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Just moved to Sanford- FL (Orlando Area) here is my take.
I just moved to Sanford in central Florida in January/2010. I didn't have a job lined up or anything just was a bit tired of the long winters in Worcester, Massachusetts, plus the city isn't that much of a charmer also.
Well, I moved with my wife and two kids (3 and 5 years old), and although I did not had a job lined up I had some income coming in from an apartment back in the north that I have rented. If you are coming without a job lined up, be prepared to be unemployed for at least 3 months before you find a job worth taking. so here is my take and I am also looking for opinions in other places too if you care to share:
The Place: I did not research much to tell you the truth. What I really wanted was to gettahellaout Worcester, so I came, look into couple of condos and made the move. My first option was Lake Mary to tell you the truth, but since my credit is horrible, it was tough to rent a nice apartment, I ended up setting at the Concord Apartments on Fox Quarry Lane, is okay, I am sure that there is much nicer places, but for the money that I am paying, about $600 a month for 2 bedrooms and 2 baths is alright. plus I am very close to lake mary blvd.
Sanford is okay, it has nice parks for the kids, and there are a lot of stores on S Orlando Dr, and I am very close to Lake Mary, if I was living closer to the downtown area I don't think I would like it much.
Schools: The schools seems to be okay, but I did not like the area they were in. I ended up settling for Pine Crest. The teachers are wonderful, the program is pretty much the same as in Mass. The only concern is the location, I am not to fond of any of the locations where the schools are, so I decided to pick up and drop off my daughter.
Work: non-existent. This is a tough area to get a job, be prepared to interview for a bunch of scammy companies, marketing type of companies and commission based salaries. Luckily, Chase was hiring (Lake Mary) for collections and I got a job starting Monday the 8th. (they still hiring if any of you are looking for a job) they don't pay much though, like 11.60 an hour, but I am just glad to get a job at this point.
Overall, I am fitting in just fine, I missed a lot of things in Massachusetts, I am not going to lie to you. The cost of life here is more compare to Mass, and you make less money. I never heard of paying for a deposit for utilities and paying $400 for a car tag, but hey maybe is just my bad credit. but I wouldn't go back to Mass. I was really miserable there with the long winters and I just love to wake up and see the sun shining. It gives me energy to pursue my passions and I am truly a happier person today.
But I am not feeling that much love for Sanford, and I already started looking for a new place to live. I am not planning to move now, since I am starting a new job, and I am going to school in Winter Park (Full Sail) although is online classes, I want to give this place at least a year to see if gets better with the time.
But I was really looking forward to living closer to the Beach, and I am looking into Coral Springs, near Pompano Beach. The closest beach here is not that bad, about 30 minutes (Daytona).
Alright, hopefully my thread helps...sorry for the spelling errors.
I just moved to Sanford in central Florida in January/2010. I didn't have a job lined up or anything just was a bit tired of the long winters in Worcester, Massachusetts, plus the city isn't that much of a charmer also.
Well, I moved with my wife and two kids (3 and 5 years old), and although I did not had a job lined up I had some income coming in from an apartment back in the north that I have rented. If you are coming without a job lined up, be prepared to be unemployed for at least 3 months before you find a job worth taking. so here is my take and I am also looking for opinions in other places too if you care to share:
The Place: I did not research much to tell you the truth. What I really wanted was to gettahellaout Worcester, so I came, look into couple of condos and made the move. My first option was Lake Mary to tell you the truth, but since my credit is horrible, it was tough to rent a nice apartment, I ended up setting at the Concord Apartments on Fox Quarry Lane, is okay, I am sure that there is much nicer places, but for the money that I am paying, about $600 a month for 2 bedrooms and 2 baths is alright. plus I am very close to lake mary blvd.
Sanford is okay, it has nice parks for the kids, and there are a lot of stores on S Orlando Dr, and I am very close to Lake Mary, if I was living closer to the downtown area I don't think I would like it much.
Schools: The schools seems to be okay, but I did not like the area they were in. I ended up settling for Pine Crest. The teachers are wonderful, the program is pretty much the same as in Mass. The only concern is the location, I am not to fond of any of the locations where the schools are, so I decided to pick up and drop off my daughter.
Work: non-existent. This is a tough area to get a job, be prepared to interview for a bunch of scammy companies, marketing type of companies and commission based salaries. Luckily, Chase was hiring (Lake Mary) for collections and I got a job starting Monday the 8th. (they still hiring if any of you are looking for a job) they don't pay much though, like 11.60 an hour, but I am just glad to get a job at this point.
