Need info from Palm Coast residents please (Jacksonville, Plantation: relocating, real estate)

[DB3]

My family will be relocating to Palm Coast in the next few months. We've made short trips to look around but I don't think it's possible to find out all we want to know before moving there. So I'm hoping some current residents wouldn't mind giving their thoughts about the different areas and hopefully your opinions on some specific questions:

Is there a difference between living in the B, P or W section? Are any more heavily weighted towards families with kids as opposed to retirees?

Do the B, P and W sections attend Belle Terre Elementary and the middle school that's next door? If not, who goes to which school?

The E section seemed too far removed from the town and there really didn't seem to be much difference from the other lettered sections except that it's not as built up yet as the others. Is there something we missed?

Is there anywhere in Palm Coast where you're not on a lot that's roughly 80x120? We'd prefer a larger lot but still with that community feel (not acreage where you're nowhere near your neighbor). There are a few streets inside the W section around Cedar Point Drive that seem like they are larger lots (looking on MapQuest). Is there anywhere else?

What can you tell me about Grand Haven? With the communities being gated we were unable to check them out. Is it mostly retirees? Any families with children? How many children in relation to the lettered sections?

Sorry for all the questions but the more details we can get the easier it is on future trips to narrow down where to search! If there's anything else you think we would like to know, please feel free to share.

Thanks!

[Crazy G]

""IF"" you are just renting.....and
[[[[[I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT, IN PREFERENCE TO BUYING AT THIS POINT]]]]

I would recommend Plantation Bay...a very upscale community, where you can rent a $300-400k house for $1200-1500/mo....some town house 3-2-2, for $1000....

Real Estate market in there is in total collapse, and Flipper Buyers are trapped, and ""NEED""" revenue NOW!!!!!

I rented there for 1 1/2 yrs, and just recently moved out.....finally purchased in NC...
Didn't want to contend with the high taxes, and insurance, and longterm devaluation of real estate

P.S.....Plantation Bay is just down the road from Palm Coast, between exit 278 & 273 on I-95
Check it out....''''IT'S BEAUTIFUL IN THERE"""
What ever you do.....""""DON'T BELIEVE THE SALES HIPPE""""

[DB3]

Is that the development just south of Grand Haven on the Intercoastal? If I remember, it was also gated so we couldn't get in to check it out. But thanks for the heads up, we'll put it on the list for our next visit.

[TeeJayMaJay]

No Plantation Bay is east of the INTERSTATE - the exit SOUTH of Palm Coast. If you go there, try to stay in FLAGLER COUNTY section (it is split between VOLUSIA and FLAGLER COUNTIES) Supposedly we are STILL lower in taxes than Volusia....but may not be that way for long.

You are talking about Palm Coast Plantation (I thought it was south of Grand Haven - on the way to HWY 100) - I think it is called Palm Coast Plantation. The one with the huge waterfall over ther blue tiles..GORGEOUS! Very pricey!! VERY VERY PRICEY!

[DB3]

Thank you. I think I know which one it is now. We checked out Halifax Plantation and absolutely loved it. I think we'll have to take another tour through there!

[Crazy G]

Halifax is quite nice also....
YOU DIDN'T SAY WHETHER YOU WERE RENTING OR BUYING?????

>>>>""""STRAIGHT OUT.....YOU'D BE ABSOLUTELY CRAZY TO BUY AT THIS POINT""<<<

There are over 1000 houses for sale in Ormond Bch & well over 2000 in Palm Coast....
Prices are going to drop, at least 50% in that area...

[Crazy G]

DB3....
I checked the history of your posting.....
MAN!!!! You get around alot....
Are you sure you want to move to ""PALM COAST""????

[DB3]

CrazyG, I don't know what you mean about the history of my posting and me getting around a lot. I live on the MS Gulf Coast and have posted on that forum to people with questions. But mostly I just read the Florida forums. At first we wanted to stay on the Gulf Coast. But the Gulf Coast of Florida turned out to not be what we were looking for (lots of crime, schools not so great, etc.).

We've been torn between moving to the Jacksonville (Julington Creek Plantation) area and Palm Coast. But this most recent trip has narrowed it down to the Flagler County area because it was a bit too crowded for us near Jacksonville (we live in what most would consider a rural area of the MS Gulf Coast which makes that area seem more "city" to us).

We are planning on renting first to be sure before we buy but we'd like to also come close to where we're going to end up because I don't want to have to put my son into a school only to pull him out and have him start someplace new the next year. The ideal would be to rent for a year and then buy the house we're renting because we realize we love where we're at!

Thanks for your info though, I really appreciate it.

[nene39]

Originally Posted by DB3

CrazyG, I don't know what you mean about the history of my posting and me getting around a lot. I live on the MS Gulf Coast and have posted on that forum to people with questions. But mostly I just read the Florida forums. At first we wanted to stay on the Gulf Coast. But the Gulf Coast of Florida turned out to not be what we were looking for (lots of crime, schools not so great, etc.).

