Port St. Lucie/ Fort Pierce Questions (Vero Beach, Stuart: property taxes, insurance, for sale)

[hschoolingfam]

We are considering a move from S. Florida to the Port St. Lucie/ Fort Pierce area.
We have been viewing homes online, and found a few located in Fort Pierce on the St. Lucie River. Would this be considered a desireable area?
Neighborhood safety is our #1 priority as we have two children.
Any info would be greatly appreciated!

[VBmom]

If childen are your first priority, I would not move to Ft. Pierce or Port St.Lucie. Just being honest. I was born in Ft. Pierce and raised in Vero Beach. Choose Vero or Stuart. All of St. Lucie county has some serious issues with crime, schools etc. Not somewhere to raise a family.

[Turtle]

Every area has problems, but I think it's unfair to say an entire county has serious problems with crime etc... We have been in PSL for a year and a half and have not had even a minor incident of heard of any in our area, and all of our neighbors have been here for many years and have never had a problem. The biggest "crime" in our neighborhood is a neighbor whose dogs rome the streets without a leash or any tags I just wanted to chime in because I think you would be hardpressed to find any city in the country that didn't have a 'bad side of town'.

[J.R.]

VBMom is not very informed about the surounding areas. Unfortunately, I am short on time right now, but I will respond in detail later.

[totsuka]

Check out the local paper..www.tcpalm.com...just (broken link) have to register first...pretty good online information about the Treasure Coast..St. Lucie
seems to have a large amount of homes for sale...rent...Property taxes
are high and insurance can be difficult to find. Good idea to rent first then
look around. Martin County has a large number of homes for sale too so
check out that area too.

[J.R.]

The St, Lucie River area is very desirable!! Property values are growing in leap and bounds.

Due to the location, you would need to do most of your shopping in Vero Beach.

As far as schools: Public schools in St. Lucie are going to be a long distance away. Private schools in Vero will be very close.

[VBmom]

Originally Posted by J.R.

VBMom is not very informed about the surounding areas. Unfortunately, I am short on time right now, but I will respond in detail later.

Just because you disagree doesn't mean someone is uninformed. I was born in St. Lucie county. I have a lot of friends who have just moved or getting ready to move. Reasons? Schools and crime. Read the paper or TCPalm.com if you don't believe me.

Sure, as with any town, there are better areas than others. I just could not recommend this area to anyone with small children to raise. Sorry if I have offended anyone. I would just want all the answers and opinions about an area if I were planning on moving there. I thought that's what we are doing here, sharing opinions.

[elfyum]

He would be the expert here!
From anything I know of the area, it IS safe!!!
I have never been there, but two people that LIVE there told me there ARE no bad areas! That it's very quiet - if fact, TOO quiet for one of the people!
I really can't imagine the high crime VBMom speaks of...?

[J.R.]

VBMom

I apologize. I just cannot imagine anyone not recommending St. Lucie Village. What a wonderful step back into time?....

Yes, Ft. Pierce has its crime, PSL has its crime...But, as a "Ft. Piercer" myself, can we just keep St. Lucie Village as its own special place?

[hschoolingfam]

One more question... Is anyone familiar with the Sweetwater Subdivision?
Thanks