We moved here four years ago. We are so sorry we did so. In Flagler County, literally a hundred or more developments have been approved in the last two years. That represents tens of thousands of more people. With what has been built out in the last two years we have seen a drastic difference. Road congestion to the point of gridlock in many places, rush hour is a nightmare. Significant road construction to try alleviate the congestion. It just creates more congestion. Long waits for Doctor appointments, hard to get into restaurants (have to eat very early at dinner time), hard to get an immediate dentist appointment if needed, ER massive wait times (even before COVID), hard to get services you need done on your home. Poor quality of service people, the people sent to your home to do repair are often incompetent. Our HOA is also a nightmare; massive issues and we are a brand new community. We learned this; we will never go into an HOA community again. It is heartbreaking to see how natural habitat is being wiped out at such an incredible rate. Florida was a big mistake for us.
I left Mount Dora two years ago and do not miss it! I NEVER felt safe, home invasions, crime, and after they finished the highway Mount Dora was no longer charming anymore. Leesburg is full of crime!
Thank you for all of the information....these quick and short descriptions of the communities are great. A lot to ponder and so many selections of them . Love the one page.sheet with all.of the particulars. Keep up the great work..Enjoying your personalities!
Winter Garden on Lake Apopka is the bomb! Perfect location and far enough from Orlando to maintain your sanity. Clermont will be a no go for a lot of people because of how it's set up. Mt Dora is a bit Closter phobic downtown and the roads are a bit crazy to the east & south. Route 429 and 453 have been a GREAT addition in that area for Zellwood and Mt Dora! Drove on it in Jan 2018 before it was finished and looks great now on the map! Happy Trails!
Winter garden is awesome, they don’t have any 55+ communities though. Clermont is a bit farther out, but the lake recreation seems to be a huge appeal since lake Apopka is the most recreational lake. Totally agree on Mount Dora, it’s a great town but especially busy for events. Thanks for the feedback ❤️
So cool y'all are based in Clermont. I remember when my friend and I went on a cross country trip when my friend graduated US Coast Guard boot camp in Cape May New Jersey. One of our stops was to see his brother, sister n law and new nephew at their house in the Hills of Clermont Florida way back in August 2000. I thought was so cool learning Florida has Hills. They had bought a new single family house in a gated community in the late 1990s. Was cool how close Clermont is to Universal Studios Park and Margaritaville and so much more. Great to see thanks to you two how much Clermont Florida has grown over past 21 years :)
Y'all provide so much great information in your videos, and we really enjoy watching them. It helps to know what we have to look forward to as we start our search for the perfect home. Thank you so much!
For me, crime and a very poor healthcare ranking for the state are not appealing at all. Also, the massive influx of snowbirds slows everything to a crawl and hour plus waits for restaurants.
@@Explore55Plus First, I am not sure when I will be able to come again. My father is 95 and I do what I can for him. When I do get to come I am thinking about renting first. Then maybe if I find a location that is affordable and close to shopping and restaurants I may consider buying. I am thinking I would like to be away from hectic traffic on a daily basis. I plan to do day trips. I really enjoyed visiting in April of 2018 the Bradenton, Anna Maria, Sarasota area. I also like the Sebastian and Vero Beach area. Going to Disney may be something I consider. I did like renting a park model in Bradenton. I just can't see paying HOAs when I am not there. Some friends also just bought a home in Polo Park West. It is near Rt 27 and 198, and close to Disney. They own the land. When I can come I will visit them if I can. They plan on being snowbirds and returning to Pennsylvania also. I mainly want to avoid winter here and enjoy more sun and warmth there. When the weather is nice here I want to be enjoy less humidity.
If you want super cheap living with excellent golf and fishing and just need the average number of stores and national chains, give the sebring area a look. I live comfortably on just 950 a month here.
Clermont is awesome. We lived there for 8 weeks in 2018. We plan to retire there. Moved from Delaware but ended up coming back.. One day Florida will be home.
