Ft. Lauderdale/Sunrise Jobs/Commute (Miami, Miramar: real estate, rent, condo)

[mirlo]

There seem to be quite a few tech jobs available in Ft. Lauderdale, at least that's what the listings on dice tell me. Also, there are more and more openings in Sunrise.

I'm not familiar with the area at all and currently work in NYC as a software developer.

Looking to move in the fall or towards the end of this year. I sure need a change! I think I can spend up to 200k on a 2br condo or townhouse right now. A lot will depend on the salaries in Broward County. But I have enough savings as back up and for a 20% down payment.

How is the commute from Sunrise to Ft. Lauderdale and vice versa?

Is anyone happy with their tech jobs in this area? How about if you're happy living in this area and for how long have you lived there? I'm planning on 3-5 years max.

I'm sorry I'm asking all these questions at once, but they seem related.

Some quick info about me. I'm male, 29, newly single and support/take care of an eldery parent (My dad is in much better shape now after an angioplasty and stent 2 years ago).

Thanks in advance.

[compelled to reply]

Talk to wild style about tech jobs and specifics.

Sunrise has a huge high tech park so that probably explains the job openings. Otherwise Sunrise is just a typical working/middle class suburb. It's a pretty big city, going from east of University Dr all the way to south of 84 and west of 75. Parts of the former section can sometimes be considered part of the "Deepside" and probably not an area you want to live in, and the latter is as safe as you can get in South FL. The rest of the city is about average, mostly working/middle class neighborhoods and the safety level is about average. You can get a 2 bedroom condo for 200k nowadays in a good part of Sunrise but don't, because it's going to be even less in 2 years. Rent instead if you consider yourself to be a fiscally responsible person. It's a pretty boring area though, all that's really there is the Sawgrass Mills and the stadium. However the population is mostly young and diverse so you should like that, but there are more exciting places to live.

If you wanted to live closer to the beach in Ft. Lauderdale it's more expensive, and the commute should run in the 20-30 minute range. My personal fav. cutover route is Commercial Blvd because the lights are timed nice and it's fast. Sunrise Blvd takes you through "da hood" and has more traffic lights, and Oakland Park Blvd can be congested. If you live far south Broward Blvd can be a good route from Ft. Lauderdale. So basically it depends on where you work in Sunrise and where you live since Sunrise and Ft. Lauderdale are large.

[Wild Style]

1. Do NOT buy a condo down here right now. People will tell you ohhh if you have the money do it, however most if not all of them have very little understanding of economics and finance. The problem is if you buy a condo for 200,000 now and the price drops to 150,000 or 100,000 in a year (it will) then you are "under water" as the saying goes. That is just bad business and bad investing

2. I am from Brooklyn NYC originally. The tech industry is okay but the pay isn't all that great. Also you have to be careful because you don't want to come down here, economy gets worse and you get laid off. So choose wisely where you work.

3. South Florida is not NYC. So expect a totally different life style. Expect a long island life style minus the access to a huge metropolitan city.

4. Am I happy living in Florida? Not really, me and my family are not les miserables but we would be happier back in the city.

5. Anyway come down, spend some quality time, try not to do the touristy stuff, do the stuff people who live here actually do. Drive in rush hour traffic, go to the supermarket etc. So if its something you can deal with.

as for being happy in my job (I am a network admin and work on a team). Ummm its cool, people I work with are cool but I am making HALF of what I should be making, given my years of experience (I have been doing this for a decade) in the field, and I mean that literally, HALF.

PS

Yes to EVERYTHING compelled said

[ivcceo]

I made the move from NYC in 2000. The GF and I are both techies and wanted to try the tropics. The market is decent and although it took a bit of adjustment, we like it. The higher salary goes much further here and although I love NYC, I just couldn't deal with a 90 minute commute from NJ or LI nor the ridiculous home prices. I work in Sunrise and I find it quite pleasant.

[heydade]

just don't bring the NY attitude ! That kind of crap doesn't fly down here and many NY's have gotten their lip busted wide open talking smack.

[mirlo]

Thanks so much for the valuable advice!

I'm planning to check out the area mid May sometime. Waiting to buy a condo does make sense somewhat being that I'm not in a hurry, although it would be a nice to have by the time I move down. I will definitely proceed with caution. I'm not looking to move until end of this year anyway.

Do you think it might be a better time to consider buying then?

What areas of Sunrise should I consider living in specifically? I'd like to go straight there when I visit.

Also, what areas if any do you recommend in Ft. Lauderdale itself?