Overall, I am fitting in just fine, I missed a lot of things in Massachusetts, I am not going to lie to you. The cost of life here is more compare to Mass, and you make less money. I never heard of paying for a deposit for utilities and paying $400 for a car tag, but hey maybe is just my bad credit. but I wouldn't go back to Mass. I was really miserable there with the long winters and I just love to wake up and see the sun shining. It gives me energy to pursue my passions and I am truly a happier person today.
But I am not feeling that much love for Sanford, and I already started looking for a new place to live. I am not planning to move now, since I am starting a new job, and I am going to school in Winter Park (Full Sail) although is online classes, I want to give this place at least a year to see if gets better with the time.
But I was really looking forward to living closer to the Beach, and I am looking into Coral Springs, near Pompano Beach. The closest beach here is not that bad, about 30 minutes (Daytona).
Alright, hopefully my thread helps...sorry for the spelling errors.
You may like New Smyrna Beach better. It's the same distance as Daytona and it's more family oriented.
As for the schools, you're right, you're not zoned for the best area even. You can possibly put in a transfer. They have guidlines for transfers and you may fall into one. (low income, minority, etc)
As for Sanford, I'd give it more time to scout out the area. I think you've only seen the OK part of Sanford. Have you been downtown, by the Riverwalk or over by the mall? There is a much nicer Walmart over by the Sanford Mall.
Also over by Sanford is Heathrow and they have a really nice town center there you may like. Several restaurants, movies, entertainment, and more.
If there is anything in particular that you're interested in, let me know, maybe I can point you in that direction.
It is nice of you to give your honest opinion. I think if you give it more time, you may like it better.
I just moved to Sanford in central Florida in January/2010. I didn't have a job lined up or anything just was a bit tired of the long winters in Worcester, Massachusetts, plus the city isn't that much of a charmer also.
Well, I moved with my wife and two kids (3 and 5 years old), and although I did not had a job lined up I had some income coming in from an apartment back in the north that I have rented. If you are coming without a job lined up, be prepared to be unemployed for at least 3 months before you find a job worth taking. so here is my take and I am also looking for opinions in other places too if you care to share:
The Place: I did not research much to tell you the truth. What I really wanted was to gettahellaout Worcester, so I came, look into couple of condos and made the move. My first option was Lake Mary to tell you the truth, but since my credit is horrible, it was tough to rent a nice apartment, I ended up setting at the Concord Apartments on Fox Quarry Lane, is okay, I am sure that there is much nicer places, but for the money that I am paying, about $600 a month for 2 bedrooms and 2 baths is alright. plus I am very close to lake mary blvd.
Sanford is okay, it has nice parks for the kids, and there are a lot of stores on S Orlando Dr, and I am very close to Lake Mary, if I was living closer to the downtown area I don't think I would like it much.
Schools: The schools seems to be okay, but I did not like the area they were in. I ended up settling for Pine Crest. The teachers are wonderful, the program is pretty much the same as in Mass. The only concern is the location, I am not to fond of any of the locations where the schools are, so I decided to pick up and drop off my daughter.
Work: non-existent. This is a tough area to get a job, be prepared to interview for a bunch of scammy companies, marketing type of companies and commission based salaries. Luckily, Chase was hiring (Lake Mary) for collections and I got a job starting Monday the 8th. (they still hiring if any of you are looking for a job) they don't pay much though, like 11.60 an hour, but I am just glad to get a job at this point.
Overall, I am fitting in just fine, I missed a lot of things in Massachusetts, I am not going to lie to you. The cost of life here is more compare to Mass, and you make less money. I never heard of paying for a deposit for utilities and paying $400 for a car tag, but hey maybe is just my bad credit. but I wouldn't go back to Mass. I was really miserable there with the long winters and I just love to wake up and see the sun shining. It gives me energy to pursue my passions and I am truly a happier person today.
But I am not feeling that much love for Sanford, and I already started looking for a new place to live. I am not planning to move now, since I am starting a new job, and I am going to school in Winter Park (Full Sail) although is online classes, I want to give this place at least a year to see if gets better with the time.
But I was really looking forward to living closer to the Beach, and I am looking into Coral Springs, near Pompano Beach. The closest beach here is not that bad, about 30 minutes (Daytona).
Alright, hopefully my thread helps...sorry for the spelling errors.
