Moving to Ft Lauderdale area (Miami, Pembroke Pines: fit in, transplants, house)

[Kcmd]

We are considering a possible move to the Ft. lauderdale area. My husband would be commuting to Mirimar and I'd be staying home with 2 kids. We are looking for a nice, safe, family friendly area with other moms that stay home and lots of kids. Good schools are important too. I've been looking into Weston and more specifically the Savanna neighborhood in Weston but read somewhere on here that it's mostly people from Venezuela and the poster commented that a lot of their American friends felt uncomfortable and left. Do others find this to be true? I certainly don't mind a bit of diversity however I wouldn't want to be trying to make friends at the pool or wherever and not be able to join in the conversation if no one is speaking English. We are really looking for an area where we can make friends in the neighborhood for us and our kids and find a community where we feel we belong. Anyone else have any experience/thoughts on this? I'd especially like to hear from white non spanish speaking families who live or lived there. Do you/did you feel like you fit in and made friends? Also, what other communities should we be looking at? Concerns are good schools, nice neighborhood, parks, pools etc. easy commute to Mirimar. Housing budget up to 450k. Thanks for any insight!

[ruski]

Hi. We moved to Weston in 2000 and are still here. We actually lived in Savanna from 2000 to 2010.

Savanna was built when they were heavily advertising Weston in Venezuela. So yes, there are a good number of Venzuelans there. However this was never a problem for us, and we don't speak a lick of Spanish. The Savanna Venezuelans are mostly affluent, well educated and speak English pretty well.

Savanna is very nice. You should see their resort style pool complex, with a real water slide!

BTW my neighbors in Savanna were French Canadians, a Texan, another Russian, a few Anglo-Americans, and yes, a few Venezuelans or Colombians. Everyone was very friendly. I still stop by and say hi to my old neighbors and they are happy to see me ( I think, LOL)

[ruski]

BTW this is the pool complex in Savanna

[ACast]

Although we are of Hispanic descent, my wife was pretty much raised in an English speaking household so its the predominant language we use. There are a lot of Hispanics in Weston but as Ruski pointed out, it's a very well-to-do and affluent community where you won't find a sense of feeling alienated as you certainly would in other parts of South Florida. Our neighbors are from all over the map (Venezuela, Colombia, Cincinnati, and Kansas)

You won't have a problem fitting in.

Pembroke Pines and Miramar (West of I-75) will buy you a little more without compromising much, but the closer you get to Miami-Dade county -- the more and more you will hear Spanish being spoken as the primary language.

With $450K you will do just fine in Weston and you will love the schools!

[Tulippsy]

I live in Weston and don't speak Spanish. Many of our neighbors are from Central and South American countries and all of them speak English. The schools are great, the commute to Miramar will be a breeze. Our neighbors are friendly, but I can't say I've made any friends in the two years I've lived here. We don't have school age children though and many women end up making friends through their children.

I love it here. It's like a little peaceful bubble in the the craziness of South Florida. Good luck and welcome!

[wizrap]

I also live in Weston -- I've been here nearly 20 years, when the city first was incorporated. I don't speak Spanish and neither does my husband and we haven't had a problem at all. My neighborhood in Weston has folks from Central and South America (Venezuela, Brazil, Mexico and Columbia just to name a few countries), India, South Korea, Canada, Russia, Italy and transplants from other areas of the state, as well as out of state. These families are drawn to Weston's reputation as a safe community, with good schools, affluent neighbors, lots of parks and location near shopping, expressways and entertainment. My husband says that if we ever move, he would like to take our home and lot and the city with him.

[OptimusPrime69]

Cypress Bay High school is a fantastic public high school in Weston.

[Kcmd]

Thanks for all the great feedback! I'm even more convinced Weston is for us! The pools are beautiful!

[DIAMANT]

Hi , Please tell me ...did you move and where did you end up buying ? we are moving to Ft lauderdale in the next 4-8 weeks as well and like you I am frantic about house ,neighborhood a,d schools we have 2 7th and 8th graders . Let me knoe where to start looking and what school is best .
Thank you so much

[ruski]

Start looking in Weston . You won't need to look anywhere else.

You can throw a dart at a map of Weston and land in a good, safe neighborhood.