Seeking a safe neighborhood, under $150,000.... (West Palm Beach, Delray Beach: condominium, crime, cheap house)

[ROBERTDB]

My partner and I live in upstate Columbia County, New York. We want to buy a small single family home in Florida, not too far from the beach. I could care the least about the condition of the house but neighborhood and LIBERAL/ ARTSY neighbors would be a real plus...nice neighbors!.

We do not want a condominium; may consider a really nice Manufactured/mobile home community with community amenities like pool,spas, etc.
We like transitional/reborn neighborhoods and older homes, but are not opposed to an area that is safe and peaceful.
We would like to spend as little as under $75,000 and on the high end $150,000+, do not want an area with crime or that would prohibit us from keeping our wonderful pit bull who is afraid of flies. We hear that WPB has some nice areas, then I read some of the reviews and I am confused that many threads here regarding areas.
Any input regarding all Florida communities near the ocean would be very appreciated. Thanks.

[Fl1150]

Wrong area of Florida to be looking for a cheap house and to be honest please don't come thinking everything is cheap because its not. People have this visions that Florida is this cheap wonderland and it can be but depending on the area.

[TriMT7]

Originally Posted by ROBERTDB

My partner and I live in upstate Columbia County, New York. We want to buy a small single family home in Florida, not too far from the beach. I could care the least about the condition of the house but neighborhood and LIBERAL/ ARTSY neighbors would be a real plus...nice neighbors!.

We do not want a condominium; may consider a really nice Manufactured/mobile home community with community amenities like pool,spas, etc.
We like transitional/reborn neighborhoods and older homes, but are not opposed to an area that is safe and peaceful.
We would like to spend as little as under $75,000 and on the high end $150,000+, do not want an area with crime or that would prohibit us from keeping our wonderful pit bull who is afraid of flies. We hear that WPB has some nice areas, then I read some of the reviews and I am confused that many threads here regarding areas.
Any input regarding all Florida communities near the ocean would be very appreciated. Thanks.

Well, liberal/artsy and lower crime usually do not come at such a low price point.

Talking about liberal/artsy - bohemian kinda vibe:

In the entire county you will find those areas to be most prevalent in West Palm Beach's historic districts and downtown, as well as in Lake Worth (eastern) and Delray Beach (eastern). Some would also argue for parts of Lake Park.


West Palm and Delray do not have any homes under 150k in the best historic neighborhoods. You may be able to buy just outside of those areas (such as in the 33405 zip code, west of Dixie Highway). That area is generally safe, but not as polished as some other areas.

Lake Worth has a ton of homes in your price range (I would stay east of Dixie, in the NE part of the city). I have lots of friends that live there without issue. Not like you're going to be murdered in the street or anything, but it's definitely still "in transition" as a city. Some really run down parts, some really nice parts.

Delray is basically all priced out at this point.

[gemini23nj]

TriMT7- I absolutely agree with your feedback.

[FL_Watch]

Yeah, Lake Worth always struck me as a liberal-leaning town in every aspect of the imagination. Downtown sections (north end especially) might be your safest bet for a more artsy, hipster sort of environment. I know, Loxahatchee Groves has a nudist community (not sure if that is your cup of tea) but the rest of the community is very conservative in values and pretty far from artsy, where as home values there are impressively low but it is truly too far out there for your liking.