SWA living in Orlando

[New SWA Wife]

My hubby just got picked up with SWA and we are looking to move to Orlando. Any advice on where to live? Looking to spend in the four's.

Thank you.

 

[Stinkbug]

You may be able to stay in the four's in Baldwin Park...but that's the first place I'd look. Master planned community, right in the middle of everything. Very nice and pretty expensive. If you want to live in a more historical setting try Thornton Park. It's beautiful and everyone is jumping on the bandwagon and renovating these old homes. You'll pay a pretty penny for it but should be able to find something in your price range.

 

[PA-44Typed]

Look over on the east coast. Merritt Island, and Cocoa are nice. Only about 35 min to KMCO.

 

[SDF2BUF2MCO]

It all depends what you're looking for. Personally, there are alot of other places I'd rather be living but that's another subject.
If you have kids, or plan to have kids, I would recommend the Dr. Phillips and/or Windermere area. The schools are allegedly better and home values to continue to increase. Don't know where you're coming from but alot of the newer properties are on postage stamp sized yards. This also puts him approximately 30 minutes or less from MCO. That may be not too big a deal depending on the line he gets. If you want to get more bang for the buck house wise may have to go to Davenport or even Lakeland. Further commute but again if you're gone 4-5 days may not be that big of a deal. $400K (for now) will buy you a nice place. Oh, and if you do buy into SW Orlando be prepared to drive the latest and hippest cars or else you won't fit in - joking somewhat.

 

[New SWA Wife]

Replies - so far so good. My husband warned me of the type of rhetoric that can happen in these threads. I appreciate the feedback, and if any of your wives want to chime in on early SWA life please let them have a seat for a while!



Take care,
the "Whiff"

 

[Falconjet]

We did a lot of househunting in the Oveido area about 3.5 years ago and that seemed like a pretty nice place. Schools were supposed to be pretty good and it was far enough out of town but still commutable 4 times a month. Didn't end up moving there, but we were real close. Just another place to maybe look at.

FJ

 

[KTHornet]

There are lots of Orlando SWA folks who live in Stonybrook (sp?) which is 10 minutes from the airport.

KT

 

[Majik]

Good schools (Wekiva Elementary, Rock Creek Middle School, Lake Brantley HS) in the Longwood (Wekiva Springs) area in the Sweetwater or Sabal Point Subdivisions. Both subdivisions are built around golf courses. Houses start about $200k on up.

 

[MDP727]

Move 1 hour north to Ocala. Easy drive on the turnpike the whole way.
Some areas in Orlando will take you just as long top drive.
400K in Ocala will buy you a mansion on a couple acres. Or a banging house at Leeward air ranch if you'd like to live in a flyin community.

 

[Stinkbug]

Move 1 hour north to Ocala. Easy drive on the turnpike the whole way.
Some areas in Orlando will take you just as long top drive.
400K in Ocala will buy you a mansion on a couple acres. Or a banging house at Leeward air ranch if you'd like to live in a flyin community.

I agree Ocala is nice but it's closer to two hours from Orlando...bit of a stretch isn't it?

 

[MDP727]

No it takes me an 1 hour and 10 minutes from house to airport parking lot.
After 12 years I can look at my watch and say exactly when I'll pull in my driveway. Traffic is also that predictable. The turnpike north out of Orlando has gotten a little slow when a hurricane is nearing.

 

[Mach 80]

Good tips.


>>>Oh, and if you do buy into SW Orlando be prepared to drive the latest and hippest cars or else you won't fit in - joking somewhat.<<<

Yep, that area's yuppyville, kinda crowded, and traffic can be tough.

The coast is nice but you'll pay a little more for being close to the beach. Someone mentioned the Oviedo area to the NE of Orlando. My brother lives there. Nice area and a little less expensive than Windermere/Dr Phillips...easy access to MCO on the 417. The central little town of Oviedo itself is nice and tries to be like Mayberry in some ways. Chickens running loose in the roads and the Townhouse Restaraunt has a good breakfast. Good schools in general. Growing fast and starting to get a little crowded but worth a look. Nice family area. New developments and nice older homes in Tuskawilla. Not too bad a drive to the beaches either. Be sure and check that area out.

Stoneybrook is fine, but a busy crowded area, however shopping, restaraunts, etc are very convenient.

Nicer parts of Winter Park are great but it's gotten very pricey. It's all the rage to buy an old house and fix it up.

If you (he) don't mind the drive to MCO, up the road towards Clermont and also on to Ocala are also worth checking out.

Plenty of nice areas all around in general.

 

[CF34-3B1]

Since we're sort of on the subject;

Anyone currently on the property have an idea of how long it's taking newhires to hold MCO? How long to hold a line?

Thanks for the input.

 

[jaxgus]

Agree!!!!

No it takes me an 1 hour and 10 minutes from house to airport parking lot.
After 12 years I can look at my watch and say exactly when I'll pull in my driveway. Traffic is also that predictable. The turnpike north out of Orlando has gotten a little slow when a hurricane is nearing.

