I have searched and read... but still need help!! (Fort Lauderdale: foreclosed, rental)

[imayBmoving]

Hi ya'll!! DH is in talks with a company located by the executive airport in Lauderdale. This may or may not happen, but I wanted to do some research to see how this area would fit for our family as DH is also talking to another company in a different area of the country. We are a family of 3 (DH, me and DS-11). I have read all the posts on the family friendly neighborhoods (coral springs, weston, parkland,etc) and I have checked some pricing there, but.....

DS is identified gifted and if we could be closer to the beach in a priced right home, we could go private if needed. He doesn't do the typical saturday morning sports leagues (if may go back to competitive swmming so the aquatic center in coral springs is tempting). He is more into music, arts, etc. He does like having friends, so kids around is important... but he usually has one or two really great friends. We would love to take advantage of live music, that he can go with us to. Walking at the beach, interesting community events, etc. So being locked back in suburbia (although we live there now and can exist) isn't all that appealing.

We will rent at least for the first year and can afford rent up to say $2500 if we have to pay for private school. up to $3500 if we don't. but of course we would like it to be less. We would be more comfortable in a Single Family Home (SFH) or a townhome, but won't rule out condo living if it is the right situation.

Can anyone steer us in the right direction? I was interested in the posts about Delray, but is that too far? and it does worry me with a young son. Oh, BTW, DH and I are older, in our mid 40's and early 50's (yes we had that boy late!!!)

Some more information: we are not impressed with the see and be seen locations. We like funky and different, but still need access to my big box shopping, we are beach people (and currently live 10 min. from the beach), we like the road less travelled (but safety is a concern with a child), commuting is not too big an issue with DH, he is willing to go up to 45 min.

Any ideas, suggestions, etc. would be greatly appreciated.

[fauve]

Downtown Delray sounds perfect for you guys, and I don't think it's too far. American Heritage has a private school nearby - I do not know how the public middle schools are in that area but Atlantic High nearby in Boca has an IB program for when he gets older.

Oh, and all of the big box stores are an exit north right off of 95 in Boynton. There's also a Target on the way to American Heritage.

Where are you coming from?

[imayBmoving]

We would be coming from virginia beach, va

[fauve]

The public schools are not as good here, HOWEVER there should be a gifted middle school magnet somewhere in that area - best way to find this out is to call the Palm Beach Dept of Ed. With a psych report they are required to give him special ed - in his case, make room for him in a gifted program. These can be excellent - we had experiences with some wonderful teachers in the public school and the kids were ones my son related to well. He ended up in private (American Heritage in Plantation) after 4th grade, but not because he was not getting a good education in public.

[Momma_bear]

In Fort Lauderdale I think that you will find Pinecrest (a private school) has excellent arts programs and is very academically rigorous. You should have no problem finding a nice rental for 2500 a month in Fort Lauderdale.

Broward County has a magnet middle for the arts at Parkway Middle and a magnet high school for the arts at Dillard high school. I don't know much about the magnet programs, except that both Parkway Middle and Dillard are very rough schools.

My older kids are both at American Heritage in Planation and the arts programs there are excellent in addition to the high level academics. We had our kids in a public charter school through 5th grade but we did not feel the public schools addressed gifted kids needs very well.

[imayBmoving]

Thanks to those with helpful replys!! I appreciate it : )

[TimFtLaud]

I would look into maybe Pompano, I live on the Ft Laud/Pomp line and there are some areas that houses are still reasonable, especially with the way prices are dropping. A 2/2 in my building was foreclosed on, sold for $169, and it is only 2 years old. Unless you move over to the island, walking to the beach is a hike. we usually ride bikes to get there. And Pompano is not far from the executive airport.
Where in VB? I used to live near Rudee inlet, then moved near the Center for the Arts.

[TimFtLaud]

oops, forgot to add that Delray would be like a half hour drive with not much traffic.

[heydade]

stay away from pompano.

[Momma_bear]

I have to agree with heydade that if schools are an issue you should stay away from Pompano.