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there is alot of denial here. some posters divulge actual experiences- to help.
Bottom line- Fl is not what it once was. palm trees, a pool and CBS home in gated community are fine- But if it was sheer perfection many would not have cashed out so quickly.
To each their own. I just feel sorry for young families who sell out their northern property, move down there with kids, and find there are no decent jobs. And it cannot be regulated. we apparently have an administration which cares nothing about changing immigration, so the economy will only get worse.
In reference to your last sentence~maybe our national politicans have no interest in it, but it appears that the Midwest does. Check out the OK forum to see the new law that was passed yesterday.
I hear you... I've got an assosciates degree, I've lived in Orlando nearly all my adult life. But I'm unemployed. I've been looking off-and-on for about a year. I've gota little money saved up from when I was a kid (Disney stocks, playing a little of the stock markets back in 1999), but I'm basicly dirt poor living at home with my parents (thank God my dad hasa job in DC and not Orlando).
The jobs just plain suck. Even finding a fast food or retail job isn't so easy. You can thank the University of Central Florida for that. 60,000 students all looking for a job and having their living expenses partially subsidized by the government, momy, and daddy. It's unfair to those of us who have lived here a long time or basicly natives. 10 years ago UCF was a small school, now it's huge. I live near it and finding a job locally is tough, especially one suitable to my experience, basicly very limited/still entry level. The same is true in general with Orlando.
I got an interview once with this guy down in Winter Park, an engineering firm. It was for traffic engineering. I thought hey, maybe they wanted me to type up documents or something like that, or stand around with a traffic meter and push a button. No, they wanted to pay me 6.50 an hour plus 25 cents per mile to drive around and meter traffic... and not just Orlando but up to Jacksonville (you've gotta be ****ting me, was my thought). I told them "you think I'm an idiot? That pay won't even pay for the upkeep of a car- I've got plenty of usable skills, I know how to use a computer, word, excel, I can speak Spanish, Russian, and some Italian ... and you just want me to do that ****ty job. **** you".
Friend, do what I did:
I got up one day. thought about how bad i was getting paid. Thought about how i have been trying to get a new job that pays mroe for over a year. So i got up, packed my **** up, put ads for pretty much asll my stuff at Publix boards, sold everything, and GOT THE **** OUT OF ORLANDO THAT SAME WEEK.
It has been the best decision of my life as of date. Granted I am an older guy.
I make a lot more money, breath clean air, do not deal with traffic jams daily, do not deal with crazy lunatic Orlando drivers, do not have to deal with street thugs armed with illegal guns, do not have to fight just to get groceries... and to top the cake with icing: I now have my own home.
seriously, how can anyone say that Orlando jobs pay well? it is one of the most depressed wage markets in this country.... well maybe Detroit is, but again, if we have to go to Detroit's level to compare Orlando's wages, you know things here have got ot be bad.
Anyone saying orlando jobs pay well, are lying to you and have no conscience.
The thing is you only hear people rant those posting the truth. Or, people who are retired chime in and say the economy is great.lol- It is great for me now too- I am semi-retired bcs I sold out of S Florida. But I happen to have empathy for others who still have to find a job in Florida.
The thing is you only hear people rant those posting the truth. Or, people who are retired chime in and say the economy is great.lol- It is great for me now too- I am semi-retired bcs I sold out of S Florida. But I happen to have empathy for others who still have to find a job in Florida.
sunny
That's a nice point. True, true... retirees have it easy in fla. If you have like $300k in cash from selling your home elsewhere and you move here with a bi-weekly 401(k) check and cash to buy a simple home, you will be VERY happy in fla (granted you buy into a good area and have a ton of hurricane-protection stuff, such as shutters and a nice roof and plenty of supplies at home).
but for young and middle-age people, you will come down and be desperate looking for work. when you find it, it will be a mighty $7 an hour or you will work for peanuts in your profession.
i hate to paint such a gloomy pic, but hey, i rather you know now than come down full of dreams and have each and every one of them shattered.
I lived in west palm for a few years...then went to college in orlando (ucf) and lived in florida for about 12 years. I was under 30 yrs old, making about $30k...My degree is in teaching, but there is no way I'd teach in Florida schools...no way! So...I started getting my feet wet in sales.
My husband and I moved to Pittsburgh--where he is originally from (we met in Orlando) and now I'm relocating with my company to Tampa. And, they are paying me $12k more to make the move...plus moving expenses. I don't have a masters...But, where I think you can make decent money (or lots of it depending on your work ethic) is in sales. I work for a global broker...so, there's money to be made. I thank God daily for this job, as I know that Florida, since there are so many people moving in--the job market can be tough.
But...for those who haven't tried it, and think you might be good at it--go into sales. Base + commission. My sister doesn't have a college degree at all...lived in west palm for years and was making near the 6 digits, as a Sales Mgr for a hotel...I guess I don't see the same job problems everyone else sees? She then in a snap, transferred to Orlando to be near her bf, and is making a tad bit less...but still great money.
