West Boca Affordability (Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Palmetto: renters, HOA fees, insurance)

[rickyd]

Hey all, next year I am planning on moving from S. Carolina to Florida. I have a strong interest in Boca Raton & somewhat Delray Beach. Does anyone here know the cost of living in west Boca Raton from personal experience? Is it a good bit cheaper, a tad-bit cheaper, or not any less cheaper than East Boca?

In full, I am a 22 yr old male, but looking for a more laid back lifestyle out in a suburban area in West Boca. I don't care about material pleasures or the fast life for that matter, so I figure that I should do well as far as being able to save money, but as far as the overall cost of living there, what is it like?

Seriously, I am looking for answers from only people who have personally experienced life in West Boca. I found that answers from people who have only HEARD about Boca or only VISITED Boca doesn't work because everyone says different things and I don't know what to believe.

[House4Sale]

I live in Boca and would suggest you stay away from the Sandalfoot area in W. Boca. It has a few trailer type communities that have gone down a bit in the past few years.

There are at least five houses for rent in about a two block area from our home that are in a fairly nice area. (Trends or Country Park off S.W. 18th. are good bets with Trends a bit better). Also, Tuscany Pointe Apts. off S.W. 18th seems a nice rental community. They do a check for renters and this keeps things fairly safe.

Let me see what I can come up with as I'm in a bit of a rush now. But I'd suggest Boca over Delray.

[FoRuMRideR420]

yes there are cheaper areas in west boca but most are trailer type places that are cheaper........how much are you lookin to spend on rent?? i live in east boca 2 bedroom is 1000 month plus utilities....and yes above poster in correct over off sw 18th there are lots of places to rent i almost rented there.....boca is very safe compared to surrounding cities

[PBCboy]

West Boca has no flavor, no personality... it's very plain looking.

[PeteU]

Originally Posted by rickyd

Hey all, next year I am planning on moving from S. Carolina to Florida. I have a strong interest in Boca Raton & somewhat Delray Beach. Does anyone here know the cost of living in west Boca Raton from personal experience? Is it a good bit cheaper, a tad-bit cheaper, or not any less cheaper than East Boca?

In full, I am a 22 yr old male, but looking for a more laid back lifestyle out in a suburban area in West Boca. I don't care about material pleasures or the fast life for that matter, so I figure that I should do well as far as being able to save money, but as far as the overall cost of living there, what is it like?

Seriously, I am looking for answers from only people who have personally experienced life in West Boca. I found that answers from people who have only HEARD about Boca or only VISITED Boca doesn't work because everyone says different things and I don't know what to believe.

I've lived in West Boca for six years now. It's a pretty nice neighborhood. As someone else mentioned, the Sandalfoot trailer park community west of US 441 isn't that great, but other than that, it's pretty good.

Prices are another issue. How much are you looking to spend? Would you be willing to do a condo or do you want a single family home? My first couple of years, my wife and I owned a two bedroom condo in the Edgewood community in West Boca. We bought for $85k in 2002 and sold for $175k in 2005. Very nice complex, quiet and safe.

If you can afford or want something larger, I can advise you of the best communities. What is your range and what are you looking for?

[rickyd]

Originally Posted by PeteU

I've lived in West Boca for six years now. It's a pretty nice neighborhood. As someone else mentioned, the Sandalfoot trailer park community west of US 441 isn't that great, but other than that, it's pretty good.

Prices are another issue. How much are you looking to spend? Would you be willing to do a condo or do you want a single family home? My first couple of years, my wife and I owned a two bedroom condo in the Edgewood community in West Boca. We bought for $85k in 2002 and sold for $175k in 2005. Very nice complex, quiet and safe.

If you can afford or want something larger, I can advise you of the best communities. What is your range and what are you looking for?

I am looking into getting a single story single family home that falls within the 350k price range, maybe 450k but I know at first when I move down there, I won't be able to handle anything more than that. Not looking into anything fancy, but something I can at least fix up to make look nice without having to do too much work, or better yet, if I could have something built brand new within that price range, that is cool too because I will have exactly what I want without having to worry about fixing up the problems that previous owners left in the home.

As I said b4, the type of neighborhood I am interested in is something suburban or rural as I am more into the laid back style of life. To be honest, I am not particularly looking for a home at this moment. I am more focused on the question that is it truly as expensive as most people say it is to live in Boca. You know, alot of people say that you have to have something like a Bachelor's degree and make way above the national average in order to maintain life in Boca, both east and west.

I just want someone to clear up the facts for me because something just doesn't seem right about this. I mean besides property taxes and insurance, there is no way that living in a city can be THAT expensive unless the individual person/family spends foolishly or bites off more than they can chew. That's just the way how I see it, but still I would like advice from someone who actually knows what they are talking about.


I so thank you all for your time.

[twistedsista1]

Originally Posted by PBCboy

West Boca has no flavor, no personality... it's very plain looking.

I live in West Boca and my neighborhood is lush, colorful and full of ammenities. Do you even live here?

As to the original poster, 350K doesn't buy much in any part of Boca (if you're looking for a nice single family home). If you can wait awhile, you'll have more choice as prices drop.

