HELP! Need advice on moving to Orlando/Lakeland area (Tampa: budget, condo)

[curioustexan1]

Hi ya'll! I'm a Texan of 30 years as is my husband, we have a young child of almost 5. And are interested in moving to Orlando/Lakeland area. We are your average income household, not poor, not rich. Just a medium kinda bunch! We currently live in East Texas and are bored to death with it, the abundance of NOTHING to do has taken all its worth out of us a long time ago. Hince the move. BUT most importantly we are concerned with raising our family in Florida. What's it like beyond all the "things to do?"

Schools being the main concern, I've read about some overcrowding problems and large numbers of Spanish speaking completely overtaken the schools and area we are interested in? is this so?

Crime is crime you will find it anywhere, however, high amounts is something to worry about, what is the crime like in the outskirts of Orlando or shall I say Tampa/St. Petersburg as well?

We will be renting when we first move to feel out the area, what is the rent house market like in that area?

I myself am an Administrative Associate, what is the average pay for someone just starting out with a company in the area? I have roughly 7 years experience with admin work, customer service, and too hospitality industry. Any ideas what I may gear to look for?

And too, bugs, HAHAHA Texas has bugs BUT, what kind of bugs are we talkin bout here? let me just say i have a horrible fear not many understand for the big water bugs....please tell me this isn't the "norm" problem living anywhere around there???

ANY input anyone has would be greatly appreciated. Hope everyone is havin a good one....

thanks ttfn

[markhunt]

I lived in Orlando when I first moved to Florida in 2003. I moved to Saint Cloud in 2006 because of the high crime, schools, transient population, traffic, and overall quality of people who myself and my wife would come into contact with everytime we would go out in public. That could mean shopping, a park, the library, restaraunts, doctors, etc..

Even in expensive neighborhoods in Orlando that are relatively safe, you are never more than a hop skip and jump away from a trashy area. And just having to be around these people everytime you want to do somthing in public was enough for me to leave Orlando.

Saint Cloud was better at the time, but now a lot of the trash from Kissimmee and Poinciana are moving in and that caused us to leave.

We moved out to a small town just about 10 minutes east of Lakeland and are satisfied with it. We are satisfied with the Lakeland-Metro area in general. It is VERY family oriented and most people we have ran into are natives that have been here for generations. I think this is a major difference with the 2 areas. I have seen a lot more pride in the communities in Polk County because there is a much less transient element here.

Polk County does have it's bad areas though. But the thing with that is, they are VERY defined. Pretty much just stay away from the areas that are mostly all minority and you avoid mostly all the crime.

Polk county is a lot cheaper than Orange, Osceola, or Seminole County and I feel you get more bang for your buck. Plus depending where you live, you are half way between Orlando and Tampa. I commute to Orlando everyday (40 minute drive), and even with the gas prices the way they are, it's worth it to me.

It all depends what it is you are looking for and what tradeoffs you are willing to make to live in any of the counties around here. None of them are my ideal place to live. But for now, for me, where I live in Polk County is the lesser evil of Orange or Osceola County and the cheaper cost of living without sacrificing services.

[cfIfan]

I would have to agree with this assessment although the bad areas in the Orlando area i would say are pretty well defined aswell. the problem with Saint Cloud is that being so close to Kissimmee it was always really going to spill over there. Lakeland does have some run down areas. I was over there last month for my daughters dance championship but there are some also very nice areas. It depends on your budget. I would say WinterGarden/Windermere is nice,which is in orange county to the west, and there are a couple of very nice communities in Polk County quite a way south on 17/92 i believe it is which are very nice and do offer great value of money. In terms of jobs, being in the Hospitality industry you can take your pick in the Orlando area with hotels, theme parks etc. Careerbuilder is pretty good for listing hospitality jobs.

Hope this helps

Originally Posted by markhunt

I lived in Orlando when I first moved to Florida in 2003. I moved to Saint Cloud in 2006 because of the high crime, schools, transient population, traffic, and overall quality of people who myself and my wife would come into contact with everytime we would go out in public. That could mean shopping, a park, the library, restaraunts, doctors, etc..

Even in expensive neighborhoods in Orlando that are relatively safe, you are never more than a hop skip and jump away from a trashy area. And just having to be around these people everytime you want to do somthing in public was enough for me to leave Orlando.

Saint Cloud was better at the time, but now a lot of the trash from Kissimmee and Poinciana are moving in and that caused us to leave.