I live west of OCF and the drive to the MCO employee lot is 1+22. The only thing to be careful when considering Ocala is to ensure you buy in a A+ school's district or get on the waiting lists for private schools early. We have our kids in private school and the wait was worst than the one waiting to find out if I was hired by my current employer. I've lived in Orlando my entire life and my family is considering joining me in Ocala to get away from the congestion and traffic.

Good luck looking

 

[KTHornet]

Ocala is the place for me too! 1+20 to the parking lot. I sat reserve for 14 months from my house, I just had to make sure I was ready to go within 10 minutes for a 2 hour reserve call. I only had 2 short notice (check in in 2 hours) calls during that time.

KT

 

[Zephyrhills]

Oviedo....the only town in Central (if not all of) Florida where ALL schools are A-rated. This is likely a large contributing factor as to why the property values in Oviedo have outpaced the already impressive year-over-year increases found in the rest of Central Florida. That, and we just past a law forbidding any new sex-offenders from living in Oviedo...which excludes most Pilots.

Literally 100% value increase in most of Oviedo over the past year. $400,000 will buy you a nice resale home under 3,000 square feet in Oviedo, unless you opt for a less desirable neighborhood in Oviedo...there are a few. A new-construction 2,500+ sqft home in a nice neighborhood in Oviedo pushes $500,000 now...that's if you are 'lucky' enough to get selected in one of the builders' 'lotteries'.

Whatever you do, don't buy South of Rt. 50...in East or West Orlando.

 

[New SWA Wife]

Thank you all so much. You really are providing some great feedback. Schools are obviously important for our kids and I'm glad to see the responses include that as a factor.

Much like some of you, driving an hour plus is no big deal for my husband (so he says!) because it's only a few times every month.

From what I'm hearing N-NE is where I can sort of get out of city proper and also get a little more bang for the buck.

I'll keep reading so keep writing. And not to shift gears too much, what's the feedback on Baltimore (I fear writing that because I hate the cold!).

Thanks again,
the "Whiff"

 

[SDF2BUF2MCO]

Whatever you do, don't buy South of Rt. 50...in East or West Orlando.

Well, it's too late for Tiger, Shack, Grant, et.al. They all bought south of Rt.50 in Southwest Orlando - Windermere/Islesworth/Dr. Phillips.

 

[Zephyrhills]

Dr. Phillips/Windermere area....a very localized nice part that is South of Rt. 50 but, other than Kissimmee, has the worse tourist traffic. If you can afford several million to live on one of the Chain of Lakes like Shak, then yes, South of Rt. 50 can be VERY NICE!

As an aside, Dr. Phillips High School used to be a 'C' school, until last year when they earned a 'B'. Not bad for an Orange County School, but not good enough if they are looking for 'A' Schools for their kids.

 

[k9nole]

Most will probably laugh but in DeLand, Fl there is this new community called Victoria Park. One mile off I-4.

http://www.joetowns.com/victoriapark/golf.asp

MCO is less than 1 hour away, live on a top rated golf course $115 to play in the winter. Now its $60 in the summer. Bought less than a year and will have a 50% return if I sell it today. Southern Living showcased a $2+ million house in July or August issue. Only 300 of the 4,000 houses here are built. There is a strong showing of airline types from regional to retired pilots and flight attendants.

The elementary school is on the property, A rated. Currently there are three neighborhoods the Gardens mostly older retired, The Commons mostly younger families then The Hills 60/40 young families to older families with houses around the golf coarse.
If you have a problem, you can go and knock on the mayor's, fire chief or police chiefs door. All live in The Hills development.

DeLand itself is a little lacking but Orlando and Daytona shopping is 15 minutes away. In 3-5 years, growing Orlando will be in DeLand.

 

[SWAPoolie]

Since we're sort of on the subject;

Anyone currently on the property have an idea of how long it's taking newhires to hold MCO? How long to hold a line?

Thanks for the input.

I don't know about a line but I got it my second month and it was my third choice behind BWI and MDW.

 

[rvsm410]

Titusville...right across the Indian River from the Kennedy Space Center...It has now become one of the Fastest growing communities in the country..Number 3 behind Ft Meyers and Mesa AZ...the housing is still reasonable, very quiet city, good schools, but this is an emerging city just starting to modernize..alot of Orlando people are buying here because the drive to Orlando is only 25/35 minutes to anywhere ..the housing prices are still much lower than Orlando....

We have lots of water to live on and boating is fantastic year round... I am moving to a new job out west and selling our Home here...(shamless plug) but we are in one of the nicest neighborhoods, a 3/2/2 with a hugh heated screen pool..large yard....everything renovated..in top shape....they houses are selling in less than 3 weeks here....

I would highly consider this area....over the crowded Orlando areas...

 

[CF34-3B1]

I don't know about a line but I got it my second month and it was my third choice behind BWI and MDW.

Excellent news.

Thanks for the reply!

 

[Flyboynfla]

You can also try NW of Orlando, I live in Ocoee. Its about a 25 minute drive from my driveway to the employee parking lot. It is a booming area and the new Ocoee high school is less than 2 miles from my neighborhood.

