Changes in NE Broward? (Deerfield Beach, Oakland Park: real estate, homeowners insurance, mcmansions)

[HIF]

I left LHP about six years ago and am considering a return. I would not be selling my home in Jax, so would be looking for a long-term rental home or condo in NE Broward- east of US 1.

Many of the posts have me wondering what in the world could have happened down there to make it so different from what I left. To those of you in that area, has it changed that much? And if so, how far north have these negative changes traveled?

[Bette]

I grew up in LHP. I have many friends there and it's still fine. There were a lot of McMansions built but that was going on before you left. I always viewed LHP as a very safe place and I feel it still is. Still has its own police department!

[chisoxfan]

I'll second the previous post. Lighthouse Point is still one of the nicer areas in northeast Broward, if not the entire county, and should remain that way for the foreseeable future. The areas on the other side of Federal Highway directly west of LHP seem iffy, but it was that way when you lived here previously.

Given the state of the housing market and the fact you're looking for a rental, you might find a lot of would-be home sellers in LHP who have given up and now are trying to rent their houses or condos.

[compelled to reply]

Let's see

-Pompano Fashion Square is open air now,after dying temporarily.
-More Brazilians in Deerfield Beach.
-Other than that, no real big demographic shifts in that part of the county. Not even a Hispanic influx.
-Pompano is still bad
-Oakland Park is still bad, although it seems like some kind of gentrification wants to tip it's way in.
-Wilton Manors has more gay residents than ever
-Ft. Lauderdale experienced a lot of gentrification all over the city. However it's stalling due to the real estate crisis.
-Deerfield was bad, improved, but starting to go downhill again.
-The beachside in Pompano has a few more condos then it did 6 years ago but not that many more. However it's seedier than it used to be until you get closer to Lighthouse Point. Deerfield by the beach is very nice now.
-The rest of the areas on the beach are as nice as ever.
-Public schools in the area are, as in the past, terrible.
-NE Broward is relatively congested and crowded, just like 6 years ago.

Here is the number one thing that changed that has everyone bitching- the cost of living. The homeowners insurance situation is self explanatory, and although real estate prices are falling it still has a long way to go.