where to live near Deerfield Beach? (Coral Springs, Boynton Beach: real estate, budget, apartment complex)

[quantGirl]

I am moving to FL in the next few months for a job near Deerfield Beach. I am clueless as to geography/distances/driving. I want to live so as to have a short commute but be in a nice safe area (safe from crime and heavy weather). I live in the SW desert now, so just knowing a beach is nearby is good enough - I don't need to look at it every day. I am in my early 30's and am also concerned about being able to make friends in my age group.

My budget is $1400/mo max to rent. Preferably 2 bedrooms. What is *the* nicest area close by for my preferences? I don't want to spend > 30 min. commuting to work each way by car or public transport. Please help - it is hard to focus!

[cbtxwings]

Deerfield is a great town, but very pricey to live near the beach and all the action!! Boca and Delray are close to the north and they just as nice if not nicer. In all towns around that area the neighborHOODS between Dixie Hwy and west to I95 are all ghetto. The best bet is west of I95 or very expensive east of A1A. Boynton Beach is a great area and everything is new!! It would be about a 15 min drive to Deerfield and the people in Boynton are very nice. Unlike your typical south floridians!!! I would try a place on Gateway and I95 called Renaissance Commons. They are brand new never lived in before condos and the people once again are great! I hope you find the right place for you GOOD LUCK!!

[compelled to reply]

People aren't that nice in Boynton. To the west they are high on the pretentious scale and to the east you can encounter real live sureno gang members. That's also more like 20 minutes. There is also a very high rate of break-ins in the nice sections of Boynton. Try Coconut Creek, especially the northern section of the city. Best compromise between commute (15 minutes down 10th street and the sawgrass), crime (lowest in the vicinity, save for upper-crust Parkland), value for the money, and general cleanliness. However, stay out of the apartment complexes or condo conversions. Most are on the south side of the city but avoid any complex/conversion in South Florida if you don't like car burglars. They look nice, but they let not-nice people in sometimes, although exceptions exist with a few good management companies around. For 1400 a month you should have no problem finding a nice place to rent in a good complex, and that section of the county boasts a younger population, unlike Deerfield Beach or communities to the north in PBC (with pockets of exceptions).

[heydade]

Stay away from Boynton Beach ! If you do not believe me, go to sunsentinal.com and do a search for boyton beach and see how many articles pop up about murders, gang activity, robbery, car theft, etc, etc. Why not live in the 17th safest city in the U.S....Coral Springs ?? Very nice area and rent is cheap. I would recommend looking into a condominium complex called Edgewater condo's.

Good luck

[Momma_bear]

Some neighborhoods in Deerfield Beach are nice, others are nasty (crime ridden). If you don't have to worry about schools I would not cross all of Deerfield Beach off of your list. You can probably find a nice 2BR in that price range in a good neighborhood in Deerfield Beach.

Coconut Creek is nice and very close to Deerfield. I think prices are reasonable in Coconut Creek.

Boca is close to Deefield Beach, but prices are higher.

Most neighborhoods are nice in Coral Springs. Also-look at nicer neighborhoods in Margate.

[quantGirl]

Thanks for all the information. It seems like Boca, Coconut Creek and Coral Springs are the consensus good areas. BTW, school district is not important to me (no kids yet). I really want somewhere safe, crime- and weather-wise. I am concerned about car theft, and guess I'd prefer an attached garage or other secured parking. Here in Vegas too carports are no good.

Anyway, can anyone tell me what the ideal *zip codes* would be in these areas so I can pin down the search more easily? I don't like rental complexes - I'd prefer to go through a property mgmt/real estate co. and settle on some individual property. Also, I crunched the numbers and could go up to $1500/month. Any help appreciated - thanks!