[PeteU]

Originally Posted by rickyd

I am looking into getting a single story single family home that falls within the 350k price range, maybe 450k but I know at first when I move down there, I won't be able to handle anything more than that. Not looking into anything fancy, but something I can at least fix up to make look nice without having to do too much work, or better yet, if I could have something built brand new within that price range, that is cool too because I will have exactly what I want without having to worry about fixing up the problems that previous owners left in the home.

As I said b4, the type of neighborhood I am interested in is something suburban or rural as I am more into the laid back style of life. To be honest, I am not particularly looking for a home at this moment. I am more focused on the question that is it truly as expensive as most people say it is to live in Boca. You know, alot of people say that you have to have something like a Bachelor's degree and make way above the national average in order to maintain life in Boca, both east and west.

I just want someone to clear up the facts for me because something just doesn't seem right about this. I mean besides property taxes and insurance, there is no way that living in a city can be THAT expensive unless the individual person/family spends foolishly or bites off more than they can chew. That's just the way how I see it, but still I would like advice from someone who actually knows what they are talking about.


I so thank you all for your time.

Well, unfortately, there is nothing at all in Boca that can be classified as being rural, as much as I'd like it to be so. It's pretty much urban on the coast to suburban on the west side right up until you hit the Everglades, and then there's nothing.

But there is plenty of suburban areas in West Boca, and contrary to popular belief, you can buy an attractive home in a great neighborhood in the $350K or less range there, if you know the right spot.

There are a few places in West Boca where you can definetly afford a single family home in the low $300,000 range. The Sandalfoot homes east of US 441 (not Sandalfoot west of US 441, which are all trailer homes and I wouldn't suggest those at all) and the Palmetto Pines community both have affordable homes in decent neighborhoods. They are older homes, however, (they look to be built in the 1960s and 1970s) and it's not the super-manicured, country-club looking homes that you might find in other parts of Boca. Still, all in all they are decent neighborhoods with no major problems.

If you want to go for a little more money and homes which are newer, I would suggest the area west of US 441 between Palmetto Park Road and Glades Road (the Mission Bay, Loggers Run and Bay Winds super communities). My wife and I moved here after selling our condo and it is just terrific, and we got a great home in a great neighborhood for a little under $350k. You've got some good parks and quiet residential neighborhoods here. Shopping is pretty good for your necessities--we've got a newer Publix and another shopping center across the street, and you are just two minutes away from US 441 which has everything (Target, Walmart, Lowe's, Home Depot, multiple Walgreens and CVS, Borders, Best Buy, movies, etc.).

Two neighborhoods which are very nice but affordable (within the $350k price range for most houses) include Country Landings and Ashley Park. Country Landings actually has three sections, all single story 3 and 4 bedroom houses. It is between Palmetto and Glades off of Oriole Country Road. There's actually a reasonable amount of shade and trees in Country Landings, something you don't always find in all Boca communities.

Ashley Park is inside the Boca Winds community near the end of Palmetto Park Road. It is somewhat subdivided into two sections, but both have basically the same style houses. There are two story 4 and 5 bedroom homes, but also a lot of single story 3 bedroom homes which can be found at a great price. Extremely nice and quiet community. Not gated, but if you ask me, the gated communities are a rip-off anyways, so you aren't missing much.

I don't know if you are coming in with any sort of equity to put down on a new home, but if you are looking for something both affordable and nice, you can't go wrong with either Country Landings or Ashley Park.

[Lilybeans]

Originally Posted by twistedsista1

I live in West Boca and my neighborhood is lush, colorful and full of ammenities. Do you even live here?

When you say neighborhood, are you referring to your subdivision?

All I've ever seen in West Boca are subdivisions and strip centers. I've never sen a neighborhood there.

[THX 1138]

Originally Posted by rickyd

I am looking into getting a single story single family home that falls within the 350k price range, maybe 450k but I know at first when I move down there, I won't be able to handle anything more than that. Not looking into anything fancy, but something I can at least fix up to make look nice without having to do too much work, or better yet, if I could have something built brand new within that price range, that is cool too because I will have exactly what I want without having to worry about fixing up the problems that previous owners left in the home.

As I said b4, the type of neighborhood I am interested in is something suburban or rural as I am more into the laid back style of life. To be honest, I am not particularly looking for a home at this moment. I am more focused on the question that is it truly as expensive as most people say it is to live in Boca. You know, alot of people say that you have to have something like a Bachelor's degree and make way above the national average in order to maintain life in Boca, both east and west.

I just want someone to clear up the facts for me because something just doesn't seem right about this. I mean besides property taxes and insurance, there is no way that living in a city can be THAT expensive unless the individual person/family spends foolishly or bites off more than they can chew. That's just the way how I see it, but still I would like advice from someone who actually knows what they are talking about.


I so thank you all for your time.

I don't know of too many if any 22 year olds that can afford a $350K+ house without a great education/degree, job in the right market and/or nice trust fund/inheritance. Most 22 year olds are in debt with student loans until they are 30ish.

Even if you have the $ to buy a house here tops, figure in property taxes, insurance and HOA fees, which can very expensive a year to maintain on top of living expenses, utilities and etc.