relocating to florida (Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Oviedo: lawyer, real estate, property taxes)

[Mike409]

Originally Posted by lillys57

We moved to the Ft. Myers area in 91'(from Chicago), raised our family, and then moved up to the Ocala area in 2003. My son lives in Oviedo outside of Orlando. He's 27, put himself through Stetson University in DeLand, a $32,000 a year school, then put himself through 3 years of law school in Orlando and just took the bar exam. He builds websites for businesses from his home, plus he now owns several websites. If you love the lifestyle here in FL. you can find a way to live here. Alot of it's in our attitude about life and how to get where we want to go... just my opinion.

That's well said. I lived in Oviedo for a little over a year and absolutely loved it. I had to move back to my home state for family reasons(medical). Otherwise, I'd still be in Oviedo! I miss it a lot.

A lot of the negativity is from people who moved to Florida without researching properly or just moving completely blindly. YES.....Florida is a HOT state, the SUNSHINE state. If you can't take the heat, don't move into the kitchen! Salaries, Florida has never been known as a high salary state. If you move to Florida without having a high paying job FIRST, your going to be disappointed. But, if people researched first, this should not be a suprise. As for the price of housing.

To the post originator, take the negatives with a grain of salt. I suggest you check out Oviedo. I was in a great family community named "Kingsbridge West", check it out.

[Carmelite]

The Country Creek subdivision area on the west side of Altamonte Springs, Seminole County is a great place to live. Many people don't know about it because it is somewhat hidden yet very close to I-4 with easy access to almost anywhere in the area except for places like UCF. Many of the families in the area have been around for a long time. The houses in our area stayed reasonably priced over the past 3 years when everything was going haywire. Why Lake Mary prices went so much higher I have no idea because they are so far away from Orlando compared to us and the city offers nothing to the citizens like Altamonte does. Crime is lower than in most parts of CFL and there are many new shopping centers. Schools are great too. Lake Brantley High is one of the top schools in the US, Bear Lake Elem and Teague Middle are some of the best schools in Central FL. We have lived here for 12 years and have loved every bit of it. Unfortunately we will be moving to the West Coast very soon. We will truly miss this area. Regarding the cost of living I think it has gone up everywhere in the US and I think employers everywhere are having to cut back due to the high cost of healthcare. Live where you will be happy.

[THASPECIAL]

I really don't think the "majority" of "complainers" ...lol......are just people that moved here without research.......There "is" a difference between complaining and stating facts about somethings......it's just the way that some people take it when they read things that makes them say that they think someone is "complaining"........i think there is alot of people on here that say "people are complaining and its negative to do that" .......well i think alot of people that talk about the problems in the area truly do have problems in thier area or else they wouldnt have anything to say about it.......and i also think that there are too many people from different backgrounds on here that say that someone should be more of this or that (positive or negative) when in reality we are not all on the same level playing field and that is where people get into disagreements.......For example ......the person that replied before me says its great living here and she is upgrading to a bigger house......Well i have heard stories like this alot on here and i bring a different point of view than these people because i dont have the ability financially to afford a house and am working paycheck to paycheck to survive with no savings account to speak of, so when i say i see issues in Orlando its because i live in a different world in Orlando......I grew up in Florida and have lived in 5 states all together......all i am saying is that when people say to me or other people on here that everything is great and we talk about negative things too much that it isnt right because we see a whole other set of problems then people that can afford to live in thier own house.....if you read my posts you will know that i love Florida because its my home state and it feels like home inside to me but there are situations that the average everyday person in Orlando (lower-middle class) has to deal with.......there is lots to do here and the sunsets are beautifull and i love palm trees and i do like that there is more diversity here than in 40 other states at least.......but there are problems and i cant afford to just run away......

[NYNewbie]

Originally Posted by bw1

Please don't listen to the negativity. There is one guy who has some kind of a vendetta against orlando and posts over and over on this board with multiple identities. If you read a post that sounds like it's from a racist who hates hispanics then just pass it by and ignore it. This poster is outright lying with just about every statement he makes.

I like living in central florida. It isn't overrun with crime, good jobs are available, it has many beautiful areas. Just take your time about picking a place to live if you're able. Drive around and check it out. Prices for homes vary quite a bit. Get a real estate agent to help you. If you're interested in teaching in a public school check out the state grades that are posted for each school. They're very helpful.

That is dishonest. Daytona Beach has a very high crime rate, and the city can't even afford its own police!!! No kidding. It dissolved its police department in lieu of Sheriffs Police to patrol. Living in Lake Helen, my neighbor came home to find two kids crawling through her window. I had a felon, a cop beater living katy korner from my house. Neighbor behind me smoking dope - with his son. House across the street used to be a rental used for drug sales. And this is in a "good" area. Think about the bad areas. Seriously, Lake Helen was considered nice, bucolic. Still, something like 50% of kids qualified for free lunches.

No, whoever you are talking about, whatever they said, was probably right. Florida appeals to greed, and has no community unless you want to be a bible kissin' thumper.

[bdpop]

The reason so many kids qualify for free lunch is because of the low, low pay down here.

[NYNewbie]

Originally Posted by BROOKYLNBABE

THE BEST A PLUS SCHOOLS HERE GREAT PLACE TO LIVE IF YOUR RAising a family and a plus if your owning your own buisness it is wonderfull here im from brooklyn raised in howard beach so trust me its great here if anyone reading wants a 6133 sq ft home i m selling under appraisal for 799000 6bed 4,5bath 4 plus car garage pool sa in the sanctuary just call me ill email you piucs this home is crazy gorgeous two floors 407 3592195 linda from new york we love florida so much we are upgrading to a 12000 sq ft home

Run a thread on Florida schools, and learn from people who teach and live in Florida what an A+ school is. It is utterly meaningless. A good friend of mine teaches in Deltona. Her school, which she tells me is both terrible and beneath her daughter (she won't send her own daughter there). Still, it just earned A+ status. Strangely, GreatSchools.net ranked her school a 4 out of 10.

Florida has a meaningless assessment structure designed to break unions and reward management and bootie-kissin' teachers.

[bdpop]

Where we used to live, in NJ (South Brunswick), most of the schools in the district were blue ribbon schools. I don't believe there are any blue ribbon schools in the district I live in now (Seminole County) even though it ranks 7th in the state.

[bdpop]

I was wrong, a few schools in Seminole County have won the Blue Ribbon award.

[carolynkingsley]

Oviedo would be my first choice. Nice little area and the school system is good. Longwood always seemed kind of barren to me. Also, you might try the Dr Phillips area in Orlando, a little pricey, but upscale and the school systen is second to none and it's near universal Studios. Take care.

[traysea]

Hi, I didn't have time to read all the posts but a recent article in Orlando Sentinel over the weekend (I think Saturday) revealed the drop in headcount of students statewide.

Clermont faired better then Seminole. The article stated the school district would shuffle and unfill jobs posted for more teachers.

My advise, I would start off close to Clermont and get used to Orlando being close to family (unless you don't like that family -- ).

Not sure what Seminole has that Orange can't provide. There is an EXCELLENT charter school in Oakland, FL. If you live in Oakland you get first dibs.

Good luck!