Anything about Orlando? (Tampa, Winter Park, Maitland: real estate, insurance, apartments)

[pastrygirl]

Does anyone have any information, thoughts, suggestions about Orlando area? I've seen many people responding to other areas of Florida, does anyone live in Orlando? thanks!

[cakeprincess]

I lives in Daytona area and go to Orlando as many as I remembered. Orlando is a big area and it's depends on which are you're referring to. When you get there, it's all about tourist town. Hotel, attraction, and resturant are everywhere.

As for housing price, it's not cheap anymore. The starting price for a nice little house can begins with $200k. There are plenty of jobs available, espeically in the hospitality and medical field.

Apartment is becoming a shortage due to apartment are being converted into condo. It's getting hard to find it in these days.

As for public school, I have to admit and be honest - they aren't too good.

Hope this helps.

[richkat]

We moved to Orlando first. But there weren't any jobs in our field so we ended up moving on to the Tampa area. Orlando real estate is also higher than it is here, although it's rising everywhere. We looked into trying to move back to Orlando but most of the available affordable housing are the condo/apartment conversions and we're not interested in those.

[pammi6]

I would recommend Orlando. So many things to do and see. Like any major city it has its crime problems but not all of it is bad. If you have the time check out as many places in Florida that you can before you make a decision to live there. If you have small children try the outskirts of the city or Lake county.

[suzj226]

I live in Orlando, actually Maitland, which I guess would be considered a suburb of Orlando (just ten minutes north of downtown). It depends on what is important to you. I moved here six years ago and am now looking to leave. The tourist aspect of Orlando gets old real quick. Just like any other city there are definitely nice areas such as Winter Park, Windermere, and Heathrow and then there are not so nice areas.

If being near the water is important I would suggest not coming here. It is an hour's drive to the beach unless a lake would satisfy you, Orlando has plenty of those.

Housing is out of control and as another poster stated rental apartments are hard to find because all of the developers have bought the apt communities to convert them into condos, which can cost you over $200k for an 800 sq foot apt. The weather is great with the exception of summer and hurricanes. We didn't get much of anything last year but 2004 was pretty bad. On a recent news report it stated that many people are leaving FL because they can't deal with the housing costs, insurance costs, hurricanes, etc.

I cannot comment on the schools since I do not have any children however from what I have heard it seems more and more parents are placing their children into private schools ($$$).

Hope this helps you.

[suzmyers]

Don't move to anywhere in the Orlando area especially if you have a child. The schools leave alot to be desired. The cost of living here is very high and the average income is only 55,000 per family. The average home in my middle class older neighborhood (2300 sq ft on less than 1/4 acre, with pool) is over 400K. My electric bill last year got up to $350. And now we have a new "fuel fee" on our power bills that doubles the regular amount. This is going to be a particularly hot summer, I think, seeing we haven't had any rain. Stay away!!