Who else likes living in Orlando even with the crime problem? (Davie: real estate, property taxes)

[VaNative]

I have no plans to leave this area anytime soon. I've been here for 3.5 years and all of my time has been living on the west side. I hear people at work talking about the traffic on the east side but I rarely have any problems getting to/from work via 408. Crime is everywhere and you can't hide no matter where you live. I love being close to the theme parks and having family/friends come down to visit and mostly...I LOVE the weather in the winter. No snow for me!

[jercie]

133 Semoran Blvd, near the Lake Underhill road. My commute isn't bad. I'm staying with my son about 12 miles away near the Millinia Mall. The first day I left for work an hour early expecting the worst. I was there in about 20 minutes. Now, I usually leave about 30 minutes early. Not a lot different than back in KY ... just lots more traffic and lanes!!
So far, I love it here in Orlando. I don't think I'll ever go back to cold, dark winters! Don't misunderstand me ... Kentucky is nice and a beautiful state ... but, I was ready for a big change in my life. And, I think this is gonna be it!!

[warpedg]

Originally Posted by Nirvana-Guy

[b]

As an objective person, I see only two solutions:

No offense Nirvana-Guy, but calling yourself objective on the topic of Orlando is like calling Paris Hilton a normal, average sane person.

[jessizadorable]

As a person who moved from small-town South Dakota, I was worried about all of the crime in Orlando and about my safety. I've found though, that if I stay out of certain parts of town, keep my apartment and car locked, and do what I can to keep myself safe (in other words, don't be stupid) I haven't found Orlando to be a threat to me. I live just west of Pine Hills and I couldn't feel safer. I love driving down the 408 and it only takes me 10 minutes tops to get to work if I get stopped by all of the stop lights along my way.

I like this city b/c it has so much to do (again, as compared to small-town South Dakota). It seems like my boyfriend and I keep finding new and fun things to do out on the town for dates. I really can't complain.

Also, I just love being the person who everyone wants to come visit when they come to Florida for vacation. The pull-out couch in my apartment is "booked" for the next 6 months with friends and family coming to visit and using me as free lodging.

[Nirvana-Guy]

Originally Posted by THASPECIAL

I just wanted to post this because i have tryed to argue with out of state-ers about us really having a major crime issue....and now i just wanna say why i like it here and hope others will tell your stories of why you like it here in Orlando.

It is not just the violent crime problem, which is huge in Orlando. It is also the other problems facing the state, like:

1. Insurance costs. That goes for car (4th MOST expensive in the US) and home (outrageously high, that is IF you can even get coverage).

2. Lack of high paying jobs. FL is a "Service-oriented" economy, based on toursim, and these jobs pay minimum wage ($6.75/h right now).

3. Lack of infra-structure (ie. not enough roads, no mass transit system in Orlando, schools overcrowded, not enough cops, jail is full with 5,000 inmates at 33rd street jail and they are not opening up more space quickly enough, etc).

4. Illegal aliens driving with no insurance and NO ID.

5. Staring Oct 1, car insurance will NOT be required in FL and the good drivers will be forced to buy massive amounts of "uninsured motorist coverrage" which will cost a fortune.

6. Hurricanes.

7. Tornadoes! FL is #1 in most tornadoes per sq foot.

8. Lightning. FL #1 most lightining in the world. That is why Thomas Edison had a home in FL while working on invention of light bulb.

9. Horribly humid/muggy weather. Summer that lasts 9 months out of the year.

10. Home prices are through the roof and no one can afford them, so the real estate market is way too risky to buy.

11. Rent prices in non-crack infested neighborhoods starts at $1,000 for a 1/1 studio.

12. Traffic. They don't have enough roads and because home rpices are so high, epopel ahve to commute 60+ miles each way a day just so they afford a home.

13. Property taxes are throyugh the roof.

14. because there are SO many people moving to FL from up north, the competetion for jobs is brutal and comapnies are paying people less and less, as the supply of workers is much greater than the availability for jobs.

15. Overcrowded colleges.

16. People are transient in FL. People come down and they leave after a while.

17. Unfriendly and rude people in traffic and in public places. People are aggressive because it is so hot and because they are from NJ, CT, MA, NY.

These are just SOME of the problems facing Orlando.

[Moo Du Kwan]

"7. Tornadoes! FL is #1 in most tornadoes per sq foot."

Untrue! Tornado Alley has Florida beat hands down.
And....Bangladesh has more tornado regularity than even Tornado Alley.

"8. Lightning. FL #1 most lightining in the world. That is why Thomas Edison had a home in FL while working on invention of light bulb."

Untrue! The most lightning strikes, by FAR AND AWAY is in the Democratic Republic of The Congo.

[ceebee1957]

...I think applies to nirvanaguy.

