Transfer to Lake Mary (Orlando, Sanford: houses, employment, neighborhoods)

[NJMom23]

Hi everyone,
My husband has just been transferred to Lake Mary. We are a family in our early 50s with a senior in high school and a 7th grader. We are not opposed to Catholic schools, as that is what they are in here in NJ. We need 4 or 5 bedroom and if I'm moving to FL, I want a pool! Lot size is not an issue, but our budget is about 400k. We will be heading down soon to look for houses, but any neighborhood/ towns to look at? Any areas of Lake Mary to avoid?

Thanks!

[kyle19125]

Congrats on the transfer! Your price range is fine for the area and to answer the question about are there areas to avoid in Lake Mary, not really. I would however consider neighboring Sanford's west side which in your price range also has some very nice options and offers a bit more value per square feet than Lake Mary. https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...93,14&qdm=true I don't think you'll find the need for Catholic/private schools as the public schools in question in both cities are among the best in FL traditionally. In terms of Lake Mary neighborhoods I would recommend Timacuan which is a well-established community centrally located, yet quiet due to the fact it doesn't have drive-thru traffic. https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...93,16&qdm=true

[bmw335xi]

I would recommend living in Lake Mary, you should find something you like in your price range. It’s a nice community.

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by bmw335xi

I would recommend living in Lake Mary, you should find something you like in your price range. It’s a nice community.

Sanford is every bit as nice if not nicer in the areas mentioned, so there's no reason to limit the scope there. In addition the schools can be higher rated depending upon zoning.

[j-johnson]

From what you describe you should have no problem finding something you like in Lake Mary. It was largely developed starting in the mid-late 80's so there are no "bad" areas. The immediate surrounding areas of Longwood and Sanford are fine as well. Older Sanford can be problematic, but if you're by the mall or the 417 no worries at all. My ex-in laws all live there, I've spent a lot of time there. Good luck! :-)

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by j-johnson

From what you describe you should have no problem finding something you like in Lake Mary. It was largely developed starting in the mid-late 80's so there are no "bad" areas. The immediate surrounding areas of Longwood and Sanford are fine as well. Older Sanford can be problematic, but if you're by the mall or the 417 no worries at all. My ex-in laws all live there, I've spent a lot of time there. Good luck! :-)

Add the entire stretch West of I4 down to Markham/Longwood Rd. Some of my favorite parts of the Orlando area are in West Sanford. Hard to beat the shaded, wooded neighborhoods over there.

[bmw335xi]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

Sanford is every bit as nice if not nicer in the areas mentioned, so there's no reason to limit the scope there. In addition the schools can be higher rated depending upon zoning.

The OP doesn't have to limit the scope to Lake Mary, but I think the OP can find something nice in Lake Mary. Personally, I would also rather live in Lake Mary as Sanford is even further out of town than Lake Mary.

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by bmw335xi

The OP doesn't have to limit the scope to Lake Mary, but I think the OP can find something nice in Lake Mary. Personally, I would also rather live in Lake Mary as Sanford is even further out of town than Lake Mary.

That's where truly knowing what the area is like can be super helpful. Much of Sanford is actually closer to the employment centers in Lake Mary than the rest of Lake Mary itself. Case in point the corporate building corridor along International Parkway from the south at Lake Mary Boulevard extending north to SR46 in Sanford. The northern third is in Sanford and the east bordering parallel along Rinehart Rd (other side of I-4) is half in Sanford. As a result the western third of Sanford can reach the aforementioned corporate park quicker than 2/3 of those in Lake Mary.

[bmw335xi]

So you are saying MOST of Sanford is closer to Orlando than Lake Mary...?

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by bmw335xi

So you are saying MOST of Sanford is closer to Orlando than Lake Mary...?

It's obviously not, as Sanford is literally the town AFTER Lake Mary when travelling North (East or whatever) on I-4 from Orlando.

BUT, the "unincorporated" areas of both towns, mainly West of I-4, pretty much blend into each other seamlessly. If you look at Heathrow, for instance, is it technically in Sanford or Lake Mary? Or both? Really, an argument can be made for both.
And then, of course, the 417 picks up IN Sanford at about 6 places, so if one is in Lake Mary wanting to avoid I4 to get into town, one has to drive to Sanford to catch the 417.

I really wouldn't consider one town closer than the other as far as commuting times go. It's strictly farther on a geographic standpoint.

Overall though, Lake Mary is a much nicer town, so there's that. But if I'm considering a move to Lake Mary, I'm also considering West Sanford.