I lived here for 10 years until I got out. The housing market there is miserable because people want to sell but can't. The neighbors are downright awful. Rude, crapping dogs, loud music, fireworks at all times of the night, blocking your driveway with thier cars, fights, etc. The homeowners will come down hard when you don't cut your grass, but they will let everything else slide. You also have several HOAs--the overall one and whatever sub-neighborhood you live in. Awful place and I don't recommend it.

Yes, the schools are good.

No, it is NOT worth it.

1. The Homeowners Association board are Nazis. They make BIG money for the association with repeated fines and harassment of home owners whom they don't like. In 14 years there, I paid nearly $10,000 in fines.

2. MAJOR sink hole problems. Many home are affected. If you more in, you aren't leaving until your property develops one and the insurance company buys you out. Remember - if your NEIGHBOR has a sink hole, then you are bound by law to report it to a prospective buyer

3. Corruption: the board sends a lot of money to sub contractors who are friends and relatives, and who do work (unnecessary and otherwise) in the Highlands

4. Pending litigation: recently the Association spent more than $15,000 in HOA money, without informing the homeowners, on a frivolous tort against Winter Springs, trying to stop an apartment complex that some members didn't like. The city is contemplating a counter-suit. If this happens, the home owners will pay

There are plenty of nice places to live - this is NOT one of them. Do NOT buy a house here.