Moving to Coral Springs (Miami, Sunrise: real estate, foreclosures, property taxes)

[srcog]

HI, I'm considering a job in Coral Springs. I currently live in Ellicott City, MD and have 3 kids. It looks like we could find a 4 bedroom home, 2 car garage, 2.5 bath, 2600+ square feet in the $420,000 range which would be fine.

My questions are:

-how hard will it be to get homeowner's insurance, and roughly how much will this cost?
-Are there any areas I should avoid because of crime or poor public schools?
-Rough idea as to what the property taxes will be?

Thanks very much!

[compelled to reply]

- You didn't hear? They don't even offer HOA anymore! With all of the crime and the hurricanes every day
-The crime, rude people and poor public schools will eat you alive. There is no place that is safe. They have gangs of armed robbers in every neighborhood, and god forbid you leave the neighborhood!
-100 grand a year, plus tip.

No really, I am just joking, I will give you a serious answer
-Getting insurance out here should be easy. The problem is the cost. Expect about 3,000-4,000 a year at minimum for an average 2000 square foot home.
-I would stay within the Taravella innovation zone. This area generally has the best rated schools in Coral Springs K through 12. They also did a report about Ramblewood Middle in the Miami Herald about how they focus on a well rounded education as opposed to teaching to the FCAT, etc. There are no really high crime spots until you get far east (like Pompano Beach), but I wouldn't live near Sample Rd or along Coral Ridge Dr between Royal Palm and Sample. Riverside Dr also isn't as good. Here is a crime map of Coral Springs. As you can see, there are burglaries, auto thefts, but there are not a lot of violent crimes and the actual rate of the crimes is low relative to how many people live there. A lot of those crimes are also unlocked homes and cars (they think because they are in Coral Springs nothing will happen)
Crime Stats - District Map
-Honestly, I have no clue. You can use this to try and give you an estimate. On the bright side, Coral Springs is known to have low millage rates compared to other municipalities, but I'm not sure of the exact rate.
Broward County Property Appraiser's Network
I found the millage too
Broward County Property Appraiser's Network

You should also consider Parkland. Your price range should cover it, and the school districts are generally better. It's just immediately north of Coral Springs and a very desirable address, and also very quiet and safe.

[ivcceo]

I live in Coral Springs. Expect to pay about 6k in property taxes for your house range. The west areas have some great communities. There are some great deals on foreclosures so I am sure you'll get a good home.

[heydade]

I live in Coral Springs right now but we are getting out. Our condo just turned section 8 and there are nothing but low class renters everywhere creating a ruckus. We are thinking about living in Sunrise or Weston.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by heydade

We are thinking about living in Sunrise

If Coral Springs is getting too section 8 for you, I would DEFINITELY avoid Sunrise unless you are talking about south of 84 (which gets lumped in with Weston anyhow, and probably is one of the safest areas in all of South Florida) or at least west of Nob Hill and not in a condo conversion complex. East of Nob Hill= lots of places going section 8.

[Momma_bear]

Originally Posted by compelled to reply

If Coral Springs is getting too section 8 for you, I would DEFINITELY avoid Sunrise unless you are talking about south of 84 (which gets lumped in with Weston anyhow, and probably is one of the safest areas in all of South Florida) or at least west of Nob Hill and not in a condo conversion complex. East of Nob Hill= lots of places going section 8.

West Sunrise, around Sawgrass Mills is still nice. Pretty much anything west of Nob Hill is OK in Sunrise. There are parts of CS that are nasty, most of them east. The west is nice though.

Some CS may be zoned for Douglas HS. I hear OK things about Douglas.

[efour]

I am also moving to Coral Springs and just spent a day there looking at homes with a Realtor and long time resident. She estimated that you can expect to pay 2% of your purchase price in property taxes and 1% in home owners insurance.

[heydade]

Originally Posted by efour

I am also moving to Coral Springs and just spent a day there looking at homes with a Realtor and long time resident. She estimated that you can expect to pay 2% of your purchase price in property taxes and 1% in home owners insurance.

Maybe you came to look at our condo ? we had a showing.

[happymccamper]

Originally Posted by heydade

I live in Coral Springs right now but we are getting out. Our condo just turned section 8 and there are nothing but low class renters everywhere creating a ruckus. We are thinking about living in Sunrise or Weston.

I wonder if you live where I live. We found out there was section 8 in here after we moved in too. The rent has also dropped $150 less a month for the same unit type we are renting now. Our neighbors just moved out and they rented here for 2 yrs and they were paying $300 more then us! We have had $20,000 in vandalism to our pool area...which is always as cold as ice water...and our gates never work! I am currently trying to devise a plan to get back at my realtor,JK, but honestly speaking I never see his car at the realty place anymore, hmmmm wonder why!! CSprings does seem nice but super congested.....and seems the real estate is over priced. I think it just depends what your looking for....if CSprings fits...then it fits...

[happymccamper]

PS....
We are renters....but I don't feel we created a ruckus...