Is having (lanai) screened patio/balcony important in Florida (Orlando)?

[4disneyfans]

These things are important in Florida for our family as we look for a house to buy. I ended up renting a first floor when moving here(since it is temp) and regret it !!! We love to sit outside in the evenings (especially after a rain) and enjoy the night air but the bugs do NOT allow this. LOL Regardless...good luck....sound like you are taking your time and researching so all will be ok.

 

[palmtreegirl]

I'd definitely go with the Hunters Creek one because I think living near all the tourist stuff would get old real fast.

 

[kylara]

Okay, if you are gonna sit out in the evenings, then I would suggest the screened in one. Sitting out on a porch that doesn't have a screen would get annoying with the bugs quickly. As for the pest control, some come each week into the apartments, others do more aggressive outside pest control so they only come into the apartments monthly.

I do not know what apartment complex you have looked at on South Int'l, but if it is the Broadwater or Missions you might want to read some reviews on them...they have had a number of flooding problems in the past...and I know at least two people who had water damage to property at Broadwater.

The South International area is not too bad if you are talking just south of the Central Florida Parkway. You have the Williamsburg plaza for shopping. Even further south where it hits Vineland, you have the new complexes that are more like little houses but are apartments (near the premiere outlet mall) that gets a little more tourist traffic but still not nearly as bad as 192 in Kissimmee.

As someone who lives right in the heart of the tourist area now right of 192, across from Celebration), the areas you are looking at or not that bad tourist wise.

 

[olena]

If you want to spend any time outside the house and not be a mosquito buffet, a screened enclosure is a wise purchase.

 

[Poohbear123]

I will bring a few Dead bugs in a few weeks to show you. Pictures of lightning too. I live in Miami, and NO I do NOT have a screened in porch, and I do have a porch. I just get 2 of the BIGGEST Citronella candles, and light them up, one on one end of the porch and one on the other, works great. Fantasia, welcome to Fl. and set a spell.

 

[*Fantasia*]

I wish I could have it all! Lanai, grade "A" school that is not too far from the apt, close to grocery stores and convinient stores. Villanova apartments have lanai at HC, but they are a bit too steep for me. And this is the only apartments there that has lanais.

It would be nice to sit outside on the balcony/patio without getting bitten by bugs or bugs flying inside the house. How about the sunroom. I may have an option to go with the sunroom, just a little extra footage at Hunter's Creek.

Yes, I looked at Broadwater and Mission Club. I put a deposit down for MC. Flood you say? How about if we're on the 2nd floor, I suppose we would be fine, right?

Any apartments you guys know that would be a nice place to be that has lanais and close to an "A" school and close to everything else?

Thanks you guys so much for sharing your infos!! You are all greatly appreciated!

 

[PammyK]

Not sure whether your budget will allow it, but if you like the south I-Drive area, check out The Alta which is just south of Vineland Avenue. It is walking distance to Publix and easy access to the Greenway and I-4. I'm not fan of Broadwater - looks nice from a distance but up close I thought the maintenance was a bit shoddy.

Another property to consider would be the Alexan at World Gateway. They have great floorplans but they can be pricey. I'd be careful of anything managed by Concord Mgmt - although prices tend to be good they have what my younger co-workers call a "ghetto" feel to them.

Having moved to this end of town a few months ago, I wish you the best of luck in your search. And don't forget, a lot of places seem expensive but with concessions they can end up being pretty reasonable.

 

[kylara]

You would be fine for the apartment on the second floor but you will still need to puddle hop. Not sure how bad it gets now but I do remember it on the news at least once last year for water up higher than car doors but that was an exceptionally rainy week also.

But I did think that some of the Hunters Creek apartment complexes had screened porches. I could have sworn I looked at some that did. Did you look at the Colonial apartments, there are three by this name: Colonial at Cypress Crossing, Colonial at Heather Glen and Colonial at Hunters Creek. I think they have some apartments with screened porches/balconies. Also the Summit apartments does too.

 

[Stepharoonie!]

At our apartment here in Orlando, we have a balcony that is not screened in. I love/hate this for two reasos. I love it because those mutant tree frogs climb up and hang out on our balcony and Miss Maddy gets to catch them...something she loves....but I hate the fact that it's not screened in because she can throw her toys over the edge to the ground (we're on the second floor).

