Ft. Lauderdale area (Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Sunrise: relocating, gated, apartment complex)

[Weis1110]

Ok so like everyone else on this forum I am relocating to Ft. Lauderdale for work. I have not spent a lot of time in this part of the country so I have some questions. First off, I need to know in which cities I should look to live based on crime levels and affordability. I was thinking about renting first in Plantation or Sunrise first. Is this ok? My office will be on E. Broward Blvd in FLL.

Secondly, I am taking a pay cut to do this in the hopes that it yeilds a promotion more quickly. How are the living expenses in the places I mentioned? I now live in St. Paul (Minneapolis) Minnesota. Obviously, I am nervous and excited about this move, and I want to be the best informed I can before I get there in June, 2007.

Thanks,
Nick

[harry chickpea]

I would advise against Plantation or Sunrise for one major reason. I-595 is a parking lot during commute times. There is not enough east-west road development to support all of the traffic from those areas and Weston into the city and onto the Turnpike and I-95 to Miami and Palm Beach. This is a universal complaint of people living west.

Plantation is also a zoning stickler, so if you were to buy a house, you might run into unexpected restrictions like which trees you can plant, how often you have to trim them, how long your grass can get, etc.. Renting first is a great idea.

You might consider renting right near E Broward. The area is not bad, and you could do a lot worse while you check out the area for more permanent digs. Good luck.

[doggiebus]

I have found some information for you to compare Minneapolis, St.Paul (not sure if you live directly in Minn. or St. Paul) Plantation and Sunrise.

Plantation median home price $404,600
Sunrise median home price $314,100
Minneapolis median home price $306,200
St. Paul median home price $205,700

Plantation cost of living is 33.8% higher than US average
Sunrise cost of living is 18.8% higher than US average
Minneapolis cost of living is 22.1% higher than US average
St. Paul cost of living is 6.10% higher than US average

[macguy]

Originally Posted by Weis1110

Ok so like everyone else on this forum I am relocating to Ft. Lauderdale for work. I have not spent a lot of time in this part of the country so I have some questions. First off, I need to know in which cities I should look to live based on crime levels and affordability. I was thinking about renting first in Plantation or Sunrise first. Is this ok? My office will be on E. Broward Blvd in FLL.

Secondly, I am taking a pay cut to do this in the hopes that it yeilds a promotion more quickly. How are the living expenses in the places I mentioned? I now live in St. Paul (Minneapolis) Minnesota. Obviously, I am nervous and excited about this move, and I want to be the best informed I can before I get there in June, 2007.

Thanks,
Nick

Seriously look at croissant park. You should be able to rent a house there for around 12 to 15 hundred a month maybe a little more. You will be 5 minutes from work, the beach shopping, the airport, performing art center and about everything you come here for. Just the hour and a half you won't spend every day sitting in traffic round trip to work makes it worth it. Best all around neighborhood in Fort Lauderdale. It is not a secret though, houses in there are not cheap for what you get but well worth it for the location. Just go a little East towards the beach across US 1 and the prices double so they are a bargain if you can afford them.
http://www.croissantpark.com/

[jhlcomp]

Weis1110 - You were asking about rents? Also, you did not get some of the best advice. I have an office in Plantation and live out in a western suburb named Weston.

There are rental communities in Plantation. If you live in Plantation you can take Broward Blvd straight to your office - it's congested but really not that bad. The Sunrise area is also an option as you mentioned. There are rentals there as well. You should do a search on the web that provides rental communities and their ratings - I forget the name of the site.

Do you need a 1 or 2 bedroom unit? Rents start around 950 (on the low end) and go up. I would suggest Plantation until you get a better idea of the area and your likes and dislikes. Welcome to Fort Lauderdale!! Much luck with your new job!

[chisoxfan]

Between the areas you're already interested in and some of the advice you've received, you're off to a good start. One thing I'd add: Avoid moving anywhere that would force you to make a daily commute on I-95. This would rule out most of northern and southern Broward County. Like any major metro area, traffic is heavy here, but I-95 is life-threatening. Please PM or e-mail me (scottstahmer@aol.com) if there's anything else you would like to know. Best of luck in your move!

[macguy]

Originally Posted by jhlcomp

Weis1110 - You were asking about rents? Also, you did not get some of the best advice. I have an office in Plantation and live out in a western suburb named Weston.

There are rental communities in Plantation. If you live in Plantation you can take Broward Blvd straight to your office - it's congested but really not that bad. The Sunrise area is also an option as you mentioned. There are rentals there as well. You should do a search on the web that provides rental communities and their ratings - I forget the name of the site.

Do you need a 1 or 2 bedroom unit? Rents start around 950 (on the low end) and go up. I would suggest Plantation until you get a better idea of the area and your likes and dislikes. Welcome to Fort Lauderdale!! Much luck with your new job!

Not to disagree but from east Broward to Plantation say by the turnpike is around 7 miles. In rush hour traffic at best it is over a 30 minute drive and at worst with the daily fender benders much longer each way. There is nothing better then living close to work and nothing worse then 20 to 30 unpaid hours a month going to and from work. Living close to your job in my experience is the best. And if you can do it with out any sacrifice even better. I talk to people all the time who have moved east to get away from that drive. 250 to 300 hours a year just sitting in the car "Yukk"

[Weis1110]

Thanks for the responses so far, they have been helpful.

[Valtruch]

Hi
Just read your post, that is gonna be a huge change for you !!
My philosophy is : if you live in Florida why do you want to be in Sunrise or Plantation. These 2 cities are 30mn from the beach and downtown FTL.
Just go for the beach, especially because your job seems to be on East Broward. Fort Lauderdale is a very nice place to be, but honestly Plantation is (to me) boring. It's just communities, all gated and plazas.

moderator edit: advertising

[compelled to reply]

The only gated community of any size in Plantation is Hawks Landing and a couple of the apartment complexes off of University. Most of the neighborhood are actually very comfortable and full of tree shade and houses that actually look different from each other which is rare down here. Like Jacaranda County Club, Plantation Acres, Plantation Isles, the old side of Plantation, etc, many which aren't all that far west. Boring though? Absolutely.