Is Racism a Huge Problem? Orlando/Kissimmee Area (Altamonte Springs, Sanford: houses, neighborhoods)

[Pippi333]

Hello,

We have lived all over the country...including very bigoted, segregated areas as well as extremely integrated areas with people from all over the world. We are moving to FL (From Idaho) in 18 months, and are trying to pinpoint the best area/neighborhood for our entire family (white, hispanic, mixed). This move will include our adult children, their spouses/partners, and a grandchild.

We'd LOVE to find a community and neighborhood and school district with a mixed population of various ethnicities...where people generally seem to get along well.

Any possibility we're going to find that anywhere in the Orlando/Kissimmee area?

Thanks in advance for any insight you can offer!

[kyle19125]

For the most part it's a fairly well-integrated area with a few exceptions. Off the top of my head if looking for diversity along with safer neighborhoods and the better schools I would recommend Sanford (the western third), Lake Mary (southern half, south of Lake Mary Boulevard), Oviedo, Winter Springs (eastern two thirds), Altamonte Springs (west side), Apopka (northern third) and Casselberry (Lake Howell area). Where I specified it's not as much about desirability as it is diversity, except for perhaps two instances (Apopka and Winter Springs).

[Pippi333]

Thanks, Kyle!

So, jumping off your comment...and since most of the homes we're currently looking at don't appear to be in less desirable areas...if we were to buy a home in a gated community or a neighborhood that had new-ish construction...is it your experience that in those neighborhoods people of mixed ethnicity might not be treated very well? Or will that probably not be much of an issue? I guess what I'm hearing is that those neighborhoods aren't likely to be very integrated, which is a bummer...but we have other reasons for looking at those particular houses. So I guess what I need to focus on then, is whether or not we're likely to encounter overtly unkind attention or treatment due to being a mixed group. Thoughts? Thanks again!

[tonyp22]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

Where I specified it's not as much about desirability as it is diversity, except for perhaps two instances (Apopka and Winter Springs).

Kyle, can you elaborate on the observation you made regarding Apopka and Winter Springs?

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by tonyp22

Kyle, can you elaborate on the observation you made regarding Apopka and Winter Springs?

Not AS diverse. I'm guessing that's what he means.

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by Pippi333

Thanks, Kyle!

So, jumping off your comment...and since most of the homes we're currently looking at don't appear to be in less desirable areas...if we were to buy a home in a gated community or a neighborhood that had new-ish construction...is it your experience that in those neighborhoods people of mixed ethnicity might not be treated very well? Or will that probably not be much of an issue? I guess what I'm hearing is that those neighborhoods aren't likely to be very integrated, which is a bummer...but we have other reasons for looking at those particular houses. So I guess what I need to focus on then, is whether or not we're likely to encounter overtly unkind attention or treatment due to being a mixed group. Thoughts? Thanks again!

You'll be fine in gated communities. I've never had any issues. I'm mixed (Caribbean black + white.) My kids are even more mixed.

[Pippi333]

@Arcenal352, thanks for the feedback!

It SUCKS trying to find the right community/neighborhood! We are originally from the L.A. area (though we haven't lived there for a long time) and grew up so accustomed to everyone from everywhere and every type of background living and working in the same neighborhoods, going to the same schools, etc. people being friends and friendly co-workers regardless of ethnicity. So it's been a real shock to see just how backwards so many places in this country still are. We have high hopes for Florida and are so excited to be headed there. But trying to figure all of this out from so far away is intimidating. We'll have one chance to visit - about 2 months before we move.

[boy3365]

Consider parts of Orange County as well, including neighborhoods such as Dr. Phillips, College Park, and Conway/SODO.

[bmw335xi]

No it’s not a problem. Orange County is the most diverse.

[Pippi333]

@boy3365
@bmw335xi

Thanks! I will definitely start looking at listings in Orange County!