Relocating from Indiana to Florida (Sarasota, Sanibel: rent, new home, live in)

[Big House]

Originally Posted by smiledoc1

BH,
You are right on target. All the education reform, merit pay, "no child left behind" etc. won't work UNLESS we find a way to get parents involved.
As to Pine View School. from my understanding speaking to neighbors, as our kids are past that stage, the school is excellent.

You and I both know from similar experiences that you can go to one of the very best private schools in the country, and if you don't apply yourself, that opportunity can be wasted. We both went to school with some of the most wealthy kids in the country, and many of them never took advantage of the education opportunity they had. They just didn't care.

[SoFLGal]

Originally Posted by cjohnson5077

Thanks, Tommy! SoFlGal, you are great once again! How are the homes in Venice or Osprey? Is it low crime and a good area? I will start looking! Can you provide me some info on these areas? Would my son still be able to go to Pine View?

What kind of area are you looking for? Gated, newer, waterfront, older, pool no pool, etc. If you could describe the kind of community you're looking for we could probably recommend a few neighborhoods.

From what I know about you so far I would say Turtle Rock and Rivendell would be at the top of my list.

The requirements for Pine View are that you live in Sarasota county and you pass the testing. Osprey and Venice are both in Sarasota county.

If you look at crime statics for Venice and Osprey on City-Data and other websites, they tend to fall way below the Nation and state averages.

[SoFLGal]

Originally Posted by acegirl

I knew that they were discussing doing some "satellite" campuses as well to help with the increased enrollment.

Yeah, you're right, North Port was one of the satellite locations mentioned but I think with all the budget cuts they squashed that idea and just decided to add on to the existing school.

Funny thing is, when I asked my kids if they would want to attend the "Pine View south campus", if they ever built one. They both said they would rather attend the campus in Osprey.We live in North Port. I guess they're attached to their school.

Here's a few articles discussing that situation:
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article...NEWS/710110696
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article...NEWS/711070385

[tommy-105]

Chrissy, just to be clear, are you looking to rent or buy right now.

Edit: Ok went back to your first post. Renting.

[cjohnson5077]

SoFLGal,

I'm looking for a newer home and gated would be nice but not necessary. I would love to have a pool but if I don't it won't kill me! I would want a community pool if the house doesn't have one. I would like to be in an area where kids are for my son who is 12. I think at first we should rent to make sure we are in the exact area we want to be. But on the other hand, there are so many great deals to buy a house right now. I'm not sure I could pass up a great deal of purchasing a home. Owning a home is awesome and I want to own again! Here in Indiana we built our house 11 years ago and we enjoy doing the yard work, landscape, the inside decorations and so forth. Most rentals do not allow alterations to the property unless the landlord agrees to it! So, with that said, we will probably rent but if the right deal comes along we would purchase a home!

[SoFLGal]

Originally Posted by cjohnson5077

SoFLGal,

I'm looking for a newer home and gated would be nice but not necessary. I would love to have a pool but if I don't it won't kill me! I would want a community pool if the house doesn't have one. I would like to be in an area where kids are for my son who is 12. I think at first we should rent to make sure we are in the exact area we want to be. But on the other hand, there are so many great deals to buy a house right now. I'm not sure I could pass up a great deal of purchasing a home. Owning a home is awesome and I want to own again! Here in Indiana we built our house 11 years ago and we enjoy doing the yard work, landscape, the inside decorations and so forth. Most rentals do not allow alterations to the property unless the landlord agrees to it! So, with that said, we will probably rent but if the right deal comes along we would purchase a home!

If you're not familiar with the area it's probably best to rent first. Then you'll have time to find the perfect house and the perfect area and not be rushed. I think the above two subdivisions would be a good place to start your search if you are renting or buying. If you're looking to rent first you should probably get in touch with www.stringermanagement.com they handle a lot of rentals in the area.

[Skunk Workz]

Originally Posted by cjohnson5077

SoFLGal,

I'm looking for a newer home and gated would be nice but not necessary. I would love to have a pool but if I don't it won't kill me! I would want a community pool if the house doesn't have one. I would like to be in an area where kids are for my son who is 12. I think at first we should rent to make sure we are in the exact area we want to be. But on the other hand, there are so many great deals to buy a house right now. I'm not sure I could pass up a great deal of purchasing a home. Owning a home is awesome and I want to own again! Here in Indiana we built our house 11 years ago and we enjoy doing the yard work, landscape, the inside decorations and so forth. Most rentals do not allow alterations to the property unless the landlord agrees to it! So, with that said, we will probably rent but if the right deal comes along we would purchase a home!

With the market the way it is I would think that you could find a short term lease, or one that can be broken cheaply, so that if you find a place you don't have to worry about the rental.

