subdivisions to avoid (Orlando, Kissimmee: short sale, real estate)

[bbills03]

Hi there we are looking to get out of Buffalo, NY within the next 6-8 months. We cannot take the cold anymore and after 6 years ofextensive research we have decided Clermont would be ideal. My only concern is the amount of short sale and foreclosures I see in certain subdivisions/communities. Does this mean somethings wrong? Sink holes? Flooding? Any help woudl GREATLY be appreciated.

Thank you!!!!

[Wilshire81182]

You should pick a neighborhood because it is safe and the schools are good.
Sink holes and hurricanes are going to happen in Florida, so I do not think Clermont is better or worse than any other area in the Orlando area in this respect.
Most less established areas have a lot of foreclosures and Clermont is one of those areas that has grown a lot in the last 5-10 years with new development. It is a decent area but not always the easiest to get to as there is a lot of traffic. You should ask some names of subdivisions you are looking at and I think you will find people are very willing to help out.

[faithfulFrank]

Hey Bills03,
We live in Batavia, and bought into a community just a few miles north of Clarmont. We don't live there full time yet..(can't wait!)

It's a great area.....hilly for Florida, which is nice. Far enough away from disney so you don't feel like you are next door to mickey.

I live for our stays down there...it has been a tough winter for us WNY'ers!

Frank D.

[bbills03]

thank u both for your great advice and help. I couldn't agree with you more Frank. I love my family but cannot take another winter here, I would rather sit in air conditioning and be able to go out rather than be cooped up and freezing!!!

[windy08]

My husband is from Buffalo as well and we are also looking into moving to Clermont. We are currently living in Homestead, I would NOT recommend this area. We moved here from Chicago last September for his job and we can't wait to get out. We don't want to give up on Florida yet, mainly because we did not like the cold either!! Please let me know how you like the area and what subdivisions you would recommend. We are hoping to be out of here by September '10 so we have plenty of time to figure out our next move. Good luck with the move and please keep me posted.

[Wilshire81182]

Originally Posted by windy08

My husband is from Buffalo as well and we are also looking into moving to Clermont. We are currently living in Homestead, I would NOT recommend this area. We moved here from Chicago last September for his job and we can't wait to get out. We don't want to give up on Florida yet, mainly because we did not like the cold either!! Please let me know how you like the area and what subdivisions you would recommend. We are hoping to be out of here by September '10 so we have plenty of time to figure out our next move. Good luck with the move and please keep me posted.

What things are you looking for in another part of Florida? What exactly turns you off to Homestead? If you answer that, I think the people on this forum should be able to help with suggestions.

[annerk]

Most of the foreclosures in Clermont are at the south end of the town in the unincorporated area. Lots of investors bought short-term rental properties with real estate agents assuring them of 90%+ occupancy rates. Yeah, right, and I've got a cow that will make it's own ice cream for you. At any rate, they simply couldn't rent them enough to provide enough income to carry the note, and on top of it saw the bubble burst and the home worth less than they paid for it, so they walked away.

In the north end of Clermont, there were some people that bought homes that they either simply couldn't afford. Others thought they would flip for a huge profit. Before the house was finished, the market dropped, and again they were left with homes worth less than they paid for them, so they walked away.

Due to the rolling hills, Clermont is far less susceptible to flooding than other areas of Central Florida. There are a few low lying areas that do flood, near the trailhead to downtown and along Lakeshore Drive for example--but there really aren't homes in those areas. I have owned property in Clermont for almost six years, and have never heard of a sinkhole problem.

I would strongly suggest that you consider where you'll be working prior to moving anywhere in Florida. Commutes can be long and messy, and right now the employment situation isn't the best, with most employers giving much stronger consideration to local candidates, and some not even considering non-local candidates regardless of how qualified they are.

[MovedfromFL]

I grew up in Central FL and lived in Clermont for 4 years. What you are seeing with the foreclosures is a combination of extreme overbuilding during the boom years, and a lack of employment opportunities. (the commute to Orlando is pretty bad, and costs a lot in terms of tolls). Many people bought homes for outrageous prices during the boom and then couldn't afford the payments.

I have been hearing reports about local kids causing trouble in some neighborhoods. I would check with the homeowners assoc. and see what they say (as well as their meeting minutes). Definately do not buy anything further south on Hwy 27 than Lake Louisa. Homes further down (towards Kissimmee) are cheap, but that area gets bad fast.

Also, check out the Lake County Property Appraiser website (yahoo search it) and you can find detailed info on the most recent sale prices of any home, as well as the tax info. Be prepared to pay high property taxes for at least another year. I found many homes that sold for almost $300k but are now listed for around $160k. That sounds great, until you see that the property taxes are $4,000-5,000 per year.

I am also very familiar with the schools (was a teacher), so I can help you there also. Lost Lake Elem is great. Be prepared for large schools! (900 - 1300 students elementary; way over 2,000 for high school)

Minneola is an area that is close by Clermont. There are some issues with their budget that you may want to check out. I think taxes will have to increase there soon because they built a massive water treatment plant that was supposed to be paid for my future growth, and now that has ground to a halt.

Also try Google earth for satellite pics of the area. (and street views of homes) Much of Clermont is very hilly, but there are few shade trees, so it can be brutal in the summer. Shopping is better now than what was there a few years ago. SuperTarget and Olive Garden now, but still a long drive to the movie theater. (avoid the West Oaks Mall at all costs. Very dangerous area. A Clermont city coucilwoman was carjacked there at 5PM a few years ago)

There are some good bargains to be had now in that area. I really think the house we used to live in would sell for less than it did when it was built a few years ago. ($118k in 2002 ~ sold for $238k in 2006 ~now worth less than $118k???)

[annerk]

MovedFrom FL is behind in their info.

There will be a movie theater opening in Clermont in the next few months. There is a new Penney's, Michaels, Ross and several other stores in Clermont Landing already open.

BJ's will open across from them before mid-summer.

Work is getting ready to begin (finally) on the Mont Verde shopping plaza which will feature a variety of upscale shops and restaurants.

In addition to Olive Garden, there are Red Lobster, Outback, Ruby Tuesdays, Tijuana Flats, Chevy's, Guso's, Carrabba's, Penera, San Joses, and five or six other restaurants.

There is now convenient commuter bus service (non-stop) from the park and ride on route 27 to downtown Orlando.

FYI, the mayor of Minneola is trying to push through a horse track and gamling parlor on the very north end of Minneola near the Turnpike. I haven't heard a single person in favor of it.

[bbills03]

thank you all for your assistance. I am also looking at Groveland and Minneola now. We are both federal employees and will be working for either the VA, Homeland, or DCMA, depending on who snatches us up first. I did see that a lot of private are posting in their employment listings not to bother applying unless you are local. I was hoping the job market would pick up, but being a current economist with the DOL, its not looking so good.