Irish locating to Central Florida (Orlando, Sarasota: how much, houses, job market)

[tonihowe]

Thanks for all the comments. Don't worry we are not moving to Orlando, we want to be close to enjoy the novelties there but definatly wouldn't live there. Crime is so bad there.

As for Seain Dublin
[quote=seain dublin;11056068]Why leave a lovely country like Ireland, which over the last few years had the number one economy in Europe for central FL?

Granted like the US economy theirs is also in a recession now.

I hope the OP didn't just come to Disneyworld for a vacation and think this is life in FL.

EVerything OP has described exists in Ireland and it is of better quality. The trend over the last few years is for Irish to return back to Ireland.

quote]
Not sure where you're information came from. But as beautiful as Ireland is it has no where near the amount to offer. It definatly doesn't have the number 1 economy in Europe. Including the North maybe but the have seperate government. The republic has a very bad economy. Over half the country is out of work. Factories shut losing thousands of jobs every week. Its a big effect on us as our population is so small. Stuff is so much more expensive here than every other country. All visiting countries wonder how we manage to pay those prices. Outside of Dublin (which is the only part most people see) it's 10-20 years behind other western countries on development. There's nothing to do for all ages, which is why we have a major drinking problem here, our teen and adult drinking rate/percentage is the worst in the world. Schools are poor quality. Education not to bad, but only if of standard intelligence, if you have learning disabilities or high intelligence/giftedness, school's can't deal with you. The only option is to move nearer Dublin and pay the extremely expensive cost of living there.
BTW we did not just go to Disney and think thats the way it is. We've made plenty of visits and just love the weather, things to do and what the state has to offer. Theres so much to do, beautiful beaches and don't have to spend the whole year wearing jumpers and coats.
Americans are obviously given a completly different view of Ireland. It's not all green grass, nice landscape and fun sessions in the pub

[tonihowe]

Does anyone have some nice positive comments and genuine advice as to the nicer area to live? Or would another part of Florida be better?

[Indurain]

My brother in law lived in Fort Myers, Florida, for 6 years.
Loved the place.
Himself and his wife only returned to Waterford in recent years.

Fort Myers is a really nice spot - nice people, nice location.
Weatherwise it gets extremely hot and humid and each day during the summer they get a huge downpour for about half an hour (weather system comes in from the Gulf of Mexico) and then it dries up instantly.

Fort Myers is set in a nice location : Naples (the wealthiest place in the USA) is an hour up the road.

Plenty of economic activity in that part of the world.

[seain dublin]

[quote=tonihowe;11105896]Thanks for all the comments. Don't worry we are not moving to Orlando, we want to be close to enjoy the novelties there but definatly wouldn't live there. Crime is so bad there.

As for Seain Dublin

Originally Posted by seain dublin

Why leave a lovely country like Ireland, which over the last few years had the number one economy in Europe for central FL?

Granted like the US economy theirs is also in a recession now.

I hope the OP didn't just come to Disneyworld for a vacation and think this is life in FL.

EVerything OP has described exists in Ireland and it is of better quality. The trend over the last few years is for Irish to return back to Ireland.

quote]
Not sure where you're information came from. But as beautiful as Ireland is it has no where near the amount to offer. It definatly doesn't have the number 1 economy in Europe. Including the North maybe but the have seperate government. The republic has a very bad economy. Over half the country is out of work. Factories shut losing thousands of jobs every week. Its a big effect on us as our population is so small. Stuff is so much more expensive here than every other country. All visiting countries wonder how we manage to pay those prices. Outside of Dublin (which is the only part most people see) it's 10-20 years behind other western countries on development. There's nothing to do for all ages, which is why we have a major drinking problem here, our teen and adult drinking rate/percentage is the worst in the world. Schools are poor quality. Education not to bad, but only if of standard intelligence, if you have learning disabilities or high intelligence/giftedness, school's can't deal with you. The only option is to move nearer Dublin and pay the extremely expensive cost of living there.
BTW we did not just go to Disney and think thats the way it is. We've made plenty of visits and just love the weather, things to do and what the state has to offer. Theres so much to do, beautiful beaches and don't have to spend the whole year wearing jumpers and coats.
Americans are obviously given a completly different view of Ireland. It's not all green grass, nice landscape and fun sessions in the pub

Um, I first generation American born to two Irish parents. Very familar with the Emerald Isle, yes the Irish economy has slowed down, but so has the US economy and FL which based it's economy on new construction and tourism has been hit very hard.

Ireland as you know was called the Celtic Tiger and did have the number one economy in Europe for several years, in the US the news show 60 Minutes did a story on it a few years ago.

But I am quite familar with Ireland and have several aunts,uncles,and cousins in County Kerry and as well as in Rosscommon.

I haven't just seen Ireland on TV. I have help herd cows on my cousins dairy farm on more than one visit, which was actually a fun experience.

Learned that cows don't like to hear strange voices, makes them nervous...LOL.

Just like Ireland living in Florida and coming here for a vacation are two different things.

And I love, love the Irish people but we have many, many American born workers looking for work here. Now is not a good time to relocate here.

[happyhotel]

As a Winter Garden resident my entire life, I would highly advise you check this city out. We have an historic downtown area that is gorgeous. We have an insane trail that runs right through the middle of the city. We have a brand new outdoor mall that is about a year old. The Winter Garden/Disney World line is literally a couple of miles. We have a lot to offer, and I suggest you contact me for more information. But for now, here's some links to our stuff.