It's really personal preference...the bugs are around, but they're not that bad where I live (by Sea World). I would imagine it would be a little less buggy in Hunter's Creek.

 

[Stepharoonie!]

Hehehe...Fantasia, we were going to get an apartment at Mission Club last year, but we ended up staying at this complex since my bf had already lived here 3 years. We're looking at MC again for a move in September

 

[*Fantasia*]

kylara, The Summit does not have lanais, we checked. Few or one of the apartments you mentioned do have lanais, but the only thing is that it is only on the first floors.

PammyK, the apartments run by Concord is helped by the government, I am not sure what that program is called. This is why the price on a 3 bedroom is like the price for the 2 bdr. Like the one near the Millenia Mall, the apartment called Millenia Villages, the price for a 3 bdr/2brm is about $750 and it offers free after school program until 6pm. The atmosphere wasn't quite like Hunter's Creek or even Mission Club. I just didn't feel comfortable there.

Stepharoonie, did you guys like the MC? What did you think? They are offering 2 months free!

Thank you guys soooo much for the infos and insights and sharing your experiences!! You guys are very much appreciated!!

Any more infos are welcome!!

 

[floridafam]

I don't know what the situation is like in Orlando but we just looked at a few apartment complexes in Vero Beach.

We pulled up to 10 brands new developments with beautiful townhomes, pools, playgrounds, etc. I walked in to get information and 8 out of 10 of the complexes were "income restricted" So, we can't live at them. The rental rates were awesome and most of the parking lots were empty.

We were kind of shocked that there may not be any place for us to live if we move to Vero Beach. We never encountered anything like this in Michigan before we purchased our home.

This sounds like the program you are talking about when you mentioned Concord.

I would go for something with a lanai. Basically, you are getting another room to enjoy and it will get HOT in Florida.

Good luck with your move.

 

[ChristmasElf]

Somehow I missed this thread! You will never be sorry living in Hunters Creek! Hunters Creek Elem. is one of the best. They have great teachers that are great with the kids!
If you live on the east side of John Young, your kiddos would go to Endevour Elem. which is also a great school and is only a couple years old.

The shopping is so convenient, everything is right there. Easy access to the Greeneway, sure John Young gets backed up, but, no worse than anywhere else around here!

Have you looked into Osprey Links? I have a coupke of friends that live here (one has been there 4 years and is very happy with them)
Terminex comes for us once a month and it works out just fine for us.
As far as a screened in lanai goes, we have one on the back of the house, as do most people that have a pool. They are mostly used to keep the mosquitoes off the pool water not to keep out gators! No screened in lanai is going to keep a gator out, however, it's not like they are walking around neighborhoods on a daily basis. Occasionally we will see one popping it's head up above the lake surface, you call the Gaming Dept and they come get him and take him away.

Before I forget, there is great after school care as well as all day day care in Hunters Creek as well. It's called KidsR Kids, and my kids loved it there when they went afetr school.

Hope this Helps!

 

[*Fantasia*]

ChristmasElf, i'ts funny you mentioned Osprey Links cause that's the other apartment that I applied. They have an after school program for free, on Tues and Thursday from 4 until whenever they are done with their agenda. It is a nice apartment and it is close to everything.

The Summit, and the other Colonial...something something apartments will have to go to the new school. It is west of HC schools. Yes, OL is the one that the Terminax will come out once a month. The Mission Club (32821), the Terminax comes out every week and the school is Waterbridge which is also an "A" school.

Hmmm...doesn't it sound like half likes their lanais and the other half likes the HC apartment.

Thank you floridafam and ChristmasElf!!

Just an update: I am having second thoughts on moving to Florida!!

 

[taylor1293]

The lanai on our house is screened in and I wouldn't have it any other way.

I agree with one of the other posters who said it feels like another room is added on your home .

We've only been here 4 months but I haven't seen any huge bugs yet (knock on wood!). However, I have seen several insects on the outside of the screen and I was very thankful they were out there and not on the inside with me!

Good luck finding a great apartment

Teresa

 

[suzannews]

Originally posted by *Fantasia*
Just an update: I am having second thoughts on moving to Florida!!

Oh no, I hope no one here has scared you into not moving.