Relocate (Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood: apartment, for rent, crime rate)

[ajavella]

My wife and I reside in Hoboken NJ so we know we can handle and actually embrace the congestion and chaos of South Florida. We love the New York metropolitan area except for the weather 6 months out of the year.

Can anyone please give me up to date information on the Living in Fort Lauderdale? We are looking at all of the new bulidings going up in Las Olas, they look incredible. We are relatively young and do not have kids so we would enjoy that type of environment. I know downtown FTL has made incredible strides the last several years and wanted to make sure it is safe and reasonable. We were last there in 2005 and had a blast at the riverfrontWe will be down in February for a visit but we all know thats different then living there.

Further more we are looking at other areas of South Florida such as Coral Gables, Hollywood, Brickell, but it seems Las Olas looks like the best fit for us.
Of course this is contigent of me getting a job in Fort Lauderdale. My wife is set as she is a nurse.
Thank you for your help.

[Wild Style]

You didn't tell us what your price range is. Prices for renting is 1600 and up depending on building etc.

Crime shouldn't be to bad as far as I know.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by ajavella

My wife and I reside in Hoboken NJ so we know we can handle and actually embrace the congestion and chaos of South Florida. We love the New York metropolitan area except for the weather 6 months out of the year.

Can anyone please give me up to date information on the Living in Fort Lauderdale? We are looking at all of the new bulidings going up in Las Olas, they look incredible. We are relatively young and do not have kids so we would enjoy that type of environment. I know downtown FTL has made incredible strides the last several years and wanted to make sure it is safe and reasonable. We were last there in 2005 and had a blast at the riverfrontWe will be down in February for a visit but we all know thats different then living there.

Further more we are looking at other areas of South Florida such as Coral Gables, Hollywood, Brickell, but it seems Las Olas looks like the best fit for us.
Of course this is contigent of me getting a job in Fort Lauderdale. My wife is set as she is a nurse.
Thank you for your help.

The chaos and congestion actually won't come even close to Hoboken. I sat in traffic for a full two hours just getting into the Holland Tunnel through Jersey City. Three blocks. You just don't do that in South Florida.

Hollywood is up and coming. Downtown Hollywood used to be sketchy and unsafe. Now it's gritty and trying to be artsy. Time will tell if it succeeds with the latter. The neighborhoods east of U.S.1 are relatively safe (I hear about car burglaries being pretty common though) and offer a lot of old Florida charm. The "Broadwalk" area along Hollywood beach beach is kitschy, unique and very active. West of U.S.1 in Hollywood is mostly blue collar type neighborhoods, with a few upper middle class pockets.

Coral Gables is just beautiful. Almost too beautiful to the point where it seems intimidating to me. It's an older, established neighborhood home to the upscale Miracle Mile shopping area, tree line streets, and classic Mediterranean and Spanish-style homes. Seems diverse in a good way.

Brickell is like a vertical suburbia to me. It's strange to me. It's clean, good restaurants abounding, relatively safe, right on the water, close to the nightlife in Miami Beach and what not.

Las Olas is probably the best fit for you, but also consider Aventura and even east Boca Raton, which has become much younger in recent years.

Also, reasonable is subjective, but Las Olas is safe.

[nohope]

i live near Las Olas.....the price for apartment in the downtown area is between $1500-2100 in the high rise buildings.....visiting and living somewhere is totally different.....when i first visited the Las Olas area it was great.....but now it's quite boring....after a while you'll see.....it's a bit tourisy for me....it's a very small area....anyway good luck....

[Wild Style]

Originally Posted by compelled to reply

The chaos and congestion actually won't come even close to Hoboken. I sat in traffic for a full two hours just getting into the Holland Tunnel through Jersey City. Three blocks. You just don't do that in South Florida.

Hollywood is up and coming. Downtown Hollywood used to be sketchy and unsafe. Now it's gritty and trying to be artsy. Time will tell if it succeeds with the latter. The neighborhoods east of U.S.1 are relatively safe (I hear about car burglaries being pretty common though) and offer a lot of old Florida charm. The "Broadwalk" area along Hollywood beach beach is kitschy, unique and very active. West of U.S.1 in Hollywood is mostly blue collar type neighborhoods, with a few upper middle class pockets.

Coral Gables is just beautiful. Almost too beautiful to the point where it seems intimidating to me. It's an older, established neighborhood home to the upscale Miracle Mile shopping area, tree line streets, and classic Mediterranean and Spanish-style homes. Seems diverse in a good way.

Brickell is like a vertical suburbia to me. It's strange to me. It's clean, good restaurants abounding, relatively safe, right on the water, close to the nightlife in Miami Beach and what not.

Las Olas is probably the best fit for you, but also consider Aventura and even east Boca Raton, which has become much younger in recent years.

Also, reasonable is subjective, but Las Olas is safe.

^^ what he said

[ajavella]

Thank you all for your input. Its about what I expected to hear.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by ajavella

Thank you all for your input. Its about what I expected to hear.

I also saw that I this posted in the other thread

View Post
Thank you. We are looking at several areas in S Florida. None of which will be permanent as we will rent for at least a year to make sure we like it. Eventually we want to move to the northern areas above Boca to purchase a home. But thats when we are ready for little ones, - long time! Thanks for your help.
Maybe the mods will merge this stuff over to your thread

Actually, your better off going west for the little ones than north. I.E Weston, Plantation, Cooper City, Davie, Parkland or west Boca. Palm Beach County generally has higher crime than Broward, but the perception can be the opposite. North of Boca, you actually have areas with poor schools like Delray and east Boynton Beach. West Boynton is nice, but schools are no better than west Boca and the property crime rate in that area would surprise you. Jupiter is really nice but that's way north and Boca matches it.

Starting out young, it's safe downtown. I would head a little further east though. I'll post that stuff in the other thread.

Hope this helps.

[ajavella]

Wow, thats great to know. We also thought we may end up way north like Jupiter or St Lucie.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by ajavella

Wow, thats great to know. We also thought we may end up way north like Jupiter or St Lucie.

Jupiter is a very nice area, but in most ways Boca matches it. As I mentioned, Broward County should not be discredited for a family either, as there are plenty of sturdy middle class (Cooper City, Davie) as well as upscale (Parkland, Weston) family areas in the western half of the county. You can find good public elementary schools in most Broward cities (Fort Lauderdale, Sunrise, Plantation, Pembroke Pines, Miramar, Coral Springs, Margate, Coconut Creek, and the other previously mentioned areas). The issue, like in Palm Beach County is the middle and high schools. It all depends on where you would be working really. The best (and most stable) overall systems are in
*Boca
*Jupiter
*Parkland
*Cooper City
*Weston
*West Boynton
*Wellington
*Davie
*Pinecrest (Actually in Dade, but it's really worth a look)
When that time comes do extensive research on those communities. This region is more adaptable and family friendly than you would expect if you have the funds.

Funny that you mention PSL, the schools are absolutely terrible. More like Dade County schools. Doesn't look good ranking wise.

[ajavella]

My Wife is convinced I only like PSL because Im a Mets fan. She is probably right.
Thank you for your help. I will be in contact with you as we get closer to our relocating if thats ok.