Possible Relocation to Boca Raton?

[FL_Watch]

Try looking into Central and East Boca, like Addison Mizner Elementary. Cost of living off the SW 18th Street corridor is substantially lower than, say, north of Glades. And don't do anything west of the Turnpike, for there is an obvious lack of cultural amenities and the locales are... well, I won't even delve deep into my subjective experiences.
I'd highly recommend you look into Coconut Creek (SE of Parkland), affordable housing with very little in the way of violent crime (potentially less so than Boca Raton itself?), plenty of decent locales, no Mayberry but family-friendly enough...

[MidwestGirl22]

Thank you all, I really appreciate it.

We are used to Chicago (we are both a landlord and a renter - I have rented out my condo now to 4 different tenants over 7 years). In Chicago it's pretty easy to fly here for a weekend, look at places, submit an application and be done.

Since we are looking at a relocation I am thinking we need to ask my husband's employer for 4-6 weeks of corporate housing or something so we have time to look for a place.

It seems like flying down for just two days and being done is not as easy.

So much to think about - again I appreciate your help!

[mxcolin]

Originally Posted by BocaRatongirl

Most of the time you have to put down first, last and deposit (equally first months rent) All due before/by move in.

Are you saying that for a home on the market at $2500 per month you would need to put down $7500 up front?

[BNBR]

Originally Posted by mxcolin

Are you saying that for a home on the market at $2500 per month you would need to put down $7500 up front?

That is not unusual at all. I require it on all of my rental properties. There are options where it's just first and security, also. Get a good realtor.

If you are curious why that is, I'll tell you! First month goes to the realtor. So landlord gets nothing from that. Then the tenants often (almost always) try to live out their security deposit for the last month, so landlords typically request last month as well as the security deposit to hedge against that. Most tenants won't break the lease, and since you already have last month, they won't try and live out the security deposit since last is already paid.

[OptimusPrime69]

Love Boca.

It's neat, clean, relatively cosmopolitan, nice beaches, good shopping, good schools, solidly middle to upper middle class, has universities, accessible to larger cities like Miami and Fort Lauderdale and West palm Beach. Close to delray beach, which has a super cute downtown with restaurants, nightlife, shops, boutiques, etc.

Weston is also nice, tho it's more "Miami" culturally. Also, Weston itself doesn't have the same amenities as Boca, plus it's far away from beaches (it's basically a drained swamp). But overall, still a nice place. Parkland is nice as well as it's super close to Boca yet has a bit more open space and less busy than Boca.

[mxcolin]

We looked at Parkland but although there are plenty of homes for sale there isn't much to rent that isn't an apartment/condo/townhome. We really need a SFH.

[BNBR]

Originally Posted by OptimusPrime69

Love Boca.

It's neat, clean, relatively cosmopolitan, nice beaches, good shopping, good schools, solidly middle to upper middle class, has universities, accessible to larger cities like Miami and Fort Lauderdale and West palm Beach. Close to delray beach, which has a super cute downtown with restaurants, nightlife, shops, boutiques, etc.

Weston is also nice, tho it's more "Miami" culturally. Also, Weston itself doesn't have the same amenities as Boca, plus it's far away from beaches (it's basically a drained swamp). But overall, still a nice place. Parkland is nice as well as it's super close to Boca yet has a bit more open space and less busy than Boca.

The distance from anywhere in South Florida to the beach is trivial for most people, including in Weston. It's a 30 minute drive, max, straight shot down 595.

Either you want to be on the beach or walking distance to the beach. If you aren't on the beach or right near it, then being "closer to the beach" becomes moot.

[OptimusPrime69]

Originally Posted by BNBR

The distance from anywhere in South Florida to the beach is trivial for most people, including in Weston. It's a 30 minute drive, max, straight shot down 595.

Either you want to be on the beach or walking distance to the beach. If you aren't on the beach or right near it, then being "closer to the beach" becomes moot.

lol, oh ok. I hadn't realized u were the authority on most people's thought in South FL.

Have fun with that.

[nina702]

I am a Realtor (and have been a landlord too) what was said by WIZRAP and BOCARATONGIRL is about right.

You would need first, last and security to rent. Plus, background checks, credit checks (on both adults) some HOAs actually ask for Income Tax Returns. (Which I find totally invasive, but that's me).. The HOA always asks for $$$ for the checking. Usually $100 to $150.

Finding a private house allows you to actually negotiate with the landlord himself and not the landlord and then the HOA, unless you find a house in a gated community.

$2500 for a private house in Boca will be difficult, all depends on what you are used to and what you like. Most rental single family homes in Boca run $3000 and up... (in the east good areas).

Sent you a PM.

Good Luck to you and your family on this move.

[urbandeco]

East Boca is a great place to live. Downtown Boca Raton is going through a boom of new hotels, apartments, restaurants & bars. A Mandarin Oriental Resort is planning to open in 2017 so lots of money pouring into this town. Boca has great beaches and some nice cultural amenities.

There are a lot of good to above average schools in the Boca area. Parkland is about 20 minutes just west of Boca and quite nice.
Both towns are very safe.