30 y/o single male moving from DC to FLL/SIB/MIA (Miami: rental, condos)

[l22]

Originally Posted by ruski

Cultture-multure...

Everyone here is oh so cultured...

So what are you culture snobs do every day to get your fill of culture? Do you go to the opera every day? Symphony? Ballet? Ah?

Just would like something more like the cities I previously mentioned when it comes to "culture." A lot of the lack of culture down here/abundance of trash may be because of the lack of racial diversity and the divide between the super rich and the super poor (who are stuck working crappy service industry jobs).

[l22]

Hence the large number of single moms down here who are somehow expected to feed their kids by working as a cashier at Publix, some other retail store, restaurant/bar or a hotel.

[l22]

Originally Posted by l22

Just would like something more like the cities I previously mentioned when it comes to "culture." A lot of the lack of culture down here/abundance of trash may be because of the lack of racial diversity and the divide between the super rich and the super poor (who are stuck working crappy service industry jobs).

You can add to that lack of education.

[BNBR]

Originally Posted by l22

You can add to that lack of education.

But not lack of opportunities.

[MrKnight]

Hello jm9234! I actually relocated to this area from DC last year just you are planning, I am also a single young adult male so I hope to answer your questions and provide you with as much insight possible considering that we share some commonalities.

Originally Posted by jm9234

I'm trying to narrow down the areas to find a 1 BR apartment in the $1400-1800/mo range.

This is doable. I currently pay $1600 a month for a studio in a very desirable area of Downtown Fort Lauderdale, however, if you are flexible with location and search well you may very well be able to find a one bedroom apartment within your price range.

Originally Posted by jm9234

1. Neighbors who are professionals or at least keep reasonable hours
2. People (and single women) in my age range (i.e. 24-30)
3. Reliable high-speed internet (for work)
4. Reasonable level of crime. I've lived in cities for a while now, I'm not a scaredy-cat but I want guests to feel safe coming to my neighborhood and I don't want to live next to drug addicts.

You can find all of this area, Downtown Fort Lauderdale/Las Olas area. As far as the crime levels, South Florida has sharp lines when it comes to good areas and bad areas, stay on the east side of downtown and along Las Olas are all good areas, avoid the west and anything past the railroad tracks.

Originally Posted by jm9234

Things that would be really nice too:

-some walkable entertainment facilities i.e. bars/restaurants
-on or near the beach

Once again you can find all of this in Downtown Fort Lauderdale. The beach is 5-10 minutes away. Both Las Olas and Himmarshee are known for its bars/restaurants/nightlife scene.

Originally Posted by jm9234

Any advice on narrowing the places that I'm considering so far or other options? Also I'm planning on going to see places in person in late July, any advice on making it a more successful trip? Thanks!

On your discovery trip, I would recommend spending some time Fort Lauderdale, then some time in Hollywood, and finally some time in Miami. All three areas are distinctly different. Of course the closer you get to Miami neighborhoods become very dense and urban, as does the traffic. Please let me know if there are any others questions I can answer.

[ruski]

Originally Posted by OptimusPrime69

Well excuse us for not wanting a cookie-cutter lifestyle in the former swamp of Weston....with your fake everything. Fake downtown, fake "tuscan" communities, fake landscaping, fake pre-fabricated feel all around ugggh. Weston is disgusting IMO.Talk about a boring community The most exciting thing going on there is the Starbucks in that crap excuse of a downtown.

Talk about the lack of culture and tact... Looks like I've summoned it right there.

[BNBR]

Originally Posted by ruski

Talk about the lack of culture and tact... Looks like I've summoned it right there.

Has town center ever really been marketed as some sort of "downtown"? Seems Optimus is very fixated on some fictional downtown Weston that doesn't even exist. Town Center is simply marketed as a shopping center, and within that context, it's a pretty nice shopping center.

[SoFlaLEO]

$1400 - $1800 a month on the beach doesn't happen unless you're in a trash/ghetto area with plenty of crime. Fort Lauderdale is due for a rebound, but yes, its a pretty sad state from even 5 years ago when you go down town and see all the old popular places boarded up and abandoned now.


Apartments even in the Suburbs are more than what your budget is down here, unless you're willing to take on complete strangers as room mates to afford something better/nicer.




I think you've hyped what South Florida is up too much. Re-evaluate like several others have suggested with the information you have.

[BNBR]

Originally Posted by SoFlaLEO

$1400 - $1800 a month on the beach doesn't happen unless you're in a trash/ghetto area with plenty of crime. Fort Lauderdale is due for a rebound, but yes, its a pretty sad state from even 5 years ago when you go down town and see all the old popular places boarded up and abandoned now.


Apartments even in the Suburbs are more than what your budget is down here, unless you're willing to take on complete strangers as room mates to afford something better/nicer.




I think you've hyped what South Florida is up too much. Re-evaluate like several others have suggested with the information you have.

You can get a very nice 1 or 2 bedroom on the beach for $1400 - $1800, easily.

[l22]

Originally Posted by BNBR

But not lack of opportunities.

Yeah, tons of opportunities! There's cashier at Publix, cashier at Walgreens, McDonalds, Burger King. Essentially, jobs a teenager would be the most likely to work in most other states, but adults work them here because there's nothing else and they're trapped trying to feed the kids they had way too young. I remember watching a Youtube video saying "you need a Master's Degree to work at McDonalds in Florida."