[Rainbow girl]

Originally Posted by cjohnson5077

SoFlGal: You are awesome! Wow! You gave me a lot of information to look at! This is great! I can't beleive all the support I have here! I will definitely get my son tested when we get down there and I would like to use a private psychologist, so if you could get this info to me I would greatly appreciate it! I'm so glad you have enlightened me with positive information on schools because so many people say the schools are not very good in Florida. Here in Indiana, if you don't live in a good suburb then the schools really are horrible. We fortunately live in an upper scale area where the schools are awesome and I want to move to the same type of area. Again, thank you! I just got a call from an employer in Sarasota and the job would be at the Venice office. He offered me the job and wants me to fly down to meet with him. I'm sooooo excited. I can't wait for my husband to get home so I can tell him! Now, we just need the for sale sign in the yard and a buyer! Anyone want to buy a home in Indiana? LOL! I know the house will go fast. A house just sold right down the street from me and it was only on the market for 8 days. My neigbor knows a school teacher who is looking to buy her first home and wants to look at ours before we put it on the market! It really looks like everything is working in our favor, finally!

Rainbow Girl! Yes, we have a Mustang GT convertible and maybe we could race down the highway together with nothing in the way of Florida! LOL! I can't wait! I remember last year when we drove to Florida (Miami) we rode with the top down all the way down! We were actually sun burned before we got to Flordia! LOL! I hope you can get to Flordia soon, too! It sounds like you are coming in October! What do you do? How did you find a job? I know it's difficult to find a house while being so far away. We have timeshares so we are probably going to stay in that for a couple weeks when we first get down so we can house shop!

BH! Of course I am involved! LOL! Don't you get the vibe I am that type of mom? LOL! Just kidding. My son's education comes first. He plays sports but he also knows that his grades have to be good to get the opportunity and the privalege to play sports. He has wanted to be a vet or doctor since he was four years old and hasn't changed his mind. For fun he reads medical books. In the 2nd grade he wrote a report on how the heart works and all the parts to the heart. The teacher emailed me and told me not to do his reports anymore. I called her and explained that I didn't do it! I told her to ask him any question about his report and for him to tell her from his own words how the heart works. Well, she did this and was amazed that he did know and actually told her some things she didn't know! She called me that day and said she was so sorry for accusing me of doing his report! P.S. You better have the beer ready soon! I'm comin to Sarasota!

Smile Doc! You are so right! And thanks for putting your opinion in on the schools! I really appreciate it! I am so amazed at how everyone helps here on this one site! I haven't been able to find any other sites like this! I enjoy checking in everyday to see what is going on!

Can anyone tell me how far Venice is from Sarasota? This would be my commute and I want to make sure it's not too far!

How do you insert a picture on here? I want to share a pic of me and my husband so everyone can put a face with the name. Everytime I click on the insert pic icon it takes me to a URL that I need to type in! And, I can't copy and paste in here!

Yea I already have my job lined up. I am a nurse and I got a job in Port Charlotte so I will be commuting to work but that's okay, I think it will be worth it. We were down there last month and we too got alot of sun with the top down!! It was great. We are going to get an apt. for awhile till we can really see what's out there and make sure we like where we are. After much searching I have decided to go with Fort Myers instead of Sarasota and that's just my personal opinion. I think they're both really nice but we fell in love with Fort Myers when we were there and I think it will work well for us. Only time will tell. Glad your interview went well. Well talk to ya soon.

[Big House]

Originally Posted by Rainbow girl

Yea I already have my job lined up. I am a nurse and I got a job in Port Charlotte so I will be commuting to work but that's okay, I think it will be worth it. We were down there last month and we too got alot of sun with the top down!! It was great. We are going to get an apt. for awhile till we can really see what's out there and make sure we like where we are. After much searching I have decided to go with Fort Myers instead of Sarasota and that's just my personal opinion. I think they're both really nice but we fell in love with Fort Myers when we were there and I think it will work well for us. Only time will tell. Glad your interview went well. Well talk to ya soon.

Awesome! Congrats on making your pick! Stay in touch and let us know how well your move and transition goes! I need some friendly nurses to sneak a beer into me when I go to the hospital after I walk through my sliding glass door down there! I really clean them, and have walked into them like three times! So, its bound to happen sooner or later! I'm a bit klutzy. LOL Ok, since I try to be honest here - I'm really klutzy!

[Rainbow girl]

Originally Posted by Big House

Awesome! Congrats on making your pick! Stay in touch and let us know how well your move and transition goes! I need some friendly nurses to sneak a beer into me when I go to the hospital after I walk through my sliding glass door down there! I really clean them, and have walked into them like three times! So, its bound to happen sooner or later! I'm a bit klutzy. LOL Ok, since I try to be honest here - I'm really klutzy!

I will keep that in mind if I ever take care of you. I will definately keep everyone posted on how the move goes. It's scary making a move that far but like I always say if you want something bad enough you can make it work.