Moving From Toronto to Orlando! Please Read!

[aeliayousaf]

Hi all,

I am brand new to this forum, so please be gentel with me. I am currently residing in Toronto (canadian citizen), but am moving to Ft. Lauderdale in March. Now here is my scenerio. My parents and sis live in ft. lauderdale, my dad just got transfered to Orlando, he's moving there by the new year, my sister is getting her school transfered and is starting in Orlando by Sep. 2004. No here is my story. We are a young married couple (i'm 29, wife 22) and a new baby girl on the way in two weeks. We want to move closer to my parents so they can be part of their grand child. My questions are jobs?? I have a Degree in Computer Science attained from DeVry University, Long Beach CA. I have 3 years professions working experience as a Web Develper and Network Administrator. I have been applying for jobs in Orlando, but havent had any positive feedback. So will I have a tough time finding work in Orlando in the IT field??? I know visa would not be problem based on NAFTA, once I get a job letter for a US employer a TN1 visa is issued with no hesitation (www.y-axis.com very good site for visas for all!)
My other questionis what are the good (family oriented) areas in Orlando to live in??

Thankyou all for any help and responses.:D

[steph_goodrum]

You could try the online versions of the local paper www.orlandosentinel.com is one , they have a very good section on relocation which may help as it gives guides to neighborhood schools etc. and may help with some jobs.
Good luck with the new arrival by the way.

[blott]

There's also a wide selection of jobs available via http://www.myflorida.com The actual page for high tech jobs is at https://www.myfloridajobs.com/empcenter/ht_home.cfm

As to places to live, there are so many, mainly depending on your budget. Many short term rental communities also have permanent residents so you could check these out via http://www.orlandovillas.com and go to the community page (link at the end of the home page there) which includes maps.

Other places to live (if you have a large budget) are Celebration, Hunter's Creek, Winter Park, etc. If you're wishing to rent an apartment for a time (7 months minimum lease usually) before you decide where to live permanently, then try http://www.rent.com for a good selection of 1 - 4 bed apartments at around $700 - $1200 a month.

[aeliayousaf]

Thanks a lot for your care and replies. I will try the suggested places. One more question what is the average monthly bill (ie. gas, utilities, electric...) for a 2 bedroom apartment? I take it that when apartments are advertised it dosent include utilities!

thanks

[blott]

Apartments normally don't include things like phones, electricity, etc although many of them include water charges, trash, air conditioning and property taxes. Not many apartments have gas anyway. Also included in your rent is the use of any communal facilities, ie pool, games, fitness equipment, internet access, etc and some also have laundry facilities.

I'm afraid I don't know the average cost of electricity or phones (the latter obviously depends on how much you use it!) but reckon on a top price of about $150 a month for electric everything and you should find that's perfectly adequate.

[aeliayousaf]

[8D]Thanks again![8D]