? for those living near WDW

[LuvMy3Monkeys]

My dh has a job possibility very near WDW. We'd like to find a family friendly neighborhood to look into near WDW/orlando (preferrably not far). We have 3 kiddos, ages 6, 4 and 3 and one due in June. So we'd need a 3 or 4 bedroom, so small apartment complexes probably aren't an option.

Anybody have any good recommendations of where to look? Thanks in advance!!

 

[LuvMy3Monkeys]

anybody??

 

[Metro West]

You might want to look at either Davenport or Clermont...both are close to WDW.

 

[Art 1]

anybody??

That's hard to answer. I like living in the Maitland Winter Park areas and would look there.

 

[Otimon]

Congratulations to your husband! Hope all works out.

You didn't say whether you're already in Fla. or out of state but my recommendation would be to visit our area and contact a realtor. That's exactly what we did before moving here from the Chicago area. Let the realtor know what your specifics are and he/she will line up places for you to visit as well as give you information about services, schools, taxes, etc. etc.

Best wishes.

 

[LuvMy3Monkeys]

Congratulations to your husband! Hope all works out.

You didn't say whether you're already in Fla. or out of state but my recommendation would be to visit our area and contact a realtor. That's exactly what we did before moving here from the Chicago area. Let the realtor know what your specifics are and he/she will line up places for you to visit as well as give you information about services, schools, taxes, etc. etc.

Best wishes.

Thanks!!

Sorry I didn't mention where we are.. we're in Ohio.

We are most definitely looking to rent, not buy, because I don't know how this will work out in the long run. So getting a realtor probably won't help us out, since they'd be interested in helping us buy, not rent. At least that's what I'm assuming

 

[ChristmasElf]

I would say it will depend on exactly how long a commute your DH is willing to have each morning.
If his employer is located close to WDW, then Hunters Creek might work out well for you. The schools are all good in this area and the drive to WDW is about 6 minutes away taking the 417.

Maitland is nice and just up I 4 however the commute would be terrible to WDW area each morning as traffic is awful and for the most part buper to bumper.

Winter Garden and Windermere are both nice areas as well. A tad pricier, close to WDW and about 15 minutes from Universal Studios. Schools are good, home prices higher than Hunters Creek.
The areas off of Winter Garden Vineland Rd aka CR535 have a bunch of nice neighborhoods with some real deals here and there that a realtor should be able to find for you.

If you check out realtor.com use ZIPcode 32837 for Hunters Creek
and 34787 for Winter Garden.
34786 is Windermere.
32819 is Dr Phillips. (also nice-but the high school has a BAD drug problem)

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

We have friends that live in Deland....they live in a very family friendly neighborhood...4 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths.
His parents live in Dr. Phillips in a beautiful home.

As far as schools go when you think Florida think private schools.

 

[Metro West]

Maitland is nice and just up I 4 however the commute would be terrible to WDW area each morning as traffic is awful and for the most part buper to bumper.

Absolutely...I work downtown and NEVER have to go on I-4...that's one scary road to have to travel everyday.

 

[safetymom]

Do you already have jobs? I would recommend moving somewhere that you don't have to use I4 for the commute to work. I4 near Disney isn't bad but closer to Orlando is terrible during rush hours.

 

[Tinker74]

what would be the places to aviod?....On our way back to the airport last summer..we drove through a very scary place!..Full of VERY run down motels..gun shops..tattoo places and strip joints!...not sure what this place was called but I would defo avoid it.

I have heard lots on here about clermont and windermere..both seem very nice.
Perhaps peggy will post..she has lots of great info.

 

[ChristmasElf]

what would be the places to aviod?....On our way back to the airport last summer..we drove through a very scary place!..Full of VERY run down motels..gun shops..tattoo places and strip joints!...not sure what this place was called but I would defo avoid it.

I have heard lots on here about clermont and windermere..both seem very nice.
Perhaps peggy will post..she has lots of great info.

If you exited the airport from the North exit and stayed on the 528 to Sand Lake which sounds like you did, there is not really any neighborhoods in this area you would want to live in.

Next time take the South exit and travel to WDW on the 417. You will have much better scenery.

To the poster that made the comment on Private schools. There are not so good schools here in Florida, but there are also very good schools as well. When looking for houses, just ask your realtor if the area they are showing properties in have A rated schools. They should be able to tell you yay or nay on that.
Schools are done by County here. Say you move to one part of orange county and put your child in school there. A year or 2 later, you move to the other side of orange county. You move and then just show up at the new school in the neighborhood. All the records will be at the click of the computer. Makes things VERY easy as you wont have to worry about records being transferred.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

To the poster that made the comment on Private schools. There are not so good schools here in Florida, but there are also very good schools as well. When looking for houses, just ask your realtor if the area they are showing properties in have A rated schools. They should be able to tell you yay or nay on that.
Schools are done by County here. Say you move to one part of orange county and put your child in school there. A year or 2 later, you move to the other side of orange county. You move and then just show up at the new school in the neighborhood. All the records will be at the click of the computer. Makes things VERY easy as you wont have to worry about records being transferred.

I'm "that poster". We will just agree to disagree.
IMHO private school is the only option in Florida. Happy New Year~

 

[Tinker74]

I'm "that poster". We will just agree to disagree.
IMHO private school is the only option in Florida. Happy New Year~

The WHOLE of Florida has bad schools??..Surely there must be some good public schools in the state?

 

[jodifla]

The WHOLE of Florida has bad schools??..Surely there must be some good public schools in the state?

Uh, they do. PLENTY of good schools. You just have to do your homework.

 

[Wonderlandmom]

Uh, they do. PLENTY of good schools. You just have to do your homework.

Yep, just do your homework for sure! We are in a great school zone here.

My kids are in public schools in FL. They were in private school before we moved to FL though.

 

[lesroi]

We live in Clermont and we just love it. It's a good idea to check out the neighborhood and whether or not it is zoned for short-term rentals as well. I am lucky since I am a Realtor myself, this research was easy for us to do.
I would also recommend checking out the schools and considering private school as well. Florida has some good schools but you as the parent need to do your homework!
A lot of Realtors also work with rentals. Yes, we would love it if you could buy, but renting will allow you to be really set on where you want to live if you do decide to buy.
Good luck!

Tracy