Relocating to Jacksonville area

[emmababy]

My husband has been offered a position in this area. I'm sure this has been posted before, but please help me get an idea of the area and pros and cons of moving there. We are in Ohio now but lived in Lower Alabama for awhile and I worked in Pensacola...

Been to Florida more times than I can count and have been wanting to move but was scared to do it, lol!

 

[mhsjax]

My husband has been offered a position in this area. I'm sure this has been posted before, but please help me get an idea of the area and pros and cons of moving there. We are in Ohio now but lived in Lower Alabama for awhile and I worked in Pensacola...

Been to Florida more times than I can count and have been wanting to move but was scared to do it, lol!

I have lived in the Jacksonville area for 44 years. My first and big question is, do you have children?

If yes then I can only say on thing, St Johns county, schools are great. Frankly even if you don't I would still recommend it. . If not, there are plenty of nice areas. Jacksonville is a HUGE area land wise and depending on if your DH doesn't mind a longer drive there are areas that I would consider first.

Anyway, if you want to, you can PM me. HOpefully I can be of some help. I can also tell you that the rental market here is good. There are plenty of houses to rent so you could get an idea before you actually purchase.

 

[emmababy]

Yes, we have 3 small children. My husband will be covering a territory- so we can choose to live wherever.

We have played around with moving forever but never took it seriously until recently....You only live once and I am sick of living in cold! I grew up in CA and even though I love the Midwest, I am happiest near water and Palm trees!

 

[mhsjax]

Yes, we have 3 small children. My husband will be covering a territory- so we can choose to live wherever.

We have played around with moving forever but never took it seriously until recently....You only live once and I am sick of living in cold! I grew up in CA and even though I love the Midwest, I am happiest near water and Palm trees!

I can't stress enough moving to St Johns county. It is fantastic. Very family oriented. Lots of sports for the kids if they want. Everyone here loves it. In fact most people move here because they have kids and don't want to pay for private schools. It is safe and just a really wonderful place to raise your kids. I can't recommend it enough.

Oh and it cuts about anywhere from 30minute to an hour off on your commute to WDW. lol Which would make it about 2.5 hours.

ETA:; I just realized I am talking to you like you know where this is. St Johns county is the next county south after Duval. Duval is Jacksonville. Many people here commute to Jacksonville to work, and until fairly recently, we were actually considered Jacksonville, and mail will still get delivered if you use the city of Jacksonville for this area. This area is closer to St Augustine. and the beaches there are better than the ones in Jacksonville. At least IMHO. OH and you are only about 3o minutes away from the old part of St Augustine, so lots of good opportunities to go and try all of their restaurants and just go walk with the kids on a weekend.

 

[mapmakerj]

My DH took a job in Jacksonville this spring so I know what it is like to relocate to this area. We have one DS and schools were very important to us. After much research we decided against living in Duval county, where Jacksonville is located. Due to my husbands commute we narrowed our choices to St. Johns County and the Oakleaf plantation area of Orange Park (Clay County). Since we were still trying to sell our home back in WI we we needed to rent and were on a tighter budget. We really wanted to live in St Johns Cty but, due to cost factor, we ultimately chose Oakleaf plantation and have not regretted this decision. Nice little planned community with great schools. We have all the basic shopping nearby and a few restaurants. It's a quick trip across the river to get to any and all shopping and restaurants we could ever want. We like it because it's pretty quiet has really nice amenity centers with pools etc. You can't go wrong with either of the above areas.

 

[Disneymom83]

I've lived here in Jacksonville for almost 6 years. There is a new growing community in St. John's County called Nocatee. Its pretty nice there and it's rapidly growing. It's close to the beaches, I 95, and Southside of Jacksonville. Easy commute to the St. John's town center which is the main shopping area here. Plus you have the mall, the Avenues.
I have 3 children as well, one of which is in 5th grade. If you don't move to St. John's County for the school system I would highly recommend private school. The Duval County School system isn't that great.

 

[mhsjax]

I've lived here in Jacksonville for almost 6 years. There is a new growing community in St. John's County called Nocatee. Its pretty nice there and it's rapidly growing. It's close to the beaches, I 95, and Southside of Jacksonville. Easy commute to the St. John's town center which is the main shopping area here. Plus you have the mall, the Avenues.
I have 3 children as well, one of which is in 5th grade. If you don't move to St. John's County for the school system I would highly recommend private school. The Duval County School system isn't that great.

Yes, Nocatee is beautiful. Duval is a pain. You can get one good school with some luck but then the other 2 feeder schools are terrible.

 

[emmababy]

Thanks everyone! I will look up ST john. How is real estate doing down there??

 

[Disneymom83]

Yes, Nocatee is beautiful. Duval is a pain. You can get one good school with some luck but then the other 2 feeder schools are terrible.

If my husband and I stay in Jacksonville after we graduate college we want to buy in Nocatee. I love the area. Plus you're not too far from the best place on earth, disney ♥

 

[floridafam]

Make sure you do some research into how much your insurance is going to cost if you buy a home.

