[Tinavelas02]

Hello Everyone, I am new here but have been reading posts for a long time. My name is Christina, and I am a single mom of one girl who's four. I live in South Florida, around Sunrise and Plantation, and I have lived in this area for most of my life. South Florida is going downhill FAST and I am looking to relocate. Being that I've lived here my whole life I experience so much DRAMA and the schools are terrible. I really want my daughter to have a safe, good education and I'm not getting that here.

I need advice on the Panhandle area. I am a registered nurse, and have found a position with a hospital in Pensacola (Baptist Hospital). I visited there for the interview and really liked it...completely different than here.

Another question I have is where to live. Many people on here seem to think that living in Alabama and working in Florida can be good. I am looking into that, and I found a 2/2 house in Orange Beach for around $175,000. That's MUCH more affordable for us.

I need to know what to do. Is the commute okay for work? How is the Orange Beach school systems? I just want a safe place for my daughter and I...I'm not getting it here in South Florida.

Thank you!
Christina

[compelled to reply]

I actually have a family friend who recently moved to Santa Rosa County (FL) from your area. I haven't yet visited,let alone lived there, but from what I heard I would look into Santa Rosa County, which according to him runs an excellent school system, is affordable in comparison to our area,is closer to Pensacola and has a major military presence. I checked into GreatSchools.net and the ratings seem to reinforce what my friend said. Also a poster around here, Sunrico90 is a goldmine of information about the area. I haven't even visited,let alone lived there, so I can't speak for specifics, but I can speak for our area, and schools in Plantation/Sunrise are terrible, so analyzing it from this side, it seems that this is a good move for your family in your situation.

[MrTudo]

Wouldn't you be subjected to alabama's state income tax if you live in alabama and work in Fla?

[Keeper]

Yes, but property taxes are a lot less in AL. Income tax is 2 percent and property tax per $100K is about 200.00 mol.
There are taxes on food too, so you probably should check out home prices and see where you can get the best home price.

[compelled to reply]

It's all a loophole.

[MrTudo]

Originally Posted by Keeper

Yes, but property taxes are a lot less in AL. Income tax is 2 percent and property tax per $100K is about 200.00 mol.

Well, if you're earning more than 100K a year it doesn't make much sense being in alabama as there's an accountant to pay, in addition to the taxes which doesn't exist in Fla.

If making 6 figures and the first digit isn't 1, it becomes a no brainer.

100K a year isn't what it used to be.

[macguy]

Originally Posted by Keeper

Yes, but property taxes are a lot less in AL. Income tax is 2 percent and property tax per $100K is about 200.00 mol.
There are taxes on food too, so you probably should check out home prices and see where you can get the best home price.

What county are you looking at? Hard to believe I can buy a million dollar piece of property and my taxes will only be $2000. a year.

[imrwklein]

Originally Posted by Tinavelas02

Hello Everyone, I am new here but have been reading posts for a long time. My name is Christina, and I am a single mom of one girl who's four. I live in South Florida, around Sunrise and Plantation, and I have lived in this area for most of my life. South Florida is going downhill FAST and I am looking to relocate. Being that I've lived here my whole life I experience so much DRAMA and the schools are terrible. I really want my daughter to have a safe, good education and I'm not getting that here.

I need advice on the Panhandle area. I am a registered nurse, and have found a position with a hospital in Pensacola (Baptist Hospital). I visited there for the interview and really liked it...completely different than here.

Another question I have is where to live. Many people on here seem to think that living in Alabama and working in Florida can be good. I am looking into that, and I found a 2/2 house in Orange Beach for around $175,000. That's MUCH more affordable for us.

I need to know what to do. Is the commute okay for work? How is the Orange Beach school systems? I just want a safe place for my daughter and I...I'm not getting it here in South Florida.

Thank you!
Christina

This could be a drive, but if I were to live in Alabama, I would live in Fairhope. It is a very cute town, tall trees, waterfront, great downtown. Florida on the other hand has Gulf Breeze, not a cute town like Fairhope, but it has a Baptist Hospital right there. This is close, with great schools, low crime.

[deckardc]

Originally Posted by Tinavelas02

Hello Everyone, I am new here but have been reading posts for a long time. My name is Christina, and I am a single mom of one girl who's four. I live in South Florida, around Sunrise and Plantation, and I have lived in this area for most of my life. South Florida is going downhill FAST and I am looking to relocate. Being that I've lived here my whole life I experience so much DRAMA and the schools are terrible. I really want my daughter to have a safe, good education and I'm not getting that here.

I need advice on the Panhandle area. I am a registered nurse, and have found a position with a hospital in Pensacola (Baptist Hospital). I visited there for the interview and really liked it...completely different than here.

Another question I have is where to live. Many people on here seem to think that living in Alabama and working in Florida can be good. I am looking into that, and I found a 2/2 house in Orange Beach for around $175,000. That's MUCH more affordable for us.

I need to know what to do. Is the commute okay for work? How is the Orange Beach school systems? I just want a safe place for my daughter and I...I'm not getting it here in South Florida.

Thank you!
Christina

The commute from Orange Beach, AL to Baptist Pensacola could easily take you 45 min. to an hour depending on your shift. Also, as previously mentioned, you would have to pay AL state income tax. If you are buying a house, taxes are lower in AL but homeowners insurance in the Orange Beach area is very high. The area was devastated by hurricane Ivan in 2004 and took a lot of flooding from Katrina in 2005.

I'm not sure specifically about the schools in Orange Beach, but overall schools in Alabama aren't very good. Nationwide Alabama is ranked 45 out of 50. Florida is ranked 29 out of 50. Orange Beach isn't a bad place but it is a little remote from both Pensacola and Mobile. I personally think it's a bit on the redneck side as well.

I would take a look at Gulf Breeze, FL or Milton, FL. Both towns are in Santa Rosa County which has excellent schools (6th in the state) and they are a short commute to Baptist. Baptist even has a small hospital in Gulf Breeze. Pensacola Beach is not actually in Pensacola but it's in Gulf Breeze so you would be closer to the beach there. Also, the beaches on the FL panhandle are much nicer than the beaches in AL even though they are neighbors.

[sunrico90]

Navarre or Gulf Breeze can be a great option. I have a friend that works at Baptist (Davis HWY) and lives in Navarre. The traffic might be the greatest concern, but the area is a lot better in reference to schools, crime, and housing.