Moving to the West Palm area 4 job (Miami, Boynton Beach: foreclosures, rent)

[WestPalmHereIcome]

Short and sweet:

Married, 53 year old professional couple relocating to the West Palm area for work.

Looking for Single family home, 4 bedroom or 3 with an office, 3000+ square feet - 450-700K, 3 car garage, fenced yard for 2 dogs.

Prefer newer home, near retail & grocery (prefer Whole Foods, boutique high end shops, Nordstroms, and actually don't mind franchise restaurants like Ruth Chris, or even Tony Romas.)

Driving distance to beach is fine.

We both golf, bike and swim. We plan on fostering children and dogs.

We are currently in Palos Verdes, CA (in LA County)

Lived recently in: DC, WNY, LA, Irvine, CA; Phoenix, AZ; WPA, and our daughter graduated from the University of Miami.

My personal favorite is Palm Beach Gardens.

Help?

[WestPalmHereIcome]

I guess "help" doesn't really tell you what kind of help I am looking for.

Like many others, I've done my research and now I am beginning to ask others for their opinions.

I am not crazy about some areas in WPB and Boynton Beach, so those are places we would look into moving last.
Although the job location is IN WPB.

We would prefer PBG if there are any inexpensive homes there.
What is the general opinion/stereotypes of PBG, Boca, Delray, Wellington, and Tesquesta and Jupiter?

Hope that is a better description of what we are asking.

Thank you everyone in advance

[Hellaheli]

Hi, why don't you work with a realtor?

[TriMT7]

Your price range is adequate for Palm Beach Gardens and Jupiter, so you should really have no problem finding a place there.

[skylinet]

Yeah, PBG has pretty much everything you are looking for and is an easy commute to WPB.
3000+ sqft will put you on the higher side of your price point but there should be some good options that will work for you. There is a similar post right now with lots of good info.

[WestPalmHereIcome]

Originally Posted by Hellaheli

Hi, why don't you work with a realtor?

Are you a realtor? I'll shoot the sh*t with you. I am looking for one... However that said, I won't contact a realtor until I have an idea of what and where we'd like to be. We have friends that live in Jupiter, Jupiter Island, PBG and Boca too. Before I start picking everyone's minds I am trying to research what's online and get a feel for the locals by coming here.
We're coming down the 27th of February to celebrate my son's 26th birthday in Miami and we will most likely work with a realtor for one day while we are down there. We'll most likely rent for a few months and keep our stuff in storage until we find a place. What is everyone's opinion on prices? (Of houses)
I ask because in California we are in a HUGE bubble with prices being slightly HIGHER than the last bubble that crashed here in 2009.
Thanks so much, I'm really looking forward to getting back to the east coast.

[WestPalmHereIcome]

Originally Posted by WestPalmHereIcome

Are you a realtor? I'll shoot the sh*t with you. I am looking for one... However that said, I won't contact a realtor until I have an idea of what and where we'd like to be. We have friends that live in Jupiter, Jupiter Island, PBG and Boca too. Before I start picking everyone's minds I am trying to research what's online and get a feel for the locals by coming here.
We're coming down the 27th of February to celebrate my son's 26th birthday in Miami and we will most likely work with a realtor for one day while we are down there. We'll most likely rent for a few months and keep our stuff in storage until we find a place. What is everyone's opinion on prices? (Of houses)
I ask because in California we are in a HUGE bubble with prices being slightly HIGHER than the last bubble that crashed here in 2009.
Thanks so much, I'm really looking forward to getting back to the east coast.

Okay, I'm online now looking at realtors! Yay! We're coming to WPB to have a look around this Thursday through Sunday. I am as excited as shiznit!

All right, if anyone would be kind enough to make a comment about the bubble that is occuring right now that would be great.

Also, I'd like a really new area to live in. What are some of the best and newest areas to live in?

Anyone available to comment on stereotypes of this area?

Where are the worst areas and where are the nicest/cleanest areas that would be within a nieghborhood price range n ohigher than 800K?

(I cannot believe houses are SO expenise there!)

[skylinet]

Paloma, Mirabella, Valencia (Jupiter), Evergrene are some communities that will have homes that should be of interest.
There are a few smaller communities near the beach if you'd like to be walking distance to the beach. You won't get as large of a home though.

[WestPalmHereIcome]

Originally Posted by skylinet

Paloma, Mirabella, Valencia (Jupiter), Evergrene are some communities that will have homes that should be of interest.
There are a few smaller communities near the beach if you'd like to be walking distance to the beach. You won't get as large of a home though.

We actually don't care if we are anywhere near water (Our 17 year old son drowned) and we really like to golf. However, many of the golf communities I've seen online are too expensive for the initiation fee.
We'd like to be in a golf community IF possible.

I'll google those names you gave. Thank you!

PS - does paying with all cash help with prices at all? Are there any forclosures around that are worth it? The ones I've seen online were priced about the same as the other listings.

I'll check back later as I've got to go to Whole Foods.

[skylinet]

Well priced foreclosures are few and far between. Most are coming up at or above market value unless they need lots of repairs.
I found one nice waterfront foreclosure recently and it went under contract for 15% over asking with multiple people bidding on it.

Jupiter Country Club might work if you have time to build but most of the other clubs have pretty high equities.

PGA National could work as well with five courses and fairly reasonable membership costs.

Cash is very helpful, but there are a lot cash buyers in the market right now. It's won't mean you are getting a huge discount.