Weston, Pembroke Pines or Cooper City communites (Hollywood, Plantation: short sale, real estate)
Fort Lauderdale areaBroward County
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We are narrowing down our search for a new house and would be great if you can give your opinion on the following assumptions:
Weston - is great town all around, good schools, any community is nice (or would you rate one higher than the other), commute to Hollywood (Hollywood Blvd & Tyler st) about 30-40 minutes?
Pembroke Pines - good schools, commute to Hollywood 20 -60 minutes
nice communities: Grand Palms, Chapel Trail, Silver Lakes, Pembroke Falls -in what order would you rate them?
Cooper City - has nice pockets, overall older properties that don't hold value over time as much as the two above. Embassy Lakes, Country Glen and Hibbs Grove - nice communities, good schools, commute to Hollywood is about 30 minutes
I am happy to report that after visiting all 3 cities above we chose to settle down in Weston. Now just need to find a house! We tried to drive through Savanna and the Ridges but were not let in.
Our realtor says that for what we are prepared to pay ( up to 300K) we won't have exactly what we need.
BTW, Momma_bear was right about the commute from Hollywood to PP - it was 50 minutes on Sunday! It took us 25 minutes to get from Weston to Hollywood.
I am happy to report that after visiting all 3 cities above we chose to settle down in Weston. Now just need to find a house! We tried to drive through Savanna and the Ridges but were not let in.
Our realtor says that for what we are prepared to pay ( up to 300K) we won't have exactly what we need.
BTW, Momma_bear was right about the commute from Hollywood to PP - it was 50 minutes on Sunday! It took us 25 minutes to get from Weston to Hollywood.
We lived in Savanna for 10 years. It is a nice community. What exactly are you looking to get for $300K? I think that in that price range Weston is the best bet in Broward. You will get slightly less house than in other places but the combination of beautiful neighborhoods, better than average (still not good) schools, and lack of traffic congestion on local roads cannot be beat.
I think that if you can spend more there are other nice places to live but for $300K Weston is a great choice.
There is more traffic during rush hour, but I-75 to I-595 is a better commute from PP than Pines/Hollywood Blvd.
We lived in Savanna for 10 years. It is a nice community. What exactly are you looking to get for $300K? I think that in that price range Weston is the best bet in Broward. You will get slightly less house than in other places but the combination of beautiful neighborhoods, better than average (still not good) schools, and lack of traffic congestion on local roads cannot be beat.
I think that if you can spend more there are other nice places to live but for $300K Weston is a great choice.
There is more traffic during rush hour, but I-75 to I-595 is a better commute from PP than Pines/Hollywood Blvd.
We are looking for 4 bedroom 2 bath house, around 2400 sq ft.
What other places within 30 minute commute to Hollywood, with goods schools you can think of? And why did you more from Weston and where?
On the other note... Our 12 year old is having hard time accepting the fact that we are moving to Florida from NYC... I am trying to get him excited, but he is in the state of rebelion.. Anyone can share tips on how to prepare your pre-teen for the move? I can relate to his feelings, as I had to move when I was 13 and I was devasted to leave my friends.
Any activities for kids his age in Weston that I can point out for him? He is into swimming, basketball, outdoors when not too hot..
Last edited by Eyes_green; 01-31-2011 at 08:55 AM..
We are looking for 4 bedroom 2 bath house, around 2400 sq ft.
You can probably find a 4/2 for that price but you might have to go smaller than 2400 sf. There is probably quite a lot available in Weston in your price range but it's not all going to be in Savanna. My advice would be to look at everything. There are many nice neighborhoods in Weston.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eyes_green
What other places within 30 minute commute to Hollywood, with goods schools you can think of? And why did you more from Weston and where?
I would look carefully at Cooper City. I am sure there are nice places in Cooper City in your price range. Look at everything. We have friends that live in Embassy Lakes and they have a nice 4 BR house that I am sure would sell around $300K.