 

[doxdogy]

Definitely go to St. Johns County for the school. My brother live in a nice subdivision in St Johns County. The schools in Duval are too hit or miss. I live in the Mandarin area of Jacksonville and I am in walking distance of a middle and elementary school. I think the two schools might be "A" schools, but I am not sure. Another advantage of St Johns county schools (especially the newer schools), the class sizes may be smaller than Duval County.

One advantage to Jacksonville and the surrounding counties is that you are surrounded by interstates. The only disadvantage to Clay County is Blanding Blvd and the Buckman Bridge. They both can be a nightmare in traffic. Where is his office located? I work about 5 minutes from home and you couldn't pay me to move to Clay County because of the Buckman Bridge.

 

[mhsjax]

Definitely go to St. Johns County for the school. My brother live in a nice subdivision in St Johns County. The schools in Duval are too hit or miss. I live in the Mandarin area of Jacksonville and I am in walking distance of a middle and elementary school. I think the two schools might be "A" schools, but I am not sure. Another advantage of St Johns county schools (especially the newer schools), the class sizes may be smaller than Duval County.

One advantage to Jacksonville and the surrounding counties is that you are surrounded by interstates. The only disadvantage to Clay County is Blanding Blvd and the Buckman Bridge. They both can be a nightmare in traffic. Where is his office located? I work about 5 minutes from home and you couldn't pay me to move to Clay County because of the Buckman Bridge.

That bridge is an unholy terror.

 

[emmababy]

Thanks! He would work from home and cover a territory, so travel a little bit. How crazy is home insurance?

I think we might rent at first to get a feel. What months does school year run there?

 

[Disneymom83]

Thanks! He would work from home and cover a territory, so travel a little bit. How crazy is home insurance?

I think we might rent at first to get a feel. What months does school year run there?

Usually mid/end of August to June

 

[emmababy]

Does anyone know about the Marbella area community?

 

[mapmakerj]

That bridge is an unholy terror.

It is a nightmare during rush hour but none of us have to go over it during those times. We usually only cross it on the weekends and its never bad at all. Thankfully my husband can shoot into town on 10 and take the Fuller Warren bridge which has a bit of traffic but he never has any of the issues that you get on the Buckman. FYI our schools out in Clay County started on August 15th and get done the first week of June. And I definitely second checking on insurance before buying a house. We are now looking to buy a house out in Oakleaf and there are many companies not even writing policies.

 

[ChristineNic]

We are moving to Jax too. My new job starts in mid-November. We are buying a home in Middleburg, near Oakleaf Plantation, in a community called Two Creeks. Our builder is Drees Homes. Because we are buying new our homeowner's insurance is reasonable (cheap compared to South FL prices).

My job will be in Downtown Jax and I have been warned that the commute may be ugly. However, I grew up in the Balto/Washington area - commuter traffic doesn't scare me. I also have the option of a flexible shift so I can avoid the 8:30 to 5 commuter time.

We looked at many existing homes and liked three of them enough to consider making an offer. However, all three were overpriced according to the comps and the sellers were unable or unwilling to consider an offer that was reasonable. One house was perfect and we would have put in a full price or even offered over list price. (No, we aren't crazy -- this house literally had everything we needed and wanted, even the colors and landscaping were done to our taste and preferences.) But since we are not buying with cash, the appraised price of the home must meet the requirements of the lender.

If anyone has any specific questions or wants to see pics of my partially constructed house, PM me.

Perhaps we can plan a Welcome to Jax Dismeet.

 

[mapmakerj]

ChristineNic, I just sent you a PM about the drive into downtown Jax from Two Creeks since my husband does the same drive and we live just down the road.

 

[CinderellaDreamer]

We lived in Jax for 5 years when my husband was in the Navy. The things that I miss the most are St. Augustine, the beaches, less taxes (no state tax, no tax on food), and - the most important - being near Disney and having Florida residency! We have often thought of moving back. It was my favorite place that I have lived, with Pensacola being a close second. (From Gadsden/Birmingham originally)

We lived in Mandarin on the southeastern side. I commuted up to Atlantic Avenue, and was very glad not to have to drive on the Buckman Bridge! I recommend living on the east side of the St. John's River to avoid ever having to go on that bridge! ha!

We would go to St. Augustine for dinner all the time. As a previous poster said, the beaches there are nicer than the ones in Jax. The outlet mall is fun also.

Duval schools are a mess. Definitely look into the school system before renting/buying.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[mhsjax]

I agree, and I know that I sound like I am beating a dead horse but having grown up here, I just wouldn't recommend purchasing anything where you ever had to cross the Buckman bridge. And if you want to go to St Augustine, or the beach. WDW or shopping, you have to. They do have Orange Park mall, but I just don't care for it at all.

I just have too many friends that live over the bridge that wish they didn't. They all say they want to live in this area and wish they had purchased here. OH and don't even get me started on Blanding Blvd. At one time they actually had bumper stickers that said, " I have been to H*** , I drive on Blanding Blvd. Possibly the worst and busiest street, or highway in Jacksonville.