Good areas to live (Jacksonville, Tampa: rental, home, to buy)

[tanyarwood]

Hi...
My family has just recently moved to New Smyrna Beach and are not really happy here. We came from Texas. We are looking to find a middle class community with great schools anywhere from Jacksonville to south of Orlando. Any ideas? We like somewhere that is somewhat "small town" but with nice stores, theatres, etc nearby.
Thank You so much in advance for any help...

Tonner

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by tanyarwood

Hi...
My family has just recently moved to New Smyrna Beach and are not really happy here. We came from Texas. We are looking to find a middle class community with great schools anywhere from Jacksonville to south of Orlando. Any ideas? We like somewhere that is somewhat "small town" but with nice stores, theatres, etc nearby.
Thank You so much in advance for any help...

Tonner

You definitely sound like an Oviedo person. Schools are among the best in central FL, the town has a "Small town" feel without sacrificing amenities (even has a newer mall), people are pretty friendly. Just an all around good choice. If I had a family Oviedo and Winter Springs would be the only places I would go in Central FL, with the exceptions of some sections of Brevard County.

[nyparalegl]

Hi, what areas are safe to rent rental home and which areas should I avoid? Is there a wealthy area of Orlando where there is little crime?

[tanyarwood]

Thank You so much Ft. Lauderdale for your help. We are going to go today and check it out!

[Magnulus]

The Oviedo mall is a big waste of space . Stores have trouble staying open. Things were much better in Oviedo before they opened the mall here. All the mall is, is an anchor for the theater... and Oviedo had a perfectly decent theater near the university previously.

Very rarely do I go to Oviedo mall, there's not much to buy there that interests me. It is usually better to order off the internet. There are no upscale shopping stores. Sears is about the only useful store in the mall, that, and our only Radio Shack left. Years ago Oviedo and Waterford had a bid for the mall and Oviedo "won" it, but it turns out that Waterford got the better deal as they got most of the good shopping and restaurants. Frankly, both of them aren't that great (both are traffic nightmares in the waiting) but the mall is by the far the worst of the two in terms of land usage and what it adds to the area (very little).

[rholborn]

i used to live in new smyrna, and now i live here in lake mary. it is located in seminole county, which is also the county of oviedo. both have wonderful A rated schools, both are great for shopping and nsb will only be 40-45min. away to go to the beach. where did you both move from? do you have elementary school aged children, or are they older? both towns are wonderful places to live and work.

[tanyarwood]

rholborn,

We moved from Texas (Dallas area) in June. I have 3 in elementary school. One will go to Junior High next year. Do you like it there a lot more than New Smyrna?? I want to make sure we make the right move this time! :-) Thank you so much for your help

[equestrian_mom]

Originally Posted by fort lauderdale

You definitely sound like an Oviedo person. Schools are among the best in central FL, the town has a "Small town" feel without sacrificing amenities (even has a newer mall), people are pretty friendly. Just an all around good choice. If I had a family Oviedo and Winter Springs would be the only places I would go in Central FL, with the exceptions of some sections of Brevard County.

I would say Oviedo or anywhere in Seminole County! The Lake Mary/Heathrow are was just rated #4 place to live by Money magazine. I can vouch for that b/c we just spent the last 7 years there. I would say that it is by far the best place to live in Florida! We are back in Tampa now and I miss Lake Mary every day! But, anywhere in Seminole County would be a great place to live! JMO...

[kickinbackfl]

Oviedo!!!!

[beckycat]

Lake Mary!