But my prayers are with anyone struggling with this. I'm coming from Pittsburgh--the city with the highest level of people moving out, and the job market is ranked as one of the worst. Orlando plain old sux. I really saw it getting bad about 10 years ago...just when we left. I think you can find decent work in Jax or Tampa (where I'm moving to)
Illegal immigrants do jobs that most of us would never do....so they really shouldn't even be lumped in with this conversation, in my opinion. But, anyways...I'm sorry to anyone struggling.
I lived in west palm for a few years...then went to college in orlando (ucf) and lived in florida for about 12 years. I was under 30 yrs old, making about $30k...My degree is in teaching, but there is no way I'd teach in Florida schools...no way! So...I started getting my feet wet in sales.
My husband and I moved to Pittsburgh--where he is originally from (we met in Orlando) and now I'm relocating with my company to Tampa. And, they are paying me $12k more to make the move...plus moving expenses. I don't have a masters...But, where I think you can make decent money (or lots of it depending on your work ethic) is in sales. I work for a global broker...so, there's money to be made. I thank God daily for this job, as I know that Florida, since there are so many people moving in--the job market can be tough.
But my prayers are with anyone struggling with this. I'm coming from Pittsburgh--the city with the highest level of people moving out, and the job market is ranked as one of the worst. Orlando plain old sux. I really saw it getting bad about 10 years ago...just when we left. I think you can find decent work in Jax or Tampa (where I'm moving to)
Illegal immigrants do jobs that most of us would never do....so they really shouldn't even be lumped in with this conversation, in my opinion. But, anyways...I'm sorry to anyone struggling.
I dunno, I kind of disagree with your assessment that Orlando has gone down the drain for the past 10 years. I say it has gotten REALLY BAD in the past 4 or 5 years. Like I said I moved away while there was still time, sold during the 'hot market for sellers' and now that I am taking a Sabathical and i am RVing, i came down to orlando and I was absolutelly horrified at how violent and dirty the city has become.
I photographed several open/vacant lots where there is trash everywhere. Some of these lots are garbage dumps... landfills... right off Kirkman and 436. not 1 intersection or traffic light is not covered with cigarette butts and trash. Some of the trash are Trojan wrappers... well at least they are "being safe"
every inch of space is now filled with sleezy looking apts or cheaply built condos. I was shocked to learn that horrendous apt complex on the corner o Kirkman and Conroy has gone Condo. That place was a dump - water intrusion, being being burglarized... awful. Oh Pine Shadows on Kirkman has also gone condo. That is another dump... I saw 3 trucks filled with "laborers" on the back... so basically Pine Shadow has become 'stash houses' for illegals. a lot of the buildings in town changed their colors from gray, white or a neutral color to yellow, orange, or purple... is this designed to attract illegal immigrants or something? even Calvary off of I4 has gone orange and yellow... it looks like an "iglesia" in Mexico. Has Orlando turned into some foreign country now? Miami is a foreign nation, but Orlando too??
Oh and illegal immigrants take jobs that poor/lower middle class Americans would work on. the surplus on the local workforce has significantly lowered wages for people who make under $50k. i worked for a think tank for sometime and there are studies to back up this claim. you are totally being misled by the media's "jobs that Americans don't wnat" jazz, which is a common misconception.
north fla has got a much better local economy. it is well established and growth has been increasing, but it is more moderate than s. or central florida. that is why homes are still affordable and jobs are paying much better.
i'll be honest, it is amazing you got a job being from out of state. local companies do not even entertain out-of-state applicants because they have an enormous pool of local applicants seeking work. you must be one great employee for them to want to hire you. oh you need to speak spanish if you move to Orlando, as most jobs require it these days.
if you ever get tired of the "Hurricane State" or "The Burning-up State", drop me a PM and I'll pass on the info on what states are actually paying people and where you can afford to buy a house and not be swamped into debt.
I'm thinking about moving, but I'm not sure where I'd move to, or how I'd cobble up money to do it. Maybe move to Tulsa, but the jobs are only a little better there in Oklahoma.
I don't have a problem with crime in Florida- it is higher than it could be but not the highest (it's not like DC or New Orleans). Traffic is heavy but isn't the worst. The job market though, and the cost of living is the big one for me.
The main thing is people need to get politically active here. Alot of people who should be voting, don't. The folks in Orange county that have it so bad, half of them don't vote. If they voted for candidates that backed issues important to them, there would be a change. Young adults, all those kids living in Seminole county in the apartments, they don't vote either. The political awareness of the average Floridian IMO is lower than other parts of the country. People expect being crapped on as just something that life has to dish up. That leaves the only people who vote, voting for Billy Bobs who are more interested in placating special interests and favors for land developers than working for a common good.
I'd rather stay here and see Central Florida change for the better, than just pack up and leave.
