My thoughts on my recent Visit to Orlando..... (Sanford, Winter Springs: real estate, lease)

[Parrotrosie]

Well...after a grueling long weekend visit to Orlando (and what excellent weather we had!) I have some thoughts....feel free to tell me what I have missed or gotten right here...

Friday we drove around by ourselves to neighborhoods...looking and watching. We had a list we culled from on line home listings from various sources - based on many recommendations gotten here on city data forums...thanks for all those

Saturday we actually spent the day with a real estate agent and had about seven walk throughs....some based on our requests, and some he selected based on our criteria.

Holy cow what an excersize....lol!

Now...my thoughts...

Lake Mary...big place...very nice main roads...lots of shopping, the elementary school we passed looked very nice. Some homes were very nice, in what appeared to be well kept neighborhoods....some homes appeared to be these large, out of place homes in the midst of much smaller, less well maintained dwellings...which I found really odd. Then there were the 'mansions' speckled in among business areas and small homes and larger developments....just plopped down seemingly willy nilly....I didn't really understand it at all. Why would I want a 700k or million dollar home right next to a tiny little cottage or trailer park?? I just could not get a handle on the layout of Lake Mary and therefore cannot assess why some homes are worth the money they are asking for them, if they are indeed worth the asking prices or not. But still, some areas were very nice. I really like a tiny little development called Shady Oaks I believe was the name.

Oviedo.....odd little town, quaint. Very old sections....very brand new sections. Seemed like a very specific division tho. Old side, newer side. Saw some things I flat out did not like, and some that I really liked alot. Actually went to see a property that had a guest house and covered pool, and I didnt think I would like it at all because it was built in the 70's and found it very much to my liking. I liked the Davenport Glenn section of Tuscawilla as well, but we were unable to get a walk through of any homes this trip...on my list for next time...

Winter Springs.... town center was very nice...pretty even. Didn't drive by a single property I liked. Just could have been none on my list that were worth looking at or that anything good was over my price limit.

Orlando...went there expecting to NOT like anything. Was pleasantly surprised. We got to walk through a home in Stoneybrook and liked that development very much (Eastwood). Also liked the area around there, with shopping and all the activity. A wee bit concerned with how close it is to UCF, but they were gearing up for a football game Sat night and it didn't seem too bad really.(keep in mind, I live near the Eagles Stadium out here, but not quite that close) We also drove through several other developments in Eastwood, and liked some and not others. Not overly thrilled with Avalon Park, altho it was getting dark when we got there and never did find the town center...lol. I do see the threads relating to crime in this area...how does the crime relate to the UCF student body being in town and out? Is there a correlation? Where do 50,000 students stay in that area???

We also saw a few other areas in Orlando that we liked, but we liked Eastwood the best...still checking into the schools there with a microscope as I realize that is a concern. Do you all feel the new high school they are building there will alleviate concerns for students in that area?

As for you all having traffic and crime issues...I sortof have to laugh, as it is all relative. I thought your city was just beautiful! Some areas...have a wee bit too much road...but the traffic does process through fairly well. YOur toll roads are magnificent, the city (we took a trip to the Economic development commision in town) was so clean and pretty, I could not believe it! We lovingly call our city here Philth-adelphia. Its really disgusting. I didn't see one homeless person or beggar, not one vagrant or drunkard...not one single seedy looking character at all! You all have a city working to bring both jobs and technology to your city, as well as helping those companies already there to be competitive in today's marketplace - what a fantastic program for your goverment to offer your fine city! I am sure, that you feel your city has its shortcomings, and I am certain it does....but I did not see any, and it is planning future growth, which , my city is planning its death currently. I so look forward to moving there! My husband gave his notice today, and will start to work in Orlando in January (commuting until we sell our house here). So any feedback on my impressions is very welcome! Thanks!

[Alphaman]

Thanks for the feedback it`s nice to hear from someone that Orlando is not that bad, I was beginning to wonder if I was living in the Detroit of the south with all the complaining on this forum about this city.

I live near Waterford lakes and agree on this area being nice, I would take a look at winter park, Belle Isle and Thornton park also.

[bostontoorlando]

I moved here about 3 months ago from Boston and I couldn't agree more, this is a lovely city in its own way. The traffic coming from southwest orlando to downtown is a joke compared to any direction in boston. I can actually go to work during rush hour and not worry. If the areas are feasible with respect to driving distance etc., I highly recommend Windermere and Dr. Phillips. Absolutely gorgeous roads and neighborhoods and many excellent schools-public and private. We picked Reserve at Lake Butler Sound and it is spectacular. Isleworth, Keene's point, Reserve at Belmere and many others here are very nice.

[DailyJournalist]

I am so glad you loved Orlando, please move on down as fast as you can.

[Wilshire81182]

I am also glad you liked everything. I think a lot of the same things about the areas that you were referring to. You can find the ugly things of Orlando if you seek them out, but I think that is the same of any major city. Orlando is beautiful and has a lot to offer!

[Granny Sue]

I'm glad your trip was productive! It's always interesting to see what others see.

Thanks for sharing!