We moved out to a small town just about 10 minutes east of Lakeland and are satisfied with it. We are satisfied with the Lakeland-Metro area in general. It is VERY family oriented and most people we have ran into are natives that have been here for generations. I think this is a major difference with the 2 areas. I have seen a lot more pride in the communities in Polk County because there is a much less transient element here.

Polk County does have it's bad areas though. But the thing with that is, they are VERY defined. Pretty much just stay away from the areas that are mostly all minority and you avoid mostly all the crime.

Polk county is a lot cheaper than Orange, Osceola, or Seminole County and I feel you get more bang for your buck. Plus depending where you live, you are half way between Orlando and Tampa. I commute to Orlando everyday (40 minute drive), and even with the gas prices the way they are, it's worth it to me.

It all depends what it is you are looking for and what tradeoffs you are willing to make to live in any of the counties around here. None of them are my ideal place to live. But for now, for me, where I live in Polk County is the lesser evil of Orange or Osceola County and the cheaper cost of living without sacrificing services.

[Kimbo5]

Hi, Texan! I live in California now and am considering moving to Orlando for a job with my company.

Funny, I, too, am terrified of those large water bugs. Ugh!! Anyone, are they prevalent in Orlando (or just the huge Palmettos which I can handle)? Also - anyone know about rental prices (small house)?

[Keeper]

They are palmetto bugs. I would check out craigslist for a rental house and then ask on here about the address/area.

[Bette]

I looked up Lakeland recently and it looks like a lovely city.

[curioustexan1]

Thanks so much for the information you added...can you too tell me anything about schools in the area?

Originally Posted by markhunt

I lived in Orlando when I first moved to Florida in 2003. I moved to Saint Cloud in 2006 because of the high crime, schools, transient population, traffic, and overall quality of people who myself and my wife would come into contact with everytime we would go out in public. That could mean shopping, a park, the library, restaraunts, doctors, etc..

Even in expensive neighborhoods in Orlando that are relatively safe, you are never more than a hop skip and jump away from a trashy area. And just having to be around these people everytime you want to do somthing in public was enough for me to leave Orlando.

Saint Cloud was better at the time, but now a lot of the trash from Kissimmee and Poinciana are moving in and that caused us to leave.

We moved out to a small town just about 10 minutes east of Lakeland and are satisfied with it. We are satisfied with the Lakeland-Metro area in general. It is VERY family oriented and most people we have ran into are natives that have been here for generations. I think this is a major difference with the 2 areas. I have seen a lot more pride in the communities in Polk County because there is a much less transient element here.

Polk County does have it's bad areas though. But the thing with that is, they are VERY defined. Pretty much just stay away from the areas that are mostly all minority and you avoid mostly all the crime.

Polk county is a lot cheaper than Orange, Osceola, or Seminole County and I feel you get more bang for your buck. Plus depending where you live, you are half way between Orlando and Tampa. I commute to Orlando everyday (40 minute drive), and even with the gas prices the way they are, it's worth it to me.

It all depends what it is you are looking for and what tradeoffs you are willing to make to live in any of the counties around here. None of them are my ideal place to live. But for now, for me, where I live in Polk County is the lesser evil of Orange or Osceola County and the cheaper cost of living without sacrificing services.

[markhunt]

I can't tell you much about the Lakeland Schools directly except for what I have heard because I live in the next town over. With Lakeland I have been told that the south end is the better school district. George Jenkins high school zone I believe. The Mckeel Charter School (elementary-high), in Lakeland is very good as well.

Where I live in Auburndale, Berkley Charter and Berkley Accelerated Middle School are the best schools before getting into the high school. And then there is only Auburndale Senior High. Although a new high school will be opeing this August which will be in between Lakeland and Auburndale called Teneroc High School.

Here is a link to the Polk County Schools website where you can search out schools based on an address and then see the school grades, test scores, racial makeup, etc...

Polk County Public Schools Polk County, Florida

[Wilshire81182]

I think the central, south, and east areas of the Orlando area are more patchy with good and bad areas seemingly right next to eachother. The far north areas and SW areas are mostly all good and the inner west side of town is all mainly low income so those areas are more defined. That is my take on Markhunt and cfIan's posts and how they could disagree based on where they live in town. I live in an area like that too where north and east of me are not as nice as south and west of me.

[LHM&JEM]

can anyone tell me if the Imperial Lakes Golf condo on Topher Trail is nice for senior citizens?