Moving to Orlando! Need Help!

[BigTiggerGuy]

Hi everyone! It looks like I might be moving to Orlando in the very near future(interview tomorrow....wish me luck!). If all goes as planned, I will hopefully be relocating to the Orlando area within the next couple of weeks. Needless to say, outside of Disney I'm not too familiar with the area. I have been doing some research on-line and am having a difficult time trying to find something. I'm looking in the $1000 per month range but my number one concern is safety. Anyone have any suggestions on areas that have a pretty good reputation for safety? I'm coming from Atlantic City so trust me I am fully aware of what can go on in cities but I also know there are some really nice "pockets" that are more community oriented and have low crime rates. If I get the job I'll be working on International Drive but I'm not opposed to having a bit of a commute.
Sorry this is so long.....but this is probably the biggest decision I have made in many years! Would appreciate any information or advice.

Thanks!

 

[zulemara]

Hi everyone! It looks like I might be moving to Orlando in the very near future(interview tomorrow....wish me luck!). If all goes as planned, I will hopefully be relocating to the Orlando area within the next couple of weeks. Needless to say, outside of Disney I'm not too familiar with the area. I have been doing some research on-line and am having a difficult time trying to find something. I'm looking in the $1000 per month range but my number one concern is safety. Anyone have any suggestions on areas that have a pretty good reputation for safety? I'm coming from Atlantic City so trust me I am fully aware of what can go on in cities but I also know there are some really nice "pockets" that are more community oriented and have low crime rates. If I get the job I'll be working on International Drive but I'm not opposed to having a bit of a commute.
Sorry this is so long.....but this is probably the biggest decision I have made in many years! Would appreciate any information or advice.

Thanks!

good luck on the job interview!

Try searching the podcast boards a page or two back. There was a topic about this with some good information on areas that are known for safety and the community feel while not being terribly over priced, although it might have been for homes and not apartments. Either way it'd be a good place to start

 

[OrlandoMike]

Stay away from Downtown, specifically around the Orange Blossom Trail area.

Other than that, you should be fine in any of the suburbs.

 

[BigTiggerGuy]

I was looking at Heritage on Millenia on Millenia Blvd. Anyone familiar with this development?

 

[OrlandoMike]

The Milennia area is very new and very nice!

That will put you right between Downtown and Disney, with Universal right in your backyard!

 

[jlewisinsyr]

One of my friend's lives in the Milennia area, it's a nice condo community from the outside, but they have a lot of issues. The gates never work in their community and possibly as a result have had a lot of car vandalization.

But this could just be the community they are in though, I cannot honestly say.

 

[ConcKahuna]

I'm a fan of the 4-corners/Champions Gate/Davenport/Clermont area. It's quiet (although we now have "The Loop At Posner Park", a kind of outdoor mall), close to major hiways (I-4, 27, 419, 192), minutes from WDW, and cheaper than a lot of areas (unless you look in Reunion, where a 3 bedroom condo is over 300k).

 

[BigTiggerGuy]

Just wanted to say "Thanks!" to everyone for the advice so far. I had my interview today and have made it to the next round scheduled for this Friday. If all goes well, they will be flying me to Orlando next week to give a presentation. Surprisingly, the salary is much higher than I anticipated so it should definitely open up some options as far as finding an apartment/house. Also gives me more $$$ to give to the Mouse
Thanks again everyone! This board is always the most encouraging and helpful.....even if I did start that thread about mispelled words and poor grammar!

 

[wallyb]

where a 3 bedroom condo is over 300k).

That's a lot for your area?
Wow - I live in the wrong place.

 

[ConcKahuna]

That's a lot for your area?
Wow - I live in the wrong place.

Well the homes are about $600k and up. The condos have been sitting empty since they built them (2 years ago), so they are desperate to sell them. The $300k is down $150k from the origional price.

 

[BigTiggerGuy]

Just an update....if anyone is interested I made it through the second round today so HR is going to call me to make arrangements to come to Orlando next week and give a presentation. One step closer to living near the Mouse!

 

[wallyb]

Just an update....if anyone is interested I made it through the second round today so HR is going to call me to make arrangements to come to Orlando next week and give a presentation. One step closer to living near the Mouse!

Best of Luck

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

Stay out of Pine Hills and the Orlo Vista area too.

 

[ConcKahuna]

Stay out of Pine Hills and the Orlo Vista area too.

Funny enough, one of my friends has an amazing 2-story home on a half-acre lot in Pine Hills. It's in a well-maintained, quiet subdivision.

He got it for $40k as a police repo, it used to belong to a drug lord

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

That's the problem there, too many drug l-rds still live there. A friend of mine had a terrible time selling her unimproved lot, and that was before the stall in the economy.

I used to visit ALFs in that area, and it's pretty sad, some of the things you see when driving through the area.

I'm sure there are pockets of "niceness" but for the most part, it's a place well avoided.

It's called Criime Hills by many for a reason!

 

[Frankiesmom]

Hi! I was just lurking and saw your thread- my parents just moved to Fla. in march from Long Island. They moved to W. Melbourne; too far for you I know- but my mom always said the 1st thing she asks when looking at homes in a new area; is to stop and ask a policeman/woman. Ask them where they live- and that will give you a pretty good idea of the areas you want to be in! Good luck with the interview!

 

[BigTiggerGuy]

Wow.....I never thought I would be resurrecting this thread but it's amazing how things change. If you go back and read my original post you will see that I interviewed for a management position with a resort hotel in Orlando over a year ago. Unfortunately, I didn't get the job even though they seemed to really like me.
Flash forward to this Wednesday and I get a phone call out of the blue letting me know that they have another management position that has opened up in the same department and they want to know if I am still interested!!!! I of course say "YES!!!" and am now waiting for them to call me with an offer. If the salary is even close to where I am now I will most likely be moving to the Orlando area within 30 days
So I pose the question to all my wise friends once again.....any ideas on a decent, safe, clean place to live? My price range is probably around $1000 per month. Unfortunately, my DP will have to stay in New Jersey until he can find something in Orlando and then he will join me. If there is any possibility of renting a house instead of a condo I would be all for that!
Thanks for any help!

 

[OrlandoMike]

What area is the resort you might be working in?

Personally, I'm a big fan of the Hunters Creek area. Airport is 15 minutes away, Disney is 15 minutes the other way. Downtown is 20 minutes away.

Lots of nice dining/shopping options in the area also.

 

[BigTiggerGuy]

Well, I don't want to jinx myself and give away the name just yet....but it is located on International Drive(I'm sure that probably doesn't narrow things down much but when I went for my interview a year ago it was very near MK). I, unfortunately, have a terrible sense of direction(thank God for GPS!)

Thanks for any advice......

 

[BigTiggerGuy]

This is crazy......if you look at this thread it was originally started two years ago. At the time I had found my dream job and was hopefully relocating to Florida. The company went with an internal candidate(as they should) and unfortunately I didn't get it. The recruiter stayed in touch with me off and on and another opportunity came up, but again it didn't work out.
Flash forward to three weeks ago......the original position(my dream job) is available again and they offered it to me on the spot. I accepted, gave my notice and flew to Orlando for the day yesterday to find a place to live. I found a great house in Davenport and start on September 27th.

For those of you out there struggling with your job(or lack of a job) please keep up hope! This opportunity was two years in the making for me and I just had to be patient. Good things will come eventually if they are meant to happen.

Just wanted to give an update(if anyone was interested) Can't wait to pack up my cat and move to Florida next Thursday! Already heading to HHN on October 7-8th! Can't wait for my Florida resident rates to start!!!