I'm also considering North Miami/Aventura or Cooper City.

Anyway, don't worry about the NYC attitude. I'm not originally from NY and have moved around quite a bit, especially abroad. I do find it fascinating that there have been very few people I've met in NYC that actually had that in-yo-face-loud attitude. And people in upstate NY have been even nicer and kinder to me.

[mirlo]

Originally Posted by ivcceo

I made the move from NYC in 2000. The GF and I are both techies and wanted to try the tropics. The market is decent and although it took a bit of adjustment, we like it. The higher salary goes much further here and although I love NYC, I just couldn't deal with a 90 minute commute from NJ or LI nor the ridiculous home prices. I work in Sunrise and I find it quite pleasant.

The prices ARE ridiculous here, plus the area just seems so congested. Can be overwhelming at times. I do remember the longer commute from NJ, I lived there and part of the reason I moved closer to Manhattan was because of the commute time. But now I feel boxed in! At least NJ has more open spaces and is a lot greener in comparison.

What do you like about Sunrise? I'm definitely looking forward to adjusting to a different pace. I feel like I've done my time in this area already.

[Momma_bear]

I lived on Long Island, Fairfield County CT, and Westchester County before moving to Broward. Living here is different from living in NY. There are some things that are better and other things that are worse.

Overall the cost of living is lower here than NY. It's not as cheap as alot of NYers think it will be though. Don't expect living here to cost you half of what it costs in NY. It's not THAT inexpensive. Salaries are lower. There are fewer cultural events. OTOH- access to cultural events is better because it doesn't cost as much to attend the symphony, opera, or musicals.

Overall traffic is better in FL than in NYC. But there is traffic. It's not a traffic free zone so you still have to plan your trips around traffic. The pace of life here is slower, but not THAT much slower. So don't expect a really leisurely pace of life here. People are still pretty fast paced, just not as fast paced as in Manhattan.

I like the weather much better. Summers are hot and long, but winters are 'da bomb. It doesn't get as hot here in the summer as the hottest days in NY (I have never seen 100 deg in FL, but I've seen it in NY) BUT it gets really hot here starting in May and ending in November. It is humid, like NY summers. Here it's humid all day, every day. There are no breaks in it.

Regarding real estate-I wouldn't buy anything if you only want to be here 3 years. Stuff is still going down. Everything compelled wrote about Sunrise/Ft. Lauderdale is pretty accurate. I have nothing to add.

Good luck to you.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by mirlo

Thanks so much for the valuable advice!

I'm planning to check out the area mid May sometime. Waiting to buy a condo does make sense somewhat being that I'm not in a hurry, although it would be a nice to have by the time I move down. I will definitely proceed with caution. I'm not looking to move until end of this year anyway.

Do you think it might be a better time to consider buying then?

What areas of Sunrise should I consider living in specifically? I'd like to go straight there when I visit.

Also, what areas if any do you recommend in Ft. Lauderdale itself?

I'm also considering North Miami/Aventura or Cooper City.

No, it won't be a better time to buy. I think middle-late 2009 will officially be the end of it.

The areas of Sunrise you should consider are the areas literally across the street from the business park along 136th ave. That's one of the nicest parts and you could potentially even walk/bike to work. If that area is too expensive, look into Welleby and be selective about your complex.

Cooper City is great if you are middle aged with kids. Probably not great for a young single lol. If safety is your number one concern it could be a good area to look into, although I would look into Weston over Cooper City (you are talking a 5 minute commute to the tech parks from here if you live in Bonaventure). Not to mention it's even safer and at least has a little more to offer to a young guy than a basic middle American suburb like Cooper City.

In Ft. Lauderdale itself, check out the Bayview Dr. area, Rio Vista, Victoria Park, and areas near Las Olas. You can also check out parts of Wilton Manors if you don't mind an area that is nearly exclusively gay (be selective, it has good and bad parts). Basically if it's a gay block there it's a good block.

North Miami is really worn. Avoid it. Aventura is an expensive glitzy vertical suburb built around an upscale mall. Beautiful but too far for work.

[ivcceo]

Sunrise has many advantages for a pleasant work environment. For one thing, since it is in western Broward, the traffic is not bad compared to traffic on I95, Miramar and south, or Miami. I only spend 10 mins in the car and I can even go home for lunch. Next, there is quite a nice choice of places for lunch. Third, there is a Starbucks and LA Fitness right opposite work so I can get a quick workout or a decent cup of coffee.

It's pretty much suburban bliss