10 Things Nobody Warns You About Moving to Orlando From Up North

Moving to Orlando from New Jersey, New York, or anywhere up north? There's a new construction house on the market right now in the College Park area of Orlando, listed just under $1.1 million, and the property tax line says $1,945 a year, but the Orange County tax estimator puts the real number between $15,281 and $17,051 once it's reassessed, and that's with the homestead exemption. That's roughly $162 a month becoming $1,275 to $1,420 a month, and most buyers don't find out until the escrow analysis letter arrives a year after closing. Central Florida relocation agent Kristine McKinley Pestana, who has sold more than 650 homes over the last decade and grew up in Oviedo, breaks down the 10 things that never show up on a listing: the $2,200 to $2,500 homeowners insurance baseline, why a roof 15 years or older can get you declined outright, the $2 to $5 each-way tolls on the 417, why an Oviedo mailing address does not determine your school assignment, which Oviedo pockets are on septic, and why flood zone and flood risk are two different things after what 2022 showed us. You'll walk away with a checklist you can run on any address before you write an offer, and a clear answer to the question underneath all 10: pick the neighborhood first, then find the house. 🔷 WATCH NEXT: Seminole County Schools & Neighborhoods: What Relocation Buyers Need to Know — [LINK] 🔷 Book Your Private Relocation Call: https://calendly.com/therealestatechi... 🔷 What is your home's value? Get a complimentary valuation: https://www.orlandorealestatechicks.c... ➡️ Connect with Kristine McKinley Pestana with RE/MAX Town & Country If you're relocating to Central Florida from out of state and you'd rather not figure out school boundaries, septic, and tax estimates from 1,000 miles away, let's talk. 📞 Call/Text: 407-415-2412 📧 Email: [email protected] 🌐 Website: https://www.orlandorealestatechicks.com YOUTUBE CHAPTERS: 0:00 The $1.1M Orlando House With a $1,945 Tax Bill 3:07 #10: No Basement Means 3,200 Square Feet Isn't 3,200 Square Feet 5:11 #9: You Toured in January, You'll Live in It in August 7:08 #8: Orlando Has No Downtown, and the 417 Costs $2 to $5 Each Way 9:24 #7: $1,945 a Year Becomes $15,281 to $17,051, With Homestead 12:35 #6: $2,200 to $2,500 a Year, Unless the Roof Is 15 Years Old 14:55 #5: Why a Builder's Rate Buydown Can Beat a $25,000 Price Cut 17:21 #4: X Zone Doesn't Mean It Stayed Dry in 2022 19:26 #3: Bentley Woods and the Oviedo Pockets on Septic 21:35 #2: An Oviedo Mailing Address Is Not an Oviedo School Zone 24:31 #1: You're Picking a House When You Should Be Picking a Neighborhood ➡️ About The Orlando Real Estate Chicks We're a Central Florida real estate practice built around one kind of client: the family making a big, often once-in-a-lifetime move to the Orlando area. From the brick streets of Winter Park to established Maitland neighborhoods, family-first Oviedo, and master-planned Lake Nona, we work with relocation buyers who need more than a tour guide. That means the real numbers, the school zoning details, and honest neighborhood-by-neighborhood answers before you ever see a house. ➡️ The Legal Bits The information in these videos is for educational purposes only and is not financial, legal, or tax advice. Every situation is different; please consult a qualified professional about your specific circumstances. Market data reflects MLS figures for the period stated and may change. Kristine McKinley Pestana is a licensed Florida real estate agent with RE/MAX Town & Country. Equal Housing Opportunity. All materials used fall within fair use guidelines. If you represent a copyright owner and have concerns, please contact [email protected].