Retiring Now (Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Boca Raton: apartment complexes, rental market, insurance)

[alsidw]

i need help please. I retired from New Orleans and sold my home and planned to retire in Port St Lucie area and living now until October in Fort Lauderdale. I have grandchildren here so want to be nearer to them. I drove from Fort Lauderdale to Port St Lucie and it is just too far to do often. A friend of my son recommended Boynton Beach.
We are a retired couple 68 years old and were looking to buy a house for around 100k more or less but with the tax costs of home ownership and insurance costs now thinking of renting for the first year to make sure owning a home again is warranted.
We went thru Katrina in New Orleans and dont want to be near the water. What is the best way to find a ground floor two bedroom rental with a garage?

Sid

[THX 1138]

Even if you are further west and away from the storm surge it will be hard to avoid the effects of a Hurricane here.

If Boynton is your preferred location, I would start with some of the higher end apartment complexes that offer 2/2 with a garage but believe me it will be $$, I suggest you work with a realtor and try to find a rent by owner situation, try realtor.com or padmapper.com. Keep in mind the rental market is very tight now, that is it's hard to find places due to the housing mess, people are renting opposed to buying and places tend to not be on the market that long.

[alsidw]

I dont really care where I live, as long as it is in an hours drive north of Fort Lauderdale or West? just not familiar and dont want to overlook someplace. As seniors need access to health care but not schools.

[THX 1138]

I live in Wellington and I'm easily 50 miles or 1 hour from the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport. I would focus around Boynton, Delray or Boca Raton which will put you much closer with traffic on 95 you will be happier to be closer, you could also look at Lantana Road/Congress Ave which would put you near JFK Medical and associated healthcare needs, which is a little further north. I would focus your search on places west of Jog Road to start or in some areas west of Congress, depends on what you desire in neighbors.

Now if your driving to western parts of Fort Lauderdale, it might make more sense to be out west and take the Turnpike.

[Magnolia Bloom]

How much are you looking to spend in rent?