I'm a sixth generation Floridan. And the average Floridian is being priced out of their homes and communities due to homeowner's insurance and rich folks from the tri-state area such as New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Gentrification is causing many Floridians to move north to GA, TN and SC. Soon south Florida, where I have lived for 60 years will be New York City, Jr. The only good thing that still remains in Florida is the weather and the beaches if you don't mind $20 a day to park for 5 hours. It used to be free when I bought my first home here in 2000. But everything must change and the rich and the powerful will keep displacing the peasants.
Remember that these "tristate area" people power the FL economy, have worked hard, are tired of cold climate. All the other states also have problems as well.
One of the few manufactured communities that you own the land :) also they have a little marina so people that enjoy boating it can be a great community.
Great video. Keep’em coming! I’ve been looking into Solivita for a year or so, but enjoy looking/learning about other communities. You’ve got me thinking more strongly about Leesburg and Mt. Dora areas.
There’s a lot of space to grow, and the people moving are typically older. They live in Florida for 20-30 years and then they die. Space is all freed up now.
I've looked a little in this area, and was surprised at how much you can get in Leesburg for the money. But my main concerns are crime and sinkholes in this area. Maybe you can give some info on these topics.
we aren't allowed to discuss crime because of the fair housing act. If you would like to shoot an email to Nicky@explore55plus.com we could get you some resources if you'd like. Also sinkholes is a great idea! I think we are going to do a video on Alligators, Hurricanes, & Sinkholes next because those seem to be main concerns for everyone.
@K I C We moved to central Florida a year and a half ago and love this area. We haven’t explored all of Leesburg but the areas we’ve been through seem older and don’t exude a sense of safety. I was concerned about sinkholes before we moved down here but once I looked at the USGS website and realized sinkholes aren’t unique to Florida I let it go. Best wishes on your search!
I didn’t care for Florida 51 years ago when I left central Florida......and from what I have seen of the people there especially very lately I would not live there.
yep been here since 89 and am moving back to Michigan. Florida has a number of problems and I agree a LOT of the People who have come here and anything but desirable!
@@red9man2130 visited my in laws at a serene 55+ in Ocala last month, nice little oasis... but noticed the local news aired out of Orlando...anyway, nice to visit but I appreciate my space in the great wide open Mountain West.. without 30mm people in one state competing for resources, clogging the roadways and some spreading their dysfunction.
I ride a 3 wheeled fitness bike called Me-Mover. A few years ago I was traveling home from the annual bike event in Inverness when I looked at Google for a Starbucks. It took me off the turnpike and down Hancock Road (one of the hilliest areas). I couldn't believe the hills i was seeing, so made a trip up there to explore soon after that. Its a bikers paradise, especially for someone like me that lives in S Florida. I have been back up there many times already, in fact in 2019 I held a 3 day event called "Comrades On Wheels". We had such a good time, we did it again in 2020, and 4 weeks from today we'll be back there for the 3rd annual Comrades ride. We planned on selling our Hollywood home last month and relocating up there, but now that the economy is shaken up we will sit tight here for awhile. My wife works at Publix so she can transfer, but I'm self employed so my income would drop significantly if we were up there. Sooner or later though! Hope that wasn't t.m.i. !!!
Very cool! Your in depth description is great for people to get more of a sense of the area! Not T.M.I. At all. Do you take 95 along the coast and cut over, or take the turnpike?
@@Explore55Plus Thanks, we moved to Fl in 1962 so I've been up and down both the turnpike and 95 so many times already. For the trips to Clermont I take 27 all the way up. It takes an hour longer but I enjoy that route.
If there is anything specific we can definitely help. We aren’t experts in the area but we have partner agents who are and plan on doing videos covering those areas soon :)
Tavares’s is a good area & offers a lot of for lake lifestyle. It’s central to everything central Florida has to offer. We haven’t done a specific video but can answer any questions you may have!
Most of the older communities have larger lots. Most of the new build communities maximize the amount of homes per acre. Do you have a specific area your thinking?
We did a lifestyle stay at On Top Of The World and loved it! Look into it. My best friend & her hubby just built there and are closing on their home this Friday. Their new home was delayed almost a month due to shortages.
