Relocating to Ft Lauderdale (Miami, Tampa: extended stay, apartments, rental)

[HNWunderwriter]

I am going to be relocating to Fort Lauderdale with my job. The new office will be on Cypress Creek, off I-95 basically. I am coming from Brooklyn NY and I was originally moving Tampa but due to a last minute change I will be in the Ft. Lauderdale area, which I am much less familiar with. I am moving with my girlfriend and small dog and we were excited for the laid back feel of the Tampa area and the outdoor recreation opportunities. We love the beach and outdoor recreation in general and I would like to live in a very safe neighborhood, preferably on the quiet side, which is also close to beaches or parks with good trails for walking or nature watching. My prime concern is a safe and somewhat affordable area (up to $1100/month for 1 or 2 br) but I do not want to commute much more than 25-30 miles. I am moving in about a month so any and as much info as you have is appreciated.

[DrGonzo33]

Originally Posted by HNWunderwriter

I am going to be relocating to Fort Lauderdale with my job. The new office will be on Cypress Creek, off I-95 basically. I am coming from Brooklyn NY and I was originally moving Tampa but due to a last minute change I will be in the Ft. Lauderdale area, which I am much less familiar with. I am moving with my girlfriend and small dog and we were excited for the laid back feel of the Tampa area and the outdoor recreation opportunities. We love the beach and outdoor recreation in general and I would like to live in a very safe neighborhood, preferably on the quiet side, which is also close to beaches or parks with good trails for walking or nature watching. My prime concern is a safe and somewhat affordable area (up to $1100/month for 1 or 2 br) but I do not want to commute much more than 25-30 miles. I am moving in about a month so any and as much info as you have is appreciated.

I work off of Cypress Creek too, best area to live in IMO is Coral Springs area not too far west.
I live in Coral Springs near Coconut Creek off Sample Rd, it takes me about 15 mins to get over to Cypress Creek without getting on 95 or the turnpike. You have quick access to I-95, the Florida turnpike and Sawgrass Expressway from Sample rd in Coral Springs.
If you go east on Cypress Creek there are nice apartments on A1 in Pompano Beach but they are very pricy like $1500 a month for a one bedroom, you can get a bigger and nicer apartment in Coconut Creek or Coral Springs for about a $1000 a month.
Corals Spring has virtually no crime, they have tons of cops driving around looking for something to do.
Coral Springs is only 15 or 20 mins form FT Lauderdale beach, 25 mins from North Miami Beach and 35 mins from South Beach.

[rusty78]

Since you are not familiar with the Fort Lauderdale area......why not look for an extended stay hotel......for once you are down there...you can take your time looking for a place...you could also contact the human resourses manager at your new location for answers...The last thing I would do is sign a lease before you have had a chance to look around...for there is nothing worse than being stuck in a place you hate and cannot leave for a year or more......

[Nolefan34]

Gonzo,

Hate to burst your bubble, but South Beach is more like 50-60 minutes from Coral Springs, with no traffic. I used to drive that route often, and it takes about 30 minutes on I-95 just from downtown Miami to 595. Then you've gotta take 595 west or 95 north another 15 minutes to Sample Rd or the Sawgrass, and then head west another 15 minutes.

In response to the Original Poster, Coral Springs is a great area to live if you work off Cypress Creek. There are several routes you can take, and you can avoid I-95. You can drive due east from Coral Springs and you'll be in Deerfield Beach. Or drive another few minutes south from there and be in Pompano Beach, and then Fort Lauderdale Beach. The beaches are much more accessible in Fort Lauderdale and Broward County than they are in the Tampa/Clearwater/St. Pete area. You have so many options here for beaches.

[DrGonzo33]

Originally Posted by Nolefan34

Gonzo,

Hate to burst your bubble, but South Beach is more like 50-60 minutes from Coral Springs, with no traffic. I used to drive that route often, and it takes about 30 minutes on I-95 just from downtown Miami to 595. Then you've gotta take 595 west or 95 north another 15 minutes to Sample Rd or the Sawgrass, and then head west another 15 minutes.

In response to the Original Poster, Coral Springs is a great area to live if you work off Cypress Creek. There are several routes you can take, and you can avoid I-95. You can drive due east from Coral Springs and you'll be in Deerfield Beach. Or drive another few minutes south from there and be in Pompano Beach, and then Fort Lauderdale Beach. The beaches are much more accessible in Fort Lauderdale and Broward County than they are in the Tampa/Clearwater/St. Pete area. You have so many options here for beaches.

Yeah, but I drive a nitro powered race car

[runswithscissors]

You can get a 3-6 month rental in Port Royale instead of expensive extended stay places. It's on Federal Hwy on water. Gated. But it might be too long a drive. Google 65th and Federal to your office.

[AttilaLaczko]

My wife works in that area, and she commutes a half-hour to and hour (depending on how people behave themselves on the road) from Plantation. Your commute is really affected by a simple factor - the time of day you get out on the road. A friend commutes from Weston to downtown Fort Lauderdale in 30 minutes. If he leaves 10 minutes later than his alotted time, it will take close to an hour!

You have options! matching the lifestyle and the commute, with a quiet place to live... and the ocean. Its a trick, but Fort Lauderdale is filled with small pockets of neighborhoods. Everything here has grown into a seamless megalopolis, so we depend on small pockets of zen for sanity.

If you want the ocean, then consider a condo or a home in the east end of town. If you don't mind the drive to the ocean, then look at the suburbs out west like Coral Springs, Coconut Creek, Tamarac, Margate. The downtown area for Coconut Creek is experiencing a revitalization - and some really nice mixed-use developments are just coming online or will do so soon.

On the beach or close to it - you should consider a newer condo that allows pets or a home that is nestled into neighborhoods near great schools. Look up greatschools.net, and look for an A-rated school.

Did you consider buying? Have you done the math? Rates are incredibly low and hovering around low 5's!! Prices are pretty cheap in nice areas around town.

Well, something to think about, eh?

[w2movs]

Iam relocating with my job in the North Miami Beach area. I would like to get an apartment in a suburb of Fort Lauderdale in the near future. Right now i have to settle for an extended stay for at least 2 weeks because I am not familiar with the area. want to look around first.

[SAFLTX]

Hey, having lived in the ft. lauderdale area for a couple of years myself, I don't recommend you live on the city of ft. lauderdale itself as it is the busiest part of Broward county. I'd suggest you live in Coral Springs, which is located in northern Broward county, it is a very nice place to live with very nice houses and is commonly calm and safe. Plantation is located to the west of Ft. Lauderdale, it is also safe, nice and located near most places in Broward. Weston is one of the finest places in Broward, it is the western-most and newest city in that county, and it is sure a great place to live, however it will take you a bit longer to get to Ft. Lauderdale.

I hope you make the best move and enjoy the Ft. Lauderdale to its best- to me it's a paradise, but for a few reasons I had to relocate out of Florida.