Relocating to Northeast Florida....HELP! (Gainesville, Lake City: environment, for sale, job)

[nicki55]

We are relocating to Northeast Florida within the next month, and I am so confused as to where to start looking for a place to live. I have found the list of the top Florida school districts. I am planning on finding a temporary place and then before a year's up to buy a house, but I would definitely like to get at least the county right for the temp move so that the kids would not have to change schools when we find the permanent house. My husband's job will be in Live oak, and I don't see anything there even to rent, let alone I see on the school list that the rating is a "C". I have an upcoming 11th grader, 7th grader, and 4th grader. We will not mind a reasonable commute(I see that Alachua county has an "A" rating for schools. But especially with gas prices, I am trying to be realistic. We can deal with land, but we don't want to be in the boondocks per say. We also don't want to be in an urban environment either, even though 20-30 minutes away wouldn't be bad. I have looked at the counties of taylor, Lafayette, Dixie, Gilchrist, Union, and Alachua. I don't want to kid myself, but I am thinking that maybe Alachua will be too far. I also thought about High Springs in Alachua which is at the tip of the county, but I cannot find any information on these places, nor can I find any houses for sale. We are relocating froma wonderful school district in Oconee County, Georgia. Definitely need good schools, affordable housing(around $200,000), and not stuck in the middle of nowhere(my 11th grader is already having a bad enought time at the thought of moving). Please help and give me some suggestions !!!!

[apvbguy]

Originally Posted by nicki55

We are relocating to Northeast Florida within the next month, and I am so confused as to where to start looking for a place to live. I have found the list of the top Florida school districts. I am planning on finding a temporary place and then before a year's up to buy a house, but I would definitely like to get at least the county right for the temp move so that the kids would not have to change schools when we find the permanent house. My husband's job will be in Live oak, and I don't see anything there even to rent, let alone I see on the school list that the rating is a "C". I have an upcoming 11th grader, 7th grader, and 4th grader. We will not mind a reasonable commute(I see that Alachua county has an "A" rating for schools. But especially with gas prices, I am trying to be realistic. We can deal with land, but we don't want to be in the boondocks per say. We also don't want to be in an urban environment either, even though 20-30 minutes away wouldn't be bad. I have looked at the counties of taylor, Lafayette, Dixie, Gilchrist, Union, and Alachua. I don't want to kid myself, but I am thinking that maybe Alachua will be too far. I also thought about High Springs in Alachua which is at the tip of the county, but I cannot find any information on these places, nor can I find any houses for sale. We are relocating froma wonderful school district in Oconee County, Georgia. Definitely need good schools, affordable housing(around $200,000), and not stuck in the middle of nowhere(my 11th grader is already having a bad enought time at the thought of moving). Please help and give me some suggestions !!!!

you may have better luck using the general fla forum, none of these places are part of the JAX area

[nicki55]

Thanks. I didn't think about that option.

[cellson]

If you can manage to get your children in an Alachua County school I believe you'll be MUCH happier then if they're going to school in Taylor, Lafayette, Dixie, Gilchrist or Union. In Alachua County public education is top notch in part due to the U of F being in Gainesville. Welcome to Florida and good luck!

[nicki55]

Thanks so much. but, any idea how far Alachua county is from Live Oak?

[pirate girl]

According to mapquest it's just over 50 miles- and most of that is interstate driving.

Lake City is about 20 miles from Live Oak. I'm not sure what county that is or how the schools are but it's a more populated area than the others.

[wacahootaman]

Go to Realtor.com for tons of listings of homes for sale.

Rent and get to know the area before you buy.

There are lots of good deals out there when you do decide to buy.

Lake City is growing fast. More local economy than Live Oak.