[stonedv8]

My wife and I are relocating, liquidating everything we have and moving to Pensacola (Ft Walton, Navarre, Gulf Breeze) and of those areas sometime in the first of January.

Our plan is to come down the first of December and go ahead and do some house searching for a few days before returning to our current hometown (North Alabama). If possible we would even like to go ahead and secure a place at that time as well.

We are wanting to rent to begin with until we get established and setup for the first year, so signing a lease is no problem and we will be glad to, in that time we can be doing some home purchase searching.

Anyways, on to the question. We want to know which areas to look in, we have found TONS of rental homes/townhomes in our price range ($700 or below a month) and would really like to know which areas to stay away from, since we are doing the majority of our searching online, well, we will only have 3 days in December to search all the prospects we find online and to possible go ahead and put money down for one and get it locked in for us for our January move. Therefore we dont want to waste time trying to figure out which areas to avoid while we are down there, so I humbly ask anyone with experience in these areas to PM, leave a post or e-mail me if its some sensitive info, because lets face it no one wants to live in the rundown part of time, but some may find it less than PC to express there feelings. But help a us out here, we are already nervous and scared because we are moving away from our family, but this fresh and clean start is what we need and we are definatly looking forward to the experiences we will have as new Floridians, we both have grown up in slow town Alabama so something fun to do will be a new experience for us.

Sorry for the long post, just seems a little info was needed so we can get accurate responses. Thanks again.

[sunrico90]

The 1st & 2nd question: Do you require a job? and what do you do?

[stonedv8]

Originally Posted by sunrico90

The 1st & 2nd question: Do you require a job? and what do you do?

Yes, and My wife is the in medical field (she is a polysomnography tech) but she has extensive experience in the medical field as a whole, so she doesnt expect to get a job 1st thing as a Poly Tech, but she feels sure she can find something in the mean time in the medical field until a position opens. I am an EMT and have been looking for jobs and found quite a few openings for EMT's as well. I also have been in the motorcycle business for the past 8 years as a Service/Parts manager so as a backup I have motorsports dealership experience as well.

But for both of us, we dont have anything guaranteed ATM, but we will be studiously applying and sending out resume's before the actual move and we will have a nice cushion of savings before moving as well.

[sunrico90]

Navarre or Gulf Breeze are excellent places and in between Pcola and FWB. Baptist Hospital and Sacred Heart Hospital are the larger providers of medical jobs and the many military bases.

Here is a link: Welcome to Gulf Breeze Hospital
Also the Andrews Institute might have a position for your wife. Welcome to the Andrews Institute

Check USAjobs for GOV jobs.

Visit the local chambers of commerce and you can contact the Realtor for housing reference and assistance. Prices for rentals should be available.

Navarre is a small town while Gulf Breeze is a small city. I live in Navarre for 11 years (retired military) and work in FWB. This is the best place to live, 20 minute drive, friendly community and close to the beach.

Gulf Breeze Area Chamber of Commerce
Santa Rosa County, Florida – TEAM Santa Rosa Economic Development, Business, Industry, Pensacola MSA, Life by Design

Navarre Beach Area Chamber of Commerce

[southernnaturelover]

Stay away from West Pensacola around the Navy base, that area is trashy and run down looking. Also avoid downtown Pensacola near Cervantes St, unless you like seeing prostitutes and drug dealers. I suggest looking at Pace and Milton.

[HowDeDo]

Youll find homes are alot more value for your money further inland like around Milton, Pace, Holt, Crestview. Its a short journey to Pensacola if thats where your work will be, and only 40 minutes to the beaches . Mod deleted

[MrsEOD_2004]

I have basically the same question as stonedv8 does. Me and my husband will be moving there the first of November and are looking for places to rent. He'll be working at Eglin AFB (not sure which section, near the EOD school house) and wanting to get a good neighborhood. We're aiming to rent a house since we have a dog, and wondering what the average rent is? Or if we go for a townhouse do we have to pay HOA fees if we're just renting - we've never dealt with those before. Any info would be appreciated!

[Leemac]

Hey,
I live in Decatur, Al but have a condo in Navarre Beach. I know alot about the area. Navarre has many cute cozy subdivisions. My daughter lives in Lighthouse Point and loves it. It will run about 800-1000/mo depending on the size house you want. Parkers Landing is another, just not as nice as Lighthouse point. Navarre beach is the most beautiful you'll ever see. P'cola is close if you like night life. Plese e-mail if you have any other questions.

[stonedv8]

Originally Posted by Leemac

Hey,
I live in Decatur, Al but have a condo in Navarre Beach. I know alot about the area. Navarre has many cute cozy subdivisions. My daughter lives in Lighthouse Point and loves it. It will run about 800-1000/mo depending on the size house you want. Parkers Landing is another, just not as nice as Lighthouse point. Navarre beach is the most beautiful you'll ever see. P'cola is close if you like night life. Plese e-mail if you have any other questions.

Haha, Decatur, Al that is actually where we live now, right in the middle of the city. I have lived here for about 14 years and my wife was born and raised here. We cant wait to get out of here.

But to all that responded thanks for the info, all of it was very helpful and from that info it looks like we are probably going to be sticking with Gulf Breeze and the Milton area, would prefer Gulf Breeze for ease and access to the beach and the water but may settle on Milton only because the housing is a little cheaper in that area. Like everyone pointed out Navarre looks really enticing but in the long run it may end up being to far of a drive if we both have jobs in Pensacola proper.

Since we are up and relocating we are not planning on settling down in one particular area for too long, the first priority is finding a place temporarily until we get settled into new jobs and then after a year or so moving to a more permanent location.

[Florida2Georgia]

For my inquiring posters that would like to stay in the Pensacola area and not move to Gulf breeze and Navarre (which are outside of Pensacola) Gulf breeze and Navarre are not the only decent areas, and not all areas there are decent.

There are nice decent areas IN Pensacola. Such as:

* The 9mile road area is decent with apartments and homes (the section of 9 mile road near the Target and University of West Florida).

*The area of Bayou Blvd past Cordova mall is a nice area. (headed towards the water)

*(Also, directly behind Cordova Mall are some decent apartments and nice garden homes---behind the dillards of Cordova mall)

* Scenic Hwy area is very nice with homes around 300,000 and more. What is also nice about Scenic hwy it faces the water if you like a waterfront view. Also, on Scenic Hwy, there are several apartment complexes with reasonable prices around 700-or 800 a month for 2 bedrooms.

*On Creighton Rd pass the CVS pharmacy (as if you are headed to Scenic Hwy) is decent.

* On 9th Ave pass CiCi's pizza are some apartments (Sun runner apts and surrounding them are some garden homes and an ok neighborhood)

*Off of "W" street is a neighborhood called Marcus Pointe is decent and they have some reasonable apartments called Marcus Pointe apartments

* Behind University Mall by the Super 8 motel are some apartments
* Behind University Mall on Hilburn Rd are apartments/homes and townhomes.
*By Bay View Park area is nice (18th ave etc...)This area is mainly homes.
*Directly behind TJMaxx (near Plantation Rd) are some apartments/Townhomes w/pool.

Areas to stay away from are Massachusetts Ave, Mobile Hwy, Fairfield, Cervantes (which is the ghetto and prostitute spot) The Warrington area is not that great. From 6th ave -10th ave area (ghetto)

Well, I hope this helps any specifics feel free to post or send me a private message.

Good luck in your search.
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