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Hello...been thinking of relocating our family from PA to Florida. Narrowed search down to west coast. Considering Naples (seems a bit pricy however), Bonita Springs, Sarasota, Venice. We are in our mid 40's with two teen daughters. Would like good schools, low crime, lots of outdoor living and activities.
Hubby is a carpenter, self-employeed. Would he have trouble finind work, or starting his own business in Florida? He does kitchens, baths, tile, but his niche is finish carpentry (mouldings, built-in's). He does all the work himself as he is a stickler for perfection...don't know if that is in demand in FL.
I work at a University & would need to find a job. Either at a school, university, or in real estate, or finance (all are in my background). How is the job market in these areas?
Will my kids hate me if we move? Is it terribly boring down there for teens? Also, when looking on-line for housing I see HOA, which I assume is Home Owners Assoc...is that fee listed monthly (god I hope NOT), or an annual fee? Are property/school takes cheap?
Sorry for the tons of questions, but I don't know where else to turn to for answers. Plan on making a trip down in July to look around while vacationing. Thanks!! Any/all feedback is welcome.
Work should be your first concern and would opt for where you (yourself) could find work first. I would think that of your options Sarasota would be the best choice, and would add Fort Myers, Parrish and Lakewood Ranch over the others. The "trades" industry is saturated with individuals who moved here during the construction boom so your husband may have to reinvent himself in other types of work in order to find consistent employment. In terms of HOAs they exist mainly in the much newer communities and there are limitless quality non-HOA neighborhoods to choose from. In terms of things to do for teens it's no different that where you are now, plus throw in the beach as a "thing to do".
Thank you SO MUCH for your response. Sarasota seems like a good fit from the research I've done. Are there universities/schools in the area that I can try for employment?
Don't know if hubby can reinvent himself at this point since all he knows is carpentry/construction. Is there maintenance work avail, or working for a home builder an option, or is that saturated as well?
We love the heat, beach & want outdoor living. Being inside 7 months out of the year in the NE is hard to take. I have a great job now however & our kids go to one of the best school districts in PA if not the country...nervous about making a mistake, but we are ready for a change.
Thank you SO MUCH for your response. Sarasota seems like a good fit from the research I've done. Are there universities/schools in the area that I can try for employment?
Don't know if hubby can reinvent himself at this point since all he knows is carpentry/construction. Is there maintenance work avail, or working for a home builder an option, or is that saturated as well?
We love the heat, beach & want outdoor living. Being inside 7 months out of the year in the NE is hard to take. I have a great job now however & our kids go to one of the best school districts in PA if not the country...nervous about making a mistake, but we are ready for a change.
All advice is welcomed.
In terms of colleges/universities you might check out the State College of Florida-Manatee, Ringling School of Art, New College and USF-Sarasota. In terms of your hubby when I said reinvent perhaps along the lines of working for Home Depot which has a strong presence in the Sarasota area (3 stores) and decent pay for people with trades experience as well as benefits which may or may not be a valuable commodity for you....as well as other "outside the box" options like on-staff maintenance positions with places like hospitals or universities.
Work should be your first concern and would opt for where you (yourself) could find work first. I would think that of your options Sarasota would be the best choice, and would add Fort Myers, Parrish and Lakewood Ranch over the others. The "trades" industry is saturated with individuals who moved here during the construction boom so your husband may have to reinvent himself in other types of work in order to find consistent employment. In terms of HOAs they exist mainly in the much newer communities and there are limitless quality non-HOA neighborhoods to choose from. In terms of things to do for teens it's no different that where you are now, plus throw in the beach as a "thing to do".
I'd throw. Ft. Myers out the window. Its mostly crime ridden except for a few small family neighborhood hubs. Stabbings, murders, robberies and drugs are a daily issue and on the news. I don't think they've gone without a murder or attempted murder a week or two in months. PLus you have to deal with school choice, a lottery for which school your kids can go to. You might live in North Ft. Myers and have to ship your kids to Estero for school. Naples is a retirement town, and expensive. Whats your budget? Expect over $1100+ for a decent apt. and $1500+ for a decent rental home. Watch for certain neighbohoods. Ones like Naples Lely (I think Ole) don't allow children under a certain age to play or hang out outside without an adult sitting outside with them.
I'd take a trip in Aug or Sept, those are the hottest months. See if you can hack it. Most can't. They think our summers are like up north and soon realize its about 10 times hotter and 100% humidity all day, all night for months and months. Even the beach is too hot for most in the summer. That'll be your first clue if you can make it or not. Our summer runs from March-Nov in some cases. We've had a very hot winter. Its been close to 90 several times in Feb and mid upper 80's foretasted from here on out.
I agree for what you are looking for, Sarasota is your best bet. Construction is actually kind of booming here now compared to a lot of other places, so that might help your husband. Sarasota is more family oriented than Naples, and a bit less expensive. Sarasota also has decent schools compared to other places in the state. Ft. Myers does not get much good posted about it here, so that's all I'll say about that.
