Raising kids - best places in Ft Lauderdale area (Miami: renting, neighborhoods)

[ertail]

Thanks for the recommendations! I appreciate them.
So you're saying, that there are no safe, friendly neighbourhoods closer to the beach???

[Momma_bear]

Originally Posted by Chelsa1075

I so have to get used to thinking of things on these terms LOL - you know how Woodside is Fauve - it can take 10 minutes or 30 minutes to get from 58th and broadway and Vernon and Jackson LOL. I have to figure this out - well good luck to the OP and hope you find something nice - Fauve you live in Plantation? Sounds like you love it?

I like Plantation also. We rented there when we first moved to Florida (Nob Hill/Cleary). It is a lovely community, close to Fort Lauderdale but without alot of the "affectation" you get in some affluent communities.

We moved to Weston because the schools were better. As it turned out the schools here in Weston are better, but they still stink and now my kids go to school in Plantation.

For the OP who has little ones and is renting I would say Plantation is the perfrect place to get started in Broward County.

[Momma_bear]

Originally Posted by ertail

Thanks for the recommendations! I appreciate them.
So you're saying, that there are no safe, friendly neighbourhoods closer to the beach???

You said you wanted to be near Plantation. Plantation is the nearest to Plantation that I can think of.

There are some nicer neighborhoods in Fort Lauderdale but they tend to be expensive. Coral Ridge in Fort Lauderdale is nice. So is Victoria Park. Not sure about which ES are good except that I know Bayview is good.

[fauve]

Originally Posted by ertail

Thanks for the recommendations! I appreciate them.
So you're saying, that there are no safe, friendly neighbourhoods closer to the beach???

Lauderdale by the Sea could work. I have no clue what the elementary school is like tho. Someone here might know of a beach area that has a decent elementary school. Definite commute to LbS, although against traffic, for your husband. 30 minutes might be tight. Generally speaking, the beach areas are more touristy and/or populated by young singles and less family friendly. Be prepared for pricey rentals too, although if you're okay with a 2 bedroom condo, you should be able to find something reasonable.

[ertail]

What is a reasonable price for a 2 bedr/2 bathr condo let's say in Plantation and on the beach? Is it really that much difference?

[Momma_bear]

Originally Posted by ertail

What is a reasonable price for a 2 bedr/2 bathr condo let's say in Plantation and on the beach? Is it really that much difference?

I would estimate $1400 in Plantation, probably around $1900 in Coral Ridge.

You can get cheaper rentals in Fort Lauderdale. I was looking in Coral Ridge, which is a very nice neighborhood, zoned for Bayview ES.

[Shoegal1075]

Originally Posted by Momma_bear

I would estimate $1400 in Plantation, probably around $1900 in Coral Ridge.

You can get cheaper rentals in Fort Lauderdale. I was looking in Coral Ridge, which is a very nice neighborhood, zoned for Bayview ES.

My sis-n-law lives in Coral Ridge - it is nice - and I believe that Fort Lauderdale Highschool is an A school - not sure about Middle though. My sis-n-law doesn't pay quite that much, but she lives in one of those duplex houses it is very nice though - i think its like 1500 but not a complex, so no pool and playgrounds for the kids which are both very important to me. I'm learning my way around a little guys.

[Rock Newman]

Originally Posted by staywarm2

We moved away 5 yrs. ago, but Weston was a very nice place to live with schools within the community. Lovely and well kept. Various price ranges and Town Center. About 12 min. to Sawgrass Mills Mall, a huge outlet mall of several million sq. ft. Also close to Plantation.

If you live in Plantation, be sure to buy west of University Ave., as that is the safest area.

Hope you speak Spanish, as there are a large number of Hispanics in Broward Co. and it would definitely be to your advantage to know the language.

Best of luck.

Good luck

Agree with most of your post ..... but except for pockets in Miramar and Pembroke Pines you absolutely DO NOT require any knowledge of Spanish to live comfortably in Broward County ... I cannot say the same about Miami Dade .

[Rock Newman]

Originally Posted by Momma_bear

I like Plantation also. We rented there when we first moved to Florida (Nob Hill/Cleary). It is a lovely community, close to Fort Lauderdale but without alot of the "affectation" you get in some affluent communities.

We moved to Weston because the schools were better. As it turned out the schools here in Weston are better, but they still stink and now my kids go to school in Plantation.

For the OP who has little ones and is renting I would say Plantation is the perfrect place to get started in Broward County.

How do you figure the schools in Weston ... stink ... my girls went to school in Weston thru the end of middle school and part of high school ... they are now at MSD in Parkland and frankly the schools in Weston were better .. they had excellent programs at Cypress Bay and many of their older friends have gone on to excellent colleges in Florida and yes ... even in the North East

[Rock Newman]

Originally Posted by Momma_bear

I like Plantation also. We rented there when we first moved to Florida (Nob Hill/Cleary). It is a lovely community, close to Fort Lauderdale but without alot of the "affectation" you get in some affluent communities.

We moved to Weston because the schools were better. As it turned out the schools here in Weston are better, but they still stink and now my kids go to school in Plantation.

For the OP who has little ones and is renting I would say Plantation is the perfrect place to get started in Broward County.

I guess to each his own .... I would never recommend Plantation over Weston .... not that Plantation is not nice ... it is but I think Weston is superior hands down .. more upscale , cleaner , safer .. again just my opinion .