Relocating to Florida with elementary aged kids

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here. The only part of Florida I am very familiar with is Lee County: Fort Myers Cape Coral Pine Island Naples etc. My mother lived there for years and so has extended family. I love the weather and beach but can't really imagine living there full time.

I am open to Tampa Area, Jacksonville, Central Florida/Orlando etc. Not interested in South Florida Miami and also priced out of it. I love St Pete but assumed I was priced out. I have family in Pensacola but have never been there and not sure about it. I have heard good and bad about the Panhandle.

Thank you all so much for the specifics about Orlando and Jacksonville. Florida is a huge state and any insight helps.

I’m from Florida and am very familiar with a few of the cities mentioned above. I think the nicer parts of Tampa with good schools are out of your budget (at least until/unless the housing market crashes there). I’d stick to St. John’s/Jacksonville and maybe Seminole County (suburban county of Orlando with generally good schools).

I'm in St Pete and you may not be priced out here. It depends on what you need - if it's a new construction, waterfront house with four bedrooms, then yes.

But something like this is available for right around what you want to spend: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5910-35th-Ave-N-Saint-Petersburg-FL-33710/47024546_zpid/

This house is close to downtown - not walking distance but a very short drive. It's right on the edge of a neighborhood that's already gotten really hot - Kenwood - so assuming St Pete keeps growing the way it's been, the neighborhood should appreciate. We'll see what happens with real estate with interest rates going up, I suppose. I think it does need flood insurance, so that would probably knock it out of the running for me - but it's just an example of a place in St Pete that is on the affordable end of things. There's others - though less every day - but def worth looking, if you like St Pete.

^ And just to add: there's areas right near St Pete that are a little cheaper but nice for families. Largo and Seminole immediately come to mind. There's more that I'm not thinking of off the top of my head.

[Anonymous]

We moved to the Orlando area with elementary school kids and moved right back. If you have never lived there, I would suggest to try and live there for a couple months before making a decision. It is a different world; some people love it but it is not for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We moved to the Orlando area with elementary school kids and moved right back. If you have never lived there, I would suggest to try and live there for a couple months before making a decision. It is a different world; some people love it but it is not for everyone.

+1
After spending the weekend in Orlando, my verdict is if you live in Florida year round you are some kind of mutant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We moved to the Orlando area with elementary school kids and moved right back. If you have never lived there, I would suggest to try and live there for a couple months before making a decision. It is a different world; some people love it but it is not for everyone.

+1
After spending the weekend in Orlando, my verdict is if you live in Florida year round you are some kind of mutant.

You seem nice!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We moved to the Orlando area with elementary school kids and moved right back. If you have never lived there, I would suggest to try and live there for a couple months before making a decision. It is a different world; some people love it but it is not for everyone.

+1
After spending the weekend in Orlando, my verdict is if you live in Florida year round you are some kind of mutant.

Every time I spend a couple weeks in Orlando I come back wondering why the hell I live here. I still can't answer it other than my job. Everything else is horrible in comparison.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We moved to the Orlando area with elementary school kids and moved right back. If you have never lived there, I would suggest to try and live there for a couple months before making a decision. It is a different world; some people love it but it is not for everyone.

+1
After spending the weekend in Orlando, my verdict is if you live in Florida year round you are some kind of mutant.

Every time I spend a couple weeks in Orlando I come back wondering why the hell I live here. I still can't answer it other than my job. Everything else is horrible in comparison.

Well, Florida must be for you then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We moved to the Orlando area with elementary school kids and moved right back. If you have never lived there, I would suggest to try and live there for a couple months before making a decision. It is a different world; some people love it but it is not for everyone.

+1
After spending the weekend in Orlando, my verdict is if you live in Florida year round you are some kind of mutant.

Every time I spend a couple weeks in Orlando I come back wondering why the hell I live here. I still can't answer it other than my job. Everything else is horrible in comparison.

You like Orlando, of all places? I can see liking Florida, but Orlando is just a hot, humid wasteland.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We moved to the Orlando area with elementary school kids and moved right back. If you have never lived there, I would suggest to try and live there for a couple months before making a decision. It is a different world; some people love it but it is not for everyone.

+1
After spending the weekend in Orlando, my verdict is if you live in Florida year round you are some kind of mutant.

Every time I spend a couple weeks in Orlando I come back wondering why the hell I live here. I still can't answer it other than my job. Everything else is horrible in comparison.

Because you don't know where to go. I guess these are considered the Orlando metro area technically, but Windemere and Winter Park are beautiful.

You like Orlando, of all places? I can see liking Florida, but Orlando is just a hot, humid wasteland.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We moved to the Orlando area with elementary school kids and moved right back. If you have never lived there, I would suggest to try and live there for a couple months before making a decision. It is a different world; some people love it but it is not for everyone.

+1
After spending the weekend in Orlando, my verdict is if you live in Florida year round you are some kind of mutant.

Every time I spend a couple weeks in Orlando I come back wondering why the hell I live here. I still can't answer it other than my job. Everything else is horrible in comparison.

You like Orlando, of all places? I can see liking Florida, but Orlando is just a hot, humid wasteland.

Orlando is actually a really interesting, diverse city with a ton going on. You probably didn't get outside the theme parks much if you didnt get to experience any of that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Question for the Gainesville posters recommending Buchholz zone. Which middle school do you recommend?

Kanapaha or Fort Clark

[Anonymous]

Another Gainesville (Alachua County) zoned for Buchholz zone.

Prices continue to hold firm here.

[Anonymous]

College is free to Floridian students under the Bright Futures plan.

Our students did well throughout covid as kids remained in school. Our students are scoring 2 years above those in DC and Maryland.

[Anonymous]

There are a lot of military families in the Tampa area.

[Anonymous]

Also military families in the Jacksonville area.

[Anonymous]

who moves to Florida with DeSantis?

Even before him public schools sucked.

I am from the Coral Springs area. Moved there in the 1980's as a senior in HS there were no classes for me to take. That is how far behind Florida schools were and still are.

Two of my siblings still live in south Florida schools suck. Privates too.

Many kids don't even go to their local school they are bused far.

Best thing is college. But then again you have your kids at school in Florida. UF Alumni here nope would never do that.

And while obviously it is 2022 schools are no better.