Orlando suburbs/apts?

[kdm31091]

What are some good suburb cities of Orlando? And in general, for Orlando or suburbs, some good, not-too-extremely-pricey apartment complexes? Moving to Orlando / or a suburb in a few years and just want a few leads to keep in mind.

Also, how bad is the crime truly in Orlando? In statistics, it's high, but in general that doesn't seem to hold water with me. My city has high crime stats too and I don't actually see any of it, because I'm in a nice suburb. So, a low-crime suburb of Orlando is what I want. Thanks.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

If you do not plan on going for a few years, do not start to look now. I know it sounds harsh to say that but anything can & will happen in a few years in Fl. Many places have gone from nice to not-so-nice in a few years. You may or may not be able to afford it. Prices are going thru the roof in some places.. and in others, they are starting to fall.. when you are closer to knowing what you want & when you are going, then start looking. I would start about a year from the time you want to be there. Orlando is a big place & yes, crime is growing. While it may not bother you now, it may later.. do you see what I am saying... it is just too early to start looking when you are talking years down the road....

 

[kdm31091]

Oh, I understand it can change. I'm just eager to plan.

 

[Buttercup Roberts]

I had a good friend who moved briefly to Orlando a few years ago. She loved it, but had to leave due to health reasons.

She looked all over and her favorite areas were Dr. Phillips and Hunters Creek, with Celebration a close third (she loved the community and schools, hated the overinflated prices).

My husband and I have a 15 year plan to early psuedo-retire there, and we think we'll likely end up in Winter Garden, but like an earlier poster said, things are bound to change so much, who knows.

I really like Windermere but the prices are way out of our league.

 

[ducklite]

My husband and I have a 15 year plan to early psuedo-retire there, and we think we'll likely end up in Winter Garden, but like an earlier poster said, things are bound to change so much, who knows.

I really like Windermere but the prices are way out of our league.

YUCK to most of Winter Garden. I work there. Good place to not live, except a few areas south of route 50 that butt up against Windemere.

Most of Winter Garden is encroached by Crime Hills, and that population segment is moving further and further west by the day.

Anne

 

[kdm31091]

Well, right now, what's a good suburb?

 

[ducklite]

It depends on where you'll be working. The greater Orlando area is well over two hundred square miles, and to get from one end to the other can take well over an hour--without rush hour traffic.

Anne

 

[hmp2z]

We like the Hunter's Creek area. Right now, apartments there are hot - we looked at moving there in September, and could only find availability at one so-so apt complex. The rent was kind of high, too. Many places are going condo, so the Orlando area in general is short of apartments. Anyway, Hunter's Creek is pretty centrally located, and is right by 417, which is a toll road that is usually free of traffic. It can shoot you right over to Celebration, if you're heading to Disney.

As Anne said, it all depends on where you work. My husband's office is in Celebration, so we live in the 4 Corners area. It's an easy commute for him, and I am a teacher, so I'm close to the Lake County public schools, which is the better school district in this area. We're building our house in Clermont, though, because we really liked this area. We don't want to be too close to Disney, since the touristy junk along 192 is not our cup o' tea.

We didn't care for Winter Garden. All along 50, it is YUCK looking. Ditto for Davenport - we were very sketched out by most of it. Yes, there are a few nice parts, but the vast majority that we saw wouldn't be a place we'd feel comfortable in. Windermere is nice, but very, very pricey.

I don't know if they have apartment complexes there, but Howey in the Hills is very nice, also, and is right by the Florida Turnpike, so the commute wouldn't be too awful, depending on where you'd work. We were more impressed by Lake County than Orange, Osceola, Seminole, or Polk.

Cheers!
Heather W

 

[kdm31091]

If I was able to save up with roomate in the next few years should I look at getting a condo in/near Orlando when I go?

Oh wait. condos have homeowners insurance don't they? I know homeowner's insurance is skyrocketing in FL, so I guess I need an apartment.

