This isn't about cars, but real estate. I plan on moving to the Orlando area in the upcoming year, but I'm not very familiar with good places to buy/rent. I know my way around Kissimmee and the theme park area pretty well, but I don't know much about the outlying areas. Any suggestions for nice neighborhoods with nice homes (with Z's in the driveways!) that are not too far out of the way?
I like Naples, and the affluence associated with it, but the retirees and monotany of life here is really getting on our nerves. If anyone can offer some advice, please do so!!!!

 

I don't advise moving to Naples unless you are old and retired. It is a very nice area, I have friends down there and visit when I can. BUt, there's not alot of stuff to do down there for younger people. There's so many new developments and places to liove in Orlando it's absurd. I myself like the Metrowest area by Universal.

 

Yeah, we live in Naples right now, but we both want out. We're in our late twenties and want to settle down somewhat, but still want to go out and live it up every now and then. I hate having to drive to 1.5 hrs to Miami or 2.5 hours to Tampa to get any kind of activity. We own a condo down here which is nice and all, but between the association dues and restrictions, it's ridiculous. We both just want to cash out, and go someplace where **** is happening, not just standing still, you know.

When you say Metrowest, can you give me street names that encompass the area? (just to pinpoint a general locale) Thanks

 

Metrowest is kind of pricey, but it's a nice area. If you're looking for new developments (more cookie cutter homes), Avalon Park is pretty huge and new.

Metrowest is on Hiawassee between Colonial (HWY 50) and Conroy-Windermere. I hope this link works: http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp...=FL&country=US

Dr. Phillips is where my parents live and it's pretty nice and quiet. The homes were built from '87 to '93 and range anywhere from $200,000 to $450,000.

 

Anywhere in Seminole county is the correct answer. Seminole County has by far the BEST school system in Central Florida with over 85% of the school systems scoring A's on the FCAT. This really comes into play when considering the resale value of your home.

FYI, 3 years ago OVIEDO surpassed Lake Mary as the Highest per capita income in Central FL at just over $83,000/year (per household) and has held the top spot every since.

I would strongly recommend Oviedo or Lake Mary; however the housing market in Oviedo is going to be really growing over the next 10 years. You are only 2-3 miles from the University of Central Florida, Seminole Community College, 3 excellent elementary schools, 2 excellent middle schools, and Oviedo High school (soon to be Haggerty High school as well). Plus Carillon is one of 3 PUD (Planned Urban Developments) in Central Florida. There are many public parks, one of the 10 best skate parks in the US (Rippin' Riverside), Oviedo has its own mall and nearby access to major interstates. It is approx. a 20 minute drive to Orlando International Airport... (I could go on and on...)

Good luck house hunting, maybe we'll be neighbors as the guy 2 houses down is selling his house right now.

P.S.- we have a very loyal G35 community with about 6 hardcore members and about 6 others that show up to our weekly meets occasionally.

Well, my neighbors in the cul-de-sac own a heavily modified Z06, a porsche carrera, TL, (Sequoia and G35 - me), Tahoe, Lexus SUV, Lexus ES330, FX, J30, Accord V-6, etc... but no 350Z's but we're looking for someone with one.

 

Thanks for the input fellas! Tampa is our other option so we're going back and forth between the two. My bride wants the coast, but it doesn't matter too much to me. I have bit of coaxing to do!!!!

 

Um, I'm going to have to disagree with this. Windermere definitely has the highest average income per household ($146,713) [median is $101,051]. Their school system is always at the top since they can really afford it. I mean, we're talking about literally living next door to Shaq, Tiger Woods, and Ken Griffey jr, LOL.

Reference: http://www.livingchoices.com/communi...5960&zip=34786

 

1. Windermere is not a county.
2. Windermere is in a county other than Seminole (I think it's in Orange County) and for the most part is a rose in the middle of a bunch of weeds.
3. I was born in Orlando and lived here my whole life. I grew up and went to school in the Orange County Public School System and Orange county has done nothing but gone down hill.

Sure Windermere is a nice place, but if you want to live in a nice county, that is not the place IMO.

 

I thought you were referring to Oviedo and I just read your statistic again and it still looks like you're still referring to them for income per household. Just trying to get the facts correct.

I agree that Windermere is a nice place, but Dr. Phillips (right next to it), is a nice place too. Other than those two, you're right about it being in a bunch of weeds. Winter Park (East Orlando), is a nice, old town, but it's also very pricey (the school system there is very very good). Hunters Creek in South Orlando (near the Airport) is also a good area. The problem with Orange county is that the good places are scattered with "bad" neighborhoods in between.

