Moving to Orlando? You’re not alone!
The city’s booming economy is bringing loads of new jobs to the metro and developers are scrambling to catch up with the population growth. Deloitte’s tech positions, Lockheed Martin’s military contracts, Florida Hospital’s health care jobs and a host of retail businesses’ call centers and customer-service positions have renters flocking to the 407 . . . and these are just a few of the employers in Orlando.
Relocation to Orlando is a cheery proposition that promises sunshine and lovely winters. With so many beautiful neighborhoods from which to choose, the first step is deciding what factors are most important, before you start apartment hunting. Here are tips to point you in the right direction.
Parents relocating to Orlando and looking for the best public school options for their children could do worse than Seminole County. A lot worse. Take the city of Oviedo, for example. A consistent frontrunner on a host of publications’ and websites’ “best places to live” lists, Oviedo’s schools are A-rated across the board. And if your child is college-aged – or you’re looking to continue your education – its location, literally on the border of the University of Central Florida – might appeal, as well. There are more than a few Oviedo rental options to explore. Park Place Apartments, for example, sits prime in this area, which is exploding with growth and offers rare suburban walkability. Other highly rated Seminole County towns to consider include Longwood, Lake Mary/Heathrow andWinter Springs.
Many people moving to Orlando are headed straight for Lake Nona, which might be the city’s hottest zip code and the most primed for growth. In recent years, Lake Nona has become the home of its own “Medical City,” which includes the UCF College of Medicine a brand-new Nemours Children’s Hospital and Orlando Veterans Administration Medical Center. Lake Nona is where the U.S. Professional Tennis Association chose to build its newest major facility and you’ll find the Orlando City Soccer Training Facility there, as well. Consider Lake Nona Ariel if this neighborhood appeals and branch out your search from there.
Even with the advent of public transportation like the SunRail, those relocating to Orlando from commuter-friendlier places will almost certainly need a car. But if you’re working downtown, you could greatly reduce your need to feed its tank by living there, as well. High-rise options, like 55 West, abound, and, like this option, often sit smack in the middle of some of the city’s best venues for dining, drinking and entertainment.
If you’re a fan, a rental community near the city’s toniest shopping center, the Mall at Millenia, may suit. In fact, the mall is so central, they called the whole neighborhood Millenia! Residents at Aqua at Millenia can walk to the mall in about 10 minutes, and with the exceptional shopping in and around the mall itself comes world-class dining and convenient access to I-4 and each of the area’s world renowned theme parks!