Moving to Fort Lauderdale?? (Miami, Hialeah: sales, house, job market)

[wallk3r]

Hello! My friend and I are considering moving to California or Florida. So I have some questions about Fort Lauderdale. We both have saved about $10 000 each. That makes it $20 000. Is it going to be enough for a start? We both have a bachelor degrees in Sales and Marketing. Can we find some decent jobs there? Is it like Miami in Fort Lauderdale? I mean.. more spanish speaking than English speaking? Please help!

[kevinkagy]

Fort Lauderdale is mostly English-speaking as is Miami. Miami just has more bilingual people (Hialeah aside lol). The language issue is not even an issue in any part of Miami (Fort Lauderdale included, so don't worry). People seem to freak out that because half of Miami is Hispanic that automatically, noone can speak English, when that's not true.

Anyways, first and foremost, I'd recommend you find a job first before moving, because as you know, the recession has made it almost impossible to find jobs anywhere in the U.S., so I'd secure a job first and then find a house close to your job. I'd work from there.

[fauve]

I don't think $20,000 is enough to move to Florida or California without a job. You both could eat up that money relatively quickly. Unemployment and cost of living in both places is very, very high.

[Nolefan34]

The job market here is the worst. Make sure you have a good job lines up before moving here. You will burn through 20K faster than a BigMac after a night of heavy drinking. Also, there are a lot of major differences between Miami and Fort Lauderdale. I completely disagree with the last poster. Miami is more like 75% Hispanic, and many people speak exclusively Spanish. Fort Lauderdale has a good number of Hispanics, but is predominantly English speaking. You will never have to learn Spanish to live in Fort Lauderdale. Miami is a different animal altogether. While you can survive on English in Miami to get by, much of the population speaks exclusively Spanish and communication because a problem. The more toursist/educated areas like downtown, Coral Gables, and South Beach, just about everyone speaks English, but vast areas of Miami including Hialeah are almost exlusively Spanish-speaking. Even the suburbia areas like Kendall are dominated by Spanish-speaking people.

I would also add that Fort Lauderdale is way more laid back than Miami. Miami is a very upbeat, vibrant city and people are in a constant rat-race mode between working and going out to clubs/bars. Fort Lauderdale has some of those elements, but overall is slower paced. I don't really know if I can draw any comparisons between Fort Lauderdale/Miami and California, but there are some similarities such as the beaches, good beach weather, beautiful women, lots of people driving around in Mercedes and BMW's, and lots of good places to go out like bars and clubs. Other than that, it depends what part of California you are from.

[wallk3r]

Thank you all for the answers! Of course i will find a job first! I just needed some opinions to see if I have any chances at all... Thanks!

[mental_complex]

What type of life style are you use too? If you plan on living the good life on Las Olas,A1A, or east of US1, $20,000 wouldn't be enough. If you guys don't mind living in areas of Sunrise, Tamarac, Wilton Manors, or Oakland Park, you should be fine if you have a job lined up first.

South Florida is a majority ENGLISH speaking area (except for small pockets), please don't believe the hype. I was born and raised in South Florida and only know a couple of word of Spanish and that's because I'm currently living in El Salvador.

[wallk3r]

OK. Thanks! I don't mind living in those areas.

[mental_complex]

Originally Posted by Nolefan34

The job market here is the worst. Make sure you have a good job lines up before moving here. You will burn through 20K faster than a BigMac after a night of heavy drinking. Also, there are a lot of major differences between Miami and Fort Lauderdale. I completely disagree with the last poster. Miami is more like 75% Hispanic, and many people speak exclusively Spanish. Fort Lauderdale has a good number of Hispanics, but is predominantly English speaking. You will never have to learn Spanish to live in Fort Lauderdale. Miami is a different animal altogether. While you can survive on English in Miami to get by, much of the population speaks exclusively Spanish and communication because a problem. The more toursist/educated areas like downtown, Coral Gables, and South Beach, just about everyone speaks English, but vast areas of Miami including Hialeah are almost exlusively Spanish-speaking. Even the suburbia areas like Kendall are dominated by Spanish-speaking people.

I would also add that Fort Lauderdale is way more laid back than Miami. Miami is a very upbeat, vibrant city and people are in a constant rat-race mode between working and going out to clubs/bars. Fort Lauderdale has some of those elements, but overall is slower paced. I don't really know if I can draw any comparisons between Fort Lauderdale/Miami and California, but there are some similarities such as the beaches, good beach weather, beautiful women, lots of people driving around in Mercedes and BMW's, and lots of good places to go out like bars and clubs. Other than that, it depends what part of California you are from.

Outside of Hialeah and Little Havana you don't have to know Spanish in Miami. Let's remember Miami is a major American tourist spot and ENGLISH is widely spoken.. However; his chances of coming across someone who doesn't speak ENGLISH is greater in Miami than any other part of South Florida. He will have no PROBLEM what so ever finding english speakers in Miami if he needs directions, assistance, or services...

I also like to add, Florida beaches are alot bluer and warmer than the water in Cali.

[tecamu]

I have lived in Cal. and live presently in Fort Lauderdale. The beaches are very different here. The water is like bath water in the summer. The traffic is much lighter compared to Cal. It is very easy to find your way around because the streets are sequential numerically. However, we do have a lot of canals that could throw you off course.

[wallk3r]

OMG! Thank you all! This means that Florida it is! Can't wait to start looking for a job and move there! Really.. Thanks a lot!