So, you are moving, and you want to live in a safe, affordable community with many things to do. You also want to be close to restaurants with great food. Plus, you want quality education and top-notch healthcare. Consider moving to Kissimmee, Florida
Let me give you 8 reasons why you'll love Kissimmee, Florida.
The weather in Kissimmee is amazing (-ly hot), so pair up with a pool, spring, or beach day) year-round! But everyone knows that.
Reason #1 you will love Kissimmee, Florida.
The Entertainment:
Kissimmee is part of the Entertainment District. Close to theme parks like Disney, Universal, and other popular spots.
International Drive
Let's start with International Drive, AKA IDrive. Idrive is the Florida Version of the Las Vegas Strip minus the casinos and burlesque shows. IDrive has so many attractions I will need to write a separate post in the future all about Idrive.
But for now, let me share:
5 of the most popular attractions on the Idrive strip.
- Number 1: The Icon Park. You have the Orlando Eye, Madame Tussauds. The Sea Life Orlando Aquarium, and restaurants/bars.
- Number 2: Ripley's Believe it or not,
- Number 3: Escape Game Orlando,
- Number 4: Chocolate Kingdom-Factory Adventure Tour, and
- Number 5: O'Shucks Pub & Karaoke Bar.
So much to do here that you need a 2 weeks' vacation to visit IDrive.
Old Town/ Fun Spot
Other less known but fun and unique theme parks include Old Town. You can dine, get on a ride, or choose from about 70 unique shops throughout Old Town. Next door, you have Fun Spot. A local amusement park where you can enjoy a roller coaster ride. A high-speed race on the go-carts or a digital car race on the arcades. You'll love this place!
Island H2O Live
Did you know that Kissimmee has its own water park? And I'm not talking about Sea World Orlando, Aquatica, Volcano Bay, no. I'm talking about Island H2O Live. This beautiful water park is a new theme park part of Margaritaville. You can have so much fun at this place, and after you are done here, you can take a stroll on the Sunset walk. This outdoor mall has many restaurant options. You have options like Rocks and Brews, Stefans Kitchen, Ford Garage, and more!
Sunset Walk
The Sunset Walk is an outdoor mall with more restaurants than shops. This is the place to be if you want to hang out. Some of the unique activities at Sunset Walk include live music in the evening. Vintage car shows and the Artisan Market on the weekends.
The Kissimmee Lakefront Park & Marina
What can I say about Kissimmee Lakefront Park? Well, first, it is fantastic! Walks throughout the park as the sunsets are picture-perfect. And if you check out my Instagram @JuryHernandezFl, you'll see many reels of my walks at the park. Second, the Kissimmee lakefront park has 2 playgrounds and a splash pad for kids to enjoy. You have pavilions that can per rented for family events or celebrations. The Big Toho Marina is the last thing I will mention about Kissimmee Lakefront Park.
Park your boat in this decent size marina. Go out fishing or find your way to the Gulf of Mexico. Interesting fact Lake Toho connects to the Kissimmee chain of lakes; you could get out to the ocean! How amazing is that!?!?
Did you know that lake Toho (Tohopekaliga) is famous globally as the Trophy Bass Capital of the World? Yes! so if you like to fish, there is no better place than Lake Toho.
The Shingle Creek Trail/ Pioneer Village
Do you like the outdoors? You will love this trail. You can bike, run, walk, picnic, or ground at the shingle creek trail. You have so many things to do here! Kayak on the shingle creek, camp, visit the pioneer village and go for a stroll.
You can reserve areas of pioneer village for private events. Have a wedding, a birthday, or a company celebration.
Reason #2: The Food is incredible!
Now let's talk about the food. Kissimmee has many of your chain restaurants. Bone Fish, Chillis, First Watch, Cheddar's, BurgerFi, Johnny Rockets, Longhorn, and Chipotle. But I want to talk about the local family-owned restaurants you will love. Kissimmee is a melting pot of different cuisines. You have Mexican Restaurants, Italian restaurants, seafood restaurants, Caribian food restaurants, and more.
Here is a quick list of popular Restaurants in Kissimmee:
- Fat Boys' Bar-B-Q
- Sabor Del Caribe
- El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant
- Woodsby's Cafe
- 3 Sisters Speakeasy
- Nadia's Cafe
- Kosher Eatery
- King O Falafel
Reason #3: The People
We have some of the most amazing people in Kissimmee. Kissimmee citizens are friendly, generous, and good neighbors.
Reason #4: The Neighborhoods
Kissimmee Neighborhoods make it the perfect place to raise a family or retire. We have so many different communities here. Maintenance-free, resort-style, 55+, and Condo resorts!