Hello, guys. Could you please visit The Villages of Citrus Hills community? I would like to know more about it. Thank you for every information you provide. I enjoy your videos!!!
I used to live in Bradenton in the early1980's. The town has turned to crap since then. If you stay far enough west, and far enough east outside of town, you'll be in the better areas of Bradenton. Bradenton just announced the closing of it's only indoor shopping mall, Desoto Square Mall. Why? - Because it got taken over by low life's , thugs, and wanna-be gang-banger's. Too many muggings in the parking lots, etc. Last time I visited that mall, over 15 years ago, some 11 or 12 year old black kid gave me the finger, for no reason. I wouldn't be caught in Bradenton without a flak jacket.
Please just do the good thing and stay where you are. Such a massive influx is damaging our cost of living. I’ve witnessed the farms and woods I used to play around plowed down and turned into tens of thousands of acres of houses we’re not allowed to even buy.
@@johnurban7333 North Carolina is honestly just becoming FL2.0. All these dudes from New York can’t stand the 90° weather and torment North Carolinians now. Many such cases.
Florida is too hot and humid. Florida's right wing politics is a big negative too. 55+ community HOA's suck. I'll stay in my house. Stick to the evils you know.
We moved here four years ago. We are so sorry we did so. In Flagler County, literally a hundred or more developments have been approved in the last two years. That represents tens of thousands of more people. With what has been built out in the last two years we have seen a drastic difference. Road congestion to the point of gridlock in many places, rush hour is a nightmare. Significant road construction to try alleviate the congestion. It just creates more congestion. Long waits for Doctor appointments, hard to get into restaurants (have to eat very early at dinner time), hard to get an immediate dentist appointment if needed, ER massive wait times (even before COVID), hard to get services you need done on your home. Poor quality of service people, the people sent to your home to do repair are often incompetent. Our HOA is also a nightmare; massive issues and we are a brand new community. We learned this; we will never go into an HOA community again.
It is heartbreaking to see how natural habitat is being wiped out at such an incredible rate.
Florida was a big mistake for us.
I left Mount Dora two years ago and do not miss it! I NEVER felt safe, home invasions, crime, and after they finished the highway Mount Dora was no longer charming anymore. Leesburg is full of crime!
I've gone to the closest pizza place Pizzanos in Leesburg and everytime sketchy people at that small plaza. I'll just make a boboli.
the problem is Orlando and the scum coming up from Miami. Glad I,m able to defend myself!
Is this really true!!!!!!!🥺
Thank you! It matters!
Thank you for all of the information....these quick and short descriptions of the communities are great. A lot to ponder and so many selections of them . Love the one page.sheet with all.of the particulars. Keep up the great work..Enjoying your personalities!
Winter Garden on Lake Apopka is the bomb! Perfect location and far enough from Orlando to maintain your sanity. Clermont will be a no go for a lot of people because of how it's set up. Mt Dora is a bit Closter phobic downtown and the roads are a bit crazy to the east & south. Route 429 and 453 have been a GREAT addition in that area for Zellwood and Mt Dora! Drove on it in Jan 2018 before it was finished and looks great now on the map! Happy Trails!
Winter garden is awesome, they don’t have any 55+ communities though. Clermont is a bit farther out, but the lake recreation seems to be a huge appeal since lake Apopka is the most recreational lake. Totally agree on Mount Dora, it’s a great town but especially busy for events. Thanks for the feedback ❤️
So cool y'all are based in Clermont. I remember when my friend and I went on a cross country trip when my friend graduated US Coast Guard boot camp in Cape May New Jersey.
One of our stops was to see his brother, sister n law and new nephew at their house in the Hills of Clermont Florida way back in August 2000. I thought was so cool learning Florida has Hills. They had bought a new single family house in a gated community in the late 1990s. Was cool how close Clermont is to Universal Studios Park and Margaritaville and so much more. Great to see thanks to you two how much Clermont Florida has grown over past 21 years :)
Y'all provide so much great information in your videos, and we really enjoy watching them. It helps to know what we have to look forward to as we start our search for the perfect home. Thank you so much!
