Thinking about Orlando! Need opinions.

bsdsys

bsdsys

New member
Well, I have been considering moving to Orlando in December. I am wondering something though. I have done some searching but not finding exactly what I am wanting to know. Just like all metro cities especially Florida, there are going to be tourists and the such. I'm perfectly comfortable with that. I see it every day as it is. I am wondering if Orlando is a big retirement city? I mean, I am young and I'm sure the downtown life is good but is this a city that is mostly retirees? Looking into Southeast Orlando.



Only part of the city where I like the apartments, plus there are some with garages which I really want so I can get more stuff, have a place to store it nicely, and I can keep my car looking good at all/most times. So, any guys in the Orlando area that want to jump in on this I would really appreciate the comments. Wouldn't mind meeting some of you in Orlando either, when that time comes of course.



Any ideas/recommendations on "good" areas that have attached garages would also be great guys. Appreciate it and hope I get some feedback. Take care guys!



Bryan
 
I am assuming that by SouthEast Orlando you are talking south of UCF? The wife and I built our first home together in Waterford Lakes in 1994 and lived there until 2002 when we moved here to SC. There are a lot of nice apartments near UCF, some with garages.



While there are retirees pretty much all over Florida I would definitely not call Orlando a hotbed for retirees. You will find most of the retirees tend to migrate closer to the coasts.
 
I live about 3 minutes north of UCF. Its okay I guess, I'm not really a big fan but I will be hanging around until I get into medical school. The people are, in general, jerks. As long as you have no preconceptions about the wonderful world of Disney and so forth, you will be okay.



Crime is on the rise at a tremedous rate. The traffic sucks, ect, ect, ect...... The good news, for you, (sucks for me as a current homeowner) is that the housing value is plummiting and you could probably snag a house for the cost of rent.
 
Orlando is a wonderful city. many great places to live and wonderful place to raise a family in the right areas.
 
I've only live here for two months and I can honestly say I like it, however the traffic on I-4 is horrendous. It is very bad... very very bad at times.



The crime is definitely on the rise. Everymoring when I awake there area at least two new murders overnight, which is something I wan not really used to being from TN and ME.



I'm currently living in Lake Mary and it is a pretty nice place to live, but like I said, the traffic into Orlando everymorning and evey afternoon definitely pisses me off daily.



I will be leaving May 18 and can honestly say I enjoyed my stay but won't be moving here perm.



JJ



Don't forgeto to check out the Condo scene. Many nice condos w/ garages around. The perfect pad for a young person IMHO.
 
People need to not get confused and realize that Disney is not in Orlando. It is Southwest. As far as crime being on the rise. Sure it is. Orlando is one of the fastest growing business and residential cities in the US, with growth comes speed bumps. As far as traffic, welcome to FL, the greatest place to live, with the worst intersate system.
 
rjstaaf said:
While there are retirees pretty much all over Florida I would definitely not call Orlando a hotbed for retirees. You will find most of the retirees tend to migrate closer to the coasts.
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I hear ya fjstaaf : St. Pete's in particular - we were confused why there wasn't much night life last year (especially at Hotel Sirata where we stayed).....turns out there was an old peoples retirement home nearby, and they had to turn all the music either down or off after 9 pm. :grinno: :wall



bsdsys_x86 : I can't comment much (being an outsider, and all that) but I would say that everytime we stay in Kissimmee, we have stayed in villa's / town houses in residential areas - they all came with amazing sized garages, and real nice clean areas. The traffic system is a real b!tch though, and the I-4 can be a pig at peak times. Although every year we go back, they seem to be building another road somewhere attaching the I-4 to the 192



I'm not sure on the Southeast area, but there are looooads of retirement homes to the Southwest of Orlando - just a heads up
 
Well, it seems like there are some pros and cons to each persons likings. The traffic issue, well, I sit in traffic in thw downtown Nashville loop about 2-3 hours a day as it is and that don't bother me. The crime rate issue, well, I wont be hanging out with that kinda croud so that isn't an issue either.



