We are thinking about moving there. I personally haven't been there in 15 years or more and I wasn't looking at communities and houses (flew in, took a cruise, flew out). I've been looking at Port St. Lucie/Vero Beach area on www.realtor.com. Also at West Palm Beach. We want a nice community, new or newer house, close to shopping and movies, don't really care about the beach but it would be nice if it was 20 minutes or less away for guests, and just a good central location for travel. Travel meaning, going to all the spring break and summer hot spots, good content areas, and good places for peronsal vacation (disney, universal, key west, etc). I don't want to be close to Miami, an hour or more away would be good. I also looked at the Sarasota area. All I need is a Super Walmart, a Home Depot, movie theatre, some good restaurants, a vet, and a Best Buy. Is that too much to ask haha. Do you have a favorite town in Florida?

We have a condo in Fort Myers (Gulf Coast).... Far away enough from Orlando to avoid the Disney Crowd.... Far enough South to pretty much always be warm... Few hours across the state to Miami....

Super nice beaches on Sanibel Island... Party beach at Fort Myers Beach

:)

Laura,
I live in Florida.

what's your budget and life style?

do you have kids?

what do you like to do for entertaintment?

your favorit food?

No kids and don't plan on any and we don't really care for them haha. We want neighbors that aren't 6 feet away and that keep their yards looking nice (I need competition damnit! :P ) We don't do the party thing at all. Pretty much workaholics that like to have a decent home and yard ($120k to $150k range). We like to try different restaurants once in awhile, go for a walk in a park, walking in our safe neighborhood would be nice too, ummmm we can do touristy things and they don't necessarily have to be up the road (few hours away would be fine), would like an area that when we have relatives or friends visit they will have things to do like the beach or touristy things. A place with a college or university would be nice too, I like to take classes now and then.

My hobbies are learning, gardening, photography, state parks, animals and marine life. If I can have all of those in one area that would kick ass. :agrin:

($120k to $150k range).

that can be a BIG problem.....what you just have described will cost you about 5-8 times more,
the prices are thru the roof in Florida lately

I found 100's of houses in that range on www.realtor.com. 3 bedroom, 2 bath, central air, pool, 1600-1800 sq ft, 2 car garage. Tons of new ones like that in brand new subdivisions. We like to spend our money on vacations and toys. Might look into a 4 bedroom, saw a few of those. We live in a 3 bedroom now, we each have one as an office and then one is our bedroom. But my office is also the guest room and I can't get anything done when we have someone stay over. 4th room would be nice. Here is an example http://www.realtor.com/Prop/1027126693

Laura I can highly recomend the Tampa area... I have just moved here, and I did a pretty good amount of research. The quality of life here is great. It is a great balance of being a small town feel, yet in a community that offers everything a person could want.

Tampa Bay area includes not on the city of Tampa, but Clearwater, St. Petersburg, etc...

I am in Lutz, which is considered North Tampa.... the housing is not to expensive out here at all....

Sharky has been here much longer then me, he may have some good advice.

Laura,

150k for a new house with a Pool is great. I don't know where that city is, but it sounds good.

Will be in Disney World in Aug. Can't wait to check out more of Florida. I love Oregon but the rain gets to me sometimes.

You like punishment don't you? Disney in August? Lordy! hehe. Long lines, crowds, and heat, no thanks. hehe.

hmmm...lots of retirees there,
quite far from the nearest museum/theater
;-(

I would move into a retirement community if I could, they are great neighbors, nice and quiet and keep their yard looking nice. Don't really care if a museum or theater is close by, not something I do everyday, I'm willing to travel an hour or two to see a good museum. Just gets me out of the house longer ;) I looked up a few things that are in Port St. Lucie and they have a Taco Bell and a Subway, that will work for my hubby haha. There is a movie theatre, Home Depot, Walmart and a Lowes, that makes me happy hehe. :D

I would move into a retirement community if I could, they are great neighbors, nice and quiet and keep their yard looking nice. Don't really care if a museum or theater is close by, not something I do everyday, I'm willing to travel an hour or two to see a good museum. Just gets me out of the house longer ;) I looked up a few things that are in Port St. Lucie and they have a Taco Bell and a Subway, that will work for my hubby haha. There is a movie theatre, Home Depot, Walmart and a Lowes, that makes me happy hehe. :D[/b][/quote]
than you found your PERFECT spot!

Know anything about Lakeland?

nope...
;-(((

300 bucks a year for a Florida resident park pass to Disney, yay! hehe

Well, of course my favorite is Naples - as I haven't found anything NOT to like. Such a beautiful city - probably because it was founded by the rich and everything else is pretty new. Sooo much going on all the time. Arts and Craft shows every month - entertainment in the park, something going on downtown twice a month with entertainment.... just on and on.

Of course that price range would only get you a 2 bedroom in the burbs. However, I have a 2 bedroom condo (where the working people live) accross from a shopping center that I will be selling for $75,000. I have rented it for quite a while, and it will be available as soon as it I completely redo it.

