[Strel]

Originally Posted by Nancy Lynne

I am a single mom in my mid 40's with an only son that is 10. We are picking up AND leaving NJ (it has gotten beyond expensive) (((and I know FL isn't inexpensive!!)....

If you could pick any town you could live in...within all of Florida... that is a great place to raise kids....where would it be?

THANK YOU!

Tallahassee. It's no accident that I have lived here for 20+ years.

However...it is not a great place for single women above college age, so if you are looking for a new husband, you may have to import one.

[Audacious]

I would suggest the North Port area. A nice 2 bdrm 1 bath concrete block can be had for about 120K Taxes = 1800 before homestead exemption then about 350 less. THat type of house can be rented for 800 +/- depending on condition. There are plenty of new schools and a lot of kids. As one poster wrote earlier it's not just for retirees.

There is also a tremendous amount of new commercial construction in the area with major national retailers moving in soon. a 300,000SF shopping mall is being built off of Price and Sumter Blvd. That PLUS you are 15 -20 minutes to the Gulf beaches.

[pianogal]

I would suggest the better areas of Orlando - especially with kids, there's so much here for them...an awesome Science Center plus all the theme parks, excellent YMCA and ball programs, alot of churches with excellent youth programs.

BUT it's so expensive here, especially in the areas you would want to live in to insure good schools and safety. You will need an excellent source of income. I wouldn't want to try to live here for less than 80-100K a year - even then you would not have alot of disposable income.

[Chromedome]

if you want to raise kids and have activities for them to do. southeast florida would be the only acceptable area.


STEER CLEAR OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, your kid will end up smoking weed and breaking into houses out of sheer boredom

[Caa]

Originally Posted by Chromedome

if you want to raise kids and have activities for them to do. southeast florida would be the only acceptable area.


STEER CLEAR OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, your kid will end up smoking weed and breaking into houses out of sheer boredom

I agree, once again, with you! The sw area is where we were living and I do not like that area anymore. It was once nice, but the people there have changed a lot and there is nothing to do for anyone of any age!

[Hondax]

Originally Posted by TootsieWootsie

Isn't Punta Gorda the most common place for the hurricanes to hit?
After reading alot on this Florida board, I am surprised so many suggest Punta Gorda. After last year's hurricanes, the papers indicated that Punta Gorda was most often the heart of the West Florida side's hurricane activity. I would hate to be in the middle of hurricane alley there.

Here ya go TootsieWootsie!
I found the hurricane strike probablity chart. Based on historical hurricane landfall locations.


Odds of Getting Hit

[doggiebus]

Originally Posted by TootsieWootsie

Isn't Punta Gorda the most common place for the hurricanes to hit?
After reading alot on this Florida board, I am surprised so many suggest Punta Gorda. After last year's hurricanes, the papers indicated that Punta Gorda was most often the heart of the West Florida side's hurricane activity. I would hate to be in the middle of hurricane alley there.

The places in Florida that get hit the most often in Florida are the Northwest or Southeast part of the state.

[RedWingsFan]

I did do that... I did some research and then picked a place to move to with our kids in Florida. We first picked the Tampa area (Land O' Lakes). Got there and didn't care for it. We didn't care for the whole Gulf side. Went around the state checking some places out (Jacksonville, Orlando area, etc.). We decided on the Daytona Beach area. First rented an apartment in Ormond Beach and stayed there while we checked out the area to buy houses. Then we bought in Port Orange. It's a good city to raise kids. Low crime, great schools, close to the beaches, etc.

[snurok]

hey i think fort lauderdale is the place. the kid is gonna grow fast and you have some great beachs to go to here on weekends. great place to spend time with. if your new in the area see www.Florida-Firends.com about meeting people in florida for free to scialize with.

[RMD3819]

This thread is nearly three years old.

The OP actually moved to Naples and then back to NJ. Look up her posts. It is an interesting read.