Thanks for the comment ❤️❤️
Don’t move to South FL, overpriced and mostly rude folks. North FL, spacious homes and friendly folks.
What about central Florida?
For me, crime and a very poor healthcare ranking for the state are not appealing at all. Also, the massive influx of snowbirds slows everything to a crawl and hour plus waits for restaurants.
Interested in finding out whats available for snowbirds, including affordable housing. Nice to see a channel covering options.
Are you looking for something you can rent seasonally?
@@Explore55Plus First, I am not sure when I will be able to come again. My father is 95 and I do what I can for him.
When I do get to come I am thinking about renting first. Then maybe if I find a location that is affordable and close to shopping and restaurants I may consider buying. I am thinking I would like to be away from hectic traffic on a daily basis. I plan to do day trips. I really enjoyed visiting in April of 2018 the Bradenton, Anna Maria, Sarasota area. I also like the Sebastian and Vero Beach area. Going to Disney may be something I consider.
I did like renting a park model in Bradenton. I just can't see paying HOAs when I am not there. Some friends also just bought a home in Polo Park West. It is near Rt 27 and 198, and close to Disney. They own the land. When I can come I will visit them if I can. They plan on being snowbirds and returning to Pennsylvania also.
I mainly want to avoid winter here and enjoy more sun and warmth there. When the weather is nice here I want to be enjoy less humidity.
If you want super cheap living with excellent golf and fishing and just need the average number of stores and national chains, give the sebring area a look. I live comfortably on just 950 a month here.
We definitely want to cover Lakeland & South down to Sebring soon, any suggestions are appreciated!
@@Explore55Plus we have several friends who live in Sun N Lakes and love it!
Clermont is awesome. We lived there for 8 weeks in 2018. We plan to retire there. Moved from Delaware but ended up coming back..
One day Florida will be home.
We agree! Thinking about moving back to the Clermont area or somewhere new in Florida?
@@Explore55Plus yes we will eventually move back to Florida. We are looking at Clermont or Davenport. It won’t be for several years though.
Both are great areas, Let us know if we can help in any way. Cheers!
I'm a sixth generation Floridan. And the average Floridian is being priced out of their homes and communities due to homeowner's insurance and rich folks from the tri-state area such as New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Gentrification is causing many Floridians to move north to GA, TN and SC. Soon south Florida, where I have lived for 60 years will be New York City, Jr. The only good thing that still remains in Florida is the weather and the beaches if you don't mind $20 a day to park for 5 hours. It used to be free when I bought my first home here in 2000. But everything must change and the rich and the powerful will keep displacing the peasants.
TN. is very undiscovered ( not Nashville )
It will Collapse eventually.
You say this like "It's a BAD thing"??
Remember that these "tristate area" people power the FL economy, have worked hard, are tired of cold climate. All the other states also have problems as well.
SO SAD! Old Florida is being ransacked by greedy dreamers! Retirees..look out...crime WILL rise! I lived in Florida..'80, 90's, 2000. ✌
Great info my wife and I are planning to move to central Fl. in 2022 .
How are the condo prices in these areas? 55 area is what we will be looking for with golf availability we play a lot of golf.
Great video,thanks keep up the good work. Anymore in the offing? Lady Lake,and others
We will be doing more videos soon that cover other areas of Florida :)
Excellent overview. Thank you!
Thank you for the feedback :)
Interesting and insightful Vlog Thanks!
What about Hawthorne at LEESBURG, beautiful over 55 community where you buy your property.
One of the few manufactured communities that you own the land :) also they have a little marina so people that enjoy boating it can be a great community.
Great video. Keep’em coming! I’ve been looking into Solivita for a year or so, but enjoy looking/learning about other communities. You’ve got me thinking more strongly about Leesburg and Mt. Dora areas.
Definitely worth checking out different options, Solivita is a really awesome community! We want to re-do the video we did in there soon.
I'm 50 years old and a FL native. Florida is doomed. It's just a matter of time. Way too many people moving here
These other states aren’t sending their best to FL.