Northen Florida is quite a bit less expensive....... but it is too cold for me in the winter.

Rent a wheelchair. (few dollars - prebook it)
Use it to carry your stuff.
Get wheelchair access :)

(I'm a scorpion,its my nature) :)

I just moved to Tampa a few months ago and I love it out here

its on the westcoast of florida

Roger,
I am still waiting for your invite
;-)))

Hey Roger,

good to see you around here :)

Well if I want to be nice I could move to somewhere in the Tampa/Lakeland vicinity. My half brothers (who I consider my full blooded brother) dad lives in the Tampa area and he goes to see him once a year so he would'nt have to go very far to come see me if I was around there too. We'll see.

The Tampa area is great. for $150k you can find a nice house with a pretty big yard just north of here(within 30 minutes or so. Lakeland is about 45 minutes from here... about 1/3 of the way to orlando.

Lutz/odessa/zephyr hills is a good bet. I have family who bought in zephyr hills.. 2500 sq/ft on 2 acres for $138k. the house was 3 years old.

:-)

This might seem like a dumb question but hell, I don't know the answer so I'm gonna ask the question lol....


If I lived in say Orlando or Lakeland and a hurricane came, would I have to evacuate? Or would I be pretty safe there? How far inland is considered safe if it's heading right at ya?

I don't think Orlando was evacuated EVER,
it's WAY inland

thunderstorms everyday for half the year is a real bonus in Orlando. they come free with the pass to all parks.

.. and see the World Champion Buccaneers ;-)

Most I ever got in Orlando was a day off from school in 1979 as Hurricane David moved up the coast.

I was born and raised in Miami/Fort Lauderdale. Culturally I love Miami & Fort Lauderdale, however I’d never live there. The price of real estate has gone way out of control and is going to get worse.

Thankfully I can work at home anywhere. If I couldn’t I would be forced to areas that paid white collar executives a decent salary…a tough find in Florida. Dollar for dollar I’d pick an area that offered a lot, gave me a good investment on my home purchase and where I knew I could easily get a job if I needed to.

I recently moved closer to the West coast. I’m actually in the middle of the state but closer to Fort Myers. I had never really spent much time on that coast. Years ago I spent a lot of time in Tampa. Back then it wasn’t as desirable as it appears to be today. I live in the country, far far away from everything. If I was in your shoes I’d definitely consider Tampa/St. Pete area or right outside- east where all the new developments are popping up.

Florida has a lot to offer.

Has anyone taken one of those hydroplanes from Naples/Tampa to Key West?

Laura,

I used to live in Pt. St. Lucie and my parents still live there. When I was younger it was boring to me cause there is not very much nightlife for a 20 year old. But now that I am older I love to go back there. It is very peaceful. The homes are very cheap there because it is a develping area. for 150K you could have a HUGE and VERY nice home with a pool and a yard. Its only 15-20 minutes to beautiful beaches. There are some very private beaches there as well if you know how to get to them sometimes you will be the only one there. :D

Hey - why don't you come to Orlando and I'll rent you a house for 9 - 12 months and you can look around :D You can get a decent home here for 150k$

And when you are ready to purchase my wife can help you and we'll kick back 1% to you



Last edited by Jesse_DD at Jun 3 2003, 12:53 PM

I live in Central Florida, 25 miles from Orlando, and 28 miles from Daytona, you may want to look at Port Orange too. How close to the ocean you want to be?

Jesse where are you in Orlando? I just moved to California from Orlando.

Heya - I live in Avalon Park (east orlando) not too far away from waterford lakes. And one of my partners lives near lake nona - that is a little more quiet.

Florida rules!!

:rokk: :rokk:

I'm Laura's husband. What do you have for rent?

hey rictor - email me your contact info - jesse@pleasurelabs.com. I'll have my wife email you the picture of the house that we have available very soon as well as monthly rent and all that jazz. It is a nice place. If that doesn't suit your needs she can still respresent you on a home and kick back some (now or in the future)

:)

I grew up in Wellington--a suburb of WPB and have lived in W.P.B and Jupiter/Tequesta for over 15 years. Wellington, Jupiter, Tequesta, and Port St. Lucie are all great places to live---AND you can find a nice little house for $150k. If you are looking for a good investment on a house...go a little north of WPB...from Tequesta to Fort Pierce. You have to party on Clematis street in WPB if your looking for a great time! :rokk:

Thanks Jesse, your wife is nice! :agrin:

This is cool, Oprano has many uses...

Now we are putting together real estate deals....

Laura, I'm glad you hooked up with Jesse and his wife. Good people and Steeler fans as well. :)

Oh no! Not that! Damn sports people. :P

Oh no! Not that! Damn sports people. :P[/b][/quote]
Just telling you they are good people. Being Steeler fans is just a plus in my book. :)