Anybody Live in the Orlando Area???

[Robi1026]

Good Morning All,

I am currently living in Northern New Jersey & am about to move to the Orlando area.

Have a job lined up, making the same amount of money as I am in NJ & in the same industry. I am super stoked as this is a life changing event for me ...

Question I have: Where to live ? - Looking at renting for a year to make sure I like it & then purchase a home ...

Also, the apartment must be within walking distance of a golf area with a great practice facility ... lol ... im picky!!!

Talk to me!!!!

Regards,

Rob

[iacas]

Paging @David in FL , @Harmonious , @meenman , and some others.

[David in FL]

Hey Rob, come on down!

Plenty of options.  Where are you going to be working?  Let's start from there.....

[meenman]

Yeah, as David said - start with what area will you be working in.

*Orlando area* can be construed as a wide area.

One tip if you are dealing with Orlando proper - be prepared for traffic similar to what you have in Jersey - I see some pretty good crashes daily out there. Driving on Rte 4 makes me long for the days of sitting in traffic on Long Island. (probably because my driver is a maniac)

Give me a general area and I can scout while I am on the road.

[Robi1026]

The job is in Apopka ...

The apartment searches I've come across are leading me to: Apopka / Winter Park / Almonte Springs / Orlando (Metro West)

I know almost nothing of the areas listed ... I'm looking at 2 bedroom apartments / gated community / resort style living = HEAVEN

Some one point me in the right direction as far as the "communities" are concerned ... Tell me what area's I should stay away from.

Thanks guys

Rob

[Robi1026]

Yeah, as David said - start with what area will you be working in.

*Orlando area* can be construed as a wide area.

One tip if you are dealing with Orlando proper - be prepared for traffic similar to what you have in Jersey - I see some pretty good crashes daily out there. Driving on Rte 4 makes me long for the days of sitting in traffic on Long Island. (probably because my driver is a maniac)

Give me a general area and I can scout while I am on the road.

Traffic doesn't bother me ... I have an hour commute as it is - I'm looking to cut that in half, if possible ... But, id rather pick a nicer place to live, off the beaten path & enjoy my live ... Get out of this wretched state!!!!

[meenman]

One more place to expand your search is into Lake County, Check Sorrento, I used to call on a course out there called Red Tail. I believe it went from private to public over the last few years. I know it was gated. I personally have not seen many apartments on the gated community courses I have played - but that does not mean that they do not exist.

[David in FL]

The job is in Apopka ... The apartment searches I've come across are leading me to: Apopka / Winter Park / Almonte Springs / Orlando (Metro West) I know almost nothing of the areas listed ... I'm looking at 2 bedroom apartments / gated community / resort style living = HEAVEN Some one point me in the right direction as far as the "communities" are concerned ... Tell me what area's I should stay away from. Thanks guys Rob

Apopa is far enough out that it opens up some good alternatives outside of Orlando too. Stay away from MetroWest. Bad area. Heading out now, but I'll give you some ideas later.

[David in FL]

One more place to expand your search is into Lake County, Check Sorrento, I used to call on a course out there called Red Tail. I believe it went from private to public over the last few years. I know it was gated. I personally have not seen many apartments on the gated community courses I have played - but that does not mean that they do not exist.

Redtail is a ways out, and has no apartments. Good course though.

[meenman]

Redtail is a ways out, and has no apartments. Good course though.

But 20 minutes outside of apopka, just trying to help broaden the search. Like I said before, I am not real familiar with any apartments on golf courses.

[Robi1026]

Apopa is far enough out that it opens up some good alternatives outside of Orlando too. Stay away from MetroWest. Bad area.

Heading out now, but I'll give you some ideas later.

Thanks David ... Looking forward to hearing from you later ...

I fell in love with a complex on Mirror Lake in Apopka ... That's where I am leaning towards ... Scratch the golf course idea from my original post ... I don't need to be able to walk to the course ...

As long as I am within a 15-20 minute drive to a decent track with a nice practice area - Practice area is key - I know I can drive 30-40 minutes and find good courses to play - Not worried about that ...

Lets focus on the communities I have listed & tell me the pro's and cons of the area.

Thanks Gents!

Rob

[Robi1026]

Bumping this up as the move is approaching ...

[David in FL]

Thanks David ... Looking forward to hearing from you later ...

I fell in love with a complex on Mirror Lake in Apopka ... That's where I am leaning towards ... Scratch the golf course idea from my original post ... I don't need to be able to walk to the course ...

As long as I am within a 15-20 minute drive to a decent track with a nice practice area - Practice area is key - I know I can drive 30-40 minutes and find good courses to play - Not worried about that ...

Lets focus on the communities I have listed & tell me the pro's and cons of the area.

Thanks Gents!

Rob

The Barrington complex on Mirror Lake is supposed to be pretty nice.  I'd also look in the Winter Garden and Windermere area.  Out towards Stoneybrook West.  A little nicer than Apopka as far as the communities themselves go.  Stoneybrook West itself has a decent course, and Orange County National is right down the road too.

http://orlando.apartmenthomeliving.com/apartment-guide/brookhaven-at-stoneybrook-west-winter-garden

When's the big move?  Weather here is PERFECT right now.....

