I am coming to Maintland and need help! (Orlando, Fort Lauderdale: apartment complexes, rental)

[Kri77777]

Ok, so here is the bottom line. I have just taken a job with a firm in Maitland. I am coming to Orlando. Period. I get that it sucks, but there is little choice in the matter. Crime, heat, traffic, lack of culture, rise of other languages, poor urban planning, congestion; I get it. Don't like it and still not used to it, but right now can't avoid it.

I am a single male in my early-mid 20s. I have lived in Florida all my life (Fort Lauderdale then Melbourne areas). I worked for this firm for a few months last year, and they put me up in a place in Altamonte. Unfortunatly, I didn't get to get out much, so other than basic road layouts, I still don't really know the communities.

My priorities are pretty much a rather quiet area, I want to stay a bit away from the congestion (big problem in Altamonte). I am not a fan of long commute times (took me 20 freakin minutes to go one exit if I was dumb enough to take I-4 in the morning). Schools are not a factor to me. Low crime is very important. Culture is rather nice (again, I am a quiet person, so not night clubs and bars amd the like) (uptown Altamonte was kinda nice for that).

From what I gathered, Altamonte seemed nice, just congested. I keep seeing that Lake Mary is a good area (but I am concerned about the commute times, esspecially after watching I-4 every day going south in the morning and north in the evening). I drove around Winter Park a bit and some of the back areas of it also seemed nice and what I am looking for.

I am pretty much looking to rent, probably in the 800-1100 range (lower side being a bit better, upper being very doable but making me unhappy). My biggest priority is nice neighborhood that is safe, as I never know when I may be gone for extended periods or have strange hours.

I would really appreciate it if some people could give advise on best areas to go for, considering where I work, etc. Again, I don't know the areas particularly well, so which specific areas should I be looking at (ex, intersections, zip codes, names of specific places, etc.). If you suggest a neighborhood, please tell me where it is located so I can look into it. I really need more specifics than just cities; like which part of the city should I be looking at. More specific will make it easier for me to search next time I take a day off and search.

Again, I really appreciate an and all the help with this.

[compelled to reply]

Maitland proper is actually a very nice area with a lot of older, more charming neighborhoods. It doesn't even feel like Orlando, it feels like a nice older northern suburb in many spots. Scenic lakes, tree shaded neighborhoods, older homes, but a little bit crowded. Some of the newer parts are vaguely like Plantation near Ft. Lauderdale. If you really don't like Hispanic people there aren't that many around there either since it seems to matter so much to so many. It's not far from Winter Park either, which has just a little bit of culture and history to it. See no reason you couldn't find something nice for 1100 a month either. If I remember correctly, they have an indie movie theater there (in Maitland) and a huge festival around Lake Lily (also in Maitland), and compared to other areas of Orlando there is a little bit of an arts scene going on.

If I remember correctly, you are probably better staying east of 17-92, but most of the city is fine. There are some iffy blocks here and there more towards 17-92. You would probably like that area a lot seeing your description and you can't beat living close to work.

[floridaresident]

There are numerous apartment complexes, some really nice ones, west of I-4 on Maitland Blvd. There are a few by the huge 14 story summit tower office building that are nice to look at. There are also quite a few decent looking ones on 434 (north of Maitland Blvd only!! - don't go south it gets bad down there). These places will make your commute at most 10 minutes and you are not too far from nicer areas like Maitland Proper, Winter Park, College Park, and Uptown Altamonte for entertainment.

[Kri77777]

Most of the ones near the tower are not that great, from what I have read. It seems they look nicer on the outside than they are. They built the new place Dwell which looked pretty nice, but it looks to push my budget a bit too far. Other place I had been looking at is Lofts at Uptown Altamonte which seems nice, but I've heard you need to be careful since they tend to jump the prices when you walk in the door.

Looks like East of 17-92 gets you into Casselburry. That's about all I know out there.

Again, I would still consider north up in Lake Mary, just not sure how bad commute would be (still, that is lower on my priorities, probably fourth behind safety, cost, etc.)

Thanks again for the ideas. Any other places worth looking?

[OTownHelper12]

I would look on craigslist for a private party renting a condo. You would probably want Casselberry, Maitland, or Altamonte on the lake....Essex St. Nice and quiet back there. My buddy has several condos in that community. He wants to sell his but there should be some for rent in that area. Its 1 exit from Altamonte to Maitland Blvd on I-4 but still congested. From Casselberry you can take Lake Howell across to Maitland Blvd or 17-92 to Maitland Blvd. But for the quiet areas of Casselberry you will want to be on the Winter Park end.

Doiwntown Winter Park near Rollins College is also nice and would probably be my choice but I don't know about the rental prices. Again try craigslist

[Magnulus]

Get a place in Maitland or Winter Park. Traffic in both areas isn't great but your commute will be shorter. Some of the other areas like Oviedo that are "nice" can be congested at rush hour. The major highways always have bad traffic, especially at rush hour. Highway 50 and I-4 in particular.

The problem with Orlando is that there aren't enough roads to get people where they need to go, but nobody wants a major road going through their neighborhood, AND in the "nice" areas they put up speed bumps to make sure you don't go through their neighborhood.

[bdpop]

We needed someone like Robert Moses here in Orlando. Someone like him would have had the foresight and the chutzpah to put in the needed roads years ago, regardless of whether or not the residents wanted a major road through their neighborhood. We need these roads and now they are going to cost even more to put them through.