Here is a snapshot of what the Kissimmee market is doing now:
You can own single-family home for a median price of $350,000 in 2022.
The process to close on your home takes about 45 days on average.
You won't need an attorney to close on a home. But if you want one, there are real estate attorneys you can hire to overlook the paperwork.
Kissimmee communities have two kinds of maintenance fees:
Most communities in Kissimmee have a Homeowners association (HOA). The HOA enforces the community's rules and regulations to maintain the look and feel. The HOA also maintains the amenities.
Some communities with resort-style amenities have CDD (community development district). This is an annual fee collected with the property taxes. This fee helps pay for the community amenities or other infrastructure improvements.
With the help of the HOA and maintenance fees, you can enjoy the Florida Lifestyle.
Now on to the fun part, what kinds of homes and communities are there in Kissimmee?
We will discuss Kissimmee in sections. After all, it is the largest city in Osceola County.
Poinciana Villages: This is the south side of Kissimmee.
Poinciana is about 1/3 of Kissimmee, so this area is enormous. Many families move here because of its affordability.
There is a monthly maintenance fee of $83.27 paid annually. You can find bigger homes with oversized lots.
New construction homes are built in single empty lots scattered throughout the villages. There are currently about 5 different developers selling new homes as of 2022.
There are not that many condos or townhomes in the Poinciana Villages.
In this area, you will find Solivita, the award-winning 55+ community. And other high-end communities like Bellalago and Stepping Stone.
Poinciana amenities: were built only a few years back. Now you can enjoy the pool, fitness center, and baseball/Football court. There is a separate monthly fee to use this facility.
For individual residents: $20
Individual non-residents: $25
Families residents(max 5): $40
Families non-residents: $50
Quick fact: Residents in this area love to plant fruit trees and other plants.
Downtown Kissimmee:
In the Downtown area of Kissimmee, you'll find a variety of home types. From your 1900s Vintage home to a Modern mid-highrise condo. You can find new construction communities like Kindred, Tohoqua, Tapestry, and Storey Lake. This area is desirable because of its proximity to the Loop and other shopping centers. Also, the ability to get to the airport in just minutes by taking Highway 417.
Buena Ventura Lakes | BLV
This massive planned community was subdivided into smaller neighborhoods. You will mainly find single-family homes here.
Some of the perks of this area are the low maintenance fees. You have parks, playgrounds, and basketball courts.
Buena Ventura Lakes borderlines Orlando so you can get to Orlando and Lake Nona in minutes. You have direct access to the Turn Pike.
Kissimmee West Side:
The west side has the most significant number of vacation communities in Kissimmee. You find resort-style communities with grand entrances and guard gated 24/7. The amenities in these communities are like those you see in the movies. Beach entry pools, Clubhouse with Fitness Centers. Theaters, Game rooms, Business centers, and restaurants.
Four Corners:
The Four Corner area is closest to the Disney property. You have some of the most Luxurious Vacation Estates with 15 to 20 rooms, each with its own private bathroom. Not to mention the community amenities are over the top.
Quick fact: This area is called the four corners because this is where 4 countries meet. Osceola, Polk, Orange, and Lake county.
Reason #5: Cost of Living
Living costs are affordable compared to other parts of Central Florida, like Windermere. If you plan to own a home, you get a larger and newer home here in Kissimmee. So if you don't mind traveling 30 minutes on average.
Reason #6: Transportation
Kissimmee is served by many major highways, making it easy to get around the city and explore all it has to offer. You also have The Sun Rail with a station in Poinciana and the second one in Downtown Kissimmee. You can also travel by bus with Lynx public transportation.
The airport is about a 30 minutes drive from Kissimmee. If you are deep in Poinciana, it could take about 45 minutes to get to the airport.
Another way to travel to other parts of the state is coming soon. The Brightlight station next to the International Orlando Airport will open in 2023. It will take you from Orlando Airport to Miami airport.
Reason #7: Education
Kissimmee is home to 2 Valencia College campuses, the newest one near Poinciana. The city's school system is highly rated, providing families with quality education.
We are working on our school directory, which will be available for members.
Reason #8: Healthcare
Kissimmee's healthcare system is top-notch, with several hospitals and clinics. The Medical Arts District is dedicated to medical practices, clinics, and hospitals. So you have everything you need at your fingertips, from emergency care to your medical office for routine checkups.
There you have it 8 reasons you'll love living in Kissimmee. There are more, but that's for another post. Tell me if you found this article insightful. And if you are seriously considering moving to Kissimmee, feel free to contact me. I'm more than happy to answer your questions.
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My mission:
To guide, inform and inspire you to take the 1st step towards your best life. Buy or sell homes with confidence. -Jury Hernandez, Broker Associate
