Making The Move

By: Cheri F. Rosen

Part Three: Location, Location, Location

You have completed your financing due diligence and if applying for a mortgage, you have a pre-approval. Conversely, if you are planning on “paying cash,” you can show “proof of funds.” So now comes the fun part… You are ready to explore the opportunities in South Florida for properties within walking distance of a shul.

Depending on what you consider “walking distance” the possible locations are myriad and varied. Whether in South Palm Beach, Broward, or Miami Dade Counties you are never too far from a Chabad, but not all communities lie within an eruv. In addition, while some neighborhoods offer a wealth of Orthodox infrastructure, such as religious schools, mikvahs, kosher grocery stores, and restaurants, others may not be quite so developed yet.

Reasons for moving to a particular area differ in countless ways. Are you retired and looking to move to a warmer climate? Perhaps you desire a vacation home, or a seasonal get away. Has some of your family taken up residence in Florida and you’d like to be closer to parents or children? Do you have the luxury of working from home and so enjoy the flexibility to relocate anywhere within walking distance to a shul? Or are you just looking to escape from the craziness which has overtaken New York? These are just some of the influencing factors which will help to direct your move.

Let’s start with retirees as well as those looking for a seasonal residence. One of your first considerations should be the type of lifestyle you would prefer to enjoy in South Florida. Could be that you are hoping to experience a vibrant and exciting social life, or the opposite, a quiet home large enough to hold large family gatherings.

Many of the 55+ communities offer a wealth of opportunities to become extremely socially active and make new friends while joining a variety of clubs, groups, and other entertainment options. If this description appeals, then I would invite you to explore the assortment of 55+ communities in Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, or the Century Villages in West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, or Deerfield Beach. Boca Raton county clubs such as Boca Pointe, Boca Woods, or Boca Grove are replete with a multitude of activities, albeit in a more luxurious, exclusive, and expensive setting. Boca has many other country clubs as well, but unfortunately, too far of a walk to any Orthodox synagogues.

Those who prefer a quieter and more tranquil existence can certainly find such in many of the neighborhoods of Boca Raton, Hollywood, Coral Springs, Parkland, Miami Beach, North Miami, and many others in Miami Dade County.

Then there is life on the beach. If waking up to the sound and sights of the surf is your dream, without a mile or more walk to shul, Palm Beach County has yet to fulfill that aspiration. Yet there are several communities of Miami Dade County that offer both a condo on the sand as well as a short walk to worship.

If, on the other hand, you are relocating with school-age children (or even young adults) your choice of location would likely focus around the schools that they will be attending. As of this writing, the school in Boynton is not yet a reality, although many Boynton Beach families with young children easily carpool to Boca Raton, which has many schools and many children. Delray and Deerfield have no school-age children within any community that is within walking distance to a shul. However, Broward and Miami Dade Counties do offer numerous townships where children abound, especially Hollywood, North Miami, Miami Beach, and Surfside.

There are indeed many wonderful and exciting options for beginning the next phase of your life, may you choose wisely, with knowledge and mazel.

Next column: touring the Orthodox communities of South Florida. 

Cheri F. Rosen, of Lang Realty, has been a REALTOR® in South Florida since moving to Boca Raton over a decade ago. You can learn more about real estate in South Florida by calling Cheri at 561-221-2233 or visiting Cheri’s website: southfloridacondosandhouses.com or just Google the words Orthodox Boca. Cheri’s website is the top search result. Submit your personal questions and concerns to Cheri, and they will be answered personally, or anonymously in future columns.