Are there nice areas of West Orlando? (Oviedo, Ocoee: foreclosures, rental)

[PrettyMissAshley]

It seems like the MetroWest area is fairly nice, but it also seems to be so in a fairly small area. I used to attend Valencia CC West and noticed that some parts were decent, but if you went too far north, closer to Colonial Dr., it started to get pretty rough.

It would be nice to be away from the heavy traffic of Orlando, but still close and convenient enough to jump on the high way to VCC West and downtown on the weekends. Think: Lee Vista area of Orlando (South East)

Any suggestions?

[GregTraub]

Most of Winter garden is nice, as well as Windermere and Dr. Phillips if you consider going SW. Check out the StoneyBrook West area.

[AONE]

You are perceptive when it comes to MetroWest. I would always suggest checking the crime stats of that area before I would settle there. I agree that Windermere is the nice area and it occupies a large space on the West side. Winter Garden has some nice pockets but with all the foreclosures you may find many neighborhoods that have some poorly attended to lawns in the short run.... But that also menas a good opportunity from the buying side, I guess it is the angle you look from that will influence the perception.
MW is an area that makes a great first impression but the research is what leaves one wanting. If I had a daughter that was 24 and she told me she saw a great place in MW I would have to say find another sweetie.
Dr. Phillips is indeed nice but likewise very expensive, as an example homes there tend to start in the 400k+ range. While Windermere is the home to the stars ir has a greater range of housing prices, currently you can find nice new places as low as $196k. mind you there are also 100 homes in the 2.5M+ range as well going up to 12.5M but the lower range is much lower than Dr. Phillips.
For me one of the nicest areas of Winter Garden would be Deer Island, but there are few homes there and no rentals if that is a desire.
The down side to the West is that it doesnt offer the best in public schools, while Olympia nad Dr. Phillips high are decent schools they don't rate as high as the area might lead one to suspect. Also a good portion of Windermere falls in the West Orange High district which leaves much to be desired. Many look to Clermont on the west but it is way off the beaten path and if you are doing less than convenient and 200k then why not Windermere? At least it is nicer and closer in.
Anyway, that's my weighing in on the topic.

[kingtodd]

Originally Posted by PrettyMissAshley

It seems like the MetroWest area is fairly nice, but it also seems to be so in a fairly small area. I used to attend Valencia CC West and noticed that some parts were decent, but if you went too far north, closer to Colonial Dr., it started to get pretty rough.

It would be nice to be away from the heavy traffic of Orlando, but still close and convenient enough to jump on the high way to VCC West and downtown on the weekends. Think: Lee Vista area of Orlando (South East)

Any suggestions?

What about Oviedo & Ocoee.....I hear those are nice areas.

[Wilshire81182]

Oviedo is on the east side. There are nice parts of Ocoee and Clarcona, and College Park. Those three areas are a little more susceptible to rough areas than Winter Garden, Dr Phillips, and Windermere.