New Job in Lake Nona - apartment-hunting worth it there?? (Orlando: apartments, rental)

[elranzer]

I'll be taking a new job in Lake Nona.

I'll be moving from out-of-state to Orlando for this job. I am very familiar with the Orlando metro area, visiting several times a year since 1989.

As I understand it, Lake Nona has airplane noise due to being near MCO airport. However, I am not bothered by that and quite enjoy it, similar to enjoy "city sounds" in other places I've lived.

So with the "airplane noise" a non-factor, how is living in Lake Nona otherwise?

I am an apartment renter, not seeking to purchase. I am a single, mid-30s male, can take care of myself. No kids, don't plan on it. I'll have a vehicle.

I've always figured it's a good idea to live near work, especially in areas with bad traffic. So would it be worth apartment hunting in Lake Nona?

[Arcenal813]

It’s a good area. I’d honestly be a little bored out there, as it’s removed from most things more centrally-located (downtown and surrounding areas, entertainment around Universal/I-Drive, etc.) but they are adding a rather large town square that should fill SOME of that void. The ideal places for a mid-30s single male would be downtown, Thornton Park, Baldwin, Audubon, etc... But all of that is quite far from Lake Nona... Considering you’re renting, it’s not like you’ll be locked in place forever. Sign the shortest lease you can find in Lake Nona, see how you like it, and go from there. At the very least, it’s a very safe and up and coming area.

[elranzer]

Thanks. Figured it might be "safe but boring" which is fine. I'll have a car.

I like downtown Orlando and Celebration, but both would add quite the commute to work. I'm not even sure how much of the job will be remote and how much will be on-site (it will be mixed, just by how much I don't know). But that could be a factor. If I don't have to be at the office a whole lot, maybe I'll live farther away.

My main concern is that Lake Nona rent prices seem to be higher than average (but a considerable amount) than central, northern and downtown Orlando. At least according to Zillow and Apartments.com.

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by elranzer

Thanks. Figured it might be "safe but boring" which is fine. I'll have a car.

I like downtown Orlando and Celebration, but both would add quite the commute to work. I'm not even sure how much of the job will be remote and how much will be on-site (it will be mixed, just by how much I don't know). But that could be a factor. If I don't have to be at the office a whole lot, maybe I'll live farther away.

My main concern is that Lake Nona rent prices seem to be higher than average (but a considerable amount) than central, northern and downtown Orlando. At least according to Zillow and Apartments.com.

Rent prices there are about what you should expect for a safe, modern neighborhood. At a glance, they really don't look that pricey at all. I'm seeing multiple 1br/1ba 700sqft units for $1,400. That's pretty standard.
I live in Baldwin Park, currently, and my crappy 2br/2ba apt rents for quite high also, but I know I'm paying for the neighborhood, and not so much for the unit.

Downtown is hit-or-miss. If you see cheaper rent there, there's a reason for that, and it's not because the landlord is being sympathetic towards low-income folks.

[elranzer]

I was used to paying $900/month for a 2ba/1ba in upstate NY, and I've heard on some websites that 2ba can be had in the Orlando area for around $1100 on average. So that's where the sticker shock came from.

But I imagine the nicer neighborhoods are on the upper-end of the numbers that are averaged to make that $1100 figure.

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by elranzer

I was used to paying $900/month for a 2ba/1ba in upstate NY, and I've heard on some websites that 2ba can be had in the Orlando area for around $1100 on average. So that's where the sticker shock came from.

But I imagine the nicer neighborhoods are on the upper-end of the numbers that are averaged to make that $1100 figure.

The average one bedroom apartment in the Orlando metro area currently rents for $1250, and average two bedrooms go for around $1400. So actually the much less desirable areas would be coming in at $1100 per month.

[elranzer]

The Lake Nona apartments are about $1500/month for two bedroom (and up, if closer to the town center).

I've also seen whole houses for rent for like $1000/month just west in areas labelled Hunter's Creek and Meadow Woods.

[boy3365]

While Lake Nona is a little removed from what makes Orlando Orlando, it looks to be a really nice place to live. If you live off of Narcossee, you'll be closer to general shopping (i.e. Walmart, Sam's, Publix, Lowe's, Kohl's a little more north, a decent mix of big chain and local restaurants). Lake Nona's town center complex also has rental options and after construction will be the more trendy part of that area.

https://www.lakenona.com/places/lake-nona-town-center/