I dunno, I kind of disagree with your assessment that Orlando has gone down the drain for the past 10 years. I say it has gotten REALLY BAD in the past 4 or 5 years. Like I said I moved away while there was still time, sold during the 'hot market for sellers' and now that I am taking a Sabathical and i am RVing, i came down to orlando and I was absolutelly horrified at how violent and dirty the city has become.
I photographed several open/vacant lots where there is trash everywhere. not 1 intersection or traffic light is not covered with cigarette butts and trash. every inch of space is now filled with sleezy looking apts or cheaply built condos. a lot of the buildings changed their colors from gray, white or a neutral color to yellow, orange, or purple... is this designed to attract illegal immigrants or something?
Oh and illegal immigrants take jobs that poor/lower middle class Americans would work on. the surplus on the local workforce has significantly lowered wages for people who make under $50k. i worked for a think tank for sometime and there are studies to back up this claim. you are totally being misled by the media's "jobs that Americans don't wnat" jazz, which is a common misconception.
north fla has got a much better local economy. it is well established and growth has been increasing, but it is more moderate than s. or central florida. that is why homes are still affordable and jobs are paying much better.
i'll be honest, it is amazing you got a job being from out of state. local companies do not even entertain out-of-state applicants because they have an enormous pool of local applicants seeking work. you must be one great employee for them to want to hire you. oh you need to speak spanish if you move to Orlando, as most jobs require it these days.
if you ever get tired of the "Hurricane State" or "The Burning-up State", drop me a PM and I'll pass on the info on what states are actually paying people and where you can afford to buy a house and not be swamped into debt.
I am relocating to Tampa not Orlando....and I've been with this company for 3+ years so they are relocating me (from Pittsburgh)...making a nice living...and living in a great community...affordable housing, but relevant to my pay. But, thanks for the offer.
Now, I do think Florida has some dire issues to contend with...I would never live in orlando...I hated it when I lived there after I graduated UCF back in 91.
But--I know people who are successful there...and live in nice neighborhoods...and who don't speak spanish. Sorry to burst your think tank bubble.
Congrats, TravelingDude. I couldn't agree more with the reasoning behind your post about getting the he** out of dodge. Scary, but it is pretty much the same thing down here. Wages are worse in Detroit, but according to City-Data stats, Orlando is sporting a crime rate index of 924.5, Detroit is at 925.1, and Fort Myers is at 933.2. Pretty sad what is happening to some Florida cities these days.
All's well that ends well, and it is ALWAYS nice to hear about someone turning things around for him or herself.
Congrats, TravelingDude. I couldn't agree more with the reasoning behind your post about getting the he** out of dodge. Scary, but it is pretty much the same thing down here. Wages are worse in Detroit, but according to City-Data stats, Orlando is sporting a crime rate index of 924.5, Detroit is at 925.1, and Fort Myers is at 933.2. Pretty sad what is happening to some Florida cities these days.
All's well that ends well, and it is ALWAYS nice to hear about someone turning things around for him or herself.
FedUp (what a great username),
I decided that by staying in orlando, things were continuing to decline, as more and more people continue to populate every inch of this city, taking every available job for whatever wage was offered. i saw this trend where wages were declining (which is a phenomenon not seen in most states lately) and i saw the violent crime take a sharp curve up and saw this golden opportunity to get out "with diginity". The hot market enabled me to sell fast and make a few coppers on the side. So in that sense, I left with dignity. But again, timing is everything and i got out while i could. I am glad that worked out.
basically what I am trying to convey is that people should not restrict themselves to staying in FL because they are in a 'comfort zone', which really, is more like an un-comfortable situation, but because they are familiar with the area, they just continue to linger on to low wages and racking up credit card bills. If you are not amking enought money, are having trouble getting or changing jobs for something better, then MOVE OUT! It is not that hard. Yes, you will spend some $ to make the move, but at the same time, you will make more elsewhere and ig you make the right move, you can actaully pay for the credit card debt you created while living in expensive Orlando. But you need to move. That is the trick. Staying when things are going sour is a recipe for financial and emotional disaster.
Orlando has become an increasingly violent town and it is horrifying to see the drastic change. but with such incompetent leadership in Orlando (specially the corrupt Sheriff Kevin Beary... did you see Disney pays like 1/3 of what the city pays for cops?? What's more Beary has had several scandals... I am shocked to see you guys have not voted this scumbag out)...
orlando is bound to 'stay the course' of failure and demise. Drastic changes are needed in o-town and from what I have been reading, no changes are even on sight... builders still control municipalities and they are bound to continue to build and build and never contribute for infra-structure, so brace yourselves.
Aga, move out if you can make it better somewhere else. I did it and i have never been happier. but you need to want to free yourself from the chains of poverty that bind you in Orlando. If you want to be lazy and stay where you are, you will continue to suffer indefinitely. Make the move while there is still time and hope.
I wish everyone the very best. Never give up on hope, friends. And there is another 47 continental US states for you to explore and make a better life for yourselves!
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