Moving to orlando from really up North (Montreal) (Winter Springs, Apopka: crime, house)

[poker_rick]

I woudl appreciate some help, I have been offered a very good position in Orlando and I am probably gonna accept. I would appreciate some advise. The job is in Longwood (North East of Orlando) and I would be looking at a house most probably in a gated community. I have 3 kids, 17, 15 and 13.

What would be the preferrable location for a house in the $300-$400K range?

Is life in orlando that bad, or is day to day life in the suburb prtty good after all?

I currently live in the suburb of Montreal but I used to live in the city so I know what a city and traffic is like. I also lived in upstate NY in farm country which was pretty good.

Am I making a mistake going to orlando?

[VaNative]

I don't think you're making a mistake moving here and if your job is located in Longwood, stay out that way. I hear the Oviedo and Longwood areas are very nice. The key is to keep your driving on I-4 down to a minimum and a realtor can help you search in that area. I live out near Ocoee and Apopka but it doesn't really feel like Orlando much. If you stay out of the tourist areas...and you would be...I doubt you'd notice any difference from where you're currently living except for the weather of course.

[GregTraub]

Life in Orlando is pretty good, especially in the suberbs. In the 300-400K range you will be able to find plenty to great neighborhoods to choose from close to work, very safe area's, with highly rates schools. Sweetwater Oaks area in longwood would be a good place to start for proximity to work. From there you would likely want to check out Heathrow, and maybe Timicuan in Lake Mary. Winter Springs is another great area but is starting to get a little further away, same goes for Oviedo, Both great towns though worth a view.

With three kids all getting into the high school age range is it safe to assume the school they would attend would be of high priority? If so, and you would like to keep them in the public system, you will want to look closely at the schools that serve each neighborhood and if you can have your children attend a school outside of the assigned zone (speaking mostly about Heathrow and Timicuan). Seminole County schools are in general highly rated though with active sports teams and high academic standards.

[poker_rick]

Thanks for the tips. I guess all the hype about crime and overgrown aspects in Orlando is the same as what we can tell about most of the lareg cities in North America.