moving to fort lauderdale area.. advice? (Coral Springs, Plantation: home, buying, public schools)

[gettingoutofNJ]

me and my wife (28,26) are looking to move to the fort lauderdale area. we are looking for: an area with good schools, close to the beach, commute to fort lauderdale, nightlife, single family home with a yard, and a good place to raise a family.. i heard coral springs/parkland is nice but far from the beach.. any suggestions?

[fauve]

What is your ballpark budget for a house?

Cooper City is closer than the areas you've mentioned - maybe in the 20 minute range.

generally speaking, good public schools are in the outer (meaning western) suburbs.

[Chelsa1075]

Just so you know these areas are not far in the way you might think. Far in mileage, but only about 25 minutes from Ft. Lauderdale Beaches. I'm not sure where in Jersey you are from but driving to the shore can be madening(sp?) - it really isn't the same.

Weston, Davie, Cooper City, Coral Springs, Parkland - really good places for family. All I will say is be realistic about your expectations. I'm moving there from NY in the Summer (I hope depends on the job situation). Just make sure that the positives of the area outweigh the negatives. They do for me, but I have all my family who is there already. If you are going without family it may be a little scary, but it will be exciting all at the same time. I wish you and your wife luck - oh and have a secure job set up please!

[gettingoutofNJ]

we are looking to spend in the 250-350 price range... we would like to be no more then 15 to the beach if possible..

[ColumbusNEWb]

I recommend buying this book.
Amazon.com: What Sucks About South Florida: The Travel-To, Move-To Guide: Scott Marcus: Books

I lived in South Florida for 5 years and it was the worse place I have ever lived in.
A lot of people love it there and I did for the first year then I got a glimpse of what it is really like and it took me close to 4 years to get everything in order to leave and rid of my property and haul ass..

Best advice I can give you if you are moving there:
have a back-out plan in case it's not what you thought it would be

[Chelsa1075]

you won't get that and be in a place where there are good schools. Believe me the 15 minute ride here seems different over there. I can't explain it, but you will just become accustom.

[motoracer51]

Originally Posted by ColumbusNEWb

I recommend buying this book.
Amazon.com: What Sucks About South Florida: The Travel-To, Move-To Guide: Scott Marcus: Books

I lived in South Florida for 5 years and it was the worse place I have ever lived in.
A lot of people love it there and I did for the first year then I got a glimpse of what it is really like and it took me close to 4 years to get everything in order to leave and rid of my property and haul ass..

Best advice I can give you if you are moving there:
have a back-out plan in case it's not what you thought it would be

I totally agree. I moved down there when I was 18, and stayed down there off and on for 10 years.

I got to the point that I preferred NY over Florida.

[rkumar3]

Try Davie/Plantation, right off of 595... very good schools still close to beaches/downtown. I live rjust west of University Dr and South of I-595 and takes me about 20 mins to the beaches/downtown. Also Airport, freeways, restaurants, shopping is always pretty close by. Schools are great as well.

Good luck on the move and welcome to the sunny paradise

[fauve]

^^^ I agree...the Rolling Hills, Forest Ridge developments in central Davie would deliver a reasonable compromise between distance from beach and good schools.

[Moderate Guy]

Originally Posted by rkumar3

Good luck on the move and welcome to the sunny paradise

hey rkumar, where were you with that welcome sign these past few months when i was trying to relocate there from ny and all i could hear was don't come here, only old people live here, it's 95 degrees year round, the ants and bugs will be on your dinner plate, learn spanish or perish, the beaches are crawling with hypodermic needles, traffic in Broward makes L.A. look like a race track, and a whole laundry list of negs.

man, i coulda used your welcome then! now it's too late, they've all convinced me not to move to fort lauderdale. see, now there won't be another guy driving at 5 mph going to the mall who suddenly gets into high gear later in the day heading for that early bird special! the highways are all yours now fellas

thanks anyway for the belated welcome, kumar.