Considering moving to/near Coleman FL (Orlando, Sunrise: best town, home owners insurance, crime rate)

[Justme08]

Hello!
I currently live in NC and my husband is looking into working for BOP in Coleman FL. Can ANYONE tell me ANY information on life in this area? I have a 4 year old son who will be attending school in a year and a half- So I am interested in finding out information on schools and what towns/cities to live in that he would have things to do. Is there are better town in this area- better than another ......
I am seeking a 2000+ 4Br+ home ....maybe with a pool and or a fenced in yard, for under $150,000 (I know it sounds like alot ...but I am sure that taxes and home owners insurance are MUCH higher than where I live now and I would like to keep the mortgage fairly low with everything considered.)

Also if anyone knows any info on working at the Coleman Facility - that would be greatly appreciated as well.

What is the cost of living like in this area?

My husband and I are 26 years old and are seeking a good place for a young family to raise a family......

Can anyone help me with this information???
~THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH IN ADVANCE~

[beer980]

That is quite a rural area to live in. Coleman town has one red light and you will have more luck if you live closer to other towns. Wildwood, Bushnell or even Leesburg are not that far away from the prison. I don't think Cloeman has a grocery store. The prison is between Coleman and Okahumpka, kinda south of Wildwood and north of Bushnell. There are other small towns close by like Sumterville and Lake Pannasoffkee. There are not a lot of activities to do in that area. You can do a good bit of fishing and hunting I suppose. Now the prison is a large complex but it is not near anything of importance. There are a couple of working limerock pits near by but that is about it. I think there are 3 prisons in the complex but there could be more. I have not been back to the prison areas since they completed the medium and maximum ones. My company makes deliveries to the loading area before you get to the actual prisions.

[terri57]

Well the best town to live in, in Sumter County, is Bushnell, which is also the county seat. The schools are good and they have plenty of sports for the kids. The fairgrounds are 15 minutes away. But remember it is a small town with not much to do. No Hospital only a clinic not far from the prison. Now if you like to shop or eat at restaurants than maybe Leesburg. But if you don't mind driving and paying a turnpike toll than maybe Clermont or Orlando would be good if you like better malls and to be closer to attractions. But beware of rush hour on these 2. I don't really like Coleman nor Wildwood, since I came here in 1973. Ocala is very lovely and Belleview, south of Ocala also has nice areas but a little more pricey and will be a 35 to 45 min. drive to the prison. Hope this helps.

[Charlotte Shoemaker]

I was just showing a home on Saturday to a gentleman who is moving his family here from VA and he has just taken a job at Coleman. He liked Marion Oaks very much and it's an easy commute to Coleman. I also have sold other homes to employees at Coleman who bought in Marion Oaks. And, don't pay attention to all the negatives you read about Marion Oaks. Come and see for yourself. I'm sure you've heard the saying, "one man's trash is another man's treasure". Some people just don't live the diversity of the area, other's love it. If you check out Sunrise Elementary you will find they have have consistently received high grades. If I can help you in any way - just contact me directly at crshoemaker@earthlink.net

[rnpribyl]

Hello, my husband and I actually work for FCC Coleman as well. We're both 27 but don't have any children and currently live in Lady Lake, FL. We were going to move into a house in Clermont (A LOT of Coleman people live in Clermont but it's about a 40 minute commute). We love the Clermont area but decided we weren't ready to settle into Florida quite yet. As far as Coleman itself, PM me for info.

[rnpribyl]

As far as Ocala goes....my husband and I didn't really get a good feeling. A lot of people on this board love it but it just wasn't for us. Charlotte, you mention Marion Oaks but I know the crime rate is pretty high in that area? Maybe it has changed in a year but I would stay away from that particular area. Yes one's mans trash could be be another's treasure but in Marion Oaks I'd say that's not true.

[johnjen]

We too are in the process of moving to Florida for my husbands job. We need a 4 bedroom house. We have 3 girls, ages 13, 5 and 4 so we need a place which has a youth sports as well as activities to do. We would like a pool with the house or live in a neighborhood which has a pool, club house ect. We would like to live within an hours drive from Coleman. We did find a house on the internet in Hernando Co. n Springhill but have no idea about the area. Any ideas??? Thanks!

[Charlotte Shoemaker]

Okay, again I have to stand up for Marion Oaks. I know it's not for everyone. You've mentioned the crime rate. Visit www.moving.com and check out the crime rates by zip codes. Marion Oaks is 34473. Compare it to any other area of Marion County and you will find that the crime rate is one of the lowest in Marion County. Years ago Marion Oaks did have a lot of crime. Since the Marion County Sheriff's Dept opened a substation in Marion Oaks, the crime had continuously dropped. Compare it to a "bad" girl. She can change, yet we all remember the reputation. That is what's happened with Marion Oaks.

[rnpribyl]

Originally Posted by Charlotte Shoemaker

Okay, again I have to stand up for Marion Oaks. I know it's not for everyone. You've mentioned the crime rate. Visit www.moving.com and check out the crime rates by zip codes. Marion Oaks is 34473. Compare it to any other area of Marion County and you will find that the crime rate is one of the lowest in Marion County. Years ago Marion Oaks did have a lot of crime. Since the Marion County Sheriff's Dept opened a substation in Marion Oaks, the crime had continuously dropped. Compare it to a "bad" girl. She can change, yet we all remember the reputation. That is what's happened with Marion Oaks.

I just know we have a couple of people at work that moved from other states and feel they were "duped" into Marion Oaks. They aren't happy with the area but to each his own.

[BOOP]

My husband and I have also considered moving to Florida. I am currently employed w/BOP in Indiana. I also would like some input on the area and most important the institution. My daughter is starting Jr. High and that is my biggest fear, since I've not heard a lot of good ref. Florida schools in that area. Thanks for any info!