Which high school did you graduate from? I went to Dr. Phillips High School.

 

My pad is in the beautiful town of Celebration. Besides having million dollar homes in this neoclassical neighborhood, I'm able to do 130mph+ to work everyday on the 417.

 

Tampa is a very nice place to live. I want to college there, good party town with lots to do. It is not a very expensive place to considering other places in Central Florida. I have lived in Oviedo for the past 15 years and it is also a great place to live but it is now getting very over-crowded! If schools matter to you than Seminole county is the place to live. Much better schools than both Tampa and Orlando (as a general rule). No matter where you finally decide to live, welcome to central Florida!

 

I went to Edgewater HS back when it used to be a good school.

Also, there is no denying that Orange County School systems are less than adequate. More than 50% of the schools have over half of the students on Free and Reduced Lunch Programs. I got this info. from the local Coldwell Banker Realtor when we were looking to move a few years back. They handed us a nice newspaper for Orange County and another one for Seminole County School systems. It rated the number of teachers with 4 year degrees, Masters, Doctorate Degrees, it rated FCAT scores, percent of students who graduated the senior year, number of fights in a year, number of students suspended or expelled, the number of seniors accepted into colleges, (that kind of information).

There are areas like Alaqua, Windermere, Bay Hill, etc... that are very nice, but the neighborhoods around those areas are not nice at all. I recommended Oviedo because the surrounding area IMO is great.

This message is all based on my opinion. Keep in mind that I live in Oviedo so I'm biased. Just so you know... I grew up in Rosemont, went to elementary school at Rolling Hills Elementary, went to Meadow brook Jr. High, and Edgewater HS. I've seen a beautiful Pine Hills turn into a disgusting Crime Hills and seen places like Lake Brantley, Lake Mary and Oviedo (all in Seminole County) continue to thrive in academics and housing values.

Also, to the person who mentioned Metro West, you've got to be joking. The resale values in Metro West have dropped like a rock. There is so much crime in that area it is pathetic. I personally know someone who was raped in her apartment over there, I also know of a person who was mugged leaving their house. I work at Lockheed Martin about 5 miles up the road from there and know of many engineers who wished that they would have sold their homes 3 years ago because they would have made another $50,000.

 

These are the stats and discussions that I really appreciate. Thanks!! As you may or may not know, Naples has a lot of wealth, and crime is hardly an issue. This is all fluffy and nice, but I grew up in Clifton, NJ 10 min. outside of NYC, and Kelly grew up in Miami, so crime and sirens aren't a foreign part of our lives. Moving here has somewhat numbed us, and I have to say I like the relative "safety" of the SWFL area, but jeez the monotony of Naples is becoming unbearable!!! We would willingly give up a bit of the "crime free", Mayberry pseudo life in which we live to have a bit more diversity. Ideally, a nice home in a nice area is all we are looking for. It is understandable that there will be rough areas around any place one may choose to live, as long as we can park our cars in our driveway and not have to worry that some *** will mess with them.

Thanks again for all the help!

 

If you travel by airplane often, you should also put into consideration the location of your home relative to an airport. Orlando International is very close to the Windermere and Dr. Phillips areas and is the largest airport in Central Florida. Sanford International Airport is a growing airport (also closer to Oviedo), so it doesn't have nearly as many flights as OIA.

I suggest Winter Park, Windermere, and Dr. Phillips for areas to live in Orange County (they all have very good schools, but the homes are pricey). If you have kids going into high school, any school with the IB magnet program is good since they have some of the hardest curricula and the best teachers (they teach uniformly nationwide, too).

 

Jones Highschool just had 300 students apply to Winter Park HS. Jones got a "F" rating for the 3rd year in a row on the FCAT and the students are eligible for gov't assistance with public education. I wonder how well Winter Park will do next year on the F-Cat with their new students? For what it's worth Evans HS got an "F" rating and Edgewater HS got a "D" rating. All of these High Schools are in Orange County.

Winter Park has a bunch of old homes (old money), with the exception of the new neighborhood on the old Naval base property. Those homes are crowded and way over priced. I like Windermere, but that is extremely pricey for what you get.

It sounds like Naples is going to be the call, so unless you want some more advice I'm going to leave well enough alone for now.

Good Luck with the move!