Main city website: City of Winter Garden, FL

Trail website: West Orange Trail - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and West Orange Trail

The new mall website: Winter Garden Village :: Winter Garden, FL

Enjoy!

[SouthernBelle3]

Originally Posted by tonihowe

Does anyone have some nice positive comments and genuine advice as to the nicer area to live? Or would another part of Florida be better?

Well I think the Mt.Dora/Eustis area is nice. Google it and see what you think.
I do need to warn you that based on what you describe as your skill sets, you will need a lot of cash. Electricians are not in high demand right now. Also, dance is nice, but a lot of people are taking pay cuts or being layed off and dance lessons are a luxury. It may be hard to find jobs. OF course if you are wealthy and can live off savings, that would be a different story. Personally, I think economic recovery will be very slow and unemployment in the double digits will be a problem for awhile.

[tonihowe]

Thanks for help guys.
TBH I think economic recovery will be slower here, but will probably be slow in all countries in the western world.
I won't have tons of savings (enough to get started out there and live for a few months without work), but will be getting around $20-25k a year earnings from my current business even though I will no longer be working as such for it. This should increase a small little bit each year and may even reach $30k (I am very lucky to have good staff).
I kinda have a job out their already to go too, ok won't be earning tons but will be enough to live off, plus I have my extra business money coming in to keep me ticking over for a while.
We are quite willing to go back to basics as such. I have done it before when I moved to Ireland and got through. I was a teenager earning equivalent of $750+ a week (I ran my own design company at from 16) with no rent or bills, and luxury of living at home. When I moved here I shared a house with people I didn't know, only knew 1 person in the whole county I lived in and had a ****ty job with crap wages. I only had around $5-10 for food a week and that was if we didn't have to get oil for heating. Some weeks I had to go without food. I was f***ed if I got sick! Was very ill in my first year as I couldn't afford to go to doctor, I left it so long and developed blood poisoning. My housemates and (who I became friends with) some friends I'd made at work put money together to pay the bill when I got rushed to emergency. But I got through the crappy times and after alot alot alot of hard work I was running a successful business within 3 years, had my own place, loads of friends etc.
So we going back to basics in terms of living. My hubby taking whatever job he can get (or living of my earnings if that fails), back to a 1 bed apartment, no luxuries with groceries, no more monthly trips to shopping malls. We don't mind if its what we want to do. And if all fails we do have a home and work here in Ireland to come back too. But we'd rather take the risk and know we've tried it, than spend our lives wondering what if and regretting it.
I believe the right kind of people can make the best of any situation, I've always managed to do this. So economically timing might not be perfect, but in our stage of life it is, and you never know things might start improving a teeny bit by the time we get over (around 18 month-2 years) and we might just succeed. Whatever the economy, job situation.
Our priority is finding a town that would be nice to settle in. It's the only thing that's left to decide and finalise. So any further suggestions, info on towns would be realy really appreciated. We are spending another summer in FL next year (instead of a honeymoon), so more humidity and storms (we love em anyway), researching all the towns we're looking into and their neighbourhoods. Even though we don't have kids we wanna kinda move to a town we gona stick with, so somewhere good to raise a family. Good schools and things to do (other than Disney and themeparks)

[tonihowe]

PS. Anyone got comments on following towns -
Winter Park
Dr.Phillips
Lake Mary
Citrus Ridge (lake county)
Webster

Or perhaps try away from Orlando?

[mtta]

Sorry I don't have a direct answer, but I just wanted to put forth a note of encouragement. Americans are quite down on Florida, and for some of us, Ireland is like our Disney World. The grass is always greener! There is a bit of exaggeration about the negatives in Florida, and a tendency to forget the positives.

If you like the heat and sun, and don't mind storms, the weather is great. Taxes are low. Unemployment is high, but jobs turnover more than other places, offering more frequent opportunities. If you are competent at your job, they will be surprised, and you can work your way up quicker than in other places. There is a lot of clamor about petty theft and property crime, but most nice homes are in gated communities where there is none. Also, there is commotion about healthcare, but if you have a decent job you're covered very well.

Warmest wishes!

[tonihowe]

Thanks mtta!
I know there's alot of doom and gloom about florida, but its a great oppurtunity for us and to us. Unemployment in Florida is the same as Ireland (which is around 12% at the moment) however our town in Ireland has the worst unemployement in the country at just short of 16% with a 83% increase in past 6 months and no sign of improving tbh as it has been above 10% for past 3 years already, so pretty much anywhere seems better to us, lol! Its also came out in top 5 in Ireland for untidyness/dirtyness, for having the most travellers (gypsys). We only have 1 hospital for an extremely large area, its only 45 mins away for us but 2hrs from others, so if you have a major accident you're screwed it's the only A&E, only place to get an x-ray or really get any treatment. We have a hospital in our town but it couldn't get enough funding to stay open so only offers some physio, counselling and baby scans but thats about it.
I pay for good health insurance here and go private for healthcare, and would be willing to do the same in US.
It doesn't get you much here, gets you a bed in the hospital, won't have to wait a day-week to xray a broken bone or a year for a scan, only have to wait 3-6 months instead of 18mnths-2 years to see a consultant, can see 1 45 mins away instead of 2 hrs away and only an hour wait in his surgery (which is a room in his house) when you get there. Although government added levy increasing it majorly used to pay 45 and government levy now makes it 68 per month
Would you get better in private health care in US? I know you do in England

I'm a determined and hard working person and usually succeed in what I do, whatever the situation, so am positive enough!