Pompano Beach on the ocean (Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton: middle-class, renting, condos)

[barbara ely]

IS this a safe area? We are thinking of renting a condo for the winter months and I might be there alone some of the time. The building has 24 hour security and is across the street from the ocean on Briny Avenue (I think). We drove through there and it looked nice but sometimes looks are deceiving.

Thanks for any info as I have to make a decision this coming week.

[BIGSTOCK]

Hi Barbara,
I have lived in southeast Florida for 40 years. Although no place is actually always safe. Where you want to be in Pompane Beach is very nice. Any beach area is filled with tourists. Depending on where your from might determine your prosprctive. Always take precautions. Lock your door, home and away. Never where expensive jewerly (even is it just looks expensive) when visiting a place you are unaware of. There are plenty of nuts out there. I own an internet business (repairing circuit boards). I've heard most all but every now and again I get shocked.
Have a safe and fun filled vacation.
Rick

[Nolefan34]

Barbara>

That area is very nice. The areas of Pompano Beach (on the beach) and the city of Lauderdale-By-The-Sea which is nearby are very nice areas of highrise condos. It is very safe, but as the last poster mentioned nowhere in South FL is too safe. That said, I would strongly recommend visiting the area and checking out the unit you are interested in before committing. Even in "nice" areas, pictures can be deceiving and you can be sold a dump.

The area of Pompano Beach directly across the bridges along US1 has lots of stores/restaurants and nice condos, but is less safe than the island. Once you go west of US1 it starts getting very seedy very quickly. Especially the area between US1 and I-95, and west of 95 out to FLorida's Turnpike. There are some bad neighborhoods out that way.

Just take a trip down and visit the area. Get familiar and who knows. You might find something else you like better.

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by Nolefan34

Barbara>

That area is very nice. The areas of Pompano Beach (on the beach) and the city of Lauderdale-By-The-Sea which is nearby are very nice areas of highrise condos. It is very safe, but as the last poster mentioned nowhere in South FL is too safe. That said, I would strongly recommend visiting the area and checking out the unit you are interested in before committing. Even in "nice" areas, pictures can be deceiving and you can be sold a dump.

The area of Pompano Beach directly across the bridges along US1 has lots of stores/restaurants and nice condos, but is less safe than the island. Once you go west of US1 it starts getting very seedy very quickly. Especially the area between US1 and I-95, and west of 95 out to FLorida's Turnpike. There are some bad neighborhoods out that way.

Just take a trip down and visit the area. Get familiar and who knows. You might find something else you like better.

Are the prices fairly outrageous west of US1? I think I read that prices in Pompano Beach are much better than other areas near the beach...but also heard the crime is quite high? But I guess that might be more west of US1?

[Nolefan34]

Tiger,

You are correct that the prices are lower in Pompano Beach. But prices are usually correlated with desirability. The area of Pompano Beach west of US1 is a high-crime area, so the prices will be lower as a result. If you live along US1 or east of US1, the communities are nicer and more middle-class. So the prices will be higher in those areas. Overall, the prices in Pompano east of US1 will be lower than the prices of Fort Lauderdale east of US1 or Boca Raton east of US1. That is because Fort Lauderdale and Boca are more desirable places to live.