Mish? Naples is expensive and mostly full of wealthy retirees from the mid west. If you want your children to hate you forever don't move to Naples.
It's beautifull but we in Florida call it "God's waiting room"! As others have suggested look up other cities along the Gulf coast.
PS: Do not move to Florida without one of you having a job! It's brutal down here!
Best of luck!
This area has become a parking lot on the streets and locals are getting nasty. This season was the worse for those of us who already live here/natives. The workers are tired of it taking 2-3-'s the time to get home after work. We currently don't go out after 4 p.m. due to the congestion and no where to eat because tables are taken. We, also, drive very careful so as not to irritate other drivers....very nasty! Was a nice place to live until everyone wanted to move here. There just isn't enough lanes for all the cars. The housing crises for workers is getting so bad....Out of state purchasers and renters taking up the available properties/driving up prices again and workers can't find a place to live. Many workers leaving the areas. Parking lots of grocery stores are becoming "war of words" toward drivers with out of state plates. We walk way around the arguments. What once was a pleasant place to live has become tense for drivers....There really is no space left on the streets. Going to and from the islands....plan on it taking an hour one way at many times of the day. We moved to this area 10 years ago; lived in NE Florida (nothing like this). Never dreamed it would get like this. Rethink coming to this area.
Southside services most of the downtown area south of Main St. North of Main would be mostly Booker school district. The Palmer Ranch area is mostly Ashton school district. There are other schools in the area but these are ones that I have either had personal experience with or I have friends that have kids in the schools.
Sarasota ranks as one of the top districts in the state by a number of measures, including test scores, graduation rates and teacher compensation.
It offers distinctive programs tailored to different student needs, including Florida's only school for the gifted, the state's largest special needs school and one of a handful of career-focused high schools.
Alright, if I were checking out schools other than Pine View these are the schools that I would look into, in order. This is also the order they fall in if you look at the stats on the state of FL.
I'll throw some zip codes in as well to use for a general guideline but make sure you double check them with the map provided and the local school board as the map/zip codes may change slightly if they add a new school.
I'm going to also include a few neighborhoods within each zip code. Keep in mind that there are many other communities in each zip code worth checking out. I'm just trying to give you a starting point. Also if the community is very large it might encompass two or three different schools.
Please use this website when searching for properties: www.myfloridahomesmls.com It's the most up to date website.
Sarasota County Schools
For Elementary Southside Elementary (34228, 34236, 34239, 34242)
Most of the downtown Sarasota condos, the condos/homes on the south end of Longboat Key, Bay Isles, Bird Key, Bungalow Hill, Cherokee Park, County Club Shores, Granada, Harbor Acres, Lido Key, McClellan Park, Poinsettia Park, St Armand's, some of Southgate.
Venice Elementary (34285, 34292, 34293)
The island of Venice, Bellagio on Venice Island, Lakes of Jacaranda, Pinebrook, South Venice, Venice Acres
Ashton Elementary (34233, 34238)-The Palmer Ranch communities(Arielle, Botanica, The Hamptons, Turtle Rock, Serenade, Stonebridge, Village Walk, Wellington Chase), Center Gate Estates, Colonial Oaks, Emerald Gardens, Grove Point, Three Oaks
Cranberry Elementary (North Port)
-(34286, a certain section)
Taylor Ranch (southern Sarasota county)-(34292, 34293)-Governors Green, Gulf View Estates, Blue Heron Pond, Lakes of Jacaranda, Myakka River Trails, Park Estates, Pelican Pointe Golf & County Club, The Plantation, Pennington Place, South Venice, Stoneybrook at Venice, Venice Golf & County Club, Southwood, Woodmere Lakes
Lakeview Elementary (34241)-Bent Tree, Country Creek, East Lake, Forest at Hi Hat Ranch, Founders Club, Foxfire, Gator Creek, Heritage Oaks Golf & Country Club, Lake Sarasota, Misty Creek, Myakka Valley Ranches, Preserve at Heron Lake, Red Hawk Reserve, Saddle Creek, Secluded Oaks, Serenoa, Trillium, Tuscana
