Job relocation in Plantation - where to rent? (Pembroke Pines, Sunrise: mortgage, foreclosure)

[stacylee926]

Fortunately, I have been reading these forums for a year the last time we had a potential move to FLL for hubby's work. However, he got a promotion (much better than the lateral move from before and they will probably want him at Corporate after the first of the year!!

His office will be on South University Drive in Plantation. DH will be traveling quite a bit so we need to find an area that is convenient to his office AND the airport. We will definitely be renting for the first 18 mo until we get settled and DS graduates.

I would definitely like to rent a SFH and we need a decent high school. We will probably have to move half way thru his junior year and that will be hard for him . 4 years ago I moved from one of the best school districts in the country (Fairfax County, VA) to one that is not great at all (however, DS likes it and I am happy). So, I personally dont need the BEST school area, and it certainly cant be any worse than where we are now.

I will also be bringing my 79 year old father who currently lives in an independant senior apt complex that is subsidized, but very safe. I would like to find the same type of place for him - which shouldnt be too hard. I found what looks like a decent one in Miramar (Heron Pointe).

In a nutshell, I need a decent highschool (doesn't have to be the best) between Miramar and Plantation and the airport with fairly priced SFH to rent. My son and my dad are my biggest concerns.

BTW - as far as traffic goes, I lived in the DC area, and some traffic isnt a big deal .

[Wild Style]

whats your budget for rent per month?

[fauve]

My first reaction is Weston. 20 minutes with traffic from Plantation (10 minutes without), best high school, 15 minutes from Miramar. About 25 minutes from airport (unless early morning where I'd figure 45 mins). A safe, pretty, pleasant, easy and convenient place to live, and you'll have dozens of nice rentals to choose from.

[stacylee926]

My budget is ??? - lol!! My mortgage in NoVa was $1650 a mo and now I pay $1075 to rent a sfh with a big yard. So..... I am hoping for a nice little rancher around $1200 or so. I will be moving down without a job at first (probably) but I currently have done office mgr/admin work for years so I shouldnt have too much trouble with a job. Of course hubby is getting a nice raise too .

I think the $1200 range should be ok for a decent 3 BR, but of course I have just been browsing Craigs list with no idea of neighborhoods.

Since the housing market is pretty bad in FL, that may work to my advantage (bad for FL residents now though). I have seen a TON of ads for people wanted to take over mortgages for reasonable prices just to avoid foreclosure. This may be an option too.

On the plus side, my current landlord has a 2 br condo in FLL that she uses only a few weeks a year. She might let us stay there for a month or so while we work out the details of housing.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by stacylee926

Fortunately, I have been reading these forums for a year the last time we had a potential move to FLL for hubby's work. However, he got a promotion (much better than the lateral move from before and they will probably want him at Corporate after the first of the year!!

His office will be on South University Drive in Plantation. DH will be traveling quite a bit so we need to find an area that is convenient to his office AND the airport. We will definitely be renting for the first 18 mo until we get settled and DS graduates.

I would definitely like to rent a SFH and we need a decent high school. We will probably have to move half way thru his junior year and that will be hard for him . 4 years ago I moved from one of the best school districts in the country (Fairfax County, VA) to one that is not great at all (however, DS likes it and I am happy). So, I personally dont need the BEST school area, and it certainly cant be any worse than where we are now.

I will also be bringing my 79 year old father who currently lives in an independant senior apt complex that is subsidized, but very safe. I would like to find the same type of place for him - which shouldnt be too hard. I found what looks like a decent one in Miramar (Heron Pointe).

In a nutshell, I need a decent highschool (doesn't have to be the best) between Miramar and Plantation and the airport with fairly priced SFH to rent. My son and my dad are my biggest concerns.

BTW - as far as traffic goes, I lived in the DC area, and some traffic isnt a big deal .

Even though you lived in DC, you still don't want to commute any further than you have to with the volatile oil prices nowadays. Just live in Davie, directly across from Plantation. If your son is taking honors or AP classes they will be fine at Western High which does not have many safety problems and is supposed to be getting some renovations (the main problem with the school is the facilities). At furthest, if you want the better high school, look into Weston, and make sure you are in the Cypress Bay High zone. Even South Plantation High might not even be too bad depending on where you are moving from, but is a little rough around the edges (not dangerous). However the education is supposed to be fine, and Plantation itself is a decent area.

The rental market is as flexible as your wallet. There are plenty of SFH's for rent (many more in Weston), but I would say 1800 a month is starting price in both cities.

I wouldn't head any further south than Cooper City (which also has a decent high school, and is a good deal smaller than Cypress Bay and "rated" higher than Western). The commute can get to be draggy and annoying and your airport access will not be as easy.

I figure I add that I went to Western High a few years ago and I came out fine. I think I did anyway. When Cypress Bay opened their new principal ran it to the ground, then another new one took over that got named Broward principal of the year. From what I understand he is doing a good job restoring it back to what it was with the limited resources around here.

