Finally heading to Florida

[beckycat]

Originally Posted by LMMEGNA

Too funny...that is exactly what I did last night to a tee..and I cut out Kissimmee and St. Cloud....The home in Mt.Dora is just beautiful, that is why I'm taking the extra time to drive out there.
Thank you for your hep as always...will let you know what happens.

Wise choice of cutting those two out. Mt Dora is very nice, but it has alot of older ppl. (nothing wrong with that) IMHO, it's kind of out there too. I love the small town though! While you're driving to Mt Dora, you'll pass Sorrento, check it out too.

[annkathryn]

I LOVE the areas on 535, north of Disney.

[cfIfan]

If you are looking at west Orlando then Independence, Summerport, Stoneybrook West and Belmere and Lakes of Windermere are all very nice. I not only specialize in this area but acutally live there and raise my family there. I may have missed you saying this, but all this is moot really without knowing your specific requirements. One key thing is which part is your husband going to be working in. this will be key as Orlando covers a huge area and with rush hour traffic you could end up having a 1.5hr commute if you select an area in the complete opposite direction from where he will be working. Also, price range is also going to dictate the area aswell.

[LMMEGNA]

Well, finally made it...and here is my quick review of the areas I made it to..which were many!



Waterford Lakes: I looked in the Cypress Springs area of waterford Lakes, very nice, upscale, close to major shops, rest, markets and hwy access.

Eagle Lake: very nice, but just a bit too cookie cutter, even for me. Congested to say the least and many, many homes for rent, for sale and vacant. The area was pleasant though..



Avalon Park and Avalon lakes: OMG...way to much... Too many homes, too many communities, too many streets , too many stop signs, too many one way streets and the houses were toooooo close together. Many vacant homes. Don't get me wrong, the area was nice too.

Reunion:Homes were tiny and very, very close together..amenities were plentiful and grounds beatiful. Easy access to I-4

Ocoee: the area I looked in was right down the street from Tiger Woods home. This area was very nice, families, close to everything, but very congested

Windermere: just didn't like it...I know it's a great place....just not for me

Lake Mary: area was just not my family, older, more established, farms

Mt. Dora: too far out there, older, more like New England, where I was moving from

Astor Farms Preserve, Sanford: Very upscale....very!

[LMMEGNA]

Well, I chose a home and it was down to two for awhile, 1 in Ocoee and the other in Waterford Lakes (Cypress Springs ll).......My husbands work was in Ocala when I went to view homes....Ocoee would be closer, but....the home although in my top 2, would not fit all of my wonderful furniture and that made me sad..so, my fabulous husband opted to thow himself on the sword and suck up the drive (just so I could have my diningroom set and entertainment center)....LOVE THAT MAN!.....We chose the Cypress Springs ll home!
As we are driving down...my husband gets a call that he will NOW be in Melbourne, NOT Ocala....yippeeeee...so much closer (45 min. vs 2 hrs)......but wait,when we arrive, he gets yet ANOTHER call......you have NOW been transfered to DAVENPORT!..........Well, actually, on a map it looks very far but in reality, it takes him 45 minutes to 1 hr and best of all, he YET to hit traffic...tolls yes, traffic no! Takes Curry Ford to 417 to 528 to I 4.

Sooo....... Cypress Springs is located in Waterford Lakes and 3 minutes from the Waterford Lakes Town Center shopping, is centrally located to many expwys, obviously great shopping, "A" rated schools and very quiet for being so close to everything. Although I am still adjusting (only here less than 2 weeks), I am enjoying the gifts that Florida has to offer...the sunshine, sunshine and did I mention, the sunshine?
Haven't met any neighbors...too busy unpacking boxes, but have been to the community pool and playground (the kids sure can be persistent). My husband has seen more of the area by foot than I have since he is a runner, and says it is a wonderful place to jog, quiet, friendly, and spacious. Our sons school is appx 1 mile away, while our daughters high school is a bit of a drive, it is a blue ribbon school and looks very nice and "off the beaten path" or main roads.

If anybody has info to share on this area, I would love for you to share it and vice versa.

Thanks for all of your help, we are very happy with our final decision and really couldn't have made it so easily without the amazing outpouring of support and assistance from the people on this site.