Perhaps moving to FL - Looking @ Sorrento, Mt. Dora, Lake Mary or Sanford

[Avery&Todd]

Hey!! DH and I are pondering a move to FL from NC since I can now work remote and he can find another job in his field down there...

We want to be less than an hour from the beach (preferably the Atlantic vs. the Gulf) and less than an hour from Disney and we're interested in the areas surrounding Orlando...

We'd like a bigger neighborhood that perhaps has a golf course, pool, walking trails, maybe a lake or 2 (just to walk around, not to fish from) and we've come across some areas that we "think" we like: Sorrento (RedTail neighborhood specifically), Mt. Dora, Lake Mary & Sanford but was hoping there might be some "locals" on here that can help out with areas/neighborhoods that might fit our descriptions...

Its just DH and I since our kids are grown, so schools don't matter and DH would more than likely be working in Orlando and he doesn't want to drive more than 30 min to/from work...

I've done some searching online about Sorrento and it doesn't look like there is much there, but perhaps I'm not googling the right stuff...but perhaps folks on here have some good/bad thoughts on the areas I've mentioned or have a favorite place they'd like me to check out??!!

and when we go to make our move, we do intend on renting for a year (probably in Orlando) and then buying a home after we're more familiar with the area.

Thanks!

 

[PollyannaMom]

The only one I'm a little bit familiar with is Mount Dora. (I have family in Tavares, so we have gone there to eat or shop.) It's cute and has various festivals and things.

And I know Sanford has an airport. (We usually fly into Orlando, though, because we combine visits with Disney or Universal trips.)

 

[Avery&Todd]

The only one I'm a little bit familiar with is Mount Dora. (I have family in Tavares, so we have gone there to eat or shop.) It's cute and has various festivals and things.

And I know Sanford has an airport. (We usually fly into Orlando, though, because we combine visits with Disney or Universal trips.)

THANK YOU for your response!!

We would probably use MCO vs. Sanford since its bigger and I'm sure has more flight options...

we're still in the "discussions" part of this plan to move to FL so we'll see!

DH has actually applied for a few jobs down there but has heard NOTHING in almost a month (even for an Engineering job at Disney) so we're going to take all those as a "No thank you"...

oh well -I guess that's the good part of not having a plan!

 

[fla4fun]

DH has actually applied for a few jobs down there but has heard NOTHING in almost a month (even for an Engineering job at Disney) so we're going to take all those as a "No thank you"...

oh well -I guess that's the good part of not having a plan!

Florida in general is notorious for not interviewing or hiring people who haven’t made the move yet. So you might have to consider living on just your remote income for a while and go ahead with the move to get the ball rolling. They are also very slow a lot of the time. It’s worse than online dating! One of my former coworkers has had places respond 6-8 months after she applied.

I have been looking for work for over a year, and most of the openings I have been seeing are hospitality and food service. I can understand if you don’t want to make the leap right now. Maybe in a couple years things will be different.

As far as your desired locations, Sanford and Lake Mary will be closer to the beach than Sorrento and Mt. Dora. None of the locations will be near MCO, but Sanford and Lake Mary have decent toll road access to the airport. Sorrento is a smaller community, you are correct about that.

Have you considered neighborhoods around Lake Nona? That is an up and coming area for business not too far from MCO, and where Disney has said they will be relocating some jobs from California. It’s probably 30-40 minutes tops from the Atlantic beaches around Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach, and has easy interstate access to most of Orlando for your husband’s potential commute. It’s worth checking out as an additional option.

 

[Avery&Todd]

Florida in general is notorious for not interviewing or hiring people who haven’t made the move yet. So you might have to consider living on just your remote income for a while and go ahead with the move to get the ball rolling. They are also very slow a lot of the time. It’s worse than online dating! One of my former coworkers has had places respond 6-8 months after she applied.

I have been looking for work for over a year, and most of the openings I have been seeing are hospitality and food service. I can understand if you don’t want to make the leap right now. Maybe in a couple years things will be different.

As far as your desired locations, Sanford and Lake Mary will be closer to the beach than Sorrento and Mt. Dora. None of the locations will be near MCO, but Sanford and Lake Mary have decent toll road access to the airport. Sorrento is a smaller community, you are correct about that.

