[Matrix143]

Hello. I'm looking to locate my family to the Marion, Lake or Sumter county area from Ft. Lauderdale. We are looking for a small friendly town where we can raise our 1 & 3 year old sons. We are a couple in our 30's. We would like to purchase at least a 3/2 home with acreage. Where would be the best place in that area? What are the pros and cons? The good and bad? We plan on visiting the area next month. Is there any place that's a must see?

[Crane's Rooster]

Mt. Dora/Eustis/Tavares area are all nice. Small town feel but still close enough to metro Orlando for conveniences. Schools are good, housing is reasonable, lots of nice lakes and some hills.

[Sunny-Days-in-Florida]

Do not buy a home when you first move here. Rent for a year so you dont get stuck in a location that you might not like.

[Missym74]

Hi all. We are looking to move our family out of Kissimmee, and are looking at Tavares. Is that an area with growing families type of community?

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by Missym74

Hi all. We are looking to move our family out of Kissimmee, and are looking at Tavares. Is that an area with growing families type of community?

Not so much, it's more of a retiree community. You might look a bit further north at Lady Lake which is growing with a good number of families due to the massive growth of The Villages retirement area which requires a substantial population of non-retiree support to keep it going, many of whom decided on neighboring Lady Lake....and just to the south in Fruitland Park you'll see more families moving in too.