You can say that again, holy freakin cow! A few yrs ago before I found my previous job, I was looking for a job in Finance or sales before landing my job in Real Estate Development coming out of college... I went to a recruiter - worst experience I've ever had and really opened my eyes to the schemes and fraud in Orlando. This recruiter was trying to sell me on selling copy machines. Not that its a bad job, but they were trying to say that I could make $80k a year, and blah blah blah. They told me if they got me the job, I would have to pay them like $6300. I guess a 'fee' for them getting me the job. I looked at them like they were nuts! And the lady that was my "recruiter" was very unfriendly. I didnt take the job, and needless to say, it was a pretty horrible experience. It really opened my eyes to Orlando. I had never seen anything even close to that BS up in NC.
i can't disagree enough on the cost of living. At least comparded to different parts of New York. I don't see how people find it higher. Gas is comparable, groceries are mostly less in my opinion, I'm not sure about that utilities deposit, and yes, tags are more, but that is one thing. Rent and housing is less all around...
Good luck, and kudos to you for making a post basically pointing out your errors in the move. I'm sure many people will attack you, but I also give credit for taking a chance.
I do hope things get better, my wife and I currently live in Lake Mary and we like the area. We actually are closing on a house in Oviedo.
I just moved to Sanford in central Florida in January/2010. I didn't have a job lined up or anything just was a bit tired of the long winters in Worcester, Massachusetts, plus the city isn't that much of a charmer also.
Well, I moved with my wife and two kids (3 and 5 years old), and although I did not had a job lined up I had some income coming in from an apartment back in the north that I have rented. If you are coming without a job lined up, be prepared to be unemployed for at least 3 months before you find a job worth taking. so here is my take and I am also looking for opinions in other places too if you care to share:
The Place: I did not research much to tell you the truth. What I really wanted was to gettahellaout Worcester, so I came, look into couple of condos and made the move. My first option was Lake Mary to tell you the truth, but since my credit is horrible, it was tough to rent a nice apartment, I ended up setting at the Concord Apartments on Fox Quarry Lane, is okay, I am sure that there is much nicer places, but for the money that I am paying, about $600 a month for 2 bedrooms and 2 baths is alright. plus I am very close to lake mary blvd.
Sanford is okay, it has nice parks for the kids, and there are a lot of stores on S Orlando Dr, and I am very close to Lake Mary, if I was living closer to the downtown area I don't think I would like it much.
Schools: The schools seems to be okay, but I did not like the area they were in. I ended up settling for Pine Crest. The teachers are wonderful, the program is pretty much the same as in Mass. The only concern is the location, I am not to fond of any of the locations where the schools are, so I decided to pick up and drop off my daughter.
Work: non-existent. This is a tough area to get a job, be prepared to interview for a bunch of scammy companies, marketing type of companies and commission based salaries. Luckily, Chase was hiring (Lake Mary) for collections and I got a job starting Monday the 8th. (they still hiring if any of you are looking for a job) they don't pay much though, like 11.60 an hour, but I am just glad to get a job at this point.
Overall, I am fitting in just fine, I missed a lot of things in Massachusetts, I am not going to lie to you. The cost of life here is more compare to Mass, and you make less money. I never heard of paying for a deposit for utilities and paying $400 for a car tag, but hey maybe is just my bad credit. but I wouldn't go back to Mass. I was really miserable there with the long winters and I just love to wake up and see the sun shining. It gives me energy to pursue my passions and I am truly a happier person today.
But I am not feeling that much love for Sanford, and I already started looking for a new place to live. I am not planning to move now, since I am starting a new job, and I am going to school in Winter Park (Full Sail) although is online classes, I want to give this place at least a year to see if gets better with the time.
But I was really looking forward to living closer to the Beach, and I am looking into Coral Springs, near Pompano Beach. The closest beach here is not that bad, about 30 minutes (Daytona).
Alright, hopefully my thread helps...sorry for the spelling errors.
I will have to say your thread is very helpful. I am glad to see that it is not as bad as many people on here make it out to be.
I am moving down to Orlando from Columbia, MD at the end of June and as of right now with no job. I have been applying n have actually had 2 call backs, but both saying the same thing, "when I am living in Orlando to try again."So right now my move will be without a job, but I do have about $4000-$5500 saved up to help me with living until my fiancé or I land job.
I have heard that it depends on the industry you are applying into for jobs, would you agree with that? From your job searching (congrats on your new job) what types of jobs or industry did you find had the most available positions?
You may like New Smyrna Beach better. It's the same distance as Daytona and it's more family oriented.
As for the schools, you're right, you're not zoned for the best area even. You can possibly put in a transfer. They have guidlines for transfers and you may fall into one. (low income, minority, etc)
As for Sanford, I'd give it more time to scout out the area. I think you've only seen the OK part of Sanford. Have you been downtown, by the Riverwalk or over by the mall? There is a much nicer Walmart over by the Sanford Mall.
