Don't move to Orlando - or even Lake Mary (just north of Otown). Traffic is a parking lot on I-4 - it is under construction for widening for the next few years, crime is very high in Orlando and suburbs - due to proximity of Disney, Universal, etc. With tourists comes crime.
I live north of the Villages, near Ocala. It reminds me of how South FLA used to be, slower, laid back, less traffic.
True the Villages was reported to have a higher STD rate, but then if you think of the age group living there (influx of the 60's generation), it's a no brainer. A lot of folks in the Villages are from the NE, Midwest, Mid-Atlantic states. Few from the Deep South in comparison (there is a Heart of Dixie club). The political demographics are moving from solid REP to center to leaning DEM (again 60's generation).
There are a lot of activities, free golf for residents, HOA, yes traffic increases during Snowbird season, golf cart paths everywhere, lots of restaurants, and lots of clubs to join.
Volusia County or Brevard County are great options if you want to be on the coast. I love Brevard - reminds me of how Ft. Lauderdale used to be. Hope it never changes.
I agree on Brevard. It, along with Martin and Indian River counties are the three places I would look. Personally, I think the retirement communities are hellholes, and the last time I went to a central Florida theme park was grad night in high school. Manufactured homes, manufactured entertainment...when you could be surfing, fishing, kayaking, cycling or floating over a reef? Please.
It’s Florida. Go coastal. That doesn’t mean you live on the beach...it means live in a coastal county. Stay west of Federal Hwy and your insurance rates and maintenance expenses go down significantly.
If you like to get up early, go east coast. Cup of coffee, watch the sun come up over the horizon, do a thirty minute open ocean swim. If you want a sunset every day, go west coast. I’m not a fan of the interior of the state. Hunted north of the lake every year with my father, but since they shut down the Old South BBQ in Clewiston, not much reason to go. The deer are smaller than PA, CO,WY or Canada. And when they remodelled The Orbit bar at the Okeechobee bowling alley— think it’s called “8 Seconds” now, can’t tell if they mean rodeo or sexual dysfunction— well, no reason to stop off there on a Saturday night.
I-60 @ Vero Beach is there for a reason. It’s a climate zone marker. South of I-60 is subtropical. North of that is sinkholes and tornadoes in the springtime, if you live in the interior.
Someone posted above about condos and HOAs.This really adds a layer of complexity to living in Florida. Take your time, do the AirBNB thing for the first year...stay for a month or two at a time in various places...and always ask for a set of financials. If you can’t interpret an accrual based financial statement, please have a friend who can. Florida has a lot of natural beauty, but it also has a lot of BS artists, and they can sniff out a transplant with a good pension.
The Villages population may indeed be on the verge of a swing towards political left-leanings and that may be the catalyst for the rise in STDs, but it is not driving down the values of those homes nor has it impeded the sales of new ones.