[SoFLGal]

I like North Port in Sarasota county. Great school system- Pine View School was rated number six in the US by US News. You can pick up a four bedroom home in a nice neighborhhod for under $200,000. There are some really good deals on foreclosures right now.

I've lived in SW Florida for 35 years. Born and raised here and wouldn't live anywhere else.

[totsuka]

1. Buy in a very good school district even if it's not exactly the dream house you want.
2. Can you get home insurance from a legit company?. Better check before you buy.
3. Property tax. Ignore what the seller is paying. Your bill will be much higher. And forget about any reduction that is being discussed. It won't be passed this year or any year in the future. The local and state government love that property tax revenue.
4. Check the public services...i.e. water, sewer etc...is it available, working?. over worked?.big pubic works projects planned for your area?...get your water tested before you buy a home.
5. Schools - Not all public schools are bad but look at the college level of the teachers. Our school district has about 60 percent with a BA, which seems a bit low.

[Thacker76]

Originally Posted by MultipleMOM

My husband, myself and our five children are looking to relocate to FL this summer from IL. Can't stand the winter's here anymore (I'd move today if I could). I've always loved FL when we've vacationed there, but we've never really looked around for areas to live. Now that we've decided we want to move down there, we're trying to figure out where we want to start looking. We will both be seeking jobs in the school system as teachers, so the most important things to us are safety and good schools. We do LOVE Disney, so we'd like to be close enough to go when we want to, but we don't have to live 10 min. away or anything. Last summer when we were down there, we stayed in the Davenport area, but visited the Altamonte Springs area several times to visit friends and really liked it up there. We've heard good things about the Seminole Cty schools, so I think that is where we're kind of starting our search...

My head is spinning, though, from searching all these posts on where to live and where not to live. So, finally, I decided I'd post my own question. Here is a list so far of the areas we've compiled and then you can tell me what you think... Thanks!! (oh, the type of house we're looking for - probably 4-5 bedrooms, 3-3.5 baths, decent yard space, pool... and since we're both on teachers' salaries - it's going to have to be under $300. Which, I realize cuts down our options.)

OH, and can anyone speak for amounts for property taxes, homeowner's insurance, etc. for that size house in these areas? And can anyone give me ideas on what your utillites cost (electric, gas, water, garbage, phone, cable/internet, etc.)?

Thank you so much!! Here is the list of cities/towns:
Altamonte Springs
Maitland
Winter Springs
Winter Park
Tuscawilla
Oveido
Longwood
Casselberry
Clermont
Celebration
Hunters Creek
Avalon Park
Waterford Lakes

Can we find a house that meets our needs/price in ANY of those areas??

Beth

Well, Let me put it to you this way. 10, almost 11 years ago, I moved from Illinois to Florida. Spent a year there, when I was young...dumb...and stupid, moved back to Illinois because I got "homesick". Now here we are 11 years later, 11 years older, 11 years smarter. Married for 7 years, 3 kids, and looking to move back to Florida this summer as well. So you are NOT alone. The year I spent down there REALLY got Florida into my bones. To the point that I've missed it since I left. THe sights, the sounds, the smells, the people, the feel of FLorida. So it sounds like there are going to be at LEAST 2 Illinois families moving to Florida this summer.