Jacksonville Florida living questions

Mericet · Mericet's Garage

I know there is a few of the PPOT brain trust living in the Northern Florida region. Can you give me the good and bad about living in the Jacksonville area?

98cobra · 07-19-2013, 06:21 AM

Goods:
Cost of living is low.
Weather is nice (10 months out of the year)

Bad:
The job market is not very strong right now.
Crime is bad down town and on the north side by the airport

I live on the Westside and its not to bad, Its a spread out city so you will have to drive a lot to get anywhere.

98cobra · 07-19-2013, 06:24 AM

Oh yeah, if you have kids its only a 2 hour drive to Disney World

id10t · 07-19-2013, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 98cobra

Oh yeah, if you have kids its only a 2 hour drive to Disney World

Huh? I'm 2 hours from disney and 90 min from Jacksonville...

URY914 · URY914's Garage

There is probably more affordable waterfront property in the Jax area then anywhere in the state.

We spent last weekend there out at the beach and I picked up one of those free real estate magazines. Plenty of good deals.

nota · 07-19-2013, 09:11 AM

jax is well known as the biggest city in southern Georgia

98cobra · 07-19-2013, 09:30 AM

Quote:

jax is well known as the biggest city in southern Georgia

This has a lot of truth to it, I'm from GA and I live in Jacksonville, it feels more like GA here than FL.

URY914 · URY914's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by 98cobra

This has a lot of truth to it, I'm from GA and I live in Jacksonville, it feels more like GA here than FL.

It has been said for a long time that Jax is the second largest city in GA., but without the state income tax of GA.

MBAtarga · 07-19-2013, 11:00 AM

Doesn't Byron live in Jax or nearby?

URY914 · URY914's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by MBAtarga

Doesn't Byron live in Jax or nearby?

Orange Park

98cobra · 07-19-2013, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Quote de MBAtarga

Doesn't Byron live in Jax or nearby?

Orange Park

Me too, I recommend it. I've been here 10 years now, far enough away from the city but still fairly close to everything

Super_Dave_D · Super_Dave_D's Garage

Look at the South Side, I lived in OP for 10 years and so much happier on the South Side, sure it's a little more expensive but closer to the beach and much better shopping and restaurants IMO.

Mericet · Mericet's Garage

Thank you for the responses. If everything works out, I might end up down there.

Mericet · Mericet's Garage

Any thoughts on the Atlantic Beach area?

KFC911 · 07-26-2013, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mericet

Any thoughts on the Atlantic Beach area?

It's been a while since I lived in Jax (on the Southside, Baymeadows area) but there's no way I could live there now...it's way too congested for me. I spent MANY a day down at the beach when it was a 15 minute drive down JTB...those days are gone forever. Jax/Atlantic Bchs are just "so so" imo...no way I'd live there. Don't know about your "work situation", but the commute is a no-win for many areas. If you are a beach person...check out Fernandina (north) or south or even better (NC). If not a beach person, a place on the St. Johns river (south of Jax) would be my preference. Did I say that "commutes" are horrible

....everyone I know that lives in Jax "telecommutes", so it's a non-issue. Good luck Neil!!!

ps: A gunsmith at the beach...something does NOT compute

URY914 · URY914's Garage

We were there two weeks ago. When your at/in Atlantic Beach it seems that your not even close to Jacksonville. It is more like Daytona Beach, Cocoa Beach, etc. We enjoyed it. My daughter visited with a friend of hers that has lived all her life in Atlantic Beach and loves the lifestyle.

KFC911 · 07-26-2013, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by URY914

We were there two weeks ago. When your at/in Atlantic Beach it seems that your not even close to Jacksonville.....

Agreed....east of the ICW (intercoastal waterway) is "another world"...and 10 degrees cooler

A commute into "town" would be a deal breaker anymore though I used to know a lot of folks who did years ago.

ps: If one wants "that" lifestyle...NC beaches are where it's at...

Mericet · Mericet's Garage

I did learn to drive in Johannesburg traffic so that does not bother me much. I would have to travel to Brunswick, GA for the first few months so I would prefer not to live too far south.

KFC911 · 07-26-2013, 02:14 PM

I just don't like sitting in "stop & go" commutes (from the beaches into town or I-95) it's probably closer to an hour these days give or take plus an hour up I-95. If I were looking at living at the beach...north would be my choice. (Fernandina on up into South Ga)....maybe live in Brunswick (or closer by) while you get a "feel" for the place???

After your stint in Brunswick, will you be "working at home" or other?

Mericet · Mericet's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC911

I just don't like sitting in "stop & go" commutes (from the beaches into town or I-95) it's probably closer to an hour these days give or take plus an hour up I-95. If I were looking at living at the beach...north would be my choice. (Fernandina on up into South Ga)....maybe live in Brunswick (or closer by) while you get a "feel" for the place???

After your stint in Brunswick, will you be "working at home" or other?

Long term I would be working in Jacksonville (in a shop) so I would prefer to start out there. I would also prefer not to move to GA and have to move again a few months later to FL. Living by the beach is not a requirement. I did ask about Atlantic Beach as there were rentals available in my price range.