There is a great amount of building going on around here but it is real difficult to purchase new construction because of high demand. Home prices have escalated to very high levels but seem to be in your price range. A 3 br, 2 bath, 2 car garage home is going for about $411,000.

Here is my builders website: WWW.ENGLEHOMES.COM

Orange County, Osceloa Co., and Seminole Co. seem to be the hottest areas.

Also in the NW area you can find the cities of Winter Garden, Apopka, Clermont, and Dr. Phillips all of which are fine upcoming suburbs of Orlando.

Good luck with your future endeavors!

 

[4lowed]

LIVING IN ORLANDO:

If you are going to buy an existing home understand that the asking price is just the starting point. Unlike other markets, however, you will negotiate up from the asking price. If you are going to have a home built it will be a minimum of a 1 year wait right now. There is high demand and low supply. Most builders have a lottery system. Some lotteries send out an e-mail notice to the folks on their list, and the first people to respond get the lots. Other builders will release lots once a month and you must be at the named location at the named time and date for the lottery. Basically with this second type of lottery they draw names out of a hat.

I bought east of Orlando just south of Oveido. My schools are A and B rated, but with the exponential growth occuring here I don't expect my kids will go to the middle and high school that are currently in my district.

I'm moving from the midwest so I am getting more home for less money than what I paid for in the midwest, but it wasn't as cheap as I had thought it would be. With all the upgrades, lot premiums, etc. I pad over $300K for 1800 sq. ft.

Winter Springs and Seminole County as a whole have great schools, but Brevard County has higher rated schools. Orange County schools aren't rated as high, but they are rapidly improving.

Most of the folks I work with came to the east side of MCO to avoid having to use I-4. 408, 417, and 528 are convient roads to use as a reference for looking for communities.

BALTIMORE:

I grew up in Severna Park. I love MD and wish the wife would move there. Yes it gets cold, but for the most part the winter is mild. April, May, and early June are awesome. July and August are the muggiest, but the Fall is long and mild. It won't get really cold until right after Christmas, and you're out of it for the most part by mid to late March. It's a great area to live in. Baltimore, Annaplois, and DC make a great triangle of culture, food, and fun. There are plenty of good schools, good bars and restaurants, and excellent sailing.

I hope some of this helps,
4lowed

 

[SWAPoolie]

Excellent news.

Thanks for the reply!

It's ever changing. Two months ago you couldn't buy your way to MCO and everyone was going to MDW. Next month might be strong placements in BWI or wherever. It's all timing. Rest assured your first month will be in OAK.

Plan on 1 month in OAK and 4 months to go anywhere else and the commuting life will be easier to handle because it probably won't be 4 months get anywhere except DAL.

The plus of OAK is you get a line your first month and you can switch it around a bit. I was able to get 22 days off from OAK and then picked up a couple trips out of BWI for 2nd year pay. I thought I would get BWI for month 2 and I'm stuck in MCO on reserve. Just plan on a few months away from home and you won't be so disappointed, as am I.

Commuting sucks and I don't recommend it. You lose a ton of free time and it's very expensive. There are plenty of bases to chose from in great areas of the country. Pick one and you'll be there in no time. However, there are others who have been commuting for years and seem to enjoy it.

Congrats on the job. It's the greatest place to work!!

 

[Sonny Crockett]

Move 1 hour north to Ocala. Easy drive on the turnpike the whole way.
Some areas in Orlando will take you just as long top drive.
400K in Ocala will buy you a mansion on a couple acres. Or a banging house at Leeward air ranch if you'd like to live in a flyin community.

Good luck buying a home at Leeward for 400K!

That is a small home and small hangar....

 

[MDP727]

No actually my buddy just finished a house with a hanger big enough to park a 757 in it for 475K.

 

[Cardenal]

Hello--

I have lived in Orlando for 10 or so years.

I presently live in a Condo in Thornton Park and LOVE IT. This is an area where you might actually think you are in a real city. You don't need a car, as everything is walking distance. This area is more apt for people who miss living in the more civilized parts of the country...like the NE corridor or California. Look in the area around Central and Eola....400 could get you a very nice condo...

I lived for 6 years in Sweetwater...it is excellent. Mature trees, excellent schools (Lake Brantley, for ex), and 400 will get you a nice house. That is more if you are into the suburbia, picket fences and kids kind of thing.

The city itself is getting better...less and less a retrograde backwater and more worldly.

PM me and I'll be glad to give you more pointers.

Welcome. Congratulations on the job. That is awesome.

Cardenal

 

[conman]

Two things to think about when considering a move to FL. One is property taxes. I'm not sure about MCO, but in South FL property taxes run 2% of your purchase price. If you buy for 400K, expect a tax bill of $8000.00 per year. Now if you homestead the property you get a 25K exemption and you lock into the FL save our homes law which limits your taxable value by 3% per year. Next is homeowner ins. Because of our exposure to hurricanes expect to pay through the roof for windstorm insurance. MCO was exposed to three storms last year so expect double digit increases in your insurance. Pre Andrew I paid $450.00 per year for windstorm now I'm facing 2000+ for a lot less coverage. Welcome to Florida.