Moving to Orlando (Altamonte Springs, Winter Springs, Oviedo: to rent, houses, neighborhoods)

[bearfuel]

I am going to be moving to the Orlando area towards the end of Oct. I've looked at many neighborhoods and have been told that there are bad areas as well as good ones. I know that anywhere you live has the bad and the good areas. I would like some input from local members who have been in the area for some time. I was looking at or around the South Orange Neighborhood, and from what I've seen on pics from Google Earth, it really looks like a nice area. What is it really like?

I'll be moving with my partner (yes, we are a gay couple) and a single female straight friend. Are there any areas around that would be good for us to settle in?

[cfIfan]

Are you looking to buy or rent and what size and budget are you looking at. There are some great neighbourhoods but without knowing this or if there is any particular area for work you need to be close to in terms of commute, then it is hard to assist you.

Originally Posted by bearfuel

I am going to be moving to the Orlando area towards the end of Oct. I've looked at many neighborhoods and have been told that there are bad areas as well as good ones. I know that anywhere you live has the bad and the good areas. I would like some input from local members who have been in the area for some time. I was looking at or around the South Orange Neighborhood, and from what I've seen on pics from Google Earth, it really looks like a nice area. What is it really like?

I'll be moving with my partner (yes, we are a gay couple) and a single female straight friend. Are there any areas around that would be good for us to settle in?

[bearfuel]

Originally Posted by cfIfan

Are you looking to buy or rent and what size and budget are you looking at. There are some great neighbourhoods but without knowing this or if there is any particular area for work you need to be close to in terms of commute, then it is hard to assist you.

We will be looking to rent and have been looking around the downtown area. We are trying to stay in the range of less than $1000/month, and have found several options in that range in the area. We are concerned which of the neighborhoods would be the safest to live in and don't want to end up in or near a bad area, such as drug areas, and the like....

Commute for work would not be a problem, we are used to that where we are now and have lived in Houston, TX, so we are used to traffic. We would need at least 2 bedrooms and preferably 2 baths. Hoping to get into at least 900 sq ft, or more. Also accepting pets would be a requirement. We have cats. We are all three in our 40's and are meticulous in keeping up after our "kids". The cats have been with us for several years and are very well house trained, and people that have visited us have said that they couldn't tell we had pets until they saw them. My partner has been to Orlando several times, but only to visit the theme parks, and doesn't know the neighborhoods. Myself and our friend have never been though.

If we don't settle in the downtown area, we were thinking maybe around the Casselberry, Winter Springs, Altamonte Springs, or the Ocoee areas...

[Crane's Rooster]

Lake Lucerne Towers

[bearfuel]

Originally Posted by Crane's Rooster

Lake Lucerne Towers

We would like something other than a Tower apt, although they are nice.

[bearfuel]

Any information on some of the good areas to live in Orlando?

[Boxter01]

Casselberry, Winter Springs and Oviedo are good places. I used to live in the eastern part of Orlando (32825 area) and it was pretty good. Commute shouldnt be a problem as they had added to the expressway alot since I left (2001). *Though, they are toll paid*

[Pete C]

I'd rather live in Winter Garden than Casselberry/Longwood...I haven't seen any character in those areas. Winter Garden at least has a neat little historic downtown strip with a nice restaurant scene.

[Ellybelle]

Yes! We recently relocated to the Winter Garden area from Casselberry and much, much prefer it. There's nothing really wrong with Casselberry, but it's prettier out here and we don't have to rely on 436/Semoran!

Check out College Park too! Houses with great character and some great shops/cafes/restaurants.

[bearfuel]

I've heard College Park is a good area, how about any of the other areas around the downtown Orlando? We've been told to stay away from the west side of downtown...