There’s a lot of space to grow, and the people moving are typically older. They live in Florida for 20-30 years and then they die.
Space is all freed up now.
@@squidwardtortillini8816 buzz off
YES! Definately being over developed.
@@squidwardtortillini8816 20-30 years too long
I've looked a little in this area, and was surprised at how much you can get in Leesburg for the money. But my main concerns are crime and sinkholes in this area. Maybe you can give some info on these topics.
we aren't allowed to discuss crime because of the fair housing act. If you would like to shoot an email to Nicky@explore55plus.com we could get you some resources if you'd like. Also sinkholes is a great idea! I think we are going to do a video on Alligators, Hurricanes, & Sinkholes next because those seem to be main concerns for everyone.
@K I C We moved to central Florida a year and a half ago and love this area. We haven’t explored all of Leesburg but the areas we’ve been through seem older and don’t exude a sense of safety. I was concerned about sinkholes before we moved down here but once I looked at the USGS website and realized sinkholes aren’t unique to Florida I let it go. Best wishes on your search!
@@KairosCoachingandConsulting I've lived in the Portland OR and Denver CO areas, as well as NC. Homelessness is a big problem everywhere.
I didn’t care for Florida 51 years ago when I left central Florida......and from what I have seen of the people there especially very lately I would not live there.
yep been here since 89 and am moving back to Michigan. Florida has a number of problems and I agree a LOT of the People who have come here and anything but desirable!
@@red9man2130 visited my in laws at a serene 55+ in Ocala last month, nice little oasis... but noticed the local news aired out of Orlando...anyway, nice to visit but I appreciate my space in the great wide open Mountain West.. without 30mm people in one state competing for resources, clogging the roadways and some spreading their dysfunction.
Well they don’t say “Florida man” for nothing…
I ride a 3 wheeled fitness bike called Me-Mover. A few years ago I was traveling home from the annual bike event in Inverness when I looked at Google for a Starbucks. It took me off the turnpike and down Hancock Road (one of the hilliest areas). I couldn't believe the hills i was seeing, so made a trip up there to explore soon after that. Its a bikers paradise, especially for someone like me that lives in S Florida. I have been back up there many times already, in fact in 2019 I held a 3 day event called "Comrades On Wheels". We had such a good time, we did it again in 2020, and 4 weeks from today we'll be back there for the 3rd annual Comrades ride. We planned on selling our Hollywood home last month and relocating up there, but now that the economy is shaken up we will sit tight here for awhile. My wife works at Publix so she can transfer, but I'm self employed so my income would drop significantly if we were up there. Sooner or later though! Hope that wasn't t.m.i. !!!
Very cool! Your in depth description is great for people to get more of a sense of the area! Not T.M.I. At all.
Do you take 95 along the coast and cut over, or take the turnpike?
@@Explore55Plus Thanks, we moved to Fl in 1962 so I've been up and down both the turnpike and 95 so many times already. For the trips to Clermont I take 27 all the way up. It takes an hour longer but I enjoy that route.
It’s a beautiful trip for sure!
i live in inverness love it !
New to ur channel. Love ur videos. Thanks for info
Welcome to the channel :) thanks for saying hello!
Great info. Thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
INTERESTED BY GAINESVILLE ,...
The closest 55+ communities to Gainesville will be the Ocala area.
Are you looking for a 55+ community or not necessarily?
Any information on the Valrico and Plant City area
If there is anything specific we can definitely help. We aren’t experts in the area but we have partner agents who are and plan on doing videos covering those areas soon :)
Palm Harbor ... Dunedin.
Very expensive
@@WildThings113 Little bit ... but worth it. :)
We will be covering Tampa Bay Area soon :) any areas or community suggestions are appreciated!
@@Explore55Plus
I live here. So I know..
Is it possible to find a winter rental?
Thanks for information 👍🏻
❤️
Ok sold on clermont
Looking in Taveres....your thoughts on that area or are their videos to watch?
Tavares’s is a good area & offers a lot of for lake lifestyle. It’s central to everything central Florida has to offer. We haven’t done a specific video but can answer any questions you may have!
