Charlotte, NC Area To Orlando....Good Move? (Sanford, Lake Mary: appointed, for sale)

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by surfer boy

Nothing like Orlando though. If you think crime, traffic, bad drivers, rude and unfriendly people describes Charlotte NC, then you havent seen nothing yet. Typically, this is exactly how Orlando is described, I have never heard the same for Charlotte NC.

That's probably because the malcontents are still listening to the real estate agents, kind of like Orlando 10-15 years ago. There are better places than Orlando and Charlotte both in FL and NC.

[dbansal]

Originally Posted by surfer boy

"Charlotte, NC and vicinity: crime, traffic, bad drivers, far from beach/ocean
(4 1/2 hrs.), unfriendly people and low paying jobs. Ok, next!"

Nothing like Orlando though. If you think crime, traffic, bad drivers, rude and unfriendly people describes Charlotte NC, then you havent seen nothing yet. Typically, this is exactly how Orlando is described, I have never heard the same for Charlotte NC.

I think you just did hear it lol... Where is your perfect place to live, still waiting to hear.

[surfer boy]

There is no perfect place, dbansal. I thought that was pretty common knowledge.

[cagman]

My wife and I just moved from orlando back to charlotte. We were in orlando for 5 yrs. I would say from watching the news, orlando has worse crime. In charlotte, a simple break in seems to make the news and causes everyone to freak out. In orlando, it's a murder a day pretty much.

I would say the biggest difference between the 2 cities is the culture/ethnic makeup. Orlando has a heavy latino population. You can function better by only speaking spanish than you can only speaking english. So if that kind of thing bothers you, orlando will drive you crazy. And that trend is continueing.

If you love heat, then you can't beat orlando. Everyday seems to be just perfect - sunny every day, even in january.

Orlando has some great lakes, some not so great. I'd say the biggest difference I noticed when comparing the lakes of Orlando to lake norman/mtn island lake is that orlando lakes are not nearly as crowded as lake norman is on a weekend. I despise going out on lake norman on the weekends. But a saturday on the butler chain of lakes in orlando is a great experience. You will sometimes feel like the only one on it.

Good luck.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by cagman

\

You can function better by only speaking spanish than you can only speaking english.\
\

Yeah, OK, why don't you try it? Think about that statement for a minute. As much as you probably would not want to accept it, they do not make even close to a majority of the population. And you have to assume that least SOME () of those Latinos can speak English. You can live in Hialeah on English only if you don't give off any vibes like that.

[surfer boy]

"My wife and I just moved from orlando back to charlotte. We were in orlando for 5 yrs. I would say from watching the news, orlando has worse crime. In charlotte, a simple break in seems to make the news and causes everyone to freak out. In orlando, it's a murder a day pretty much.
I would say the biggest difference between the 2 cities is the culture/ethnic makeup. Orlando has a heavy latino population. You can function better by only speaking spanish than you can only speaking english. So if that kind of thing bothers you, orlando will drive you crazy. And that trend is continueing."

Cagman, excellent points. And your right, it will only continue, and it will only get worse. Most people in Charlotte actually speak English, and I cant say the same for Orlando, I'd say it's probably half and half. And, the crime in Orlando, is by far, worse.
Why are we rated 11th most dangerous city in USA? Why is Charlotte ranked so highly as a place to live? Wasnt Orlando also named "America's Angriest City" a few yrs ago? Some truth to all this dont you think? How many people do I meet that want to move out of Orlando? A lot! Why dont you ask all the Floridians in the Charlotte forum (who moved there) how many would move back to Orlando. I can guarantee less than 20% would even consider. A lot of nice, native Floridians are moving up to NC, and down here in FL, we seem to attract malcontents.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by surfer boy

A lot of nice, native Floridians are moving up to NC, and down here in FL, we seem to attract malcontents.

...hahaha!

[surfer boy]

No? We dont have this problem? HAHAHA!!!

[compelled to reply]

If you are moving from anywhere (including Orlando) to Charlotte to "get away from the crime" and you actually think you were successful, you are a malcontent with rose colored glasses. Just wait until those lenses break.

Safest place is Long Island, the mean streets that bred Aesop Rock and De La Soul. I'm not even joking either, it always gets ranked the safest "metro" area and people don't lock their doors in most areas...in that particular regard, I don't know what the hell people think they are escaping up north, including NYC.

[nank712]

I'm originally from Orlando and love it, in spite of the problems it now has. Orlando is a city now, and there is lots going on. It's great for all ages, actually, in spite of the current reputation as a city for young singles. Many areas in Orlando are for older and more settled people. Just depends on where you go. Downtown is indeed high crime, unfortunately, also the Pine Hills area (fondly called Crime Hills.) Stay away from those. You can't boat or fish most of the downtown lakes, but you have easy access to the ones where you can. (Actually, there is a lake near College Park where you can boat, but it's more for water skiiing and such.) You have access to all the shopping and restaurants you could want.

We lived away for some years and returned to Central Florida, moving to Mount Dora. If we had it to do over we would have gone to College Park in Orlando, but that's just because of our friends and children living in Orlando. Our second choice would be Eustis. Very friendly, small, etc. In the Mount Dora/Eustis/Tavares area you have big lakes where you can boat and fish. Mount Dora is a snow bird town --- the population just about doubles in the season. Not so much tourist, more settled people who own homes here. If you want shopping, there is a mall out towards Leesburg, a bigger and better mall the other direction in Sanford. We're close enough to Orlando that you can be there in 30-45 minutes. There are two hospitals in the area, stores like Target and Walmart, diy stores, etc., etc. Restaurants range from some of the chains to charming little individual ones, mostly in Mount Dora and Eustis. We are building up, part of the area is an Orlando bedroom, but not as bad as Clermont and Mineolla. Plenty of parks, etc. Mount Dora, Eustis and Tavares are close enough to each other that it's no trouble to live in one and go to dinner in another, only a few minutes away.

Lake Mary, Tuskawillia, & Winter Springs are lovely, too, but the only people I know in any of them have pots and pots of money. I don't know your income level, and I'm sure there is a good range in any of them, but the impression I've had is that they are pricey, especially Winter Springs. Shopping is available but not as easy to get to. Lots of traffic on the main roads. Sanford is another choice. Wouldn't be mine, but people I know there love it, and they do have that mall! Just outside of town is every major store you could ever want.

I don't know if any of this helps. OH --- one of the major benefits to Orlando over the smaller towns is availability of jobs. There aren't that many in the smaller areas. Chances are that you could find exactly what you want, but unless you're into commuting I'd really advise checking that out first.