Also Pembroke Pines is not bad if you can find a house close to I-75. If you take I-75 to I-595 the commute is much better than Pines Blvd.
Schools are really not that great anywhere in Broward but they are best in Weston. Davie has good elementary and middle schools, especially Indian Ridge middle.
We moved to Plantation. Plantation is lovely but the high schools are terrible here. Our kids are in private school. We moved because we wanted to be closer to school/work and we wanted a home on a large lot. I really liked living in Weston. We moved there because we wanted the best elementary schools available to our kids and those are in Weston.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eyes_green
On the other note... Our 12 year old is having hard time accepting the fact that we are moving to Florida from NYC... I am trying to get him excited, but he is in the state of rebelion.. Anyone can share tips on how to prepare your pre-teen for the move? I can relate to his feelings, as I had to move when I was 13 and I was devasted to leave my friends.
Any activities for kids his age in Weston that I can point out for him? He is into swimming, basketball, outdoors when not too hot..
I would look carefully at Cooper City. I am sure there are nice places in Cooper City in your price range. Look at everything. We have friends that live in Embassy Lakes and they have a nice 4 BR house that I am sure would sell around $300K.
Also Pembroke Pines is not bad if you can find a house close to I-75. If you take I-75 to I-595 the commute is much better than Pines Blvd.
Schools are really not that great anywhere in Broward but they are best in Weston. Davie has good elementary and middle schools, especially Indian Ridge middle.
Weston has every activity you can imagine.
Thank you Momma_bear, you are very helpful and I keep reading your posts that came in Search for weston.
We really did not like CC.... Nor PP... We still have 4-6 months before final move and we will keep looking in Weston. Our real estate broker seems positive that we will find what we are looking for, but may take some time.
Which developments in Weston are closes to I-75?
I think most of the developments in Weston are close to I-75. Look at everything zoned for Cypress Bay High school. There are no bad neighborhoods in Weston.
Some houses in Weston are zoned for Western HS. You can call the school board with an address and they will tell you the zoning. You can also check on the school board web site. Make sure you check on your own. The information you get from realtors is not always accurate.
If your child swims look into Weston Aquatics..and the Ymca has swim programs as well..I have 2 Children 12 and almost 16..Both Swim cometitively but we live in Boca Our daughter Club Swims for Pine Crest and my HS Son club Swims Saint Andrews its a great sport and a great way to meet new friends both for you and your children..It has been very good to all of us...
I am happy to report that after visiting all 3 cities above we chose to settle down in Weston. Now just need to find a house! We tried to drive through Savanna and the Ridges but were not let in.
Our realtor says that for what we are prepared to pay ( up to 300K) we won't have exactly what we need.
BTW, Momma_bear was right about the commute from Hollywood to PP - it was 50 minutes on Sunday! It took us 25 minutes to get from Weston to Hollywood.
In Savanna, you can find a foreclosed home in $300K range.
Or a short sale for $400-$450K.
P.S. I just went from Weston to Hollywood beach (Johnson St) yesterday and it was about 25 minutes too. Weston is nicely situated right near i-595 for that.
We are looking for 4 bedroom 2 bath house, around 2400 sq ft.
What other places within 30 minute commute to Hollywood, with goods schools you can think of? And why did you more from Weston and where?
On the other note... Our 12 year old is having hard time accepting the fact that we are moving to Florida from NYC... I am trying to get him excited, but he is in the state of rebelion.. Anyone can share tips on how to prepare your pre-teen for the move? I can relate to his feelings, as I had to move when I was 13 and I was devasted to leave my friends.
Any activities for kids his age in Weston that I can point out for him? He is into swimming, basketball, outdoors when not too hot..
You often find a former pro athlete coaching a sport in Weston.
Our neighbors' kids used to have Al Leiter for a pitching coach and Bernie Kosar for a football coach.
Sports programs for kids are great here!
You can still visit NYC when you want - JetBlue flights are pretty easy and reasonable.
I don't miss NYC any more.
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