Potentially relocating from NJ to South Florida (Boca Raton south to Homestead)

[Carl Devitt]

Any recommended areas for modestly priced single family housing?  I probably have to make a career decision Tuesday as I'm going to interviewed over the phone for a position in Miramar (NBC Universal Media) and I will continue to operate on a modest income <80,000 income.  
     If you believe everything posted on the internet about South Florida you can be quickly convinced its a third world expensive hell hole where English only speaking folks are not welcome.  I would appreciate a realistic assessment in regards to cost of living, property taxes, etc.
      I expect I will have to make a decision as visiting prior is really not possible.   I made a similar decision about San Jose, CA over 20 years ago but my situation was simpler then....1 wife and 1 car....now its 5 vehicles and 2900 Sq. ft. of accumulated stuff.  Even parking looks like an issue in many communities as properties are smaller.  

[Ken Badziak]

Originally posted by @Carl Devitt:

Any recommended areas for modestly priced single family housing?  I probably have to make a career decision Tuesday as I'm going to interviewed over the phone for a position in Miramar (NBC Universal Media) and I will continue to operate on a modest income <80,000 income.  
     If you believe everything posted on the internet about South Florida you can be quickly convinced its a third world expensive hell hole where English only speaking folks are not welcome.  I would appreciate a realistic assessment in regards to cost of living, property taxes, etc.
      I expect I will have to make a decision as visiting prior is really not possible.   I made a similar decision about San Jose, CA over 20 years ago but my situation was simpler then....1 wife and 1 car....now its 5 vehicles and 2900 Sq. ft. of accumulated stuff.  Even parking looks like an issue in many communities as properties are smaller.  

 You'll find plenty of places in Miramar, Pembroke Pines, Weston... have kids? Weston has some outstanding schools. Lots of good property in Boca and Wet Palm Beach, but the drive would really add up.

Look at a map and find the Palmetto Expressway; that's your southern limit. The deeper south you go the worse the traffic gets. And I mean it suuuuuuuucks. Miami Lakes (where I live) is really nice, but getting in and out during rush hour is a nightmare; every road out becomes clogged with traffic, and there are no "shortcuts", as it's enclosed on all four sides by highways or airports. Might take you 30 minutes to move 3 blocks. No joke; every road out is a bottleneck.

Did I mention the traffic suuuuuuuuuucks? It's getting worse. So stay north of the Palmetto, and if possible in Broward County (you're right on the border)

   "If you believe everything posted on the internet about South Florida you can be quickly convinced its a third world expensive hell hole where English only speaking folks are not welcome. I would appreciate a realistic assessment in regards to cost of living, property taxes, etc." -that's generally true in Miami Dade county, and becomes even more so evident the further south you go, to about Kendall. Kid you not- went to a car wash and asked the guy how much for vacuuming the car, he had no idea what I was asking. But you'll avoid much of this the further north you go.

Also, did I mention the traffic? The further south you go the more aggressive your driving needs to be; you're sharing the road with Haitians, Cubans, Colombians and Venezuelans. Stop signs are merely a suggestion for many of those drivers. Also, machismo is something you'll be dealing with. A lot.

Costs of living are fairly reasonable, except in Miami. Miami Beach is operating on their own little planet. Fun to visit, just be prepared to part with a few C-notes before you leave. 

But the skies are blue and walking around in flip flops in February does have its charm. I'm still getting used to south Florida, but every day it gets better and better.

Except for the traffic.

Suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucks.