Question about Orlando suburbs (Oviedo: to rent, crime rates, to buy)

[Prichard]

First of all, the "Tourists" are in general well behaved and nice to have around. About the worst thing they do is nicely ask for directions once in awhile and drive too slow on I-4. The good thing about our tourists is that they are family oritented - not boozers, not gamblers, not on the prowel looking for prostitutes.

Second, the Disney area tourists rarely make it anywhere north of Downtown Orlando. And, in fact they rarely even go into downtown. For the most part, if you live North of Downtown, you rarely see obvious tourists. Thinking that Greator Orlando is one big "Disney Tourist scene" is like going to L.A. and thinking the place is crawling with movie and tv stars everywhere.

[jercie]

Originally Posted by pianogal

I love living here. I have lived in East Orlando (Lake Nona area) for 2 years. Before that I lived in Winter Park for almost 20 years, lived near downtown for several years prior to that and my husband grew up here. So we have deep roots.

Read carefully on this board and watch the authors of the different posts. It won't take long to discover the attitude behind the posts. We have some who have an agenda - they are not interested in helping others. They are the ones who spew the same negative garbage in every post - no matter what honest questions have been asked.

Please ask any specific questions you have about the area. There are people here who don't have an agenda and they will help as much as possible.

Thanks for your sincerity. I just turned 60 and have dreamed of living in Florida all my life. (I hate cold weather...it hurts my skin and depresses me.) My son is living in Orlando and works for Universal and Disney as an actor. He will be there for another year before he moves away.

I am from a small town in Kentucky and have an associates degree in accounting. I have 30 years office experience. However, the jobs that I find posted do not even pay the salary I receive here in this small area! I do not have a savings from which to draw so I am looking at working and earning my own way.

My question is: Can a single, "young" senior citizen, without a college degree find a good paying job and an affordable place to live around Orlando? Or am I going to move there and risk being homeless and broke in a few years?

I know that no one can predict the future for me. I am wondering if there are others out there in my kind of position who have made it?

[TINAMARIE1964]

I lived in Orlando for 20 years, so did my parents...they thought they could retire there, my dad and mom have social security and my dad has a pension from the post office....my dad finally figured out he would be working the rest of his life if he did not move...they love the heat, so they hated to leave, but it got way to expensive to live there unless you have a great job or lots of money coming in from somewhere...All in all the jobs pay no more than any other area in this country that you can live cheaper in....good luck...we all moved to Chattanooga, TN and love it here.....

[jercie]

Thanks for your reply and honesty. I may reconsider and stay right here in Kentucky. At least, I can still rent a house for 400/month!!

[JohnToms]

Only other thing, Disney is actually south of Orlando in Kissimmee. I live it SouthWest Orlando/Windermere and we do not have the tourists here either. To me, there is also much more to do on the west side and you just have to avoid I-4 during the rush hour, just like any other larger city

John Toms

[BeenAroundTheBlock]

Jercie, probably a smart idea to stay there. For $400 a month here, you would be renting a room. Also you'll most likely not make the wages you are making there here. If it is your dream to move to FL keep searching for that "dream job", you never know, something could pop up. Even if it did, you'd still be renting for $1000 a month because you would need to live in a decent part of town.

[jercie]

I have full blown "sticker shock" don't I? On second thought, I'm not ready to give up so fast. I may be crazy but I have always had a determination about me that has gotten me through some hard times. Maybe if I dig down deep enough, I can get that courage and determination back again. Being married 20 years may have taken its toll on me as an independent woman. I may need to find that again. I still want to live in Florida. So, I may just give it a try and hope and pray for the best! I think I can still hold down one and a half to two jobs!!

[JohnToms]

Ocoee has a lot of nice new developments as well

[info please]

Check our windermere close but yet far away from everything. check out along road 535 YOU MAY GET A GREAT DEAL ON A CONDO OR TOWNHOUSE BEING there sitting empty .good luck but really do your homework .Come down on your vacation and check things out .

[jercie]

Thanks for your encouraging replies! I will check out Ocoee and road 535. I visited my son for a month in January and didn't want to return. I really want to move and I believe I will love it. I'm just nervous giving up a good job here and taking such a big chance. Again, thanks for your positive remarks. I needed them.