I really like the Florida scene and all. I'm just thinking of a change, I'm 24, I moved to Nashville from Louisville,KY 2 and a half years ago, and I like it here but need a change and thought Florida would be a great place to live for 5 years or something. Other thing that caught my eye is Disney, SeaWorld etc. etc. etc. Like I said, I'm young, I'm only 24, but I do have kids and that would be alot of enjoyment for the kids when they visit. But, I will be living there all the time not just every other weekend like the kids so I'm looking at other things besides Disney, SeaWorld etc. etc.



About getting a condo for the price of rent for an apartment. I deffinately have been looking into "renting" a condo/house with a garage. I don't plan on purchasing one within the next couple years though. Just don't want to deal with some of the things that go with owning your own property. Mowing, paying the cost to fix something. Just something I'm not interested in at the moment.



Alot of great info thust far guys. I apprecaite it and any other random thoughts or whatever would deffinately be appreciated. Heck, even a recommendation on another "Metro" City in the state of Florida would also be welcome. Just searching guys but think I will be deffinately making a move in December, Take care.



Bryan
 
Kriminal said:
bsdsys_x86 : I can't comment much (being an outsider, and all that) but I would say that everytime we stay in Kissimmee, we have stayed in villa's / town houses in residential areas - they all came with amazing sized garages, and real nice clean areas. The traffic system is a real b!tch though, and the I-4 can be a pig at peak times. Although every year we go back, they seem to be building another road somewhere attaching the I-4 to the 192



I'm not sure on the Southeast area, but there are looooads of retirement homes to the Southwest of Orlando - just a heads up
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Hey, great info. Do you have any links to any of the condo rental sites and maybe I can find someone that would rental monthly for a lease period. BTW, 1,400.00/mo max if you find anything. That will be my limit and that makes me have to work 2 jobs. lol. But, it's worth it I need a change "again"! Great tip about Southwest Orlando. Appreciate it. I don't want to have to turn music down at 9:00pm. Heck, I'm 24, my kids are 9 and 5 and they wouldn't dare to go to sleep on a weekend at that time nor would I make them...lol.
 
bsdsys_x86 said:
Hey, great info. Do you have any links to any of the condo rental sites and maybe I can find someone that would rental monthly for a lease period. BTW, 1,400.00/mo max if you find anything. That will be my limit and that makes me have to work 2 jobs. lol. But, it's worth it I need a change "again"! Great tip about Southwest Orlando. Appreciate it. I don't want to have to turn music down at 9:00pm. Heck, I'm 24, my kids are 9 and 5 and they wouldn't dare to go to sleep on a weekend at that time nor would I make them...lol.
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The only link I've got at the moment, is this map I found :



Orlando Map, Maps of Kissimmee, Lake Buena Vista and Orlando, Florida -



At the bottom left (small print), it's got Villa / Home Rental Areas. If these are the ones I seen last year, they were being built just off the I-4 (the quieter part that is)....they were buidling both to the left and right. If you follow the I-4 South (sorry West, as they say in Florida - confuses us Brits, cuz it goes downwards...but if you see the large map, the I-4 DOES go from the East to the West of Florida, so I guess you're right)...you go towards "Animal Kingdom", but before you reach there the I-4 kinda makes a quiter road of it's own, which is where these places are based.



I'll keep looking and see if I can find more info
 
LOL about the posts re: traffic in Orlando and the I-4. Since I'm close to El Lay, I say you call that I-4 stuff traffic?



My favorite areas of Orlando are really adjacent suburbs of Winter Park, Maitland, Altomonte Sprins etc. I also like places like Sanford and Deland. FL does have lots of nice places, but also lots of bugs.



Just my .02
 
Orlando is a great place to live. There are a bunch of really nice gated communities with their own supermarkets, CVS, resturaunts, etc..they are very quiet too. I wouldn't call Orlando a retiree haven. I just love it when I visit my family down in Orlando, it's always relaxing since they live in a very quiet area.



If I were you I would definetly scout all of Orlando and find what area you like best. Stay away from the tourist desinations by all means...
 