What communities are near the Orlando international Airport?
Which of these communities has homes with the largest lots?
Most of the older communities have larger lots. Most of the new build communities maximize the amount of homes per acre. Do you have a specific area your thinking?
What about Ocala?
This episode was the lake county area, we will be doing Ocala and one in Orlando/Kissimmee soon :)
I interesting the 55+community in Ocala, Florida...which one recommended me? I want buy a house 3/2 bathroom, garage...
We did a lifestyle stay at On Top Of The World and loved it! Look into it. My best friend & her hubby just built there and are closing on their home this Friday. Their new home was delayed almost a month due to shortages.
Hello, guys. Could you please visit The Villages of Citrus Hills community? I would like to know more about it. Thank you for every information you provide. I enjoy your videos!!!
We’re shooting it soon! Stay tuned!
Do people really swim in lakes that have alligators in them?
Are there communities with small homes with reasonable costs and HOAs in your area?
Quite a few! Email nicky@explore55plus.con with your budget and we can send communities that would fit
You forgot to mention the Olympus development in Clermont
That is going to be an incredible development! Very exited for that.
Do you know if they have any purposed 55 plus communities?
What about Royal highlands in Leesburg?
Awful you’re better staying up north
Is Bradenton bad? I know it is not central Florida but I wonder 💭 Seems like a nice location but that can be deceiving.
Bradenton has some great areas. As with anywhere it has some bad pockets. We will be doing videos on hilsborough & Pinellas county soon!
I used to live in Bradenton in the early1980's. The town has turned to crap since then. If you stay far enough west, and far enough east outside of town, you'll be in the better areas of Bradenton. Bradenton just announced the closing of it's only indoor shopping mall, Desoto Square Mall. Why? - Because it got taken over by low life's , thugs, and wanna-be gang-banger's. Too many muggings in the parking lots, etc. Last time I visited that mall, over 15 years ago, some 11 or 12 year old black kid gave me the finger, for no reason. I wouldn't be caught in Bradenton without a flak jacket.
As someone who hasn’t settled on a specific area, I enjoyed this discussion. Why wasn’t Michael wearing his Parrott head 🦜? 😁
He will wear it when he meets you next time you come down ;) LOL
@@Explore55Plus Deal! 😁
I can’t find your contact information
Whoops, here you go :)
P. (407) 252-2596
E. Nicky@Explore55Plus.com
I would like to see homes in Leesburg, 55 plus, low HOA, not interested in golf. Small, 2 br room homes with garage
I would hate to see those
Looking for an area in Orange Park Florida area. Is there anything desirable for informal 55 plus living?
♥️♥️♥️♥️👋🏼
I feel the negative comments are from people that live in Florida and don’t want anyone else to move there
Could be true! Maybe they are on to something. 😉
Please just do the good thing and stay where you are. Such a massive influx is damaging our cost of living. I’ve witnessed the farms and woods I used to play around plowed down and turned into tens of thousands of acres of houses we’re not allowed to even buy.
@@boystantoytle5520 ok, l will stay in Florida. Was thinking of moving to Myrtle beach.
@@johnurban7333 North Carolina is honestly just becoming FL2.0. All these dudes from New York can’t stand the 90° weather and torment North Carolinians now. Many such cases.
Lake county is not phenomenal. Lived here 2 years. Leesburg is horrible, all the same junk.
You seem to have some great fishing shots of the area :)
@@Explore55Plus I travel throughout the state, as I’m retired
accredited -- lol
Was really struggling with that one...
Don't move here heat ,humidity, bugs,lighting, hurricane, sandgnats,sinkholes,fireants,snakes,water moccasin ' s rattlesnakes, wasps, hornets,alligators, rude people, crime.
Where would you move? :)
Sounds like Charleston!! Leesburg Florida bound!
Please stop bringing people to are state your pricing the people that where born here you recking are state
Florida is too hot and humid. Florida's right wing politics is a big negative too. 55+ community HOA's suck. I'll stay in my house. Stick to the evils you know.