Move to Florida

[spooch]

Looking for advice and info on the best places to live in Florida. I am 36, my wife is 34 and we have two kids, 1 and 4 years old. Good schools are a priority. I drive a truck and my wife is in the healthcare field. We are looking to spend 250,000 to 350,000 on a home. Any information would be appreciated.

[Neilk]

Don't move to Miami unless you speak Spanish or love Cuban-American culture. Try Ft. Lauderdale area or the west coast.

[ErVikingo]

Neil Miami is a large area..... some areas are Cuban, others are Jewish, but in general most newer areas are of latino background.

I would move to the Greater Ft. Lauderdale area. Home prices are going thru the roof currently but the market is very large.

Property taxes are killer in most towns/cities. Check Sunrise, Coral Springs, Pembroke Pines and Cooper City (reportedly has the best schools).

Hope that helps. Juan

[singpilot]

I was up in Daytona / Volusia County for a while. Also out in Seminole County, prices and quality of life was still pretty good.

[azasadny]

Sarasota on the Gulf Coast is nice... so is St Augustine.

[Moneyguy1]

My daughter and family lived in Fla (east coast) for a few years. Loved visiting in the cold months; couldn't stand the humidity in the Summer. Just my 2 cents worth, but if you haven't lived in the southeast before, you might do well to rent for a year before you decide to buy. BTW...She now lives in northern Alabama...an area with a lot of growth and very nice housing with big lots at least an acre the rule rather than the exception. (Huntsville/Athens area) and a little less warm than Fla.

I know...'He lives in Tucson...Ain't it hot there?' Yup. But the humidity today was under 10% and when a shower came through the temp dropped into the low 80s in half an hour. By dawn it will be in the mid 70s.

But hot and dry ain't for everyone. Had my fill of cold and wet when I lived in upstate NY which makes New Jersey look like the Garden of Eden!!

[id10t]

Come on up to N. Central Florida. The Gainesville/Alachua County area exactly. And with that kind of budget for a house, you could live like a king.

[Craig Stevens]

The Tampa Bay area is a great place to raise a family. Housing is less than the east coast. Great beaches, Pro sports, close to Disney. Lots of traffic,hot & humid 6 months out of the year. private schools are good. good football state. and the taxes are not bad either. The Suncoast PCA chapter is one of the best. Come check us out!! Craig

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I did my undergraduate college in Melbourne (about 35 miles south of Cocoa Beach) - not a bad area. FL in general would NOT be my first choice - redneck culture is rampant there, even in the more coastal areas. Then again, maybe it has changed for the better in the last 10 or so years. . .

Affordable housing is possible (or was then) but I'd strongly recommend hurricane insurance or storm-proofing (read: no crappy construction, which also abounds - do a home inspection!)

[mikester]

I'm from Jacksonville which is the north east corner. The homes prices I think should fit well within your budget and there is a substantial health care presense there with Blue Cross I think.

I moved down to Orlando in 2000 adn then back to California.

Anyway, Jacksonville has some very good schools from what my wife has said in her research. We're considering one day going back...

Jacksonville is very nice but the winters do get a little cold. The Beaches are great but me being in technology jobs are scarce. Truck driving might not be so...

I'd look into it - it's a great town.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

My impression of Jacksonville was very blue collar / military. Kind of like a Southern Detroit. Then again, that was 10 years ago and a very brief stay there. It probably has its good and bad areas like anywhere else.

Then again, so does Detroit. . .

[Craig Stevens]

Hmm, Redneck, gee I haven't heard any of the locals making tourist's squeel like pigs before we mate with them in at least a year or two! most of usuns are even using shoes, with out socks. I think you could find most types of people in any state or region. We don't have earthquakes, & haven't had a big storm in the Tampa Bay area in the last 40 years. after saying that we are sure to get nailed this year. If you can get by the heat & the traffic, it's not a bad place to live. Craig

[mikester]

Jacksonville does has a blue collar population. My grand parents and brother live there as does most of my mom's family.

Seems to me it's very redneck on the north side and then not very redneck on the south. You have to remember it's the south so there is *always* the redneck factor to consider.

Did I mention that there are some really great beachs? That's something that I love about Florida. If you know where to look you can find a secluded beach to be all alone on for fishing or just - well - you know quite easily.



Jacksonville has a lot of nice beachs.

[targa911S]

Originally posted by Craig Stevens
The Tampa Bay area is a great place to raise a family. Housing is less than the east coast. Great beaches, Pro sports, close to Disney. Lots of traffic,hot & humid 6 months out of the year. private schools are good. good football state. and the taxes are not bad either. The Suncoast PCA chapter is one of the best. Come check us out!! Craig

I ditto Craig. Come to Florida..the clothing optional state. I moved here from Cleveland 18 years ago and have not looked back. My wife and I both love it here.

[ErVikingo]

On second thought; anything close to Sebring Intl. Raceway!

[targa911S]

That would be SRQ or TPA/CLW

[JeremyD]

Originally posted by Craig Stevens
...............We don't have earthquakes, & haven't had a big storm in the Tampa Bay area in the last 40 years. after saying that we are sure to get nailed this year. If you can get by the heat & the traffic, it's not a bad place to live. Craig

Hate to bring up an old thread - but I see now it was Craig who hexed us - you don't say stuff like this out loud Craig!

[TerryBPP]

Boca Raton is, by far, the cleanest and most friendly in FL. Great schools but expensive property values and high cost of living. Naples is nice too.

[RickM]

Personally, I'd be using school ratings as a high priority factor in my decision making. I'm not familiar with Englishtown (schoolwise) but overall NJ has some of the best schools in the nation.

[Bruce Brown]

Emerald Coast. Some seasonal changes. Reasonable. Good Fishing. Great beaches.