If not Orlando, then where???? (Tampa, Kissimmee: for sale, 2010, foreclosure)

[Warm2Wasatch]

Well, I've been reading quite a number of negative posts regarding Orlando. However, it looks like Florida is going to be our next residence within the coming year. Whether I like it or not. So..... if not Orlando, then where?

Here's what I'm looking for in an area:

- Safe area (duh!) I could do without hearing "Yo quiero dinero" with a gun pointed to mine or my family's heads. (I borrow that from someone else's post)
- It has to be located at the most 30 minutes from the major airport. (For family visiting often)
- Convenient to the big box stores, supermarkets, malls (Costco, Target, etc).
- Fairly new development. I'm really not down with living in houses that are built prior to the mid-ninties. Housing-wise, my max would be $500K but I'd prefer to stay in the area if $350K

For those of you who live in the areas surrounding, please give a shout out as to the areas you feel would fit the above. Your input is greatly appreciated.

Also, should the Tampa Bay area be a consideration?

[Broker Dave]

Winter Garden

[GLS2010]

Not winter garden.. My cousin was shot and killed in winter garden last year (Too close to pine hills!). There are many great areas in the Orlando area that fits what you're looking for.

Some suggestions would be, Oviedo, Winter Springs, Lake Mary, Winter Park, Waterford Lakes/ Avalon Park. These are all in the north, northeast, and east of the Orlando metro area. Im sure there are more good places for you but these are areas that I'm familiar with since i live near by, in waterford lakes, and have plenty of friends in family in the rest of the places i mentioned.

[beckycat]

Originally Posted by GLS2010

Not winter garden.. My cousin was shot and killed in winter garden last year (Too close to pine hills!). There are many great areas in the Orlando area that fits what you're looking for.

Some suggestions would be, Oviedo, Winter Springs, Lake Mary, Winter Park, Waterford Lakes/ Avalon Park. These are all in the north, northeast, and east of the Orlando metro area. Im sure there are more good places for you but these are areas that I'm familiar with since i live near by, in waterford lakes, and have plenty of friends in family in the rest of the places i mentioned.

Good choices!

[OrlandoRE_Miracle]

Originally Posted by Warm2Wasatch

Well, I've been reading quite a number of negative posts regarding Orlando. However, it looks like Florida is going to be our next residence within the coming year. Whether I like it or not. So..... if not Orlando, then where?

Here's what I'm looking for in an area:

- Safe area (duh!) I could do without hearing "Yo quiero dinero" with a gun pointed to mine or my family's heads. (I borrow that from someone else's post)
- It has to be located at the most 30 minutes from the major airport. (For family visiting often)
- Convenient to the big box stores, supermarkets, malls (Costco, Target, etc).
- Fairly new development. I'm really not down with living in houses that are built prior to the mid-ninties. Housing-wise, my max would be $500K but I'd prefer to stay in the area if $350K

For those of you who live in the areas surrounding, please give a shout out as to the areas you feel would fit the above. Your input is greatly appreciated.

Also, should the Tampa Bay area be a consideration?

I can't tell from your post whether your writing off Orlando because of some of the posts here. I hope your not doing that. Tampa Bay isn't exactly crime free either.

You can find newish housing in the suburbs of either city. Tampa Bay does has some very new suburbs (Tampa Palms). Or the places GLS2000 mentioned outside of Orlando.

[Parrotrosie]

We just bought a house in Oviedo, subdivision, the Sanctuary.

Website about the development by Crosswinds and several of the available floorplans
The Sanctuary - Crosswinds Communities

HOA website
The Sanctuary Home Owner's Association. Oviedo, FL

Venezia Floorplan by Engineered homes found on this site
Welcome to Engineered Homes

It is in Seminole county School district. Borders "the Country" yet is very close to lots of the other shopping and things you mentioned. Reasonably close to the airport (say...20-30 minutes, I forget exactly)

Safe, and newer development, and very pretty....we think You can get a 4000 sq ft home for under 500k. The last we looked, the biggest home in the development, one went for 460k in a foreclosure deal.

Happy house hunting!! Take your time...there is a ton of stuff for sale out there!!!

[GLS2010]

Originally Posted by Parrotrosie

We just bought a house in Oviedo, subdivision, the Sanctuary.

