[Encinitas]

Thinking of relocating to Florida. Around Orlando area. Checked out some HS and the best ones were around Altamonte Springs and Lake Mary. I currently live in Encinitas, Ca. I'm curious as to good and bad parts of Orlando and the cities I mentioned above. I don't want to move to a dangerous or scary part of the town. I have a 15yr. old daughter and an almost 2 yr. old daughter and desperatly need to know about the schools in the area. Please help give any information re:the High Schools and the idea of moving to Florida. Will is be more affordable than San Diego? Good or bad, just be honest. The HS that I found in the internet were Lake Bentley HS and Lake Mary HS.

Does anyone know how the standard of living in these areas in comparison to San Diego, Ca? Right now we cannot afford to live in San Diego. The thought of buying a home in San Diego is not even an option. For example:we were renting a 2 bedroom house, old, with old appliances etc. for $1850 month. Then after 4.5 yrs. they wanted to raise the rent (an additional $250 a month) $2100 month. Needless to say we didn't stay. Can we do better in Florida? Maybe afford a house?

[cuse]

Lake Mary is very nice area to live. I recently moved here from Oviedo, Fl. Lake Mary is very close to Heathrow, a very wealthy area. Lake Mary HS is very good for education. The city of sanford is right down the road from LM and is not a nice area. Stick with LM. Houses are decently priced compared to Ca. Condo's run from 150-250 depending on luxuries. Renting in LM is around 900-1500 depending on size, garage, appliances ect..
Browse real estate listing on the internet. Try and find a home with a pool because it is VERY HOT here in the summers. People here are friendly and professional. Most of the area here is offices and homes. Not a real lot of traffic. Very close to major highways ( I-4 and the 417), shopping, and entertainment. If you are into Disney....45 min. drive. Orlando Airport is 35 min. and Sanford-Orlando Airport is 10-15 min.

in my opinion....Florida is a great place to visit but not to live....I'm looking into moving back to the Northeast.

[m.boogie]

Be prepared for traffic and tolls!
Always carry quarters and dollar bills in your glove compartment.. otherwise your done for.

and did i mention traffic?! traffic?! traffic?!
of course thats the 4 and 417

[logybogy]

Check out Gainesville, FL. It's where the University of Florida is and the high schools are very good.

[Jude]

We just moved here too and had the same concerns. We also looked at Clermont, Lake Mary & Altamonte Springs but settled on Oviedo. My first priority was school system, not just because we have a teenage daughter but for resale as well. Seminole County schools is where you want to be, check into it. Clermont had a great new HS and was beautiful but was too far from where my husband works anyway. Altamonte Springs is insanely crazy with traffic although there is great shopping and restaurants there. Lake Marys downfall was the necessity of taking I-4 pretty much anywhere you want to go. You don't want to take I-4 if at all possible during peak hours. Check into that as well. Oviedo is a newer community right near UCF and we love it. They just built a new HS too. College is a bargain here for residents too. 417 is a toll road that you can buy a sunpass for, it may cost you a couple bucks a month but the road is a wonderful smooth uncrowded drive and runs through Oviedo and is way worth it.
Good Luck. By the way, I'm still getting used to how friendly everyone is here, it is amazing, and customer service is incredible no matter where you go here.

[Encinitas]

Thank you for taking the time to respond. May I ask where you moved from? Oviedo HS was on my list too.

[spunky]

Altamonte Springs is a bad animal I would avoid it. I would stick with Lake Mary or Longwood is very nice too.

[Encinitas]

Originally Posted by spunky

Altamonte Springs is a bad animal I would avoid it. I would stick with Lake Mary or Longwood is very nice too.

Could you elaborate on why you think I should stay away from Altamonte Springs?

[Jeff Miller]

Hi Encinitas-
We moved from San Diego in 04.
Housing is still very affordable here in comparison and we like it a lot.

Best of luck! kona

[fromFL]

Originally Posted by Encinitas

Could you elaborate on why you think I should stay away from Altamonte Springs?

two words: "traffic" and "overcrowded"

All the main roads through Altamonte are almost always crowded (436, 434, I-4). There is also virtually no open space in the immediate area (besides Cranes Roost Park, which is actually a very nice park).

Lake Mary and Longwood have a more open, semi-country feeling to them. And though those places are also crowded (what place in the Orlando area isn't), they are decidedly less crowded than Altamonte.

That would be my reasons for choosing Lake Mary or Longwood over Altamonte.