Young Family Possibly moving to Orlando Area (Sanford, Longwood: apartment, foreclosures)

[drizahy4]

Hello All,

Just had a few questions and I am sure many more will follow.

Small Background.
Currently my wife and I are looking into moving to Florida from NY. We have narrowed our area down the Orlando area and cape coral(family) for the most part. My wife (27) is a Medical Secretary and I (26) am a Audio Video Technician and do IT as well. I know of a few places in the Orlando area that do the exact same time of work I do here in NY.

We have a 8 year old son and a 2 month new born. Which is the main reason for the move. Currently the area we live in is not that great and I would like to raise my children in a place where we can branch out at. Low Crime is a big thing as well to the wife.

We are looking for a place with a good school system. I know places are spotted so that is the priority. I have been told Clermont is a nice place outside of Orlando but still in range traveling to work. Currently my commute time is an 1hr 30 mins. So travel is nothing .

Possible Idea Broker told me.
Currently I talked to a mortgage broker and was told it would better for us to rent a place, get jobs, and then we can apply for a FHA loan. They said it would be better for us as first time buyers with 650-700 credit rating to be prepared. That would give us the opportunity to have a cushion with our money instead of the 20% down since we dont have a job in the state. He looked over my student loans and we talked about wages and we would be looking in the range of $200k possibly more with what bills we carry down there (which its looking like just my Student Loans will come.) if you go for the FHA Loan.


So that for the most part is the background. My biggest thing is moving to the same area were we can find a house so I will not have to move my oldest from school to school.

So any input on good areas in our price range?

Is buying a new house worth it? Any good builders in the area? example is I hear KBHomes very mixed in the area. (I am a person who believes giving a little for something new is better. This is why I ask.)

What should I expect in terms of communities? In the areas chosen? HOA would obviously bring our budget down so is it worth the communities from prior knowledge?

What do you think about the advice of the broker?

Is there a place to find out the average water/electric/insurence cost that we would be looking at? Or can anyone shed light on that please.

Thank you for all the help.

[beckycat]

If you have children, I'd try to stay in Seminole County for the schools. With prices having gone down, I think $200K is definately realisitic. I live in Lake Mary and the area is very safe and the schools are good. I would try looking in Longwood, Lake Mary, and parts of Sanford zoned for Lake Mary schools. Everything is very convenient here too. We pretty much stay within a 5 mile radius to get everything we need. You can now use the $8K tax credit for a downpayment if you are first time home buyers. If I could buy now, I would. Prices have come down alot and you can really get a great deal.

[lovnlife]

My family moved here a year in half ago from NJ. We love where we are. We are in East Orlando called Avalon Park. My son goes to Avalon middle and I cannot say anything negative. He loves it. The schools here are A rated. People are nice here,very convenient to shopping (waterford lakes). I have to say traffic can be a pain but no matter where you are in Orlando traffic
stinks There is sub division called Timber Springs and its next to the Timber creek high school. I know for a fact there are homes selling for $200,00 and less for 3/4 bedroom. I live in Timber Isle. Good luck,hope i helped out...Let me know on any other questions

[annerk]

Get jobs, and then worry about finding a palce to live. No sense choosing an area then finding out you'll be working on the exact opposite side of town with a 2.5-3 hour r/t commute every day.

[flguy123]

I would go with Avalon Park.

[drizahy4]

Originally Posted by annerk

Get jobs, and then worry about finding a palce to live. No sense choosing an area then finding out you'll be working on the exact opposite side of town with a 2.5-3 hour r/t commute every day.

I been looking closely at jobs in the area. Truth be told r/t now takes me anywhere from 2-3 hrs driving 3+ if I take public transportation here in ny.

[annerk]

The point is, do you want to continue that, or do you want to be half an hour commute to be able to spend more time with your family? Have you looked into the job market here to see if there are any openings in your fields?

If you wife isn't bilingual she'll be limited in her opportunities, most doctors offices and hospitals now want bilingual workers. Not saying she won't find anything, but it will be much more difficult. For you the industry is very limited. Not impossible, but lmited, and A/V jobs around here dont' pay 1/2 of what you are making in NY. Expect to start at about $10-12/hour.

[seain dublin]

I will never understand someone especially with children moving somewhere without jobs lined up.

The funny thing is they are more concerned about where to live rather than employment.

The OP talked to a broker who at least told them to rent first.

You really need to check out the job market, you might get your socks knocked off when you see the salaries here.

Forbes magazine also listed Orlando as the 7th worst job market in the country last month.

I have come across so many people who move to Florida because they think it is cheaper to live and they end up getting low paying jobs and our further behind than they were in their home state.

You didn't mention any family, something else to keep in mind. If you and your wife have extended family in NY, and you are close , remember that is a lot to give up.

Is it just going to be the four of you and no support system here.

I would really research jobs first and line something up before moving anywhere.

And brokers in FL are not your friend. FL allowed convicted felons to be brokers and that is why FL is either number 2 or 3 in the nation in foreclosures.

Many people got talked into houses they couldn't afford. I would also try and get those student loans out of the way before taking on house payments,

[drizahy4]

Originally Posted by seain dublin

I will never understand someone especially with children moving somewhere without jobs lined up.

Before starting to knock people understand we would not be moving without any jobs lined up. I did not come on this board to get answers that have no relevance to the questions I ask. I am aware of job locations and the market is bad. Thats what you hear in every post I believe anybody can understand that. What I am doing is called research which should obviously be done. I do have family down in the area and not worried about being alone. Besides my mother-in-law I may see the rest of my family 1 time a month. SO before you start to say family understand that I did not give you a biography of my life to base everything on. The book will be in stores next month if you want to read it.

A/V up here is not paying as well as you may think Annerk. Many places are going to 4 day work weeks and lowering hours. Freelancers are suffering very hard which is causing issues in many aspects. Businesses are no longer going with who they used before but are going with the cheapest possible. Quality of a product is going out the window in our business. The traveling does not make a difference to me as fast as things move here you learn for those things not to affect you. I have traveled from upstate NY to work on a regular basis before moving to Staten Island which is not the best of places to say the least.

Neighborhoods collapsing and schools failing apart because of cut backs are things that bring us as NY'ers down at this time. My son will be going from a A rated school to the worst school on the Island and on the list of worst schools in the city next year. So for him its a choice of moving to a different location on the island which would prices start at +300k for a house with next to no yard in a decent neighborhood. Its true job loss is starting to rise here as well. The cost of living is the same to be honest. Except you show me the projects down there that have people hanging out and people struggling daily paying 1100-1300 for an apartment in those conditions.

We as a country are suffering everywhere. So I asked for ideas on places that have advantages to those with poor rated schools, hospitals, high crime, and other things of interest because I am looking for a change for us.

[NihonKitty]

Many of the housing areas of alafaya/university and into oviedo are nice.