DC-Baltimore Native have to relocate to South Florida (Miami, Tampa: lease, HOA)

[greensgirl]

Hi..I was recently married and my husband lives in PSL and works in WPB, he is a tradesman (painter, etc on Boats). I currently live in Alexandria, VA (5 miles from DC) and I work directly across from the Pentagon for a government contractor.

I am 39 years old and do not care about night life or mingling with singles or things of that nature. I shop, shop, shop and I found that in PSL and WPB is close enough for me to venture out.

I have a 6th grader and 11th grader (boys)-not really active in sports although my 11 year old is into little league baseball.

Here are my main concerns and what I need the MOST help with (I need to move in July) school ends here in June and I want them to be ready by August.

I want to live in close enough proximity to find decent jobs either government contracting, project coordinator/accountant, financial analyst type work. I don't want to move to PSL and get a job in Miami and then it's too far to drive each day and hop on the tri-rail. (Tri-rail I also know nothing about) I am used to the subway system here in WDC which is pretty decent.

I am open to living from PSL to all points south except Miami. I currently pay over $1200 per month for a 2 bedroom, no W/D, no balcony and about 930 sq feet. My husand rents a house for $500 less so we really would like to rent a SFH, TH or even apt with a W/D and 3-4 br and 2 bathrooms for $1300 or less. We don't want to buy until the market stabilizes and I am sure I want to stay in Florida or find an area I love.

I want good schools (A rated) or decent enough, I don't want to live in a lean on me type school district.

I guess I will leave it here but I've done ton of research and talked to folks and they all tell me NOT to move to Florida at all. I was there for the past 2 weeks and I saw lots of traffic, the mall was packed and the restaurants were full. I won't see what a native will know and see and I am clueless on the area except what I read on city-data and info I pull on craigslist.

Tampa was a choice but we don't want to have both of us quitting a job and starting over. Since hubby has been on his job over 6 years it makes sense for me to come there to start over. Please, Please I welcome suggestions, comments, advice. Thank you!

[TriMT7]

Palm City might be a good location. Commutable to the Palm Beaches, less expensive in general than the Palm Beaches, but generally considered to have "better" schools than Port St. Lucie.

Otherwise, you may really like Jupiter/Palm Beach Gardens. I know in the Fiore development there are 3 bedroom townhouses advertised for under $1300/month, as well as 3 bedroom townhouses in Abacoa (such as the Somerset neighborhood). You would like the proximity to great shopping and dining, and the beach.

Another option would be Boca, which is Southern Palm Beach County. It's generally more expensive, but also has good schools, great shopping and dining.

[kyle19125]

I agree with the above post regarding Jupiter/Palm Beach Gardens. Fiore has some listings that would work for you. Also check out Wellington, in western PBC. Jupiter and Wellington's schools are "A" rated.

However, for a better non-horrific commute should you find a job to the south in Miami or Fort Lauderdale ( I would plan on that scenario), consider Pompano Beach.

Pompano Beach High School is "A' rated. The middle schools are average which is typical of those grade levels in any public school system. You sound like a vigilant parents and that's more the key.

For commuting to Miami there's a Tri-Rail station at I-95 and Sample Road in Pompano Beach as well. You can easily reach greater Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach county from Pompano as it's right in the middle of both.

[FlaLadyB]

She also has a budget to stick to and anything in Palm Beach Gardens will be higher in cost. I would never send her and her family to Ft Lauderdale much less the congested Miami area. There would be no time left to spend with the family when she finally got home. Plus she already expressed no Miami.

Her husband is already here in PSL. Commuting to WPB would be easy and less expensive.
Already talking to her about schools and areas. Hoping to find the right "fit"

[TriMT7]

Yes, but if her husband already works in West Palm, and is willing to move (they're going to have to move anyway), something further South or in county would be ideal.

I did the commute between Hobe Sound to West Palm for about 6 months, and even THAT got really really old, and its at least 20 minutes closer. Also, gas prices (which WILL go up) cut into a lot of savings of living so far from work. Save $300 in rent/month, sure, but end up paying more in car expenses and gas. I now live 4 miles from work and have cut my gas bill by literally a couple hundred a month.

[greensgirl]

Thanks so much for your insight TriMT7 but I since I am a DC native who now resides in Alexandria, VA I am now stranger to traffic, high gas prices and close to $1300 for a 2 bedroom apt (900 sq feet). I was ok with moving closer to WPB or in WPB but my husband would like to me and the kids to experience living in a house for the second time in our lives.

