Rental apt's in Downtown Orlando (Fort Lauderdale, Winter Park: for sale, rentals, HOA)

[nycupstate]

Hi,

My wife and I have thought about moving to Orlando. Currently, we live in Lower Manhattan but since I'm working from home we've spent the last 1.5 months at a friend's in Winter Garden and a couple of weeks in Fort Lauderdale. We have looked around previously but decided we would likely rent an apt for a year to get a better feel for where we want to be. Our children are older so they'll likely stay in NYC at the apt and occasionally visit, so a 2 bedroom would make the most sense.

This weekend we're going to walk around downtown Orlando to check out locations of apts and see which area we like the most. We previously looked at apts that were for sale at the Vue and The Sanctuary. We're basically looking for a full-service upscale building with nice amenities and we'd love to hear people's opinions on which buildings are nice and which locations in downtown they'd recommend.

Thanks!

[WellShoneMoon]

Is being downtown a requirement? If you’re amenable to being slightly outside of downtown, take a look at The Princeton in College Park. CP is a nice neighborhood, pretty walkable, easy access to grocery, drugstores, restaurants, etc, and just a few minutes drive from downtown, Winter Park, other nice areas.

https://www.theprincetonatcollegepark.com/

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by WellShoneMoon

Is being downtown a requirement? If you’re amenable to being slightly outside of downtown, take a look at The Princeton in College Park. CP is a nice neighborhood, pretty walkable, easy access to grocery, drugstores, restaurants, etc, and just a few minutes drive from downtown, Winter Park, other nice areas.

I agree.
Add Baldwin Park to the mix, same reasons listed above.

If you MUST be downtown, I believe Sanctuary is considered to be the top. I myself like The Jackson quite a bit.

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by WellShoneMoon

Is being downtown a requirement? If you’re amenable to being slightly outside of downtown, take a look at The Princeton in College Park. CP is a nice neighborhood, pretty walkable, easy access to grocery, drugstores, restaurants, etc, and just a few minutes drive from downtown, Winter Park, other nice areas.

I agree and feel you might prefer the College Park neighborhood as well, which doesn't have the homeless/loitering issues found around Lake Eola either.

[firmbizzle]

The Vue and Sanctuary are the best and largest. Waverly is nice too and has Publix across the street. Sanctuary is my favorite.

[WinterParkLocal]

I would give the Vue a hard no. The Sanctuary or the Star Tower would have the nicest amenities. I have a number of friends in the sanctuary. It's an older and more professional crowd.

Every time I've been in the Vue it reminds me of a W hotel in a city. Young and loud semi-professionals. And their elevator is always broken. And the front desk staff isn't friendly.

[nycupstate]

Originally Posted by WellShoneMoon

Is being downtown a requirement? If you’re amenable to being slightly outside of downtown, take a look at The Princeton in College Park. CP is a nice neighborhood, pretty walkable, easy access to grocery, drugstores, restaurants, etc, and just a few minutes drive from downtown, Winter Park, other nice areas.

https://www.theprincetonatcollegepark.com/

Thanks for the suggestion, we actually went to check it out today. It was nice but not what we're looking for.

I picked Downtown since it's not Manhattan but a little similar, so it would likely provide some of the amenities and feel we're used to. I would not expect to have 4 supermarkets, including a Trader Joe, 25+ restaurants (5 Chinese), etc all within a block or two like we currently do in Manhattan. But I do want walkable choices and I either like the Urban feel or will go full Suburbia, ie Windermere, etc.

We did check out Camden and CITI Tower today, We liked the location, a little quieter for downtown and prefer CITI (which was more expensive.) However, we thought CITI was a little overpriced (relatively) for the type of fixtures they used in their apts.

Bummed to hear the critique of the VUE. We looked at it a couple of years ago and liked it, especially the gym. We'll check out some of the other suggestions, really appreciate them all! Thanks!

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by nycupstate

Thanks for the suggestion, we actually went to check it out today. It was nice but not what we're looking for.

I picked Downtown since it's not Manhattan but a little similar, so it would likely provide some of the amenities and feel we're used to. I would not expect to have 4 supermarkets, including a Trader Joe, 25+ restaurants (5 Chinese), etc all within a block or two like we currently do in Manhattan. But I do want walkable choices and I either like the Urban feel or will go full Suburbia, ie Windermere, etc.

We did check out Camden and CITI Tower today, We liked the location, a little quieter for downtown and prefer CITI (which was more expensive.) However, we thought CITI was a little overpriced (relatively) for the type of fixtures they used in their apts.

Bummed to hear the critique of the VUE. We looked at it a couple of years ago and liked it, especially the gym. We'll check out some of the other suggestions, really appreciate them all! Thanks!

In that case, no reason NOT to go to Sanctuary unless priced out.
I’ll also repeat The Jackson as a good choice. Beautiful place. It’s right next to Star Tower (which is also a good choice)
Just FYI, I’d stick with that side of downtown if I were you (South Eola/Thornton.) The main strip along Orange and Rosalind will have lots of the young riffraff mentioned above, which is why I would also skip out on The Vue.

Also, be prepared to spend LOTS of money on HOA. A friend of mine who owns in Sanctuary pays $800/month.

[nycupstate]

Originally Posted by Arcenal352

In that case, no reason NOT to go to Sanctuary unless priced out.
I’ll also repeat The Jackson as a good choice. Beautiful place. It’s right next to Star Tower (which is also a good choice)
Just FYI, I’d stick with that side of downtown if I were you (South Eola/Thornton.) The main strip along Orange and Rosalind will have lots of the young riffraff mentioned above, which is why I would also skip out on The Vue.

Also, be prepared to spend LOTS of money on HOA. A friend of mine who owns in Sanctuary pays $800/month.

So that is the area where CITI is? between S. Rosaland and Summerlin?

Also, it seems like the Sanctuary is Condo only, with no rentals. Is that the case? I so it would be individual owners who decide to rent their place out?

BTW, my HOA in NYC is $2600 a month. But that includes a parking spot and taxes...

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by nycupstate

So that is the area where CITI is? between S. Rosaland and Summerlin?

Also, it seems like the Sanctuary is Condo only, with no rentals. Is that the case? I so it would be individual owners who decide to rent their place out?

BTW, my HOA in NYC is $2600 a month. But that includes a parking spot and taxes...

To my knowledge, yes, they are all privately owned condos. Same with most other higher end residences in that area.

LOL at your HOA. My goodness.