Family 2nd Home Orlando/Sanford Area - Vacation/Fun (Winter Springs: rent, condo)

[arcarocket]

We are looking for a 2nd home to spend several months enjoy the Florida activities. We'd like something centrally located with easy access to beach, cruise ports, Disney, Orlando activities, etc. Our needs:

- Safe/secure area is #1.
- Community Pool would be great and family/kids friendly areas. We have 9 and 12 year old.
- Low to No Maintenance (we'll be gone weeks or months at a time and don't want to have to worry about the facility).
- Centrally located for access to Beaches, Disney, Orlando, Cruise Ships, etc.
- Condo/Townhouse okay.
- Close to airport access (how to get from airports to home/car? I assume it can't be terrible far from either Sanford or Orlando International).
- We'd be okay buying, but prefer to keep under $200k and closer to $100k if possible.

According to the maps, Sanford area looks ideally located (Airport, 45 minutes to beaches or Disney). But is Sanford nice/safe area? Looks a bit industrial/older part of town.

Anyways, open to ideas and it seems there many locals on here that know these areas well. Even if you know of good areas outside of what I stated above I've be more then glad to listen!

[Rabflmom]

Originally Posted by arcarocket

We are looking for a 2nd home to spend several months enjoy the Florida activities. We'd like something centrally located with easy access to beach, cruise ports, Disney, Orlando activities, etc. Our needs:

- Safe/secure area is #1.
- Community Pool would be great and family/kids friendly areas. We have 9 and 12 year old.
- Low to No Maintenance (we'll be gone weeks or months at a time and don't want to have to worry about the facility).
- Centrally located for access to Beaches, Disney, Orlando, Cruise Ships, etc.
- Condo/Townhouse okay.
- Close to airport access (how to get from airports to home/car? I assume it can't be terrible far from either Sanford or Orlando International).
- We'd be okay buying, but prefer to keep under $200k and closer to $100k if possible.

According to the maps, Sanford area looks ideally located (Airport, 45 minutes to beaches or Disney). But is Sanford nice/safe area? Looks a bit industrial/older part of town.

Anyways, open to ideas and it seems there many locals on here that know these areas well. Even if you know of good areas outside of what I stated above I've be more then glad to listen!

I'd look closer to the beach and drive to the theme parks. Take the shuttle to and from the airport-or rent a car here and drop the car at the airport if cheaper than the shuttle for your group.

[arcarocket]

Is there a "Myrtle Beach" type of beach in Florida? Lots of activities but still family friendly?

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by arcarocket

We are looking for a 2nd home to spend several months enjoy the Florida activities. We'd like something centrally located with easy access to beach, cruise ports, Disney, Orlando activities, etc. Our needs:

- Safe/secure area is #1.
- Community Pool would be great and family/kids friendly areas. We have 9 and 12 year old.
- Low to No Maintenance (we'll be gone weeks or months at a time and don't want to have to worry about the facility).
- Centrally located for access to Beaches, Disney, Orlando, Cruise Ships, etc.
- Condo/Townhouse okay.
- Close to airport access (how to get from airports to home/car? I assume it can't be terrible far from either Sanford or Orlando International).
- We'd be okay buying, but prefer to keep under $200k and closer to $100k if possible.

According to the maps, Sanford area looks ideally located (Airport, 45 minutes to beaches or Disney). But is Sanford nice/safe area? Looks a bit industrial/older part of town.

Anyways, open to ideas and it seems there many locals on here that know these areas well. Even if you know of good areas outside of what I stated above I've be more then glad to listen!

Sanford is not old/industrial. It has one of just a few preserved, historic downtown areas in Central Florida and is largely safe and newer, particularly the two thirds of town that extends west of Airport Blvd and north of the Lake Mary city limit. Not that schools matter as a second home but the Sanford school districts in that area rank among the best in the Orlando metro area to give you an idea of desirability. Sanford is closest to New Smyrna Beach versus areas in Orlando which are closest to Cocoa Beach which many do not find as nice as New Smyrna Beach. Sanford is ideally located for access to Disney/Epcot/Animal Kingdom thanks to very easy access to the 417 which allows for a bypass of most of Orlando's traffic/congestion most of which occurs on I-4, which by the way will begin a massive widening project within the next several months which is no doubt going to create even worse traffic situations with construction barriers and consistent slowdowns worse than the current situation...which is at best unpredictable in terms of traffic jams at the oddest hours (weekends at 2pm for instance). Check out the Terracina at Lake Forest and Greystone communities which have very nice three bedroom townhomes in your price range. They're both located in nice areas very convenient to shops and restaurants as well as very easy access to I-4 and the 417. Neighboring Lake Mary also has a good number of options in your price range. Check out the Notting Hill townhome community there.

[GregTraub]

Kyle Mentioned some good neighborhoods, and I would second most of them. However, I would look closer also at Winter Springs and Oviedo nearby the town center and Tuscawilla. That area is closer to lots of nature trails and a HUGE park on Lake Jessup for your daily fun, and an easy hop on the 417 to get to the airport, Disney, and 528 or I-4 to the beaches.

For low/no maintenance, you definitely want to stick with townhomes or Condo's, and relatively new. You can find 2/2 and 3/2 properties in these areas for between ~130-200K.

There are also home sitting services out there for not to much that can check on your property when you are not there. Can send you information if wanted through PM.

[IloveSanford]

Sanford is not industrial. Sanford has a lot of history and a lot of fun things to do.

I have been living in Sanford for 14 years and I regret I did not moved here before! I love Sanford and when you read about its history you will love to be part of this city.

I live in the "newer" part of Sanford, by the west side of the I-4. However, I go to Downtown Sanford almost every day to run my errands, support local businesses, walk by the riverwalk or just watch the sunset.

If you follow sanford365.com you will see all the activities and events Sanford has to offer! every day, specially during weekends.

[annerk]

I would be looking more towards Lake Nona. If for no other reason, the Cocoa Beaches are more family friendly, and you'd be 20 minutes from the theme parks, not 45-60+.

[beckycat]

You've got New Smyrna Beach the other way which is family friendly. It will still take 40 minutes to Disney though. I prefer Sanford. It's what you like but they should definitely know the options to check them out.