I have only seen the pictures and read tons of posts and I must admit I'm nervous about the HOA rules (but I lived in one before) but I am excited about my kids living in a community again. This time with activities, events and shopping close by. I wasn't set to look until the Spring but it looks like we will be ready to move forward by the end of this month...YAY!

I've thought about the school systems, lack of jobs in PSL, the commute, living in tradition or not and hey....if I don't like it, we can leave when the lease is up.

My husband said NO to Ft. Lauderdale and we are hoping to stick to our budget and then there will not be an immediate need for me to work. I'm in Grad school and I want to be able to focus on my new marriage, my kids and graduating with honors :-)

Thanks again for all of the information and insight. I'm sure I will have a ton of fun at the Gardens mall and I'm looking forward to exploring the State

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by FlaLadyB

She also has a budget to stick to and anything in Palm Beach Gardens will be higher in cost. I would never send her and her family to Ft Lauderdale much less the congested Miami area. There would be no time left to spend with the family when she finally got home. Plus she already expressed no Miami.

Her husband is already here in PSL. Commuting to WPB would be easy and less expensive.
Already talking to her about schools and areas. Hoping to find the right "fit"

You're assuming of course she receives a job offer in WPB, which is unlikely given her field. Also how is living in PSL and commuting to FL or MIA going to give her more time with the family? Also last I checked, the northern Broward County suburbs aren't considered part of Miami. If the husband is willing to move, why not further south to North Broward? I'm suspecting a conflict of interest/bias on your part.

[FlaLadyB]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

You're assuming of course she receives a job offer in WPB, which is unlikely given her field. Also how is living in PSL and commuting to FL or MIA going to give her more time with the family? Also last I checked, the northern Broward County suburbs aren't considered part of Miami. If the husband is willing to move, why not further south to North Broward? I'm suspecting a conflict of interest/bias on your part.

I said, if you read it again, that living in Fl or Miami would NOT give her any time with her family. Somebody ELSE told her to work in FL and Miami, not me.

There is no conflict of interest or bias on my part since she already contacted me prior to this post and we have been talking already. She has already expressed her and her husbands wishes. I am not assuming anything.

[FlaLadyB]

Originally Posted by greensgirl

I have only seen the pictures and read tons of posts and I must admit I'm nervous about the HOA rules (but I lived in one before) but I am excited about my kids living in a community again. This time with activities, events and shopping close by. I wasn't set to look until the Spring but it looks like we will be ready to move forward by the end of this month...YAY!

I've thought about the school systems, lack of jobs in PSL, the commute, living in tradition or not and hey....if I don't like it, we can leave when the lease is up.

The HOA rules pertaining to you would not be anything more than no commercial vehicles, no more than 2 pets depending on the area, no hanging your wash outside. Like I told you, I've lived here for over 2 years and love it. Nothing to worry about HOA rules and plenty of other kids for yours to play with.

[greensgirl]

Trust me. I've been researching and researching and I have family in Miami, Tampa and Orlando. I've weighed the options but again the good thing is that we can live comfortably on one income and I'm in Grad school. If we needed two incomes to survive then I would NOT even consider leaving my government contracting job here in Arlington, VA.

I looked at homes further south and I felt I would have the same life that I have here, we don't want that. I stayed in PSL the last 2 weeks of December 2009 and I really, really liked the atmosphere. My husband has lived in WPB and for the past 4 years has commuted from PSL to WPB so he is accustomed to leaving at 6a and he is at work by 6:45a-7:00a.

I understand how some can think FlaLadyB can seem Bias but umm, yeah-I contacted her. I know how it is when you live in an area that you love (I love Alexandria)! I love having Braddock Lee shopping center with the gourmet wine store, starbucks, giant grocery, etc just steps away. It's so nice and clean, quiet, neighbors are friendly and if I can have all of that in a community I want that.

Just because financially at the moment I am not pushed to find employment, that isn't factoring my decision. I am blessed at the moment and that's a good thing.

I think I wanted to get opinions on the safety, the area. My background includes employment as a staff accountant, project accountant and now finance specialist. I would think that with that experience and working on my MBA that eventually I will be able to find some job somewhere even if it is for considerably less, I'm good with that. I feel that you have to appreciate what you have and where you are to be blessed going forward.

Thanks everyone for your feedback, I seriously want opinions on Tradition and the Gatlin area at this point. That's where I want a fresh start.

Happy Saturday!