 

[Buttercup Roberts]

YUCK to most of Winter Garden. I work there. Good place to not live, except a few areas south of route 50 that butt up against Windemere.

Most of Winter Garden is encroached by Crime Hills, and that population segment is moving further and further west by the day.

Anne

There's so much high end development in Oakland and Clermont, that we wondered if Winter Garden south of 50 wouldn't be a great investment, actually.

I am not quite clear on what constitutes a "bad" neighborhood down there. I come from growing up in New Orleans, and "bad" there is people getting shot daily, you can't park your car on the street, you get robbed once a year, or worse, etc. I'm sure there are areas in Orlando that are that bad, from how people talk about it.

 

[ducklite]

It depends on where you'll be working. Until you have the answer to that question, this entire thread is absurd. If you're working in Lake Mary you do'nt want to live in Clermont. if you're working in Mount Dora you don't wnat to live in Celebration. If you're working in Deltona you do'nt want to live in Kissimmee. Etc., etc. ad naseum.

Anne

 

[kdm31091]

Well, in general, should I look (when it's time) for apartment or condo? Condos have the (ridiculously high) homeowner's insurance right? If they do, I'll to find an apartment.

 

[ducklite]

There's so much high end development in Oakland and Clermont, that we wondered if Winter Garden south of 50 wouldn't be a great investment, actually.

I am not quite clear on what constitutes a "bad" neighborhood down there. I come from growing up in New Orleans, and "bad" there is people getting shot daily, you can't park your car on the street, you get robbed once a year, or worse, etc. I'm sure there are areas in Orlando that are that bad, from how people talk about it.

It's not called Crime Hills for it's country club atmosphere. That should answer your question. Winter Garden is actually becoming a nice buffer between Ocoee and Clermont. (Oakland is an almost non-existant sliver that many do'nt even realize exists.) This entire area is overpriced so that right now NOTHING is a great investment, other than maybe Groveland. The south side of Winter Garden also butts up against Tildenville, which is very "low rent."

Have you really done any driving around the area? (I wouldn't suggest doing it at night...)

Anne

Anne

 

[ducklite]

Well, in general, should I look (when it's time) for apartment or condo? Condos have the (ridiculously high) homeowner's insurance right? If they do, I'll to find an apartment.

Ask again when it's time and you know where you're going to be working. You'll want homeowners for an apartment as well.

Anne

 

[kdm31091]

Isn't homeowner's like $10k a year? Even for an apartment? That scares me. I might have to forget Florida is that's the case.

 

[Amity 3]

Isn't homeowner's like $10k a year? Even for an apartment? That scares me. I might have to forget Florida is that's the case.

you can get renters insurance for around $35.00 a month.

 

[kdm31091]

Oh whew, that terrified me.

Even if many apts. are going condo, surely they'll always have apartment options right?

 

[Amity 3]

Oh whew, that terrified me.

Even if many apts. are going condo, surely they'll always have apartment options right?

ducklite can fill you in on the Orlando scene. an hour to the west of her, the concept of paying $200,000+ for an already lived in apartment has failed miserably.

rental property is everywhere.

 

[kdm31091]

That's good news

 

[ducklite]

Oh whew, that terrified me.

Even if many apts. are going condo, surely they'll always have apartment options right?

Here's the way it's working with the condo conversions around here. A complex announces they will be going condo. The tenants are allowed to finish thier current lease, and then stay month-to-month thereafter, and allow the management company to show their apartment with notice which is agreed to when you stay on a month-to-month basis, and is usually a 2-4 hour notice. You can't say no or that it's inconvenient, it you don't like it, you can move. If they sell your apartment you have to leave with 30 days notice.

Because so many places have gone condo, apartments are getting harder and harder to find, and the market for them is driving costs up.

You can still rent a condo conversion from a private owner who bought it as an investment property, but many are being redone into "luxury" condo's and have prices to match.

Anne