Sara Bridget Au

Attracted by the gorgeous weather, plentiful golf courses and proximity to the city culture, local experts predict many baby boomers will be headed towards Central Florida during the coming decade. As the more than 78 million people in the nation born between 1946–1964 head towards retirement, many are looking to remain active, invest wisely in real estate and take advantage of their time to see grandchildren. But they’re not all going to The Villages or Solivita, many will be drawn to East Orlando.

Annie Winterbottom, a baby boomer, moved here two years ago from Philadephia, to take the position as the first Executive Director of the East Orlando Chamber of Commerce. She says she actively sought out a location in Florida and has fallen in love with East Orlando. “I will retire here because this is the most giving, caring community I’ve ever met.” Winterbottom brought her whole family – mother, daughter and son – south along with her. “I think East Orlando has one of the greatest cultures I’ve ever experienced,” she raves. Citing the high incidence of baby boomers eschewing retirement for small business ownership, she hints, “If you have ever thought of starting your own business, East Orlando is the place – there are so many opportunities.”

The pause in the housing market, while difficult now for people looking to sell, may actually become a boon for those who can hold on until the boomer rush starts. “Once they move to Orlando they know they’ll be visited by the grandkids because of Disney and everything, so they’re buying homes to accommodate visitors,” explains Tom Wolfrey, of Colwell Banker Solomon Real Estate Group, Inc., on Alafaya Trail. His 16-years of selling East Orlando property makes him believe we’re on the front edge of a market uptick based on the baby boomers. He says this demographic will see they can get much more of a house here for their money than other cities. “East Orlando is still a better buy here than other parts of the country.”

Wolfrey says some early planners purchased homes here initially as investments, and now after a few years of renting them, are actually moving here themselves in order to retire. “One of the homes we have on the market right now is someone from New Jersey, who purchased here several years ago and then moved down; now they are ready to move to a different home but want to stay in the area.”

Indeed, cities like Houston, TX, and Sacramento, CA, have reported trends of affluent baby boomers retiring and, instead of opting for the stereotypical “empty-nester” condo with limited upkeep necessary, they’re choosing to build their custom dream home.

Wolfrey puts a positive spin on the market slowdown, saying this year has simply evened out the speed bump of 2004-2005, and that this area is at the natural inflation point it would have been at had that bump not occurred. “While builders have huge incentives in place right now, that will end at some point and the demand from all these baby boomers will drive up the prices of existing properties again.”

East Orlando residents may think of the area strictly in terms of young families, however national statistics show many baby boomers do still have young children, and so there’s another reason East Orlando could be particularly attractive.

Wolfrey believes it’ll be positive for the community. “I think you’ll see a huge impact; people are still relocating to Florida and Orlando is certainly one of the most desirable places you can live in Florida