[earthfaries]

It's so nice to read a positive post on Orlando!
We have been visiting Orlando for a couple of weeks a year since 2003 and we LOVE it!
We have chosen to move there next year when our current lease expires here, boy , I wish I could move earlier!
We have traveled all over and always feel at home in Orlando.
Congrats on your move and I hope you get there soon

[beckycat]

Originally Posted by Parrotrosie

Well...after a grueling long weekend visit to Orlando (and what excellent weather we had!) I have some thoughts....feel free to tell me what I have missed or gotten right here...

Friday we drove around by ourselves to neighborhoods...looking and watching. We had a list we culled from on line home listings from various sources - based on many recommendations gotten here on city data forums...thanks for all those

Saturday we actually spent the day with a real estate agent and had about seven walk throughs....some based on our requests, and some he selected based on our criteria.

Holy cow what an excersize....lol!

Now...my thoughts...

Lake Mary...big place...very nice main roads...lots of shopping, the elementary school we passed looked very nice. Some homes were very nice, in what appeared to be well kept neighborhoods....some homes appeared to be these large, out of place homes in the midst of much smaller, less well maintained dwellings...which I found really odd. Then there were the 'mansions' speckled in among business areas and small homes and larger developments....just plopped down seemingly willy nilly....I didn't really understand it at all. Why would I want a 700k or million dollar home right next to a tiny little cottage or trailer park?? I just could not get a handle on the layout of Lake Mary and therefore cannot assess why some homes are worth the money they are asking for them, if they are indeed worth the asking prices or not. But still, some areas were very nice. I really like a tiny little development called Shady Oaks I believe was the name.

Oviedo.....odd little town, quaint. Very old sections....very brand new sections. Seemed like a very specific division tho. Old side, newer side. Saw some things I flat out did not like, and some that I really liked alot. Actually went to see a property that had a guest house and covered pool, and I didnt think I would like it at all because it was built in the 70's and found it very much to my liking. I liked the Davenport Glenn section of Tuscawilla as well, but we were unable to get a walk through of any homes this trip...on my list for next time...

Winter Springs.... town center was very nice...pretty even. Didn't drive by a single property I liked. Just could have been none on my list that were worth looking at or that anything good was over my price limit.

Orlando...went there expecting to NOT like anything. Was pleasantly surprised. We got to walk through a home in Stoneybrook and liked that development very much (Eastwood). Also liked the area around there, with shopping and all the activity. A wee bit concerned with how close it is to UCF, but they were gearing up for a football game Sat night and it didn't seem too bad really.(keep in mind, I live near the Eagles Stadium out here, but not quite that close) We also drove through several other developments in Eastwood, and liked some and not others. Not overly thrilled with Avalon Park, altho it was getting dark when we got there and never did find the town center...lol. I do see the threads relating to crime in this area...how does the crime relate to the UCF student body being in town and out? Is there a correlation? Where do 50,000 students stay in that area???

We also saw a few other areas in Orlando that we liked, but we liked Eastwood the best...still checking into the schools there with a microscope as I realize that is a concern. Do you all feel the new high school they are building there will alleviate concerns for students in that area?

As for you all having traffic and crime issues...I sortof have to laugh, as it is all relative. I thought your city was just beautiful! Some areas...have a wee bit too much road...but the traffic does process through fairly well. YOur toll roads are magnificent, the city (we took a trip to the Economic development commision in town) was so clean and pretty, I could not believe it! We lovingly call our city here Philth-adelphia . Its really disgusting. I didn't see one homeless person or beggar, not one vagrant or drunkard...not one single seedy looking character at all! You all have a city working to bring both jobs and technology to your city, as well as helping those companies already there to be competitive in today's marketplace - what a fantastic program for your goverment to offer your fine city! I am sure, that you feel your city has its shortcomings, and I am certain it does....but I did not see any, and it is planning future growth, which , my city is planning its death currently. I so look forward to moving there! My husband gave his notice today, and will start to work in Orlando in January (commuting until we sell our house here). So any feedback on my impressions is very welcome! Thanks!

Glad you made it down!!! That's funny you called Philly Philth-adelphia, I call it that too. As for crime, I know it exists here, but compared to Philly, honestly, I think it's way worse in Philly. Anyhow, I can agree with you about Lake Mary having beautiful homes next to cottages. I thought that was weird when we moved here too. Did you get to look around the mall area in Sanford? (Just for shopping reasons) You may like Longwood better which boarders Lake Mary. You're paying for the name in Lake Mary. The houses are less expensive in Longwood. Remember Seminole County for the schools. By the way, Shady Oaks is nice. Keep us informed!

[Parrotrosie]

Originally Posted by DailyJournalist

I am so glad you loved Orlando, please move on down as fast as you can.

LOL....I am not quite sure how to take this comment...do I detect a hint of sarcasm? I will trade cities with you in a heartbeat!!

[DailyJournalist]

Originally Posted by Parrotrosie

LOL....I am not quite sure how to take this comment...do I detect a hint of sarcasm? I will trade cities with you in a heartbeat!!

Where do i sign?