Sabal Palm at Metrowest (Orlando, Pine Hills: rentals, HOA fees, high crime)

[Duque-owners]

Hi everybody! Happy Thanksgiving to all!

I am moving to Orlando in January and considered Sabal Palm for renting. It will hopefully be only for a year. After I have signed for papers, I am encountering a lot of bad fuzz about this community. Does any one have any good comments or are all those comments true?

Thank you and enjoy the festivities!

[compelled to reply]

The amazing thing is that this community (used to be) beautiful. When I lived in Orlando I had a friend that lived there. As soon as someone was raped by their staircase, they sure enough broke their lease and left. They seemed to start letting the wrong people in, and it became a hotbed for all sorts of crime, including some really brazen robberies of single mothers and homicide. Lots of car burglaries, lots of violence, and in an environment where you just wouldn't expect it.

thaspecial should have some good, more up to date advice on safe rentals. He is a pizza delivery man in the area and if you can feel safe delivering pizza, you can certainly feel safe living there.

[msaRick]

I live a few miles from that place, and a friend moved out about a year ago. I almost moved there, but decided to go a little further into Metro West instead. Crime has gotten a lot better for Metro West as a whole, thanks to the steped up, privately paid for police force. (the developer has used HOA fees to hire off-duty cops). I just saw a report on violent crimes for Metro West, and we're down to like 1 a month. That being said, the problem with Sabal Palms is that its just on the Edge of Metro West, on Raliegh St. Raliegh St. shoots straight into Pine Hills. The immedite area, i.e the Winn Dixie shopping center, the Walgreens on Kirkman, etc. is not very nice. 2 miles makes a big difference on this side of town. Sabal Palms also does not have the people living there. The location causes them to have lower rents than most of Metro West, and lower rents leads to lower people. (I'm speaking in generalities here, so please, don't post a response informing me that poor people can be nice too, etc. The fact is, the lower the median income, the higher the crime, whether from community to community, city to city, or complex to complex).

Summary: I wouldn't live there with a girlfriend, but I would by myself.

[VaNative]

I agree with the other posters....look someplace else. I've heard too many bad things about Sabal Palms to recommend it.

[Duque-owners]

Thanks everybody for the comments!!

[ttmsaidit]

Wow,,perception is amazing!..I just moved awaybecuse we bought a home. But livedthere last2 yrs . No, itsntwhat itwasbuttruth is no communityisthese days. HOWEVER, IT IS A VERY VERY QUIET ANDBEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY! CAN ONE DOBETTER? ..SURE WE ALWAYS CAN BUT ITS A BEAUTIFUL AREABUT MANAGEMENT? TRY REACHING THEM ON THE PHONE..NO T VERY PROFESSIONAL AT ALL......

T

[ttmsaidit]

Loved it there..quiet, beuatiful..but expensive

[Booya]

If a resident gives info that the homeowners assoc. uses their fees to pay for extra police presence I think that speaks volumes. Metro West us surrounded, I repeat

surrounded by bad areas. Take heed. It may look pretty from the inside and the price may appear attractive, but just say you have been warned.

Also, some realtors and homeowners may say how wonderful it is but take caution. Of course if you own property in the area (or trying to sell property) you do not want your area known as high crime because property values will plummet (even more) and you will be unable to sell. I would proceed carefully.

[kellylynn10]

I originally signed a lease there, and I was all ready to move in. I ran into 4 to 5 police officers at a nearby restaurant and decided to ask them what they knew of the area. Glad I did. As soon as I mentioned the name, their eyes got wide and jaws dropped. They said absolutely don't live there. They are called to the complex every week for robberies, etc. They said there was a shooting there last month.

It looks really nice on the outside, but don't live there. I'm a young, single woman, so as soon as I was told this, I was able to break my lease. The complex has a 30 day satisfaction guarantee for various reasons, such as an out of state move, which was my case. It's as if the lease never happened.

I ended up finding the Vinings at Westwood on Westwood Rd. It's kind of over by Seaworld. I've been here a month, and so far I've had no problems. I feel safe, and I can get anywhere I want pretty quickly.

Good luck with your search, and I hope you find a different community!

[thequestion77]

I used to live on the same street. It sucked. Stay away from MetroWest in general, it's
simply not worth it.