+15 year Orlando Resident Here - Ask Me Anything (Tampa, Deltona: relocating, real estate)

[ITChick]

Originally Posted by blueoktober

Metrowest is one of the most dangerous areas of Orlando. In 9 months I had my car broken into twice. I went to bed at night to the sound of helicopters and police combing the area. This is FACT, not hyperbole.
A simple search will show you just how bad Metrowest is.
The zip code for "across the street" is 32811. And it is Literally across the street.

A check of the zipcode on Sperlings Best shows a 6/6. The place shown is "Orlando, Florida". Is 32811 Metrowest?

[Dizzy is Moving]

Originally Posted by ITChick

A check of the zipcode on Sperlings Best shows a 6/6. The place shown is "Orlando, Florida". Is 32811 Metrowest?

http://www.mymetrowest.com

visit that site at your own risk! the illuminati might gun you down if you do though. you've been warned!

[spunky1]

32835 includes some at least of Metro West

[blueoktober]

Dizzy, I reply to your URL with a few of my own.


http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/...home-headlines
(local replies regarding this story)
http://www.topix.net/forum/city/orla...P34SJL26SJJG26

http://www.wesh.com/news/9953075/detail.html

http://www.apartmentratings.com/rate...st-463131.html

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/new...robbers_s.html

And I could go on and on and on.

[FL_TN_Nana]

Did anyone on here see anything about Metrowest wanting to change its name to Veranda Park? I don't remember if I saw it in the Sentinel or on a news program.

(Ok I just found it again-- on a real estate website...."Recently, a name change was announced for Metrowest to "Veranda Park".) So, I wonder if it's become official yet.

[spunky1]

Originally Posted by FL_TN_Nana

Did anyone on here see anything about Metrowest wanting to change its name to Veranda Park? I don't remember if I saw it in the Sentinel or on a news program.

(Ok I just found it again-- on a real estate website...."Recently, a name change was announced for Metrowest to "Veranda Park".) So, I wonder if it's become official yet.

I guess the name Metro West is synonymous with high crime and they are trying out a new name, pretty sneaky. . .

[Rhett_Butler]

Originally Posted by Dizzy is Moving

jessOH -
You understand the hotness of FLA already it sounds like. Thats the worst we got to offer, I promise. Get ready to trade your gas bill in for a elec. bill due to a/c usage. Its get HOT here - and its not the heat, its the humidity. Its very odd, and there is no way to explain it until you experience it.

just look at all the negative, paranoid remarks i got so far in this thread. many people use the internet to vent anger & frustration, rather than learn & grow. that was the intent of my thread here - clear thru the clutter and offer a balanced point of view. i will not even bother responding to the negativity because its a waste of time.

imo, the outcry your getting is the same as you hear on this message board - fearful, delusional ramblings. youve done your homework, youve picked a spot that sounds comfortable to you and thats what you needed to do. youll be chilling in no time.

No offense Dizzy, but I've been here for 12 years and it just sounds like you are operating off of information that is about 10 years old...... When I first moved here in late '94, yes, Metro West was a desireable and upscale area. Well, it's in a bit of a downward spiral now. To deny that or to ignore the facts is irresponsible. Yes there is some crime everywhere, but that area in particular has seen a definate escalation. It isn't a bunch of "haters" just "hatin'" on Orlando in general. Many here that you are accusing of that have conceded graciously that there are PLENTY of nice areas in the Orlando area. They just don't happen to agree with your chosen recommendation.

Metro West is not a "hidden secret". It is an area that has dropped rent to match the demand to live in that area plain and simple.

[ITChick]

Originally Posted by blueoktober

Dizzy, I reply to your URL with a few of my own.


http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/...home-headlines
(local replies regarding this story)
http://www.topix.net/forum/city/orla...P34SJL26SJJG26

http://www.wesh.com/news/9953075/detail.html

http://www.apartmentratings.com/rate...st-463131.html

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/new...robbers_s.html

And I could go on and on and on.

Those links are very revealing of the problems going on in Orlando "proper". A lot of blame on the Walmart and greedy developers in those blogs.

What about the counties outside of Orlando? Are they just as bad?

[blueoktober]

Originally Posted by ITChick

Those links are very revealing of the problems going on in Orlando "proper". A lot of blame on the Walmart and greedy developers in those blogs.

What about the counties outside of Orlando? Are they just as bad?

ITChick, Orlando is very encompassing and has a lot of areas that are very nice. Metrowest in particular is a bad area because of it's location.

If I were to move back to Orlando (And I mean in Orange County - I will get to the other counties in a second) - I would look at Thornton Park downtown, College Park, Colonial Town, Delany Park, Baldwin Park, South of Downtown (which is now being labeled, SoDo which is silly), Winter Park, Maitland, and far east - Waterford Lakes, Avalon Park, etc. There are pockets of bad everywhere. Here are te places I lived in Orlando:

Casselberry, Winter Park, Atlamonte Springs, Downtown, Metrowest, and St. Cloud. Out of all of those I wouldn't move back to Metrowest or St Cloud.
Casselberry has it's fair shair of crime, but it doesnt seem to be so random like is some other places.

Where would I avoid in Orange County? Honestly, anything west of I-4. I cannot afford Dr. Phillips and that area so I have to stay away the west side completely. I would stay away from the immediate east side - Colonial (hwy 50) and 436 seems to be the cutoff. Then when you get to Waterford Lakes area it's nice again.

To me, anything north of downtown all the way to Sanford is a good start.

Seminole County - This includes Altamonte Springs, Lake Mary, Sanford, etc.
Altamonte Springs has dicey areas but for the most part it is all safe and nice. The traffic sucks, but I would take that any day.
Lake Mary is more expensive and nicer all the way around. Parts of Sanford are very nice and some are pretty darm scary. The closer to I-4 you go the nicer. Downtown Sanford is getting nicer too.

I would stay away from Osceola County completely. I bought a house in 2003 on an acre and couldnt have been happier. Then the bad parts of Kissimmee inched its way into St. Cloud and I ended up moving out of state completely.

I don't know a lot about Clermont or Winter Garden. It SEEMS nice but I haven't lived there.

There are so many options, if you have money, to live in Orlando. There is a large amount of random crimes, and it worried me, but I never was too scared. I-4 and road rage is much more scary than the crime, IMO.

I hope this helps you. Don't be too afraid of the area as it is definitely NOT all bad.

[ITChick]

Originally Posted by blueoktober

Seminole County - This includes Altamonte Springs, Lake Mary, Sanford, etc.
Altamonte Springs has dicey areas but for the most part it is all safe and nice. The traffic sucks, but I would take that any day.
Lake Mary is more expensive and nicer all the way around. Parts of Sanford are very nice and some are pretty darm scary. The closer to I-4 you go the nicer. Downtown Sanford is getting nicer too.

There are so many options, if you have money, to live in Orlando. There is a large amount of random crimes, and it worried me, but I never was too scared. I-4 and road rage is much more scary than the crime, IMO.

I hope this helps you. Don't be too afraid of the area as it is definitely NOT all bad.

Thank you blueoktober, your post is very helpful. I have been looking around the Altamonte Springs area as I have a friend who invited me to come down there and be her roommate. My interest in moving there is to not stay a renter forever but to find an affordable safe small property to purchase in the area.

You mention that you moved out of the state. Can I ask where and why? Thanks.