[michelle_723]

I have lived in CT all my life and I have always hated it. I want to move to FL where there is always sunshine. Basically no snow! I've considered Orlando. Is this a good choice? I decided to make the move within a couple of years to finish my degree and I need a family friendly place. I'm a single mom. Also I really don't care about the housing market just yet. I've decided to rent for a while until I could afford anything. Is Orlando a safe bet for children? What about hurricanes? How about renting and the job market (I'm getting into Real Estate and Property Management)? What about crime since I'm a single mom? If not Orlando then any other good affordable family friendly places? Thanks a bunch.

[Summerbreeze]

Orlando is nice. It's reasonable in price too from what I've seen. I live in the begining of S. Florida on the east coast. I think Orlando is way more reasonable than here. There are a lot of people in your age bracket or whatever too. Lots of Apts. and condo's there. ...As for Florida, I can only speak for myself, I am also from Ct. and it was my life long dream to move down here. Well, I'm thinking about leaving. Just know that compared to Ct. this place is VERY strict. I would have thought the opposite. But it's like they just can make life difficult. I am a normal mom, with a hubby and a small daughter. We live a simple life, and it just sems like this state is out to get money or something. No one ever bothered us in Ct. but here doesn't feel right. This is just my experience, so that's all I can tell you. But you won't know until you try it. If I never came down, I would still be complaining that we should move here. lol. I don't care for it though. It's mostly New Yorker's where I am, which is fine because I am originally from NY. But it just feels like I'm on Long Island! Really it does. ...Give it a shot, you can always go back. You may love it. I love the beach, and nothing beats it there. But as far as anything else... nah, I'll even take the cold over this place.

[bamboosmom]

Originally Posted by michelle_723

I have lived in CT all my life and I have always hated it. I want to move to FL where there is always sunshine. Basically no snow! I've considered Orlando. Is this a good choice? I decided to make the move within a couple of years to finish my degree and I need a family friendly place. I'm a single mom. Also I really don't care about the housing market just yet. I've decided to rent for a while until I could afford anything. Is Orlando a safe bet for children? What about hurricanes? How about renting and the job market (I'm getting into Real Estate and Property Management)? What about crime since I'm a single mom? If not Orlando then any other good affordable family friendly places? Thanks a bunch.

Yes, will you be lonely down here? The cold weather is why I wanted to move to Florida 6 years ago. What a mistake that was. We got hit with Hurricane Charley in Punta Gorda on Aug. 13, 2004. That changed the way I think of Florida. I would rather be cold and watch the snow falling softly to the ground on a cold winter's night than hearing the wind blowing at 170 mph.
Then missing the family back home during the holidays, birthdays, weddings, etc. Sure, you can drive up or take a plane, but you can't do that every weekend when you are sitting around wondering what the heck to do.

It gets lonely down here.
We decided to move back up north. We can come down during the winter to get some sunshine on our faces if we choose to. But there is no place like home. Think clearly on this move, please!

[heat362127]

I don't know if you are still looking for an answer to this but I read this and kinda wanted to reply; I'm a single mom with 2 kids and was raised in florida. I am originally from upstate New York and so badly miss the season change. I would really like to raise my children somewhere other than here. Though the weather is nice (82 degrees on christmas day) people seem to think that because the weather is always nice that they are on a permanent vacation! Maybe you should take a trip here and visits the schools and neighborhoods that you would possibly live in before you make a final decision.