Considering moving to Miami- advice please! (Jacksonville, Tampa: homeowners insurance, find a job, transfer)

[dreamofmonterey]

Originally Posted by lisalisa4444

We are considering moving to maimi???
We are a couple in our thirties and have a one year old and are expecting another child. We currently live in Sarasota and love Miami but just do not know if it is a smart move for us. We love the outdoors and nature but also love action and nightlife. Our TOP priority is our children as it should be and is this a good place to raise children and enjoy life? The schools are our main priority and have found that Pinecrest and Palmetto bay would be good choices although they are somewhat pricey. We have also heard positive things about Aventura and would consider this area as well. We will most likely rent at first. Any advice on areas, crime, schools, and quality of life here would be much appreciated.

lisalisa- weren't you recommending Sarasota? Cannot imagine someone with young kids moving TO Miami.

sunny/

[lisalisa4444]

sunny,

although I like Sarasota I have been here for 33 going on 34 years...Things get old...Need a change...desperately!

[CoCoGirl]

Originally Posted by applejuice

I was born and raised in Miami and as soon as we had kids, it was time to go. I do not consider South Florida a good place to raise kids at all. Even if you are wealthy and can cocoon yourself, it is something in the air there...hard to explain, but it is not a great place for kids. It is not a kid friendly area at all...people are rude and materialistic. I lived in a middle to upper class area, and I still hated it.

If you have your heart set on Miami, please rent there first. I would not be suprised if after a year or less you will understand what I was talking about.

Yeah, I LOVE Miami, but it is NOT a place to raise children. Even the teenagers of the wealthy start gangs and all that nonsense. It is crazy!!

[Delilah]

Miami can be a wonderful place for kids, as long as you start with good parents. Lisa I recommend, Miami Lakes as a candidate for your next home. Miami Lakes is a wonderful community, with great schools & parks. Homes are very reasonable compared to Pinecrest. Miami Lakes is also located near the Broward County & the main roads for easy commutes anyway. Southwest Broward County is great as well. I recommend you search in 33015, 33018, 33014 for Miami-Dade & then in Broward check out Miramar, Pembroke Pines & Cooper City.

I live in 33015 & have been a Realtor in Miami-Dade & Broward for over 4 years. My kids go to a great school, I live on a golf course & don't deal with traffic. The parks are plentiful, as are the activies for my kids. A new junior high is being constructed for completion in 2007-08. This is a great area.

[doggiebus]

I live 2 miles east of Pincrest. Palmetto Bay and Pinecrest are great areas for schools and lifestyle. As to rasing a family here, that is an individuals choice. I know many who are raising kids here, but I also know many who have left to raise their kids elsewere. Most of my friends and their parents and my family included have left Miami for many reasons. My husband and I are leaving too, because his family has bought homes in other states and are transitioning their movings right now. Miami has changed a lot in the last 10 years, and not all for the good.

Miami is ranked no. 2 for worst weather in the US
Miami is ranked no. 3 for worst crime in the US
Miami is ranked no. 1 for rudest drivers in the US
Miami is ranked no. 1 for most road rage in the US
Miami is ranked no. 1 for cell phone usage in the US
Miami is ranked always in the top 10 for auto theft
Miami is ranked no. 2 is charitable donators
And the list goes on and on, with good an bad.

Sarasota is VERY different than Miami! So make sure this is the right choice. If you have some friends in Miami, I would maybe ask them if you could come over for the weekend maybe twice a month. This way you can get a feel of the city, before you make the leap.

[lisalisa4444]

Thanks Doggiebus!

I think we have ruled Miami out at this point. We have now re-directed our search to a new area, whereever that may be!

Thanks again!

[RJD]

Hi, I have lived here all my life and it sounds like you will enjoy it. The areas you are considering are excellent but can be expensive. If you can afford it, you will love living in Pinecrest and you will have everything you seem to want. I am also in my 30's with a one year old and we love all the options we have here. Good Luck!!

[PNW2007]

A 1 year old and another on the way? NOOOOO WAAY. Very bad move in my opinion. Anywhere in South Florida is a bad area to raise a family. Think about the future and not the present. Just because you live in Aventura or other "safe" areas, doesn't mean danger lurks right across the street. The schools here are horrible. Think about when they grow up to be teens. If you do move here, I suggest buying a gun because about 80% of residents here own one so you better keep yourself at the same level as everyone else. I am moving out of here in a month and back to the Pacific Northwest where REAL diversity is at. How can people say that Miami is diverse when all there is are spanish backgrounds? And diversity shouldn't stop with ethnicity, it should begin with creative minds. I am tired of people saying this place is so diverse because it is far from it. If you are not worried of relocating far from Florida, I suggest Seattle, Portland, or San Diego to raise a family. All have better night scene than Miami with real diversity anyway. And let it be known that the Pacific NW has 4 seasons and in the summer it gets to a comfortable 85%-100% without humidty. Plus you have mountains for skiing in the winter, and hiking in the spring time. Try taking a visit.

[CiXeL]

what i hate is how theres no good asian food or culture around. about as good as it gets is the fruit and spice park asian festival or lucky market on bird road. the latins drive all the asians out because they are so hostile towards them. theyre also rather mild mannered and people like that tend to get eaten alive here. i worked at one company where my boss was one of the few asian people there (taiwanese) and all my latin coworkers were telling me "dont trust the asian guy". at another workplace i met a chinese woman who had moved here for her husbands job. had a big scar on her face. i finally got the nerve to ask how it happened. she said she was walking in a store parking lot and a new immigrant in a ratty car backed up, hit her, she got stuck under the car and dragged her quite a few feet before stopping. we got to be friends for awhile while i was there. she said she didnt know where to get good chinese food either!

[bill coleman]

Since you already live in Florida you already know that there are good places and not so good places. We are a couple in our sixties and our children are grown and have moved away. Wife is having grandchildren withdrawals.We are retired military and live 10 miles from Homestead AFB. Your anticipated move is what you make it. We live in a community that would be ideal for you since it has a diverse population some with small, medium-sized and a few high school students. After supper our street is mostly clear of children. We are exactly 37 minutes from Key Largo and three hours from Key West. I have enjoyed scuba diving in this area. If you enjoy the outdoors our 4bedroom 2 full bath home is on a 10,000 Sq Ft lot. Nature all around us. The nightlife is also in the area. We think this is a great place to raise children. There is an elementary school two blocks away and Southridge High school less than a mile away. Pinecrest and Palmetto bay are good choices but you know that they are somewhat pricey as is Aventura. Should you be interested, please contact us and we would be glad to show you our home and the area.