Hi. My husband and I are moving to the Ft. Lauderdale area. We are going apt/condo hunting next weekend. Would love to hear your opinion on safe, quiet areas.
Which location is better?? Weston, Plantation, Miramir,... We were told everything west of Ft. Lauderdale was fairly new and a great location. An info appreciated.

Thanks
Jami

Jami,
What exactly are you looking for? Do you have small children? Your source is right that everything west of Ft. Lauderdale is very popular. Weston, Plantation, Pembroke Pines, in particular, are very popular with young singles, marrieds and young families. Beautiful homes, nice neighborhoods, good schools. Because of the population boom, traffic is a nightmare out there. There are some very nice neighborhoods in Fort Lauderdale as well, including Rio Vista. If you're thinking of going further north in the county, consider Deerfield Beach or Coconut Creek -- also nice areas with nice homes for families. All things considered in the equation of what I've told you, I'd steer clear of Miramar. I wouldn't go any further south in Broward County than Hollywood.

Hi Jami,
We just moved from south Florida last year due to a job opportunity we couldn't pass up. We still own our house in Weston and have hopes of returning in a few years. I highly recommend the Weston area. It is very family oriented and real estate there does nothing but appreciate in value. There is something in practically every price range. Each subdivision is gated. Most have community pools, and tons of kids in every age group. It is a desirable area.
If you would like any further information please email me personally. Best of luck.

I'd like to second the opinion to steer clear of Miramar.

Try Coral Springs and Boca Raton. Boca is a very upscale nice area. I lived in Coral Springs for a number of years and My daughter lived in Boca Raton. However we wisened up and moved back to California but that is another story. A lot depends on your need to commute and how you feel about it.