Wanting advice on the perfect coastal community (Spring Hill, Pensacola: estate, insurance)

[lindsinic]

We are considering moving to a warm, coastal state from Indiana. As first time parents in our mid-20's, it is becoming very clear that winters here are just unbearable. I've lived in Indiana my entire life but am realizing just how much I love the warmer weather. The hard part with making such a drastic move is knowing the perfect place to look for a home that we can live in for many years to come...a community that will fit our needs. We now live in a up-and-coming suburb of Indianapolis. Surrounding us are many young couples and families, as well as new shopping, businesses, etc. All of which we love. However, the price of nice housing with acreage here is outrageous.
Here are some things we are looking for in order of importance:
1. Acreage (minimum of 3 acres, but would love up to 10); partially wooded
2. Price (around $300K)
3. Proximity to community (nice grocery stores, shopping, restaurants, etc.)
5. Proximity to ocean (would like to be about an hour away from nice beach
6. School systems
7. Condition and size of home (plan on eventually building new home in place of existing one)
8. Safety

Any advice on whether a place even exists would really help us!

[AJGIANTS]

Originally Posted by lindsinic

We are considering moving to a warm, coastal state from Indiana. As first time parents in our mid-20's, it is becoming very clear that winters here are just unbearable. I've lived in Indiana my entire life but am realizing just how much I love the warmer weather. The hard part with making such a drastic move is knowing the perfect place to look for a home that we can live in for many years to come...a community that will fit our needs. We now live in a up-and-coming suburb of Indianapolis. Surrounding us are many young couples and families, as well as new shopping, businesses, etc. All of which we love. However, the price of nice housing with acreage here is outrageous.
Here are some things we are looking for in order of importance:
1. Acreage (minimum of 3 acres, but would love up to 10); partially wooded
2. Price (around $300K)
3. Proximity to community (nice grocery stores, shopping, restaurants, etc.)
5. Proximity to ocean (would like to be about an hour away from nice beach
6. School systems
7. Condition and size of home (plan on eventually building new home in place of existing one)
8. Safety

Any advice on whether a place even exists would really help us!

#2 is going to be the big hinderence.

[lindsinic]

Would altering any of the requirements below #2 allow this to be possible? Going further inland? N. Carolina, S. Carolina, N. Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Virginia?

[EMERALDGIRL]

Northwest Florida on the Panhandle has some affordable homes in your price range....the insurance is outrageous if you are going to live on the coast though.

Coastal VA is very expensive....just moved from Norfolk/VA Beach area.

The closer you get to the coast...the more expensive, but I can only speak for VA and FL though.

We really like the area that we moved to in FL..but we will be renting for a little while. The cost of living in general, besides the insurance, is more affordable for us than it was in VA, the beaches are beautiful (main reason for picking this area), schools are overall really good if you have kids or planning on it in the future, the crime is relatively low...just to name a few perks of the area.

[lindsinic]

Are there any specific communities we should look at in NW Florida that sound like what we are looking for?

[Keeper]

You might want to check out Foley area in Baldwin county in AL. You can get acreage there and be close to the Gulf.

Sorry, can't help with NW FL. You might be able to find something around Spring Hill or Weeki Wachi area in SW FL. The acreage is going to be the problem and the $$$

[EMERALDGIRL]

Moderator cut: website

Originally Posted by lindsinic

Are there any specific communities we should look at in NW Florida that sound like what we are looking for?

We live in Ft. Walton Beach in Okaloosa County...other communities in Okaloosa Co. are Niceville, Crestview, Destin, Valparaiso, Shalimar, Mary Esther, Baker..these are the most populated areas out of the three

There is Santa Rosa Co. and that includes Navarre, Milton, Holt, Gulf Breeze, Pace....

Walton Co. consists of DuFuniak Springs, Ponce De Leon, Santa Rosa Beach and a few other areas....this is the most rural area of the three counties in my opinion

Then there are the two popular beach areas:

Pensacola in Escambia Co. and Panama City Beach in Bay Co.

These are the only areas of the Panhandle that I am familiar with...others will probably chime in with more info......

[beanandpumpkin]

Aside from the price for acreage, North Port sounds like a good bet. The schools are Sarasota County, so you can look them up to see if they look good to you... I don't think any schools are good, LOL, so I'm biased. But it's safe, pretty, has a nice selection of stores and such, and it maybe 30 minutes from a couple of nice beaches. (Either way, I'd recommend renting for a year to see how much you like it... some people really can't stand the humidity, bugs, snowbird season, and it's easier to get out of a rent if you hate it than to sell a house!)

[SoFLGal]

Yes, you could pick up three acres in North Port Estates for well under $300K but it's not right on the coast. North Port is about 25 minutes from the beach. The Sarasota county schools are rated very high for Florida standards.

[2bohemians]

As Emerald Girl said, you can definitely find some homes in our area of the NW Florida Panhandle around the price range you are seeking but finding a home with that kind of acreage and near all the things you want is going to be challenging. You may be able to find that kind of acreage here but most likely it won't be close to any communities with nice stores, shopping, etc .... but you can probably find what you are looking for in regard to proximity to the ocean.