[Robi1026]

The Barrington complex on Mirror Lake is supposed to be pretty nice.  I'd also look in the Winter Garden and Windermere area.  Out towards Stoneybrook West.  A little nicer than Apopka as far as the communities themselves go.  Stoneybrook West itself has a decent course, and Orange County National is right down the road too.

http://orlando.apartmenthomeliving.com/apartment-guide/brookhaven-at-stoneybrook-west-winter-garden

When's the big move?  Weather here is PERFECT right now.....

Barrington @ Mirror Lake = HEAVEN ... or at least that's what the pictures lead me to believe ... Funny you mention that complex, because that one keeps coming up in all my searches & I find myself comparing every other complex to that one ...

Big move, realistically - If everything works out as planned ... I'm thinking 6-8 weeks / But, I'll probably head down in 2-3 weeks for a long weekend to scope out the scenery, interview & sneak in 3-4 rounds of golf ...

[Richie3Jack]

The big thing about Orlando when it comes to where you want to live is not so much the traffic, but the toll roads which can be a bit pricey.  That's why people generally live closer to where they work, to avoid the tolls.   I believe you can get from any place to any place without hitting the tolls, it will just take a lot longer.

The Apopka area is actually pretty nice and when you get closer to Clermont you're looking at a place that is quite hilly.

As far as golf courses go, the big thing you'll want is not only a nice course, but a place where the practice facility is open a bit late.  A lot of these places will close down right at 3pm or so.  I just know from experience that is something you want to look out for.

I also would not want to pay a lot for membership.  The courses need you more than you need them.  Come April thru December, you can get on so many great courses for such a cheap rate.  I am a member at one course almost exclusively for the range membership.  It's a good course, but extremely difficult and when the wind is blowing it isn't a lot of fun.  So I often end up playing somewhere else with my dad on the weekends for rates that will blow your mind on GolfNow.

Also, be prepared to get hammered on vehicle registration.  Something like $600 a car.  I did a double-take on that and the DMV lady thought *I* was nuts for asking the price again.

Good golf courses around Apopka are:

RedTail (about 20 mins)

Deer Island (about 30 mins)

Mission Inn - El Campeon (about 30 mins)

Metrowest (about 25 mins)

Tuscawilla CC (about 35 mins)

Legacy Club at Alaqua Lakes (about 25 mins)

Timacuan Golf Club (about 30 mins)

If you're looking at Barrington, I think Legacy Club at Alaqua Lakes is a great place for a membership.  Not sure what you can afford, but you'll be saving a lot more money if you're making the same $$$ and moving from NJ to here.  Cost of living is about 15% cheaper and no state income tax.

You'll get used the summers in about 3 years.  The fall, winters and early spring will be a huge relief.  And when it comes to Florida, it's selling point is recreation.  All sorts of people doing all sorts of recreation every day, especially after work.

3JACK

[David in FL]

The big thing about Orlando when it comes to where you want to live is not so much the traffic, but the toll roads which can be a bit pricey.  That's why people generally live closer to where they work, to avoid the tolls.   I believe you can get from any place to any place without hitting the tolls, it will just take a lot longer. The Apopka area is actually pretty nice and when you get closer to Clermont you're looking at a place that is quite hilly. As far as golf courses go, the big thing you'll want is not only a nice course, but a place where the practice facility is open a bit late.  A lot of these places will close down right at 3pm or so.  I just know from experience that is something you want to look out for. I also would not want to pay a lot for membership.  The courses need you more than you need them.  Come April thru December, you can get on so many great courses for such a cheap rate.  I am a member at one course almost exclusively for the range membership.  It's a good course, but extremely difficult and when the wind is blowing it isn't a lot of fun.  So I often end up playing somewhere else with my dad on the weekends for rates that will blow your mind on GolfNow. Also, be prepared to get hammered on vehicle registration.  Something like $600 a car.  I did a double-take on that and the DMV lady thought *I* was nuts for asking the price again. Good golf courses around Apopka are: RedTail (about 20 mins) Deer Island (about 30 mins) Mission Inn - El Campeon (about 30 mins) Metrowest (about 25 mins) Tuscawilla CC (about 35 mins) Legacy Club at Alaqua Lakes (about 25 mins) Timacuan Golf Club (about 30 mins) If you're looking at Barrington, I think Legacy Club at Alaqua Lakes is a great place for a membership.  Not sure what you can afford, but you'll be saving a lot more money if you're making the same $$$ and moving from NJ to here.  Cost of living is about 15% cheaper and no state income tax. You'll get used the summers in about 3 years.  The fall, winters and early spring will be a huge relief.  And when it comes to Florida, it's selling point is recreation.  All sorts of people doing all sorts of recreation every day, especially after work. 3JACK

What course are you a member? Legacy is nice. They've just been bought by Heathrow which gives a lot of non-golf amenities. Initiation there is $8,000 with $500 monthly dues and a quarterly food/beverage minimum. Not bad , but tough for some to justify with all the high quality options in the area though.