[Teach411]

Hi, I've been thinking about relocating to Florida and have been doing research to try to find the best communities/towns. I am looking for a low crime rate area with good schools as I'm a teacher and my niece who will be moving with us is going into high school. I came up with a list of places that seemed worth more investigation and was wondering if anyone is familiar with these places and if any on my list should be removed. Thanks for your help.

MY LIST:
Astatula, Clermont, Howey in the Hills, Sorrento, Mount Plymouth, Celebration, Hunters Creek, Geneva, Heathrow, Lake Mary, Longwood, Ovieda, Wekiva Springs, Winter Springs, Gotha, Maitland, Ocoee, Plymouth, Sand Lake, Windermere, and Winter Park.

[kickinbackfl]

Oviedo is a great place to live! The high school is A-rated!! Oviedo has a nice small town feel about it, people are friendly and it close to alot of things to do!! Where are you moving from?

[equestrian_mom]

we just relocated back to Tampa from Lake Mary/Heathrow area. I cry almost daily b/c I miss it so much. Lake Mary was just rated the #4 best place to live in the country by Money magazine. What makes Lake Mary an ideal place to live is that it is very clean, has a small town feel w/ every ammenity your could ever want. Seminole County has the best schools in the state. I would be happy to answer an specific questions you have as far as neighborhoods, ammenities etc...

The Maitland area & Winter Park are very nice, as well. But I personally would not want to live in Orange County. I would steer clear of the Windermere, Hunter's Creek and other southern areas. Very congested and higher crime. Too close to tourism for my taste.

You can't really go wrong w/ anywhere in Seminole County. Adjacent to Lake Mary/Heathrow are Sanford and Longwood, which are kind of all connected and great areas to call home.

Hope that helps!!

[Teach411]

Thanks for the input the more I can find out the better I'll be when I get to go down and look around. I'll be relocating from New York.

[SouthernBelle3]

Astatula???? Have you even been to this place? Definetly scratch this off your list.
Mount Dora or Eustis would be a better choice than Sorrento. Howey-in-the Hills - very small community with not much to do, but off the beaten path. It is down the road from a wonderful bakery in Yalaha. Will you be looking for a teaching job? If so, I believe that Seminole County pays the best.

[AONE]

Teach,
You have found many of the really nice areas around. Howie and the others on that side are a bit off the beaten path so you might feel a little left out. It kind of depends on what you like. Windermere and Dr, Phillips are high rent districts. Winter Park is also very nice, longwood can be as well. hunters Creek, Oviedo, and Lake Mary I would see as middle of the road area, nice but not elegant. There are some areas you missed but for the most part you found whats here. It really comes down to what you like and I would suggest where you will be working. There are places in all directions so you might start with work. and go out from there. It is a process of suggestions and feedback with your agent. Just find someone that has broad exposure otherwise you might only hear about the area they farm. Good luck, I hope you love the area as much as I do.