Please don't throw anything towards his mouth that could be construed as fuel to the fire.

Originally Posted by Moo Du Kwan

"7. Tornadoes! FL is #1 in most tornadoes per sq foot."

Untrue! Tornado Alley has Florida beat hands down.
And....Bangladesh has more tornado regularity than even Tornado Alley.

"8. Lightning. FL #1 most lightining in the world. That is why Thomas Edison had a home in FL while working on invention of light bulb."

Untrue! The most lightning strikes, by FAR AND AWAY is in the Democratic Republic of The Congo.

[bw1]

Originally Posted by jercie

133 Semoran Blvd, near the Lake Underhill road. My commute isn't bad. I'm staying with my son about 12 miles away near the Millinia Mall. The first day I left for work an hour early expecting the worst. I was there in about 20 minutes. Now, I usually leave about 30 minutes early. Not a lot different than back in KY ... just lots more traffic and lanes!!
So far, I love it here in Orlando. I don't think I'll ever go back to cold, dark winters! Don't misunderstand me ... Kentucky is nice and a beautiful state ... but, I was ready for a big change in my life. And, I think this is gonna be it!!

I'd be happy to help you find an apartment. What kind of things are you looking for? Price? Number of rooms? Amenities? You can answer me here or via personal message.

--bw1

[pnutgallery3]

I like living in Orlando, grew up here in the dreaded Pine Hills when it was the premier bedroom community of the 70's. I still live in the nice area of Rosemont that everyone refers to as the "ghetto. As a matter of fact got a postcard from the local "neighborhood specialist" a house around the corner just sold for 400K not bad for a "ghetto" Since that's how most of the posters refer to Rosemont on these boards. When in all reality most have probably never even seen a true ghetto. I see people in my neighborhood out walking, biking, kids playing, neighbors enjoying eachother. I really don't get it the "Rosemont and ghetto" reference. I challenge anyone of you "ghetto talkers" to take that drive thru "Rosemont proper" around the Lake and look at the homes just one time. I feel safe in my neighborhood, love living in Orlando, am 8 miles from downtown. I don't hear gun shots everynight. Now, if you go over by the Publix on 441 and Rosamond Dr that's a different story. But then, where you have apartments you have a more transient population, that's just common sense. All the homeowners know that and constantly battle the police/sheriff department, and management at the apartment communities to get it under control. I left here moved to Los Angeles then to Phoenix and then 10 years ago came back to BEAUTIFUL sunny FLORIDA, home of our own brand of fruits and nuts. For anyone who doesn't like here, I-75 takes you north to Georgia you are free to leave, please take another complainer with you while you are at it. Makes it a better place for the rest of us. We will entertain the tourists and clean it up while we are at it, just watch us! Laugh if you must, but it's the darned truth.

[bw1]

Originally Posted by pnutgallery3

I like living in Orlando, grew up here in the dreaded Pine Hills when it was the premier bedroom community of the 70's. I still live in the nice area of Rosemont that everyone refers to as the "ghetto. As a matter of fact got a postcard from the local "neighborhood specialist" a house around the corner just sold for 400K not bad for a "ghetto" Since that's how most of the posters refer to Rosemont on these boards. When in all reality most have probably never even seen a true ghetto. I see people in my neighborhood out walking, biking, kids playing, neighbors enjoying eachother. I really don't get it the "Rosemont and ghetto" reference. I challenge anyone of you "ghetto talkers" to take that drive thru "Rosemont proper" around the Lake and look at the homes just one time. I feel safe in my neighborhood, love living in Orlando, am 8 miles from downtown. I don't hear gun shots everynight. Now, if you go over by the Publix on 441 and Rosamond Dr that's a different story. But then, where you have apartments you have a more transient population, that's just common sense. All the homeowners know that and constantly battle the police/sheriff department, and management at the apartment communities to get it under control. I left here moved to Los Angeles then to Phoenix and then 10 years ago came back to BEAUTIFUL sunny FLORIDA, home of our own brand of fruits and nuts. For anyone who doesn't like here, I-75 takes you north to Georgia you are free to leave, please take another complainer with you while you are at it. Makes it a better place for the rest of us. We will entertain the tourists and clean it up while we are at it, just watch us! Laugh if you must, but it's the darned truth.

I'm so glad to hear Rosemont hasn't gone completely to hell! I lived there in Summer Place apartments on Lake Orlando in the early 90's and it was a great place to live. We saw some signs of decline in our apartment complex and in other apartments around that area back then, but overall, it was a beautiful neighborhood. I think a couple of the threats the area faces is that the evils of Pine Hills are spilling over into it and the public schools don't have a very good reputation. Reversing decline and maintaining a good quality of life will be a struggle, but it is so important that residents work at it together to make sure entropy doesn't ruin another great part of Orlando.