Hey man, I grew up in Chicago. Moved to Orlando for 1.5 years and finished school there. Came back to Chicago for a while, now i live in Tampa. I really liked Orlando, until I moved to Tampa. Orlando is right in the middle of the state and it get HOT in the summer. Its hot here too obviously but Orlando is sometimes unbearable.



I dont know, just seems like the quality of life is a bit better in Tampa than it was in Orlando.



In tampa you have the gulf in your backyard, your super close to clearwater, st petes, theres a lot of stuff to do and plenty of jobs to be had. Oh yea and did I mention, year round detailing?? :D



Jim
 
Hey, sounds great. I have been thinking of Tampa. I actually had an apartment community send me an info packet.



Rental Apartments in Tampa Florida - The Marquis of Tampa - A new community created with a masterpiece of stylish comforts and luxurious amenities. Tampa Bay Florida Apartment Rentals, Apartment for rent Tampa FL, Apartment rental Tampa, Florida, Apa



I like the place, it's in the "New Tampa" area and what I gathered from the Leasing Agent it's a suburban type area still in Hillsborough County and 10 minutes from Downtown. Which is kinda where I live in Nashville now. 10 Minutes from Downtown. I don't like to be far from nightlife/city ammenaties. Tampa is for sure on my list of cities in Florida.



One of my main concerns is "NOT" Being in an area that is full of retirees and what I have gathered that is gonna be places closer to the beach and Tampa is deffinately closer to the beach than Orlando is. The leasing agent described the area as a city full of younger people and that is deffinately something I am interested in.
 
Hey I'm from Murfreesboro (Nashville suburb). I went to MTSU and.... ahh who cares!



Again about Orlando, It seems like a great place to live if you choose the right area. If you're used to traffic, then hey you're set. The only advice I'll give is this, buy a condo.



The rental properties here will cost you the same if not more that a condo payment (for the record I'm totally against renting anything simply because you never own it). But a condo, now that is something that you will eventually own and perhaps gain equity in the long run.



The market is perfect for buyers right now. I'm currently renting a condo for the 3 months I'm here and I know they are trying to sell some dirt cheap (like $99K).



Essentially, you're not resposible for anything while owning a condo. You pay your mortgage and a monthly fee and then enjoy the ammenities. I currenlty live on a lake, have 2 pools and a nice fitness center to take advantage of on a daily basis. They pick-up my trash and they offer 3 car washing stalls with vacuums!



If you're not really moving to settle so to speak, then by all means rent. If you think you may live here for > 5 yrs, buy something! Just MHO.



JJ
 
Buying something is something that I will consider but not currently worried about at the moment. I mean I am only 24 but if the price, location, re-sale value for that area, and average days/weeks are good for a re-sale then that is something I will consider.



I mean, I know millionaires in Brentwood/Bellevue/Bellemeade that are currently thinking of moving back into the city to "rent" just because of many reasons. Not because they have to but for reasons I'm sure you would already beable to think of yourself. So, renting is not a problem for me at the moment. I'm perfectly ok with that as of right now. In time though I will for sure buy something just not right now.
 
WilliamHBonney said:
Not to be a jerk but Orlando was one of the lamest cities I have ever been to. I would never live there.
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Well, no problem with telling people what you feel about something but a simple explanation of whatever would help. Like I said I am very open to other opinions on cities in Florida. Heck, the other city on my list is Tampa so don't hold anything back just give it to me straight.
 
bsdsys_x86 said:
Well, no problem with telling people what you feel about something but a simple explanation of whatever would help. Like I said I am very open to other opinions on cities in Florida. Heck, the other city on my list is Tampa so don't hold anything back just give it to me straight.
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The traffic was horrible, but Im not sure where its not these days. There are way way too many tourists there. Way too many blue hairs. It felt cheap and dumpy IMO. Plus the fact that there are mouse ears every way you turn is annoying. They should just name the town Disney. Just not my thing. Although I would take the weather over Minnesota any day.
 
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