We've been torn between moving to the Jacksonville (Julington Creek Plantation) area and Palm Coast. But this most recent trip has narrowed it down to the Flagler County area because it was a bit too crowded for us near Jacksonville (we live in what most would consider a rural area of the MS Gulf Coast which makes that area seem more "city" to us).

We are planning on renting first to be sure before we buy but we'd like to also come close to where we're going to end up because I don't want to have to put my son into a school only to pull him out and have him start someplace new the next year. The ideal would be to rent for a year and then buy the house we're renting because we realize we love where we're at!

Thanks for your info though, I really appreciate it.

If you want to live in Palm Coast, within a gated community, I would recommend Grand Haven, a city within a city is how they refer to this gated community, as it's pretty big compared to the other gated ones. It has also a lot of very reasonably priced properties at the moment like a lot of Florida real estate properties. Plantation Bay is a golfing community with lakes closer to Daytona Beach, but not much more; Palm Coast Plantation is real gorgeous because they have the big Emerald Lakes, however it cost an arm and a leg, even now, to buy there, and somehow, to me, it's not worth it as the lots are pretty narrow and long, and much more expensive than nrxt door, which is Grand Haven. Also, PC Plantation is a little low from the street, PC is not a flood zone, but what if????
At any rate, I hear that Old Kings Road elementary school, compared to Buddy Taylor, is excellent, and we have the new K8 Matanzas School and the Flagler High School for higher grades.
FYI, Palm Coast is actually divided into subdivision, identified legally by numerical sections, but because each section carries the same starting letter, people started identifying them as such. Cypress Knolls (E section) happens to be a higher priced area outside of gated communities because of the many executive homes built there, most probably because it is a golfing community, of which Pine Lakes (W section) and Matanzas Woods (L section), are also.
Palm Harbor (F and C section), where the old Publix is, is a mix of old and new houses, simply because it was the first subdivision to be developed by ITT, when Palm Coast was initially conceived as a retirement community, so it has more older and smaller houses than the other areas of Palm Coast.
It's not to say that it's the least expensive area because Palm Harbor is where the salt water canal properties are, and we all know that there are only so much of those in any given place.
Renting first is a good idea, however once you find the area you are comfortable with, buying is the best as there are tax considerations involved, also the possibility of buying in a down market after a while.
I have heard of a lot of parents wanting to get their young children into Old Kings Road elementary school, however I have to say that our public school system here are all rated good, and getting better, it seems, so it shouldn't be too much of a concern about different areas in the neighborhood. I do think that Grand Haven children goes to Old Kings, however, as it's closest to that school, if that's a consideration.
Sorry I can't give you much more info as far as schools goes, but I can do more research if you need it badly....What I do know is that my grandniece who's very smart, was moved from the catholic school to the public school system, and she's doing real great!

[pirate girl]

I think nene is a little confused. Palm Coast has 10 schools:

Elementary: K-5
Old Kings
Wadsworth
Bunnell
Rymfire
Belle Terre

Middle: 6-8
Buddy Taylor
Indian Trails

High 9-12
Flagler Palm Coast (FPC)
Matanzas

And an alternative high school called Pathways.


All of the schools are great and unique in their own way.

Wadsworth Elem & Buddy Taylor are next to one another, as are Belle Terre and Indian Trails.

Zoning for feeder schools changes occasionally but my child has been here in the school system for 10 years and I have never been less than happy.

FPC High School offers an IB (International Baccalaureate) program that gives their graduates an international diploma at graduation. It's a big deal and very few schools offer this program. The IB Program is optional- but the school runs on block schedules- the kids only take four classes per semester- it's very similar to college and less overwhelming for the students. Each class is 90 minutes long.

Matanzas is a newer high school- about 3 years old. It's slowly coming into its own and has a great faculty and staff but their sports program is not quite there yet.


As for gated communities, if you are a golfer-country club type, Grand Haven is for you. If you're more interested in waterfront/boating, Palm Coast Plantation is more appropriate. There are many other gated neighborhoods as well depending on your interests/taste. Some are on the water, some are not.

I am building in Palm Coast Plantation and did not need extra fill- and was told that the land is no lower there than in Grand Haven. And although Grand Haven was referred to as a city within a city, there are no stores there- it's zoned for condos, homes, villas. PCPlantation is only single family homes. The other gated neighborhoods tend to be single type build until you get over to the beach- Hammock Dunes, Ocean Hammock, etc.

There is something for everyone here- and a gated neighborhood is not a necessity. For 10 years I have lived in a golf course neighborhood without gates and I feel perfectly safe.

Our beach, Flagler Beach is so charming and quaint. Laid back, quiet and without many tourists.

This area is heaven on earth.