Website about the development by Crosswinds and several of the available floorplans
The Sanctuary - Crosswinds Communities

HOA website
The Sanctuary Home Owner's Association. Oviedo, FL

Venezia Floorplan by Engineered homes found on this site
Welcome to Engineered Homes

It is in Seminole county School district. Borders "the Country" yet is very close to lots of the other shopping and things you mentioned. Reasonably close to the airport (say...20-30 minutes, I forget exactly)

Safe, and newer development, and very pretty....we think You can get a 4000 sq ft home for under 500k. The last we looked, the biggest home in the development, one went for 460k in a foreclosure deal.

Happy house hunting!! Take your time...there is a ton of stuff for sale out there!!!

I also strongly recommend the Sanctuary, its one of my favorite neighborhoods in the orlando metro area, very nice unique homes, very convenient, very safe & friendly, and very calm since it "borders the country" like you said.. Also the neighborhood of Live Oak (across the street from Sanctuary) is another GREAT place to live.

[Wilshire81182]

I would suggest Seminole County areas. Lake Mary (32746, 32779), Oviedo (32765 or 32766), Winter Springs (32708), or Longwood (32750). Lake Mary may be closer to 45 minutes to the airport, but it is not far.

Some nice areas in Orange County are Winter Park (32789, not 32792), Maitland (32751), Lake Nona (32827, 32832), Belle Isle (32812 south of Gatlin), College Park (32804), Baldwin Park (32814), Dr Phillips (32819, 32836 stay south of Conroy-Windermere and west of Turkey Lake), Delaney Park (32806), Colonialtown (32803), Windermere (34786), Hunters Creek (32837, west of John Young and south of the 417), Altamonte (32701, parts of 32714), Celebration/Formosa gardens (34746, 34747).

Areas to avoid: Parramore (32805), Pine Hills (32808), the rough side of Metrowest (32811), Oakridge/Millenia/Rio Grande Area (32809/32839). Kissimmee (34741), Union Park (32825 though there are also some nice areas in this Zip code), Azalea Park (32807), Goldenrod corridor (32822), Lockhart/Rosemont (32810).

Areas that are okay, but not without their problems: Waterford/Avalon Park (32828), Casselberry (32707), Apopka (32703), Ocoee (34761), Clarcona area (32818), South Chase/Wyndham Lakes (32824), Buena Ventura Lakes (34743, this area is dumpy and should probably be in the bad category but there is not a lot of crime there), Metrowest (the good side in 32835), Winter Garden (34787, gets much nicer south of 50 and the Turnpike), ... if there is any other area that I left out, it is probably in this category if it does not stand out as super nice or superbad, like Sanford, Fern Park, Howell Branch.

If you didn't mind being even further out, there are some really nice areas on the outskirts in all directions too, like Geneva, Chuluota, Mt Dora, Clermont, Reunion, Harmony, Debary, DeLand, New Smyrna, Viera, Auburndale, etc.

I think you are looking in the right price range to be in a great home in a great area, now is the time to buy and almost anywhere in Orlando is convenient to shopping, dining, and other amenities. I know you have read a lot of negative things on this forum, but I tell you living here has been a dream come true for me. I love the weather and the entertainment, so I hope you enjoy it as well. Tampa is a great option. I like it there a lot, but I still prefer Orlando. I think it is cleaner and has more to offer, but the advantages Tampa has are the proximity to the beach, better sports environment, more traditional city lay out, etc. Almost everything else that comes to mind, Orlando wins out IMO.

[AONE]

When you factor in the close proximity to the airport you are left with Dr, Phillips, Windeeremere, Winter Park, Winter Springs, Oviedo and the Avalon/ StoneyBrook areas. These offer good schools safety and a very nice lifestyle. While some of the areas in Lake Mary and Longwood are nice they are not as close to the airport.
The short answer is Orlando can be a great place to live.

[Pete C]

This violence thing is really going to take its toll on the Orlando area, isn't it. Stay east of I-4 and north of 408, and you will encounter very few bad areas. I live in Maitland, and I feel perfectly safe. I would walk around here in the dead of night, but I know where not to drive (over past OBT). Now, if you visit Lake Mary, Oviedo, Avalon, etc, which are not near any bad areas, and feel intimidated IN THE LEAST, I would be shocked...unless of course brand new malls and shopping centers escalate your heart rate.