Advice needed on a possibe move to Florida! (West Palm Beach, Boca Raton: rent, insurance)

[starryeyedkat]

My boyfriend and I have been discussing moving to Florida this summer from Connecticut. He is a high school teacher, and I am finishing school to be one as well. He has family that we are very close to in Delray Beach, and we really want to be closer to them.

We have visited Florida, and started looking at condos, we are hoping to buy a "starter" condo or townhome to live in for a few years before we are ready to have children. We are hoping for a 2 bedroom place that would allow us to have two cats, and we would like to spend under $110,000.

I would love advice on Florida in general, or where to look for places to live. Many of the really nice and affordable places we have looked at are 55 +, which is disheartening. As we are in our mid-twenties, we have some time before we can live there!

[TriMT7]

Do you want to be IN Delray, or within say, a 30 minute drive?

I see listings for around 100k in a development in East Delray called "Bahia Delray," but to be honest I do not know much about Delray outside of downtown/Atlantic Avenue.


I do know that in the Villages of West Palm Beach you can get starter condos for under 110k. That's about 15-20 minutes from Delray.


You can also consider renting, though rent may be more than ownership at a 110k price point. There is a LOT to choose from though, so have fun!

[m5*]

Palm Beach Gardens has some nice townhomes in Westwood Gardens and Westwood Lakes. You can search by city than by community on www.palmbeach.expertrealty.com

[starryeyedkat]

We are also looking at Boca Raton, and the surrounding areas.

Thank you for the link!

[Villa Delray]

I love Delray and have family in Boynton, Delray and Boca. We moved away for a bit, honestly there is nothing better then being with family. If you could stay with family or rent for a bit you will be able to find your perfect home!
Best wishes!

[brindle12]

Hello

I am new to these postings, Well I have been reading them for a couple of months and find them quite informing. I'am an occupational therapits working in the nyc public school system, and I do home care early intervention in the eveings. My partner and I would like to move to Florida. She is a speech therapits. We have visted the Delray Beach area and love it. Does anyone out ther have any information about working in the public school system down there as a therapits.

Or how to het into the EI system down there. I have been looking at some info on the web ,but it's really hard to figure out the pay scale system in palm beach, or broward county for school based therapits.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

thanks

[m5*]

Division of Human Resources Home Page (http://www.palmbeach.k12.fl.us/jobs - broken link)

That has everything you're looking for. Good luck!

[brindle12]

thank you so much, that wb site was very helpful.

I'am looking forward to the new experiance

[DaniellaG]

Hi. I have just moved down well for the winter so far to Boca from MI. I am younger 30. Anyhow I understand the over 55 issue. I came to FL in Dec from MI because of some problems and finding a short term rental,under 55 and affordable was very hard. My grandfather lives across the street from me but I looked everywhere. What I found is in a 3 mile area it can go from good to real bad. Look on craigslist but don't always believe what you see in the pictures so make sure you see in person. Also if you come off season it will be easier to find something at more affordable. A few areas also Boca,Wellington though farther like 40 minutes I think from Delray it is young and real nice,Coconut Creek. Boca is older in my eyes and most parts are pretty well off. I had heard they have good schools and also when I stayed in Wellington for a short time they said that Wellingon did too. I am big on the idea of renting before purchase that way you can explore areas more.

[StarlaJane]

I would not advise anyone in the teaching profession to move to Florida. Teachers just aren't respected and treated well in Florida. Wages are some of the loewst in the contry, and although the housing market may seem appealing, you will get soaked by property taxes and homeowner's insurance.