Gulf Gate Elementary (34231, 34238)-Palmer Ranch communities-(Country Club of Sarasota, Deer Creek, Prestancia,
Marabella, Mira Lago, Palisades), Beneva Oaks, Coral Cove, Gulf Gate, Southpointe Shores,
Laurel Nokomis Elementary (mid Sarasota county)-(34229, 34275)-Bay Point, Calusa Lakes, Casey Key, Huntington Pointe, Isles of Sarasota, Laurel Pines, Laurel Woodlands, Mission Valley Estates, The Oaks, Park Trace Estates, Rivendell, Sawgrass, Shakett Creek, Silver Oak, Sorrento East, Sorrento Shores, Sorrento South, Sorrento Woods, South Creek, Southbay Yacht & Racquet Club, Stoneybrook at Palmer Ranch, Venetian Golf & River Club, Waterfront Estates, Willow Chase, Willowbend, Willowbrook
Tatum Ridge Elementary (34240)
-Barton Farms, Colonial Oaks, Deer Hammock, Founders Club, The Hammocks, Laurel Lakes, Laurel Meadows, Laurel Oak Estates, Oak Ford Golf Club, The Paddocks, Palmer Farms, Palmer Glen, Sarasota Golf Club, Sarasota Polo Club, Shadow Oaks, Summerwood, Tatum Ridge, Villages at Pine Tree-(Marsh, Ponderosa, Spruce Pine)
Garden Elementary(34285, 34292, 34293)
Phillipi Shores(34231, 34242)-Aqualane Estates, Bay Island, Florence, Hansens, Harmony, Hidden Harbor, The Landings, Mira Mar, much of Siesta Key, Oyster Bay Estates, Phillipi Cove, Philipi Gardens, Pine Shores, Point Crisp, Princess Gate, Ridge Wood, Sanderling Club, Sandy Hook, Sarasota Beach, Siesta Cove, Siesta Estates, Siesta Isles, Siesta Bayside, Tortoise Estates
Fruitville Elementary(34232)-Hidden Oaks, Nottingham, Sherwood Estates, Sherwood Forest, Woodland Park
Englewood Elementary (southern Sarasota county)(34223)-Artist Acres, Bay Vista, Boca Royale, Deer Creek, Eden Harbor, Englewood Farm Acres, Englewood Gardens, Englewood Isles, Englewood Pines, Manasota Gardens, Manasota Key, Overbrook Gardens, Stillwater
For Middle Sarasota Middle (34231-34242)
High School Riverview(34231-34242)
Manatee county Schools
Elementary Schools Robert Willis Elementary(34201, 34202)-Carlyle at the Villages of Palm Aire, Country Club East at Lakewood Ranch, Edgewater Village, Lake Club, Lakewood Ranch, Lakewood Ranch Country Club, Long Pond at Mote Ranch, Mote Ranch, Panther Ridge, Preserve at Panther Ridge, River Park at Mote Ranch, Riverwalk Ridge Cypress Banks, University Park
Gene Witt Elementary(34212)-Country Creek, Country Meadows, Foxbrook, Greyhawk Landing, Hidden Oaks, Mill Creek, Rye Wilderness,
Gilbert W McNeal Elementary(34202)-Concession, Greenbrook Village, Lakewood Ranch, Summerfield Village
Braden River Elementary(34202, 34211)-Braden Pines, Braden Woods, Oakbrooke at River Club, River Club North & South, Rosedale, Summerfield Village
BD Gullett Elementary(34211, 34212)-Central Park at Lakewood Ranch, Greyhawk Landing, Panther Ridge
Ida M Stewart Elementary(34209)-Perico Isles, Pinehurst, Riverview Landings, Shaws Point, Wisteria Park, Woodlands Park on Palma Sola Bay
Anna Maria Elementary(34216, 34217, 34228)-Anna Maria Island, Bay Palms, Bimini Bay Estates, Cortez, Emerald Harbor, Holmes Beach, Ilexhurst, Key Royale, Long Beach, Longboat Key, Shore Acres, Sleepy Lagoon, Wells Bay Harbor
Kinnan Elementary(34243)-Carlyle at the Villages of Palm Aire, Country Oaks, Desoto Lakes Country Club, Glenbrooke, Mote Ranch, Palm Aire, Palm Lakes, Quail Run, University Groves, Rio Mar, Trails, Treymore at Village of Palm Aire, Vintage Creek
Freedom Elementary(34212)-Gates Creek, Greenfield Plantation, Heritage Harbour, Lighthouse Cove at Heritage Harbor, Old Grove at Greenfield, Planters Manor at Greenfield, River Strand, Stoneybrook at Heritage Harbor, Waterlefe Golf & River Club
Tara Elementary(34212)-Barrington Ridge, Braden Crossing, Creekwood, Manatee Oaks, Mandalay, River Landings Bluffs, River Place, Rivers Edge, Silver Lake, Tailfeather Way at Tara, Tara, Tara Preserve, Wallingford, Water Oak
Middle School
Carlos E Halie Middle(34208-34212)
Braden River Middle(32401-34243)
Nolan Middle(34202, 34211, 34251)
King Middle(34209, 34216, 34217, 34228)
High School
Lakewood Ranch High(34202, 34211, 34212, 34251)
Manatee High(34205-34209, 34216, 34217, 34228)
Alternative School
Manatee School for Arts and Sciences
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Sarasota/Venice Fl relocation info
