Expert Opinions Needed - To move or not to move? (Miami: apartment, to rent)

[Mason19]

Hello,

I am looking for some insight on the cost/standard of living in Fort Lauderdale or any surrounding communities. I’m from Ontario, Canada and I am competing for a job at the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood Airport which pays $38,000/yr.

My question is would I be able to rent a 2 bedroom apartment plus live comfortably on 38K. It is difficult to compare both economies but I presently make 46K and live pretty comfortably here. I’m trying to figure out if 38K is doable. I have twin toddlers to look after and school loans as well, and I’m a bit worried about being able to afford to move to Florida at that salary.

I’ve read so many different views on life in Broward County that I decided to ask for opinions on some of the things I’m looking for specifically in a move to Florida:

1. Nice weather all year round
2. Work at an airport that is in constant growth mode, therefore
ensuring job security
3. Many outdoor activities for my kids and I because I’m big on
exercise, fishing, bike riding, soccer, swimming, camping etc.
4. Being able to afford renting in a safe neighborhood while making
$38,000/yr
5. The ability to purchase a house in a reasonably safe neighborhood
for about $250,000-$300,000 while making $38,000
6. Good public schools

Can anyone comment on if I’d be able to achieve these things on 38K?

Where would be the safest and closest place to the Airport to rent once I move?

What’s crime like in Broward County compared to West Palm Beach County for example?

What are some of the communities I want to stay away from when I move (crime, poverty etc.)

Can anyone list the best things about Broward County and some of the least desirable things?

Thanks for the input; it really helps to here from the people that life there.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by Mason19

1. Nice weather all year round- Make sure you can deal with the 4 months of 100+ degree heat index, albeit with a breeze.
2. Work at an airport that is in constant growth mode, therefore
ensuring job security- That helps
3. Many outdoor activities for my kids and I because I’m big on
exercise, fishing, bike riding, soccer, swimming, camping etc.- Yes
4. Being able to afford renting in a safe neighborhood while making
$38,000/yr- NO!
5. The ability to purchase a house in a reasonably safe neighborhood
for about $250,000-$300,000 while making $38,000- NO!
6. Good public schools
Not in your price range.

Can anyone comment on if I’d be able to achieve these things on 38K?

Yes, don't move here.

Where would be the safest and closest place to the Airport to rent once I move?

West Davie.

What’s crime like in Broward County compared to West Palm Beach County for example?

Significantly lower than Palm Beach, even lower than Dade County. High compared to Toronto, and about average compared to other large US cities.

What are some of the communities I want to stay away from when I move (crime, poverty etc.)

Pompano Beach, Oakland Park, Hollywood between US1 and 95 and also many parts west of 95, parts of Deerfield and Hallandale Beach, Lauderhill (and a small chunk of Sunrise that blends into it), west Fort Lauderdale. They are pretty avoidable.

Can anyone list the best things about Broward County and some of the least desirable things?

Read my posts.

Thanks for the input; it really helps to here from the people that life there.

You could find a house in a nice area in a better school zone for 300k easily and nowadays 250k, but I don't know how your budget is that high with only 38k a year. I wouldn't move here, this place is very hard on working class families. I wouldn't move here with children making under 75k a year.

[Mason19]

Hey there, thanks for the reply. Purchasing a home in that price range is very ambitious but I thought I'd ask anyway. I'm going to find your posts to see what some of the pros and cons of Broward county are.

I'll look forward to some of the other posters opinions as well.

M19.

[doggiebus]

1. Nice weather all year round
Sorry to tell you, but we don't have great year round weather. One of the biggest misconceptions. But again this is a question that only you can decide. As what I think is perfect may not be perfect to you. To me coastal California has perfect year round weather. Northerner hibernate during the winter, well many Floridians do the same but From Mid-May through November. But this last winter many people still hibernated as we spent most of the "winter months" in the 80s F

3. Many outdoor activities for my kids and I because I’m big on
exercise, fishing, bike riding, soccer, swimming, camping etc.
Yes there are plenty of things to do, but From Mid-May through November it is just to warm to be outside any extended time, unless you are in a pool of course. Camping out in the everglades I guess, but you only want to do that from Dec-April no mosquitos.

4. Being able to afford renting in a safe neighborhood while making
$38,000/yr
38k will be tough for a SINGLE person, not a good idea for a family.

5. The ability to purchase a house in a reasonably safe neighborhood
for about $250,000-$300,000 while making $38,000
You can buy a townhouse or a condo, not a house in that price range that is in a nice safe area.

6. Good public schools
Yes there are a few, but most are in the better areas 500k plus homes. There are some magnet/charter schools (schools you have to try out and get excepted to) which are good.

Can anyone comment on if I’d be able to achieve these things on 38K?I don't think you can.

Hope this helps.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by doggiebus

6. Good public schools
Yes there are a few, but most are in the better areas 500k plus homes. There are some magnet/charter schools (schools you have to try out and get excepted to) which are good.

Believe it or not Miami and Ft. Lauderdale are different, this included. There are decent houses in decent school districts in west Davie now going for the mid 200s and low 300s in Weston and Cooper City, and they are only bound to decrease much more. There are also houses in other decent areas in the mid 200s now too but those are the best areas for the schools K through 12.

[doggiebus]

Originally Posted by compelled to reply

Believe it or not Miami and Ft. Lauderdale are different, this included. There are decent houses in decent school districts in west Davie now going for the mid 250s and low 300s in Weston and Cooper City, and they are only bound to decrease much more.

I thought about that after I posted. I was thinking Miami, uuuuuppppppssss.

[compelled to reply]

Yeah, used to be that bad though. But people are still moving to Miami! I think that's why the prices aren't decreasing as much down by you.

[Mason19]

So I'm beginning to get a clearer pic of whether I can survive on 38K. Since the answer seems to be no, what would be the most modest salary range that will allow me to pay approx $900 rent for a 2 bedroom and take care of my family? That’s a tough question because you don’t know what my expenses are besides rent, but lets just say that other than school loans and the toddlers, I don’t really have any other expenses that aren’t related to cost of living. What’s an appropriate figure to try to negotiate in order to be modestly comfortable?

[compelled to reply]

You won't find a 2 bedroom anywhere for under 1000 a month, not even a shoddy one...you need about 1200/month minimum to find a 2 bedroom in a good school district. This area is very overpriced for families. There are better places for a family that cost less.

[Mason19]

I'm shocked by that. Rent is that high? So I'm almost afraid to ask what I can get relatively close to the airport for $900/m.