For your father, there are too many options to list. This is Florida after all.

[heydade]

Originally Posted by stacylee926

Fortunately, I have been reading these forums for a year the last time we had a potential move to FLL for hubby's work. However, he got a promotion (much better than the lateral move from before and they will probably want him at Corporate after the first of the year!!

His office will be on South University Drive in Plantation. DH will be traveling quite a bit so we need to find an area that is convenient to his office AND the airport. We will definitely be renting for the first 18 mo until we get settled and DS graduates.

I would definitely like to rent a SFH and we need a decent high school. We will probably have to move half way thru his junior year and that will be hard for him . 4 years ago I moved from one of the best school districts in the country (Fairfax County, VA) to one that is not great at all (however, DS likes it and I am happy). So, I personally dont need the BEST school area, and it certainly cant be any worse than where we are now.

I will also be bringing my 79 year old father who currently lives in an independant senior apt complex that is subsidized, but very safe. I would like to find the same type of place for him - which shouldnt be too hard. I found what looks like a decent one in Miramar (Heron Pointe).

In a nutshell, I need a decent highschool (doesn't have to be the best) between Miramar and Plantation and the airport with fairly priced SFH to rent. My son and my dad are my biggest concerns.

BTW - as far as traffic goes, I lived in the DC area, and some traffic isnt a big deal .

Heron Pointe is in Sherman Circle in Miramar. PLEASE AVOID THAT ENTIRE SHERMAN CIRCLE area. It is VERY high in crime....property crime, assaults and drug activity.

Also avoid MIRAMAR high school.......it is full of gangs. Everglades High in WEST Miramar is not that bad....but not perfect either.

Good luck.

[Wild Style]

Originally Posted by stacylee926

My budget is ??? - lol!! My mortgage in NoVa was $1650 a mo and now I pay $1075 to rent a sfh with a big yard. So..... I am hoping for a nice little rancher around $1200 or so. I will be moving down without a job at first (probably) but I currently have done office mgr/admin work for years so I shouldnt have too much trouble with a job. Of course hubby is getting a nice raise too .

I think the $1200 range should be ok for a decent 3 BR, but of course I have just been browsing Craigs list with no idea of neighborhoods.

Since the housing market is pretty bad in FL, that may work to my advantage (bad for FL residents now though). I have seen a TON of ads for people wanted to take over mortgages for reasonable prices just to avoid foreclosure. This may be an option too.

On the plus side, my current landlord has a 2 br condo in FLL that she uses only a few weeks a year. She might let us stay there for a month or so while we work out the details of housing.

Only advice I can give is be careful about renting a SFH. Some people are in over their heads in debt and on the verge of default. You don't want to rent a home and end up on the street. That is happening a LOT. Some home owners down here are unreaslitic too. I tried to rent a town house near downtown, 3 bedroom and it was no bigger than the place I have now (which is 1450 a month) and this lady wanted 2500 a month. After I stopped laughing I told her nope. She was like oh wait, wait we have other properties, I was like nah.

[stacylee926]

Originally Posted by Wild Style

Only advice I can give is be careful about renting a SFH. Some people are in over their heads in debt and on the verge of default. You don't want to rent a home and end up on the street. That is happening a LOT. Some home owners down here are unreaslitic too. I tried to rent a town house near downtown, 3 bedroom and it was no bigger than the place I have now (which is 1450 a month) and this lady wanted 2500 a month. After I stopped laughing I told her nope. She was like oh wait, wait we have other properties, I was like nah.

Thanks Wild Style - that is a very good point! I have seen a number of posters who are renters and had their homes forclosed on - lost their deposits and had to move on short notice. I'll have to come up with a way to check them out first.

[stacylee926]

Originally Posted by heydade

Heron Pointe is in Sherman Circle in Miramar. PLEASE AVOID THAT ENTIRE SHERMAN CIRCLE area. It is VERY high in crime....property crime, assaults and drug activity.

Also avoid MIRAMAR high school.......it is full of gangs. Everglades High in WEST Miramar is not that bad....but not perfect either.

Good luck.

Got it! I'll trash all that info on Miramar. Thanks for the heads up! That is exactly the kind of insight I need.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by stacylee926

Got it! I'll trash all that info on Miramar. Thanks for the heads up! That is exactly the kind of insight I need.

Check out Century Village in nearby Pembroke Pines. Very safe and there is a good chance that he could find something there. Sunrise Lakes probably has a few properties as well but sometimes they have car burglars and scammers pass through there. Miramar for YOU really isn't bad on the west side, but there are better communities that are closer by. Closely investigate Davie because of it's proximity to Plantation.

Actually, Pembroke Pines could be worth a look because they are opening a new high school out there called "West Broward High". Check out the prinicipals statement on their website, it looks very promising. The students are going to be coming from Cypress Bay in Weston, Cooper City High and Everglades in Miramar, all which are decent schools. That way, your son isn't the only one starting new. EVERYBODY will be new.

West Broward High School