Have you considered neighborhoods around Lake Nona? That is an up and coming area for business not too far from MCO, and where Disney has said they will be relocating some jobs from California. It’s probably 30-40 minutes tops from the Atlantic beaches around Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach, and has easy interstate access to most of Orlando for your husband’s potential commute. It’s worth checking out as an additional option.

We are actually considering ALL the areas!! It may be that DH ends up with a job in Orlando, and in that case he won't want to drive farther than 30 min each way so in the end that will be the deciding factor on where we move to.

We're actually headed to Cocoa Beach for a week in April to really just drive around for a week and see the neighborhoods of the houses/styles we've liked online - and to sneak in 2 days at Disney.

We do realize that Mt. Dora/Sorrento aren't too close to Disney but they appear to be under an hour and that's 9 less hours than I am right now in NC so I'll take it!

Even if DH doesn't hear from these employers for 6-8 months then we're OK with it since we dont even have a timeline yet - and we are prepared to have him move down first if he gets a job and then I'll stay behind and get our house on the market....

Thanks for your insight!

 

[DaisyDuck001]

Regarding commuting to a job in Orlando, even if the distance seems like it would be doable within 30 minutes, the area usually has lots of traffic that makes driving take a lot longer than the distance suggests. A fully remote job is a great option if he can get it.

Lake Nona is a really nice area but rather expensive and you will probably have to use toll roads a lot from there.

Due to the high cost of housing, the toll roads, need for hurricane insurance even inland, etc., you may find your cost of living higher than what you are accustomed to.

Just some things to consider to avoid disappointment.

 

[fla4fun]

We are actually considering ALL the areas!! It may be that DH ends up with a job in Orlando, and in that case he won't want to drive farther than 30 min each way so in the end that will be the deciding factor on where we move to.

We're actually headed to Cocoa Beach for a week in April to really just drive around for a week and see the neighborhoods of the houses/styles we've liked online - and to sneak in 2 days at Disney.

We do realize that Mt. Dora/Sorrento aren't too close to Disney but they appear to be under an hour and that's 9 less hours than I am right now in NC so I'll take it!

Even if DH doesn't hear from these employers for 6-8 months then we're OK with it since we dont even have a timeline yet - and we are prepared to have him move down first if he gets a job and then I'll stay behind and get our house on the market....

Thanks for your insight!

I am also trying to limit my commute to around 30 minutes. That works out to about a 12 mile radius from where I live.

Areas with multiple interstate options will be better than areas with limited access. I don’t think you would be able to get from Mt. Dora to most parts of Orlando in 30 minutes. With Sanford or Lake Mary, you have the option of the 417, 429, or I-4, depending on where you are going, so barring a major issue, you could get to downtown or the east/west edges of Orlando in 30 minutes. Lake Nona has easy connections to the 417 and 528.

My last job was 22 miles one way, and it took about 70 minutes for the commute because I couldn’t travel via the interstate. It took about half that time to get to a point where I could access an interstate and then there wasn’t an exit convenient to the office, so I had to backtrack if I went that way.

If you find yourself with a little time now and then, visit our local news affiliate websites (WFTV, WESH, WKMG and WOFL) during the morning commute and check out the traffic maps. They will give you a good idea of which areas are consistently troublesome, and which areas tend to be clear.

 

[Avery&Todd]

I am also trying to limit my commute to around 30 minutes. That works out to about a 12 mile radius from where I live.

Areas with multiple interstate options will be better than areas with limited access. I don’t think you would be able to get from Mt. Dora to most parts of Orlando in 30 minutes. With Sanford or Lake Mary, you have the option of the 417, 429, or I-4, depending on where you are going, so barring a major issue, you could get to downtown or the east/west edges of Orlando in 30 minutes. Lake Nona has easy connections to the 417 and 528.

My last job was 22 miles one way, and it took about 70 minutes for the commute because I couldn’t travel via the interstate. It took about half that time to get to a point where I could access an interstate and then there wasn’t an exit convenient to the office, so I had to backtrack if I went that way.

If you find yourself with a little time now and then, visit our local news affiliate websites (WFTV, WESH, WKMG and WOFL) during the morning commute and check out the traffic maps. They will give you a good idea of which areas are consistently troublesome, and which areas tend to be clear.

Great idea on checking the news in the morning! that's a brilliant idea!