Family Relocating - East or Central Boca? (Boca Raton, Palmetto: HOA fees, crime)

[cindymorgankim]

We have 2 school aged children (elementary and middle school) and may be relocating to Boca Raton by the end of the summer. We lived in South Florida before (pre-children) so we are generally familiar with the area. We definitely want to live either in Central Boca or East Boca - easy access to beaches, interstate, shopping/retail, beaches, and work (but having a house with direct water access is not important or necessarily desired by us). We are looking in the $1.3-$1.5 M range.
Factors:
1) We only want to look in the Spanish River High and Boca Community High school districts. We may send our children to private schools but we would like a good public school option.
2) We only want to buy in Central or East Boca (no West Boca).

It seems like there are plenty of upscale gated communities in our price range (e.g., Seasons, Azure, Les Jardins, Woodfield, etc.).

I am a little concerned about crime in the non-gated communities, but really like Boca East Estates (there is an unmanned gate) and Old Floresta and those neighborhoods feed into Boca Community High, which is appealing.

The amenities (e.g., golf, tennis, club facility, etc.) associated with all the HOA fees are not that important to us, but we don't might buying a house that requires membership or have a higher HOA.

Is there really a sense of community in the upscale gated communities, which are mostly located in Central Boca? In other words, if we are really not about the amenities, would we be better off in East Boca? Also, how prevalent is crime in some of the East Boca neighborhoods. I could understand that the manned gates serve as a deterrent.

[ladyalicemore]

Hello, cindy,
Old Floresta has a lot more charm than newer gated complexes in Boca, but I prefer older to newer houses, having grown up in New England. It's all about what you need and like.

I rented in Central Boca before buying a house on the blocks across Palmetto Park Road immediate across from Old Floresta. I wouldn't buy along PP Road as I had a friend who had a house on Allamanda and there were traffic accidents rather often. In the innards of Old Floresta there are a lot of charming family houses, though.

I wouldn't buy in Central Boca Raton because of the traffic and the clogged roads getting into and out of supermarkets, restaurants, etc.

That's a nice budget for Boca Raton; I am sure you'll find something you like. For storm surge, buy west of 4th Avenue; it is on a slight ridge that I think is the highest point in Boca. Old Floresta is about a mile west of 4th.

[urbandeco]

I personally like East Boca, and do not live in a gated community. I think East Boca is very safe. Never had an issue and hardly ever hear or read about much crime. Of course, living in a gated community might be safer, but I never liked those places.

[flr2d2]

Originally Posted by cindymorgankim

We have 2 school aged children (elementary and middle school) and may be relocating to Boca Raton by the end of the summer. We lived in South Florida before (pre-children) so we are generally familiar with the area. We definitely want to live either in Central Boca or East Boca - easy access to beaches, interstate, shopping/retail, beaches, and work (but having a house with direct water access is not important or necessarily desired by us). We are looking in the $1.3-$1.5 M range.
Factors:
1) We only want to look in the Spanish River High and Boca Community High school districts. We may send our children to private schools but we would like a good public school option.
2) We only want to buy in Central or East Boca (no West Boca).

It seems like there are plenty of upscale gated communities in our price range (e.g., Seasons, Azure, Les Jardins, Woodfield, etc.).

I am a little concerned about crime in the non-gated communities, but really like Boca East Estates (there is an unmanned gate) and Old Floresta and those neighborhoods feed into Boca Community High, which is appealing.

The amenities (e.g., golf, tennis, club facility, etc.) associated with all the HOA fees are not that important to us, but we don't might buying a house that requires membership or have a higher HOA.

Is there really a sense of community in the upscale gated communities, which are mostly located in Central Boca? In other words, if we are really not about the amenities, would we be better off in East Boca? Also, how prevalent is crime in some of the East Boca neighborhoods. I could understand that the manned gates serve as a deterrent.

6718 Newport Lake Circle, Boca Raton FL JUST CAME ON THE MARKET.

4bed, 3.5 bath, 4100 sq ft, three car garage, 0.43 acre lot with large fenced in side yard and pool.

Built in 1990 it has huge potential as a fixer upper and currently listed at 699k.

It's located in Newport Bay Club. This is a non equity 24 hr manned guard gated community in east Boca off of jog road in between Clint Moore and Linton Blvd.

The elementary, middle and high schools are all A+++ rated to include Morikami Elementary, Omni Middle and Spanish River. They are all less than 5 miles away.

6718 Newport Lake Cir, Boca Raton, FL 33496 | MLS #F1375813 | Zillow