<p>I have a list of places that seem to be the safe/nice. I want to know as much as possible, so please give me some info about each each apartment complex on my list. I also have a few specific questions next to some...</p>
<p>The Lofts - is it safer/nicer than Jefferson Place?</p>
<p>Jefferson Place - have the break-ins and robberies stopped since the security became tougher? is security at the gate 24/7?</p>
<p>My S is at The Lofts. No problems… His major complaint are the following:</p>
<ol>
<li>roommates party to much</li>
<li>one roommate is lazy and a slob</li>
<li>thin walls</li>
<li>Hears alot of police cars both in and out of the apartment complex.<br></li>
</ol>
<p>His apartment is right on the entrance of the complex. So he hears them heading to Jefferson and when they come into The Loft. I can say when I’m there I have heard alot of police and fire engines from the major roads…</p>
<p>So far he has not heard any car alarms going off. Fire alarms have gone off in other apartments. Some burning dinner. lol.</p>
<p>I am not very satisfied with what I am learning about the safety/crime/noise level of the student apartments near UCF. I am now looking at the NON student apartments for my daughter for next year. I am looking at Ashton at Waterford and Victoria Place. These communities are mixed with many families and grad students. They are very pricey but it may be worth it for me. </p>
<p>S is at Northgate Lakes, loves it there. No problem. But we were very particular in choosing his apartment. 1. He knew all his roommates. 2. We chose 3rd floor, away from pool/clubhouse area, etc. (noise level is down and being on 3rd floor with no window access, except from putting a ladder into the ground by the parking lot, helps w/ concern over burglarly potential.) So far so good. Shuttle’s been great. He’s quit driving into campus at all. Walks to games on game day, and for school he says he likes getting picked up before Tivoli, as they end up standing and NL has seats.</p>
<p>Both Victoria and Ashton look nice from the websites. Victoria seems more affordable using the 2 or 3 bedroom option. I will tell D to stop in to see what she thinks. She is on the fence about living in the Towers, but will probably end up there for a year. However, we are looking now before the housing deposit for next year comes up online just to make sure.</p>
<p>I actually stopped in Orlando on Monday. I looked at The Lofts, Jefferson Village, Northgate Lakes, and The Edge. Here’s a quick review…</p>
<p>The Lofts - The Lofts is VERY nice, but it’s in a bad location(behind a plaza) and needs much more security than it’s short walls and security guard that rides around. I’ve heard that many cars get broken into there.</p>
<p>Jefferson Village - It’s not too far from The Lofts, but it’s in a secluded area. It appears to be much safer than The Lofts, because there is a security guard at the front that stops every everyone to get info and call whoever they’re going to see. There’s also a huge amount of trees and bushes surrounding Jefferson, so the walls aren’t jumpable. It’s just a few years old, so everything looks new. It isn’t as nice as The Lofts, but it’s much safer.</p>
<p>Northgate Lakes - Northgate is overpriced because it’s close to campus. There’s no way that I would pay $600+ for an apartment that’s about 15 years old. The appliances are older, and the rooms are pretty small compared to the other places I stopped at. I was also turned off by the dirty pool and theater.</p>
<p>The Edge - The edge is close to campus, and the model was decent. The dark brown carpet was a turn off, but everything else was decent. It has 2 phases directly next to each other, so there’s much more buildings than the other communities I looked at. Larger communities seem to attract more crime and noise than other places…it’s also off of the main road and lacks security at the entrances.</p>
<p>Sorry, I forgot to mention that I want my own bathroom. The 3/3 and 4/4 apts at Northgate Lakes start at $600. I think The Lofts are really close to $600 for their 3/3 and 4/4 options, and I know Jefferson is $525 for a 4/4</p>
<p>Okay, I am going to Orlando in two weeks and my DD and I are going to look at the apartments that we have all been talking about here. She only has one girlfriend that she wants to live with but will look into 2/2, 3/3 and 4/4 apts that have individual leasing and roommate matching. Plan is to see Northgate Lakes, The Lofts and Jefferson Village for student type housing (and possibly Arden Villas) and Ashton and Victoria Place for non student housing (more expensive and would have to furnish these plus pay additional for utililties, internet and cable -dosen’t seem worth it but we will see).</p>
<p>One thing that bugs me is that most of the the apartments have leases that do not begin until August 20 or 21 YET the complexes refuse to prorate you the August rent. You are paying for the entire month but staying there for 10 days! How/why do they get away with this! In addition, this means that we will have to rent storage for her things for the month of August or the summer!!!</p>
<p>Jefferson Village tried to get me to sign on the spot and they offered to waive the possible $250 administrative fee only for that day. From what I’ve heard, everyone gets that offer…so don’t feel pressured lol.</p>
<p>seiclan, please keep us updated as to what you find. My D is thinking of moving off campus in the Fall. Now when you say some off-campus leases don’t start until August 20th and you pay for the full month of August, can they move in a week or two before school starts for sorority recruitment, etc.?</p>
<p>I have called and spoken to someone in the office of the top 5 complexes that we are looking at. They will not allow early move in’s at Northgate, Jefferson Village or The Lofts. The non student apartment complexes don’t cater to students so every apartment has a different lease start/stop date. Your daughter will need to camp at a friends during prerecruitment/recruitment. There are MANY girls in her sorority that have ongoing leases at apts and the girls all bunk in together. I am going to visit on Nov. 12 and 13th so if you have any questions for these complexes, let me know and I will ask. BTW, this weekend I spoke with people in the offices of The Lofts, Jefferson Village and Victoria Place and they were all very very helpful. I got a lot of questions answered though the actual rents for apts coming up in July/August is not set in stone yet.</p>
<p>We are looking into the new Sterling Apartments that will be ready in August. They are right on University Blvd and will be the first environmentally friendly complex in the area. It is student housing and looks really nice from the brochure. They also give prices and floorplans in there. Many amenities and shuttle service right there. I will call tomorrow to the main office, as the one on site is not yet open for more info. My guess is pricier than most, but still $2000 a year cheaper than the Towers. D is watching it go up, and I found it by googling Sterling Apartments UCF.</p>
Shuttle’s been great. He’s quit driving into campus at all. Walks to games on game day, and for school he says he likes getting picked up before Tivoli, as they end up standing and NL has seats.</p>