wishfulthinking

Hi everyone! Looks like we will be moving to Orlando Florida and I would really appreciate recommendations on safe, quiet neighborhoods in the area. It's just my husband and me, both over 60 and we will be looking for a rental house or condo. I searched and saw a similar post from 2012 and that poster received lots of good information but things have probably changed since then. Anywhere within about a 30 minute drive to Orlando would be good. Thanks in advance for your input!

Julienm1

My vote would be The Villages! Planned communities for 55+ about 90 min or so from Orlando but has shuttle services to Orlando airport.

Tartan

On YouTube, Jerry and Linda have a website called -The Villages Florida Newcomers. They talk about everything, the good the bad and the ugly about the villages. Even if you don’t go there, they have a lot of good information.

Snooze2978

I lived in Orlando for 30 yrs and I'm so glad to be gone. I worked for the police dept so heard about all the crime. Seems it hasn't changed much either. You might want to try Deland which is around 50 miles away or one of the smaller towns between Deland and Orlando if looking north, homes should be less expensive also. Living in Orlando is expensive, home insurance is expensive, house taxes are outrageous. I keep in contact with my cop buddies down there and most of them will not live in Orlando but in a town further away. Sorry for the negative report but I'm so glad I got out when I did. Above someone mentioned The Villages, never heard really anything bad about it back when I lived down there and its mainly geared toward retirees. Good Luck!

rjwilder

Orlando is a mad house, too much traffic, full of seasonal people and tons of vacationers from all over the world. Try going to Ocala area and surrounding areas.

jmoore

Good luck in your search...We had some dear friends that lived in the Windermere Lakes region and it was lovely. I am happy here in Maine. LOL

wishfulthinking

Thanks for your input all! My husband will be working in Orlando, so The Villages is a bit far away. Tartan, I am watching the Jerry and Linda videos...interesting! Seems like people either love or hate Florida. The lady who makes coffee at our Harris Teeter Starbucks lived in Orlando many years and says she'd go back in a heartbeat. I figure even if we don't like it, it doesn't have to be forever and we'll have a new experience. Thanks again!

AlvaStitcher

I agree with the comments about not living in Orlando but in one of the smaller towns that surround it. The traffic is terrible and I-4 is miserable to drive. Some year in the future it should be finished in time to start a widening project all over.

ladyinpurple135

Everyone is talking about living conditions - my question is - do you like the weather in Florida? I, too live in NC and love it here - plus I wouldn’t move to Florida for anything. Nit trying to sound like Debbie Downer but just understand that it’s a lot different there than here in NC - I live 30 miles north of Charlotte. It’s get really, really humid and there are tins of flying things. A good friend’s daughter and kids used to live there (on both coasts) and she had words I won’t write. They actually had alligators and those huge snakes that are in lots of places. I’ve been to Orlando and Daytona - both in the summer. I generally do not perspire correctly - I just get clammy - but I was dripping in both places. And I would miss the winter and change of seasons, I’ve watched those videos from Jerry and Linda and laughed and laughed. I’m 73-1/2 and I would never live in an adult community. Just not my cup of tea.

Sandy in Mooresville! nC

wishfulthinking

Ha! Ha! That is so true of most road construction projects. We joke that some workers have begun and ended their careers on the same project! Joking aside, I've heard nothing but bad about the traffic there.