Moving to Palm Beach County (Jupiter, Key West: rent, insurance, condos) - West Palm Beach - Boca Raton - Boynton Beach - Florida (FL) -Palm Beach County - City-Data Forum

capecodder12 · 07-15-2007, 04:29 AM

Hi,
My family and I are selling our home on Cape Cod and are moving to the Palm Beach County area. (for the winter, buying a condo here for the summer) Our children are ages 7 and 11 and we are focusing mainly on the Jupiter/Tequesta area. Any thoughts on this? Our schools here are very good...top scores for MCAS testing, most students college bound, etc. We are looking for a strong family community with good schools. How do you feel Jupiter/Tequesta measures up in that respect? Any other suggestions? My son is entering Middle School and this move does not thrill him in the least but the New England winters and lack of Spring have gotten the best of us and we are ready to head south! Look forward to your thoughts!

TriMT7 · 07-15-2007, 08:40 AM

Jupiter has two middle public middle schools: Jupiter Middle School, and Independence Middle School.

Both of these schools were given "A" grades by the State.

For highschool, Jupiter has one school: Jupiter Community High School (AKA Jupiter High School). It was ALSO awarded an "A" grade.

Here's some more info: Jupiter Schools

I think Tequesta only has one middle school... also rated an "A" (Tequesta Trace), and the kids probably get sent to Jupiter High.

compelled to reply · 07-15-2007, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capecodder12

Hi,
My family and I are selling our home on Cape Cod and are moving to the Palm Beach County area. (for the winter, buying a condo here for the summer) Our children are ages 7 and 11 and we are focusing mainly on the Jupiter/Tequesta area. Any thoughts on this? Our schools here are very good...top scores for MCAS testing, most students college bound, etc. We are looking for a strong family community with good schools. How do you feel Jupiter/Tequesta measures up in that respect? Any other suggestions? My son is entering Middle School and this move does not thrill him in the least but the New England winters and lack of Spring have gotten the best of us and we are ready to head south! Look forward to your thoughts!

Excellent choice. The area has top notch schools and is definitely what you are looking for. You are never going to find schools of the same caliber in Florida as in New England, but if your students keep the right attitude, they can certainly succeed from Jupiter schools.

Graduation rate there is 88% out of Jupiter High, by the way. Thats as high as you are going in Florida schools. Probably not as high as New England, but the best thing to do is call the school, and ask what percentage of their students are going to four year colleges.

capecodder12 · 07-19-2007, 03:50 AM

Thanks for the info! Hope this is the best decision...any thoughts on neighborhoods that I should concentrate my search on?

TriMT7 · 07-19-2007, 08:41 AM

I always recommend the Abacoa neighborhoods for good family living in Jupiter. There are lots of kids, there's a skate park, a baseball stadium, a university, a golf club, a "towncenter" with a couple of restaurants, nature trails and greenways, mixed housing (townhomes, condos, single family home) neighborhoods, and no gates!

What is your price range and what are you looking for in terms of amenities and "style" of house? (Abacoa has everyting from colonial traditional to Mediterranean estate homes, to Key West style homes)!

capecodder12 · 07-20-2007, 03:55 AM

Our price range is pretty broad. We would like to stay under 700k...preferably under 600k if possible. We love the look of the Mediterranean estate style, pool, NO ZERO LOT LINES, (we have 2 acres now and a zero lot line is just too much of a switch), and near the ocean, if possible. Also, how much below asking price (percentage wise) are homes selling for in that area? We have seen properties listed in Abacoa, Egret Landing, etc. and there appears to be ALOT available. Has this effected selling prices?

THX 1138 · 07-20-2007, 09:35 AM

The insurance and property tax rates for a house in that price range can be $20K+ a year in Palm Beach County depending on location.

JimKing · 07-20-2007, 10:24 AM

Please see the thread below about Jupiter and I provided info about Abacoa and Egrets Landing.

By all means rent right now. They are great neighborhoods. But homes are overpriced by 50% in both those neighborhoods.

If you want 2 acres, look in Jupiter Farms, 6 miles to the west. Great elementary school there, then off to Jupiter High.

But again, I lived there and sold at the peak. Prices will fall 50% over the next 5 years....rent.

capecodder12 · 07-20-2007, 10:42 AM

Thanks for the info. I checked into some rents in Egret Landing for 2,500 a month and nearly CHOKED! That seems alot like wasting money. However, we may have time on our side as the market is currently slow here in New England as well, although prices have not been effected much by the slowing. So, it could take us longer than we had hoped to move our property which will give the Fl market a chance to adjust a bit. Any idea on what percentage below asking price people are accepting on their homes?

capecodder12 · 07-20-2007, 10:43 AM

In looking at properties in certain neighborhoods I have been ASTOUNDED at the difference in property taxes from one home to the next. Any idea as to why this is?