[ACS228]

Thanks for the responses.

Not too worried about "Yankee" comments, we don't offend easily. We are also accepting of most people, including rednecks and white trash.

Thanks Hey_Mikki for the Lake gibson area info. We will check out the different neighborhoods but not sure about living in a gated community, its just not our style.

Thanks again Gypsychic, the info you post here is partly why we chose to look at Lakeland in the 1st place.

[ACS228]

We are also accepting of most people, including rednecks and white trash.

Sorry, didn't mean to sound like we think anyone is redneck or white trash. Just felt like Lakeland Yankee was making generalizations about people. Something we don't do.

[gypsychic]

ACS228 - I sent you a Direct Message.

[Lakeland Yankee]

Originally Posted by ACS228

We are also accepting of most people, including rednecks and white trash.

Sorry, didn't mean to sound like we think anyone is redneck or white trash. Just felt like Lakeland Yankee was making generalizations about people. Something we don't do.

Sorry if you felt I was making generalizations about people. I try to never judge people but when they judge me because of where I'm from you tend to get defensive. The same type of people also hate people based on race , religion , sexual preference,etc. I believe all people are equal and should be treated fair.

You asked about good and bad in Lakeland and I gave you the honest truth. When I was looking to move to Lakeland I only wanted to read the positive posts too. It seemed that if anyone said anything bad about the area they were brushed off as exaggerating or dishonest. The positive posts about Lakeland come from the same couple people and might not represent the regular working class person who moves and lives here.

If you are white ,wealthy ,Christian and Republican , it may be paradise. Not everybody fits into that mold.

Good luck on your move and I hope everything works out for you.

[sandcranelady]

I can say only good things about Lakeland, Just dont live near the hospital 5 mile radius. Poor Housing
developments like any town. We moved here 3 yrs ago from Tampa, Brandon area what a wonderful difference. Taxes, car insurance , homeowners insurance all half of what Tampa area is.
We checked out Sherwood forest, its north side. We found a brand new home cheaper. We are on North end of Lakeland, 4 miles from Mall. Homes are being sold for bargain prices right now, These homes were built in 2003, some never lived in. Investors bought and let go back to bank.
My new neighbor just bought 2000 sq ft new home forclosure for 150,000. loaded with upgrades.
Our yearly fee is 250.00 for homeowners fee. We are 4 min to Interstate 4, 30 mins to Tampa,
Lake Gibson is older area now too meaning the homes are 20 yrs old. We love the Lake Gibson area,
we lived in rental on the Lake Gibson 10 yrs ago.
We are so spoiled here in Lakeland, after living in Tampa we really appreciate the non traffic.
We have everything on the north side now, We only go to Southside to feed the Swans.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by sandcranelady

I can say only good things about Lakeland, Just dont live near the hospital 5 mile radius. Poor Housing
developments like any town. We moved here 3 yrs ago from Tampa, Brandon area what a wonderful difference. Taxes, car insurance , homeowners insurance all half of what Tampa area is.
We checked out Sherwood forest, its north side. We found a brand new home cheaper. We are on North end of Lakeland, 4 miles from Mall. Homes are being sold for bargain prices right now, These homes were built in 2003, some never lived in. Investors bought and let go back to bank.
My new neighbor just bought 2000 sq ft new home forclosure for 150,000. loaded with upgrades.
Our yearly fee is 250.00 for homeowners fee. We are 4 min to Interstate 4, 30 mins to Tampa,
Lake Gibson is older area now too meaning the homes are 20 yrs old. We love the Lake Gibson area,
we lived in rental on the Lake Gibson 10 yrs ago.
We are so spoiled here in Lakeland, after living in Tampa we really appreciate the non traffic.
We have everything on the north side now, We only go to Southside to feed the Swans.

Nice to hear your thoughts, sandcranelady (love your name!) I need to explore the northside more, I just tend to stay in my neighborhood - things are so convenient here in Lakeland. I love to see the swans on Lake Morton, such a lovely and peaceful sight!

Tampa has it's good points, but when I go back there now, most of it looks so dirty by comparison to this town - I am spoiled by this place also!

[sandcranelady]

Hi Gypsychic

I have talked with you before, I got locked out of this forum before I was using Florida Sunshine.
I had to reregister to get on , dont know why. But my love of Sand Cranes seemed natural.
I have video of my wild pets here in north lakeland on you tube.

[ACS228]

Thanks SandcraneLady, Its so hard to figure out neighborhoods from real estate websites. I have heard about the area around the hospital we will be sure to avoid it. Do the houses in Sherwood Forest have private pools or community pools? We weren't really looking for new construction but we might reconsider for a bargin. We do really really want our own pool though.

Thanks for your imput Lakeland Yankee, While we are white, we are not wealthy, christian or republican. I hope that means we will still find our paradise.

Gypsychic, got your message, thanks for your help. I am sure I will have more questions as our trip gets closer.

[RECD Designz]

Just thought I'd chime in here.

I've been living in Lakeland almost a year now and overall we do love it here. Love the area where we live, the downtown area, south Lakeland and the Lakeside Villages area.

My family and I live on the Northside (near the mall) and there are many beautiful areas in Lakeland and some not so nice areas, like the area near the hospital that gypsychic mentioned and the east Lakeland area that Lakeland Yankee mentioned.

I have yet to have any issues with anyone here and I am not white and am a northern transplant originally from NY.

I do also commute to downtown Tampa several times a week and usually make it in about 35 minutes (I-4 is very close by).

My sub-division is gated but there is a community nearby that you might want to look into if you visit the Northside. It's called Hampton Hills and the builder is Lennar. I have visited some of their houses with some relatives recently and they have some very nice homes. There is a sign outside the community that says prices starting in the $160's. It's a nice area and convenient to I-4 and pretty much any type of shopping you may need.

[Big House]

Originally Posted by gypsychic

Sorry you have had such bad experiences but ours have been the opposite - this is one of the friendliest towns I have ever seen, and there are people here from all over, including many other countries. Property thefts mostly occur in certain areas if one looks at the weekly crime maps. I do think your "bubba" comment was a gross exaggeration, but then, I don't know where exactly you live. If you are outside the city, then I can understand where you are coming from.

I'm interested in learning more about Lakeland. Is it just a community, or is it a SWFL town. You've had some pretty possitive input.