Also over by Sanford is Heathrow and they have a really nice town center there you may like. Several restaurants, movies, entertainment, and more.
If there is anything in particular that you're interested in, let me know, maybe I can point you in that direction.
It is nice of you to give your honest opinion. I think if you give it more time, you may like it better.
Thank you for the tips beckycat. I will definitely check out New Smirna Beach and Heathrow town center. There are definitely parts of Sanford that I really like. I probably need to go out and explore more, and if the condo that I was living was nicer I would probably like this place even more. I love the fact that you can walk/run pretty much anywhere here. And I have been by the Riverwalk and is beautiful (I wish they had a fence of some sort in there, but hey it still beautiful), I never seen a playground that big and the kids love it! that's there Disneyland until things get better. but they do have a big variety of stores here, even if is not right here in Sanford, everything is close 10 - 30 minutes, I Worcester things were much further.
I went to pine crest in the 70s cool hearing its up and running.It was in a kinda getto area then.
Still are! but the school is really good. I have heard very bad things about schools in Florida that is just not true (well at least for Pine Crest).
The educations is very par to what is going on in Mass, and I must say the school body is much nicer. The teachers are very involved with your kid and the principal too. I remember when I got here, my daughter lost almost a month of school. I enrolled her on Pine crest but then, changed my mind and was going to home school her this year(She is in Kindergarten).
Then the principal called me. she was concerned why I did not take my daughter to classes. I explained to her that my daughter missed a lot of days and I thoughtt would be best for her and the class if me and my wife home school her for this year, because she was probably behind the other children and it would not be beneficial to them. The principal insisted in me taking my daughter to school, to at least see how she would perform, after couple days they called me and told me that she was a bit behind, but it was not a big deal, they gave me the material that she was missing, and just asked me to help her catching up.
I just thought that the principal and her teacher went out of their ways to help me in putting my daughter back to school, I am pretty sure that would not happen in her previous school in MA.
You can say that again, holy freakin cow! A few yrs ago before I found my previous job, I was looking for a job in Finance or sales before landing my job in Real Estate Development coming out of college... I went to a recruiter - worst experience I've ever had and really opened my eyes to the schemes and fraud in Orlando. This recruiter was trying to sell me on selling copy machines. Not that its a bad job, but they were trying to say that I could make $80k a year, and blah blah blah. They told me if they got me the job, I would have to pay them like $6300. I guess a 'fee' for them getting me the job. I looked at them like they were nuts! And the lady that was my "recruiter" was very unfriendly. I didnt take the job, and needless to say, it was a pretty horrible experience. It really opened my eyes to Orlando. I had never seen anything even close to that BS up in NC.
Man, I cannot tell you how much positions I went to that didn't sound right, specially the ones that I applied in craigslist. Whenever someone tells you that you have to pay to work, run in the other direction.
i can't disagree enough on the cost of living. At least comparded to different parts of New York. I don't see how people find it higher. Gas is comparable, groceries are mostly less in my opinion, I'm not sure about that utilities deposit, and yes, tags are more, but that is one thing. Rent and housing is less all around...
Good luck, and kudos to you for making a post basically pointing out your errors in the move. I'm sure many people will attack you, but I also give credit for taking a chance.
I do hope things get better, my wife and I currently live in Lake Mary and we like the area. We actually are closing on a house in Oviedo.
Hey mrFlaBound,
Well, perhaps is the way we look at things.
Housing: much cheaper so far. here a pay around $700, and I would never get a condominium this nice up there for this little, it would probably be $200 or $300 more.
Gas prices: you are right comparable
Car: the tags are very expensive, insurance is 3 times as much. I use to pay 40 a month up there and here I will pay $140, and that is the cheapest (Geico, "fifteen minutes could save you fifteen percent or more on car insurance.) free advertisement
Grocery: everything here cost more. I thought that since this is big agricultural state, things would be cheaper, but no.
Utilities: although I had to pay deposits in everything, I don't have an opinion yet since my bills are not here yet.
Health: from the way is looking, I will pay more here too.
so all and all in the long run, I think I will pay more for certain things, and pay less on some. Maybe all this depositing business that I was asked, made my head light and I can't think straight.
I had to take the chance, man. unfortunately for me, if a plan too much it will never happen. I am one of those type of guys....and good luck in your new house.
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, but hey maybe is just my bad credit. but I wouldn't go back to Mass. I was really miserable there with the long winters and I just love to wake up and see the sun shining. It gives me energy to pursue my passions and I am truly a happier person today.
. but they do have a big variety of stores here, even if is not right here in Sanford, everything is close 10 - 30 minutes, I Worcester things were much further.
