ChrisK thank you for the great info. If it starts looking like its going to happen I would love to talk to you. Well know more in a few months. What do you think of Merritt island or cocoa beach to live?

Yep. Rent first.
My wife and I relocated down here from Ohio 7yrs ago. After tons of on line research we picked an area and rented only because we couldn't find what we wanted to buy. Thank God.
Couldn't wait for the lease to expire and to get out.

The Cocoa Beach area is a favorite day trip destination for us and plenty live there and commute to Orlando which I hate driving in. Research the area around the Laquinta Inn in sout Cocoa Beach. Not the one on the beach/north.
It is on A1A and there is very nice, mature neighborhood behind it (west) that is mostly on water. Very nice and would guess, some of the more affordable water front in area. If you go the water front route, be careful as tons of that "water front" can be walked across. If you want access to Atlantic, a lot of Merritt Island is an hour boat ride to the inlet.
If you'd like more specific info about the area call me. I type to slow to do much.
Gary 772-713-8043

I live on lake Howell in casselberry.

Look at the St.Cloud area (S. of Orlando) around the Chain of Lakes. Have friends there and is a gorgeous area, a hop and a skip from the airport.