[SgtAJC]

My wife's family is in the West Palm Beach area. I like Wellington but I've read some bad things about Palm Beach County Re: Crime etc. Can anyone recommend some nice cities/towns with the following to consider in order of importance:
1) Schools - I have three school age children and need the schools to be top notch (please no jokes about the Florida educational system sucking).
2) Employment - I will be relocating with a pension but am still young and want to work in the security or investigations field.
3) Hurricane Proof - I don't want to be on the water with a home built in the 1970s that will be washed away with the first hurricane that comes through.
4) Crime - Low crime rate which I believe everyone would like.
5) Affordable Housing - I could probably afford up to about $450,000 for a four bedroom home.
6) Size of City - I don't need a city per se like Jacksonville but I need to be close enough to a city so I could drive there for some sort of culture and employment.
I know I've made it tough but I've read a lot of real good posts on this board and I'm sure some of you will have some great cities/towns for me to research. Thanks in advance for any advice you can provide.

[macguy]

Originally Posted by SgtAJC

My wife's family is in the West Palm Beach area. I like Wellington but I've read some bad things about Palm Beach County Re: Crime etc. Can anyone recommend some nice cities/towns with the following to consider in order of importance:
1) Schools - I have three school age children and need the schools to be top notch (please no jokes about the Florida educational system sucking).
2) Employment - I will be relocating with a pension but am still young and want to work in the security or investigations field.
3) Hurricane Proof - I don't want to be on the water with a home built in the 1970s that will be washed away with the first hurricane that comes through.
4) Crime - Low crime rate which I believe everyone would like.
5) Affordable Housing - I could probably afford up to about $450,000 for a four bedroom home.
6) Size of City - I don't need a city per se like Jacksonville but I need to be close enough to a city so I could drive there for some sort of culture and employment.
I know I've made it tough but I've read a lot of real good posts on this board and I'm sure some of you will have some great cities/towns for me to research. Thanks in advance for any advice you can provide.

I like the Tallahassee area.

[Prichard]

Gainesville
Like mentioned above, Tallahassee might be a good fit
Lakeland


That's about all I can come up with that's 1) not a big city; 2) low crime 3) has some amenities of a city; 4) possiblity of a decent school system if you locate in a good area and 5) not on the coast.

[HRlinda]

Try rural Florida. Weather nice, taxes, crime low. Look at the FL Dept of Ed website for the official school grades (based on student gains) - a good indicator of the quality of schools.

We are in Gilchrist, but don't come here unless you promise to be nice and NEVER tell us how you did it up North.
Good luck!!

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by SgtAJC

My wife's family is in the West Palm Beach area. I like Wellington but I've read some bad things about Palm Beach County Re: Crime etc. Can anyone recommend some nice cities/towns with the following to consider in order of importance:
1) Schools - I have three school age children and need the schools to be top notch (please no jokes about the Florida educational system sucking).
2) Employment - I will be relocating with a pension but am still young and want to work in the security or investigations field.
3) Hurricane Proof - I don't want to be on the water with a home built in the 1970s that will be washed away with the first hurricane that comes through.
4) Crime - Low crime rate which I believe everyone would like.
5) Affordable Housing - I could probably afford up to about $450,000 for a four bedroom home.
6) Size of City - I don't need a city per se like Jacksonville but I need to be close enough to a city so I could drive there for some sort of culture and employment.
I know I've made it tough but I've read a lot of real good posts on this board and I'm sure some of you will have some great cities/towns for me to research. Thanks in advance for any advice you can provide.

Wellington would probably be fine for you. Crime is bad in PBC, but Wellington is immune to a lot of the problems. 450 will get you a nice newer(READ-Hurricane proof) 4 bedroom home in the top notch Wellington school districts. Wellington itself is home to upscale shopping, and is in close proximity to WPB and what is has to offer. Snobby people, though, and WPB is becoming a war zone.

You could even look further south, into Weston(a leave-your-doors-unlocked type of place), Broward County. Crime is a bit lower in general, but it is a lot more crowded down here. Schools are top notch in Weston and the west half of Davie. Your city of employment will probably be considerably less dangerous.450 can get you in easily. Davie is friendly, Weston is snobby like Wellington. Plenty of culture to be found in Fort Lauderdale and nearby Miami!

You could also look into Oviedo, Florida. Same applies, but friendlier people and even better schools.A little cheaper, too! Traffic is a little worse, though. Commute to Orlando for employment could be tricky, but look into Lake Mary and it wont be as bad, and you still get a lot of what Oviedo has.

I also reccomend the communities that Prichard brought up, but crime is certainly a factor in those communities.

[sunrico90]

The northwest area of the state might be a great choice for you. many folks relocating from the south and other parts of the USA. Simple life, not overpopulated, choices of type of housing... Best choice I made 10 years ago.... We called it Paradise.....

1) Schools - I have three school age children and need the schools to be top notch (please no jokes about the Florida educational system sucking). Great schools: Navarre, Fort Walton Beach, Destin
2) Employment - I will be relocating with a pension but am still young and want to work in the security or investigations field. Possible Homeland security positions in Pcola, Fort Walton and Panama City. Many GOV contractors looking for security managers...
3) Hurricane Proof - I don't want to be on the water with a home built in the 1970s that will be washed away with the first hurricane that comes through. Your choice Crestview, Milton Pace, Bonifay...
4) Crime - Low crime rate which I believe everyone would like. Most of the cities/town do have low crime rates...
5) Affordable Housing - I could probably afford up to about $450,000 for a four bedroom home. many excellent opportunities for superb housing. With $450K you can purchase a plantation home with lots of land. Average home $200K , Home with pool, 2,500 SQ maybe in the $250K
6) Size of City - I don't need a city per se like Jacksonville but I need to be close enough to a city so I could drive there for some sort of culture and employment. Jville is Floridas largets city, Pcola, Fort Walton Beach, Destin, and Panana City can satisfy your needs...

[memoriesbre]

I like the Citra area which is in the middle of the state not far from Gainsville which is also nice. If you like the change of season then Pensacola may be a good choice. That area does get much cooler than the southern part of Fl.

[mmccool719]

I live in Naples, though I am leaving soon, I'd recommend it if you can afford like you said...$450K for a home. The parks and recs are great, schools are great, tons of young families living here, beaches are nice and clean, shopping is great, we haven't been hit by the "big one" yet but the cat 3 we got a few years back wasn't too too bad. Traffic sucks and if you can handle all the flashiness, flaunting of wealth, etc......

[Floridabound09]

Move in with Sunrico... it will save you (us) allot of money!!!!

It is very hard to decide, we have looked for a long time, have almost 2 years to go so no hurry, but can tell you it was very benefical for us to actually drive to the towns on our list, spend a day there and ask questions.

I love it where Sunrico is, but since all our hobbies are antique related and is huge in the central part of the state we have no choice.

Crestview is a awesome town, if you do look in the panhandle dont forget to look at it.

[rsocal]

This thread has provided some great information ont he real estate markets in Florida. Does anyone have any thoughts on the Palm Coast region of Florida?