West Boca Affordability

[rickyd]

Originally Posted by House4Sale

Most of them are HOA but they are not all that bad. And we can change the outside of a house to a degree. Some people have put up front entryway gates, front patios or porches and you def. can do the kind of trees and shrubbery you want on your property etc. And just so long as paint colors aren't pink and blue polka dots, wild and crazy, then colors are usually approved. Yes, HOA's generally keep the 'hood looking nice.

My guy is in construction but then he has been for a long time. We live modestly but not poorly. Not alot of bling and designer perfumes for every occasion or whim. But then we do have an occasional dinner at Morton's Steak House on special events or stuff like that. I love my life in West Boca.

Things are changing though and it has become very multi-cultural. Not like Miami or Orlando (where I cannot believe what I hear about that city) but, well, multi-cultural. If that's good with you, you are set. Then there are wonderful job opportunities that some other towns do not have. And there is enough money in this town to keep it nice.

As for coconut and plams, we have them lining many streets and shopping areas. I love the way they look against a teal night. (You can search my posts and see the photo I posted of the palm trees against a southern night). Beautiful.

I can't speak for anyone else but I tried elsewhere and came right back to Boca. Yes, rent then buy but make sure you do the later before the prices go up. You have time before that happens.

St. Augustine is very nice but I see the town more for families than young, hip, metro types and couples but maybe that's just my opinion.

Thanks for shedding some light on the HOA thing.

I am glad to hear life in Boca from your point of view, as we share similar lifestyles, so you seem to have gave me more hope.

I have read where people say that Boca is still going to be expensive but I didn't know why they were insisting on that, even after I told them about how inexspensive my lifestyle is. However, after what the previous poster, ikemcfadden said about mcdonalds and gas prices are even more expensive in Boca than in other places, I kind of had a big second thought about it. Seriously, I had no clue it was that ridiculous in that city. I guess I will just look into my next backup choice then, Plantation.

[ikemcfadden]

When you say Boca has a combination of items you're looking for, what would those items be?

It's certainly possible that we have dramatically different priorities...but assuming you stated your point correctly about being interested in a low-key lifestyle...those other towns I mentioned are far, far more suitable than is Boca. I would be very surprised to hear anyone on this board assert that Boca is an appropriate locale for someone looking for a laid-back, non-hyper-consumerist lifestyle.

Perhaps the best thing you can do is spend time in Boca and some of the surrounding towns and make the decision for yourself. You'll quite quickly get a feel for their individual character.

[House4Sale]

"I would be very surprised to hear anyone on this board assert that Boca is an appropriate locale for someone looking for a laid-back, non-hyper-consumerist lifestyle."...

Um, guilty as charged. As a matter of fact, I know several of us who live the noted above lifestyle. She/they/we shop at Costco (I shop Publix) instead of Bloomingdale's, we work and do well working in the school system, service capacities etc., working for those who do have the big money. My auto is old but dependable and paid for several times over. Trendy jeans and tops not $150. ea. but dept. store or online catalog bought. There are wonderful ways to live mainstream in a bling world and we know what they are and we do it.

My insistence on living in Boca is that we've been here for several years and I cannot go elsewhere...least not yet. I tried and came right back to Boca as several people I know have done. Mega job opportunities here as well as in the surrounding areas. The wealth in the community affords a beautiful, manicured city that even the not-so-wealthy get to enjoy as they drive by to work and then play. Culture, universities etc. etc.

But then we all must do what we must do and live within our means.

[rickyd]

Originally Posted by ikemcfadden

When you say Boca has a combination of items you're looking for, what would those items be?

It's certainly possible that we have dramatically different priorities...but assuming you stated your point correctly about being interested in a low-key lifestyle...those other towns I mentioned are far, far more suitable than is Boca. I would be very surprised to hear anyone on this board assert that Boca is an appropriate locale for someone looking for a laid-back, non-hyper-consumerist lifestyle.

Perhaps the best thing you can do is spend time in Boca and some of the surrounding towns and make the decision for yourself. You'll quite quickly get a feel for their individual character.

To answer your question, when I say Boca has almost everything I wanted, I was talking about the perfect balance between safety, the city being family oriented, good & safe schools, close promiximity to local beaches, nice homes, good jobs, being on the south east coast (Feels like my caribbean home compared to anywhere else in FL.), etc. Not every city has all of those qualities.

I agree that I should take time to spend time in Boca so I can see what it's like for myself but that is not easy to do being as I live all the way up here in S. Carolina. As for the type of lifestyle, life is what YOU make it. Seriously, just because everyone else lives the fast paced, materialistic lifestyle, doesn't mean you as an **individual**, has to as well. I can understand that Florida in general is expensive as hell, but people just try too hard to impress and enjoy material desires as well. So alot of people make it hard on themselves and want to blame Florida for ALL of the problems that they are having.

There is just one exception I noticed about Boca though.........As for everything being more expensive in Boca like everyone claims, is it true that even gas prices, mcdonalds, and EVERYTHING else is more expensive in the city than in other cities? I still find that hard to believe. I want to believe that it is just negative info coming from people who are just plain fed up with Boca, but I don't know because I don't live there.. I mean, what is the truth on that particular deal?


I really do wish someone could answer all the questions I've been asking, because really, I've just noticed that I had to end up asking the same thing over and over again since I started this topic, and it's kind of annoying.

[House4Sale]

Gas is more expensive but when one drives five mins. (sometimes less) from W. Boca to Broward county line, they get it those few cents cheaper.

I don't eat McDonald's too often so I'm not sure if it's more. Then again, go five mins. south and one is in Broward and they can get their Mickee D's cheaper (if it is). S.E. Boca is so-o close to N.E. Broward that it's no big whoop to go in that direction (is sometimes even closer) then to go in another direction in Boca.

I rent from Blockbuster's (some do NetFlix) but sometimes I get DVDs at the public library for FREE. They have the classics that I cannot find at BB so it evens out for me.

Hope that helps some. And yes, if one must, do live in Plantation or Margate and drive into Boca (when one gets settled in) or live one year in Plantation or Margate and then one year in Boca and make the comparisons.

I forget what kind of work you do but one hot place is Applied Card Systems. It is phone center work (unskilled worker) and there is an extensive training period but if you work nights, you start at about 11.00 hr. plus you get $1.25 diff. pay (give or take a few cents) and benefits. About $13.00 an hour to start so that is not too shabby for unskilled worker. Then if you are w/a degree, that of course opens more doors for a person. Times two people (you are a couple) and you are not doing too badly for yourselves...if you live the modest lifestyle that you do.

[rhiannonfl1]

I have lived in West Boca for 6 years now. I am by no means rich. I live in a nicely kept, modest subdivision in West Boca called Rainberry Park. There are several subs in the area with homes at reasonable prices. HOA fees in my sub are $150 per month. Includes cable, trash pickup, security(ungated community) and common area maintenance. We are fee simple, meaning that it is not like a condo..you own the land and the home, so you are responsible for your lawn maintenance and paying for property insurance.
I disagree that McDonald's, gas etc is more expensive. I haven't noticed a difference.
To answer your question, when I say Boca has almost everything I wanted, I was talking about the perfect balance between safety, the city being family oriented, good & safe schools, close promiximity to local beaches, nice homes, good jobs, being on the south east coast (Feels like my caribbean home compared to anywhere else in FL.), etc. Not every city has all of those qualities.

I think you will find all of those qualities in West Boca.

Plantation is a nice area, but very far west if you are looking for proximity to beaches.