Need info/advice on relocating to Melbourne (Orlando, Palm Bay: real estate, insurance)

[LuckiStac13]

Hi, Everyone,

Looking for anyone who lives in the Melbourne/Indialantic area to help me out with some info.

I just took a trip down to MLB to look at the area, stayed at the Crowne Plaza on A1A in Indialantic and did a lot of driving. I like the Melbourne area a lot (I live around Cleveland, Ohio currently.) and an considering a move to that area.

How are the job opportunities? I am working in Customer Service right now and also have Hotel experience. Currently making about 35,000. I am 26 years old and would be relocating alone. Is it possible for younger people to survive on their own in this area? I'm looking for a safe, comfortable, community to live in. Any suggestions?

[Rossgirl79]

I am looking at relocating to Melbourne as well. I am a RN and looking at Holmes hospital. My best friend has lived down there for 7 years, and I have traveled the area well.

I would appreciate any advice as well.
Here are a few websites my best friend sent me about the area,

FactBook
Viera, Florida

[kwick release]

I think we will be relocating there in 8 months as well from Virginia Beach. From what I can tell it is a rapidly growing area that still offers the small town feel and has good public schools with excellent demographics. The main industry is related to Cape Canaveral and the technology industry which should be stable even inlight of the shelving of the shuttle program. NASA will be investing big time in the manned mission to the moon/Mars and I think it is a given that the Cape will play a large role in this. As far as places to live, I have only looked in the Sat Beach/Indialtanic areas and they offer good housing opportunities at reasonable prices. Just be aware of the HOI and property tax issues. As far as jobs, healthcare and the tech industry are huge. Maybe someone else that actually lives in the area can chime in next.

I have also looked in the Palm Beach area and I was disapointed with what I found down there in terms of poverty, crime, and drugs. Also the housing options down there are very limited unless you want to live inland off the beach and in a guarded development or unless you have $3mil to buy in a place like Manalapan on the beach...

[LuckiStac13]

Hey, thanks for the input, guys. Let's keep these threads going so maybe the three of us can learn as much as possible.

One question I had is how people relocating actually find jobs while in their home state. I have applied for a couple in the Melbourne area, but have never heard back. I'm assuming they see "out of state" and do not continue to look at my resume. Any advice?

[rolltide12]

I am moving to the area in July and considering Melborne or Palm Bay. Which one would be the better area for 26 year old. Which area has the most restraunts and bars. Anybody got any info?

[irish36]

For a hotel job Orlando would be better, you'd be hard pressed to make/live off $35000 in Palm Bay or Melbourne. For the RN, Holmes has jobs but pay & benefits are joke compared to comparable cities. Try Suntree or Viera and Wuestoff Hospital has better benefits. For the 26 year old.....Melbourne has maybe couple dozen restaurants/bars, Palm Bay has rural meth labs and grow houses...dump.

[smash731]

I second irish's opinion, stay out of Palm Bay if you are young.

[Sueilp]

Originally Posted by Rossgirl79

I am looking at relocating to Melbourne as well. I am a RN and looking at Holmes hospital. My best friend has lived down there for 7 years, and I have traveled the area well.

I would appreciate any advice as well.
Here are a few websites my best friend sent me about the area,

FactBook
Viera, Florida

I work with someone who works at Holmes and they like it but other than that dont really know much about that hospital. I work in Indian River Medical Center as a RN and like it where I am. Vero Beach is abotu 30 minutes from Melbourne (South)

[irish36]

I worked at Holmes..which is now Health First. Alot of innner politic-ing, and health first insurance is not good...i.e valid in Brevard county only we have a son at UCF that has to drive here when sick b/c insurance is limited. Wuestoff hospital has better benefits. Suntree and Viera (north Melbourne) are better cities...has Zoo, courthouse, outlet mall, groceries, nice subdvsn with sidewalks parks etc. Be careful of anycity near Us Hwy One (or Harbor city blvd) the vagrant, prostitution, drug stuff is heavy there.

[clortho1]

I have lived and worked in Melbourne and the metro area, and right away I can tell you it's not that happening.. real estate is soaring with tons of new developments moving north.. lots of urban sprawl, gangs, lack of job growth, and everything else.. there were a lot of people moving to the metro-Orlando area when I was there, and I can't say that I blame them. Hospitality jobs are not abundant, nor are nursing.. Wuesthoff is one of the worst hospitals in the area.. Viera and Suntree are nice if you don't mind paying about $900 for a one bedroom apartment. Stores are newer, there's a Super Target and Super Wal-Mart in Viera which are nice, but stuff is just so damned expensives. anything by US-1 is crime-ridden. Prostitutes, drug rings, etc.

The overall area was alright, but there's a reason people don't vacation there.. Once you get past the mall on 192, it's all low-class neighborhoods and heavy crime. There's just so many bad parts to the region, they outweigh the livable neighborhoods. If you're going to choose Florida, make it Pensacola or Orlando..