How Pegah Built Her Village in South Florida
When Pegah and her husband decided to leave New York for South Florida, it wasn’t impulsive, reactive, or even all that quick. It was a 17-year dream.
With three children (now 13, 9, and 5), a career change that happened weeks before the COVID-19 shutdowns, and a pregnancy in the middle of it all, Pegah’s move from Long Island to Florida was layered, emotional, and deeply intentional. Today, four years later, she admits she sometimes stands outside her home in Cooper City and can’t help but take a picture.
“It’s still so pretty,” she says. “It is home.”
But, for this New York family, finding “home” took clarity, patience, and the ability to build an incredible village from the ground up.
Moving With Intention
When Pegah decided to make a move, she knew she wasn’t just relocating. Instead, she was redesigning her family’s entire lifestyle. As a result, she came into the process with a checklist – and it wasn’t short. At the start of their search, Pegah wanted:
- To be within 35–40 minutes of her parents in North Miami Beach
- A-rated schools
- A safe, diverse neighborhood
- A gated community where the school bus would come inside
- Soccer fields, schools, and hospitals within 5–10 minutes
- A four-bedroom, two-story home
- A pool (this is Florida, after all)
- Not on a lake (alligators were a firm no)
Her criteria weren’t “extra”. They were all essential. She knew she would be building a life without an extended support system nearby, so she needed everything to function smoothly post-move.
“I was very specific,” she laughs. “Very specific.” And that specificity became her roadmap.
Finding Alignment (and Letting It Unfold)
Pegah found Suburban Jungle after reading about Melissa Schneider, our Head Florida Strategist, who had moved from suburban New York to Florida as well. The story resonated immediately.
“She was a mom navigating a big move for her family. She was leaving New York for a better lifestyle. I felt like she was describing exactly what I was going through.” The connection felt personal right away.
After connecting with Melissa, Pegah says, Suburban Jungle got to work, building an entire team around her and her family’s Florida search. From a powerhouse partner agent who completely respected Pegah’s process to a trusted loan pro and, of course, Melissa, her Strategist, always available to navigate feedback, insights, and must-haves, together they powered the strategic guidance that helped the family dive in.
For a year, Pegah searched South Florida – but, she laughs, they ultimately wound up in the very first community the team suggested: Embassy Lakes in Cooper City. “If we had listened from day one, we probably could have saved a year,” she says. “But maybe we had to go through that process to really know.”
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No Pressure. No Strings. Just Support.
One of Pegah’s biggest surprises? Suburban Jungle’s services were 100% free.
“I thought, ‘Is this too good to be true? Aren’t you going to ask for my credit card?’” Not only was she surprised there was no cost, she says, but she was equally happy to discover her Suburban Jungle team worked on her timeline.
“They listened. They weren’t pushy. It never felt fake,” she says. There was no pressure, no forced timelines, and no “sales energy,” just a desire to help Pegah find exactly where she and her family belonged. And when they found it, Pegah continued to tap into the company’s seemingly endless resources.
“When you’re trying to move your family across the state or across the country, there’s so much to consider. They’ve done the research. You just have to trust the process.”
Building a Village From Scratch
Today, what Pegah loves most isn’t just her house; it’s the people. Soccer acquaintances have become family friends. A close friend became her son’s confirmation sponsor.
They’ve traveled together, celebrated milestones, and raised their kids alongside each other. Her children are growing up surrounded by families who share their values, and the entire neighborhood feels safe, kind, and aligned.
“It’s my someplace special,” she says. “It is my village.”
Looking back, Pegah does acknowledge her “must-haves” were extensive, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. To families considering a move to the ‘burbs – nearby or thousands of miles away – she recommends the same “never settle” mentality.
“I never settled,” she says. “That’s why I can still walk outside and feel grateful.” Be clear about what you want, do your research, and trust the professionals. And when you do finally make the leap, remember that moving is overwhelming, and it can take time to adjust. But if you invest in the process and in the people around you, you’ll build something meaningful.
“Invest the time. Trust the process. And then build your own village.”
Seventeen years after the dream began, Pegah and her family didn’t just move. They arrived.
For more client stories, visit Suburban Jungle’s blog page on our website.
Ready to build your own village? Schedule your free initial strategy session today and start designing a move that feels just right from day one.