[DailyJournalist]

Originally Posted by gypsychic

Melissa, I would recommend Lakeland - we live here now, and it is a beautiful, clean, family-oriented city with everything you need for a comfortable lifestyle. Being inland it is a little safer from hurricanes, (no storm surge and much higher elevation). Cost of living here is very reasonable and you will find your taxes and ins. to be lower than the coastal cities. I love Sarasota too (we own a vacation home there) but it will be more expensive overall if you are on a budget.

There are a lot of parks and recreational opportunities here that are cheap or free, and the city has a preserved, historic look to it. I think you would really like it.

Good luck.

The poster stated that she wants to be close to a city. Lakeland is over an hour from the nearest city. Lakeland is a very desolate place far from everything. Places that I would suggest in my metro area are Lake Mary and Oviedo, both have excellent schools and you will still have access to a large metro area.

[melissa3296]

How is the cost of living in those two places? Is there a major hospital nearby? How's the weather? I am going to reserach the towns, but sometimes nice to hear it from the people that live there.

[DailyJournalist]

Originally Posted by melissa3296

How is the cost of living in those two places? Is there a major hospital nearby? How's the weather? I am going to reserach the towns, but sometimes nice to hear it from the people that live there.

Here are two websites to help you get you research started:

City of Lake Mary, Florida

Welcome to the City of Oviedo | City of Oviedo, Florida

[Mike1306]

Originally Posted by gypsychic

Melissa, I would recommend Lakeland - we live here now, and it is a beautiful, clean, family-oriented city with everything you need for a comfortable lifestyle. Being inland it is a little safer from hurricanes, (no storm surge and much higher elevation). Cost of living here is very reasonable and you will find your taxes and ins. to be lower than the coastal cities. I love Sarasota too (we own a vacation home there) but it will be more expensive overall if you are on a budget.

There are a lot of parks and recreational opportunities here that are cheap or free, and the city has a preserved, historic look to it. I think you would really like it.

Good luck.

I like Lakeland and have friends and family there but to say being inland is safer from hurricanes is very misleading.

I am not sure how long you have been there but in the last few years, 2004 especially, Lakeland and Polk County have gotten quite a bit more hurricane damage than I have in Hernando County 4 miles from the gulf.

But back to the OP, Lakeland is very nice. I spend quite a bit of time over there and if I didn't live near Brooksville I would probably be over there. Good family atmosphere but someone else will need to comment on the schools.

Brooksville/Weeki Wachee area is also very nice and I have been happy with the schools here for my children.

A 3 bedroom 2 bath home on a 1/2 acre can be rented for around $900-$1000.
If you went with a higher end rental a 3/2 with a bonus room on 3/4 acre can be had for around $1500.

Not much in the way of nightlife around here though.

[Mike1306]

Originally Posted by DailyJournalist

The poster stated that she wants to be close to a city. Lakeland is over an hour from the nearest city. Lakeland is a very desolate place far from everything. Places that I would suggest in my metro area are Lake Mary and Oviedo, both have excellent schools and you will still have access to a large metro area.

You can be in Tampa in 1/2 hour from Lakeland unless you are going in rush hour but if you aren't going to work why would you go during rush hour.

I guess you haven't been to Lakeland lately to say it is desolate and far from everything.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by Mike Peterson

I like Lakeland and have friends and family there but to say being inland is safer from hurricanes is very misleading.

I am not sure how long you have been there but in the last few years, 2004 especially, Lakeland and Polk County have gotten quite a bit more hurricane damage than I have in Hernando County 4 miles from the gulf.

But back to the OP, Lakeland is very nice. I spend quite a bit of time over there and if I didn't live near Brooksville I would probably be over there. Good family atmosphere but someone else will need to comment on the schools.

Brooksville/Weeki Wachee area is also very nice and I have been happy with the schools here for my children.

A 3 bedroom 2 bath home on a 1/2 acre can be rented for around $900-$1000.
If you went with a higher end rental a 3/2 with a bonus room on 3/4 acre can be had for around $1500.

Not much in the way of nightlife around here though.

Mike, in my post I said it was a LITTLE safer here due to no storm surge and we are on higher elevation. Yes, we lived inland during the 2004 and had wind damage. Obviously NO place in Florida is safe from the hurricanes, but inland is usually where people go to get away from the coasts.

Anyway, thanks for posting your other positive comments about Lakeland. Yes, it is a very easy drive to Tampa in non-rush hour, not much more than 1/2 hour as you posted, and we have the beautiful Polk Parkway which connects with I-4.

[TD*]

Avoid Polk County at all costs, its infested with drugs and crime

Excerpt from TBO.com

" You know Polk's rap. It's the county of oranges, phosphate mountains and trailer parks. It's where they spread hepatitis through meth use, once elected a white supremacist sheriff, and often find themselves in perp walks on Orlando or Tampa Bay TV.
Never mind that Polk ranks ninth in population among Florida's 67 counties, or that rapid growth and commercial investment have made it ground zero for debates over the future of shipping, the I-4 corridor and higher education priorities.
It's still just the place you drive through quickly on the way to Disney World, right?"

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by TD*

Avoid Polk County at all costs, its infested with drugs and crime

Excerpt from TBO.com

" You know Polk's rap. It's the county of oranges, phosphate mountains and trailer parks. It's where they spread hepatitis through meth use, once elected a white supremacist sheriff, and often find themselves in perp walks on Orlando or Tampa Bay TV.
Never mind that Polk ranks ninth in population among Florida's 67 counties, or that rapid growth and commercial investment have made it ground zero for debates over the future of shipping, the I-4 corridor and higher education priorities.
It's still just the place you drive through quickly on the way to Disney World, right?"

Oh, Puh-leez.......

[SoFLGal]

Originally Posted by melissa3296

SoFLGal - I checked out Sarasota - looks like the cost of living is pretty high. It is just me and my one year old and moving is costly, so I am worried that maybe I may not be able to afford buying a home. What does the average monthly rent on a home cost around there? I do love that it has one of the best schools in the country, though! That is definitely a plus.

You can rent a brand new home for $900/mo. That's about the going rate some a little cheaper and a little more expensive-this is in North Port and not in the city of Sarasota. New homes here are selling for $120K and up. I'm taking someone out this weekend that only wants to spend in 100K for a newer home. I have nine pretty good homes to show her. I think it's pretty reasonable here.

[Carbondated]

Originally Posted by melissa3296

I am also looking for somewhere close to the city, but not right in the city.

If you're looking at North Port, the city of Sarasota is about a 35-45 minute drive (without traffic). You are also about 20 minutes from the beaches, and an hour and a half from Tampa/St. Pete.

Check out the suburbs of Tampa, Lakeland included.