I am looking at possibly being relocated to the Kissimmee area and was wondering about cost of living, reasonable housing, schools (I have a 15yr old son). What income level is needed to at least live comfortable in a decent area?
2007-02-07 06:27:02 · 3 answers · asked by gdmaze 2 in Business & Finance ➔ Renting & Real Estate
OMG. Don't move to Kissimmee unless you LOVE traffic and sitting in it. I mean, don't get me wrong, it is a nice area. But the traffic is horrendous. Plus, it is quite close to Orlando which is a crime-ridden pisshole.
As for income level, I would say that you would need to earn at least $60k (alone or combined) to live ok -- more is obviously better. Homes typically go for between $175 -275, depending on size, area, newness, etc.
If you don't mind a commute, some of the outer towns are nice. Harmony is about 25 minutes away and is brand new, new school, new everything. The homes are more expensive ($300k to start, I believe), but the safety and size would be worth it, imo.
I would definitely recommend going to Kissimmee for a visit before deciding. It is decidedly Florida, meaning tourists, tourist traps, traffic (I mention that a lot, huh?) and strip malls galore.
I'm not sure where you're coming from, but Florida tends to have a slightly lower cost of living than most places. There is a TON to do in central Florida, so your family won't be bored. If your kid plays baseball or football, this is the place to be!
Local/state politics are a mess, but they are anywhere, I suppose. Hope this helps a bit!
Don't listen to "Shesofly" -- Orlando is not a great city. The schools aren't great, it is one of the highest murder rates per capita in the US, and drugs are out of control. This doesn't mean that central florida isn't nice... I live on the Coast, directly East of Orlando, so I like to think I have some idea about this!
2007-02-07 06:38:58 · answer #1 · answered by Goose&Tonic 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Schools in Florida are awful. There's no two ways about that, and the schools in Orlando and Kissimmee are no exception.
Otherwise, there are several areas that are relatively nice to live in. I live in a region called Poinciana, which is south of Kissimmee and farther from all the traffic and congestion and tourist activity of the city. Parts of Poinciana are closer to the commerical and tourist areas than others, and some neighborhoods are better than others, but in general it's a growing community and can be relatively affordable depending on where you look. I'd say that the recommendation of a $60k income is accurate if you plan to buy a home here, but if you plan to rent you can get away with much less.
2007-02-08 11:46:09 · answer #2 · answered by thornfield8998 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am from Florida. I can tell you that Kissimmee is not the best city to relocate to. It is a small (kinda country) place. There is not a lot f big business there and nothing to do. I have passed through many times. Orlando is not that far from Kissimmee. Consider that area. Much more businesses, good schools and the cost of living is not high at all. I live in south florida. Great place also...very expensive though
2007-02-07 06:36:18 · answer #3 · answered by SheSoFly 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