[Need_affordable_home]

If I had to stay in FL, I would definately choose the northern part. Live somewhere near Gainesville. Not a bad area if your rich.

[backtofla]

correction, st augustine is still very reasoably priced. nice houses (brand new) for 200k... heritage landing area.

[bmurphy]

Originally Posted by Need_affordable_home

If I had to stay in FL, I would definately choose the northern part. Live somewhere near Gainesville. Not a bad area if your rich.

Why would someone in Gainesville need to be rich? It's pretty reasonable for the most part.

Is anything over $50k housing "rich people" territory?

If life is like you think, then about 90-95% of the population is rich since 90-95% of homes cost more than $50k these days.

[sunrico90]

Originally Posted by macguy

You have been talking about that for a few days now. Has that always been your choice or have you just discovered it? It has never been on my radar but you have me curious what is the biggest attraction for you?

We started visiting about 5 years ago and we visit 3 or 4 times a year. Planning on purchasing a 2nd home in the near future. This is just perfect place, no rush, very little crime, housing affordable, friendly community, away from the large city nightmares, good eating, and superb attaction for tourist. Great opportunity to start a B&B, and many more.

You have to visit and decide if you like the area. But for us is a great R&R from a place that is also calm but does not have the same atmosphere. We forget about everything else while visiting St Augustine is just a Paradise of a place....

[macguy]

Originally Posted by sunrico90

We started visiting about 5 years ago and we visit 3 or 4 times a year. Planning on purchasing a 2nd home in the near future. This is just perfect place, no rush, very little crime, housing affordable, friendly community, away from the large city nightmares, good eating, and superb attaction for tourist. Great opportunity to start a B&B, and many more.

You have to visit and decide if you like the area. But for us is a great R&R from a place that is also calm but does not have the same atmosphere. We forget about everything else while visiting St Augustine is just a Paradise of a place....

I haven't been there in years and even then it was just visiting all the tourist stuff. Never really took a close look at it.

[Jammie]

Originally Posted by backtofla

correction, st augustine is still very reasoably priced. nice houses (brand new) for 200k... heritage landing area.

Thank you for letting me know that. I'll have to check out the area. Everyone seems to think it's so nice there.

[Jim280]

Originally Posted by Jammie

I understand that St. Augustine is very expensive though. Guess I'd have to live in a tent at the campgrounds if we moved there.

I don't think you would have to live in a tent..LOL.. but there is people in that particular campground that live there all year in RV's. As for being expensive it depends on what type of property you're looking at, you can still get a 3bedroom 2 bath new home for under $150,000.00...but they are in sub-divisions and 10 feet or so apart. I'm not sure about the square footage.
Once the developers moved in it's like other parts of Florida in St.Augustine Beach and St.Augustine south, condos and townhouses and small new houses. But the old St. Augustine is about the same as it was many years ago. The job market never has been good there tho, a lot of the people are self employed or commute to Jacksonville or other near by areas for work. There were areas 5 to 10 miles out from St.Augustine that had nice houses for a decent price two years ago when I was there, don't know about that now tho.

[iriegirl]

We were just in St.Augustine last week. The old town section is truly beautiful and historic, but full of tourists. Still , I think that would be where i would move to. I liked the feeling in the town,artsy and not like a phony 'old town'.
We stayed in an RV park near there, (there are several rv parks around there,) and there are a lot of shopping strip malls along Rt1, and A1A...any store you could want. Lots of new housing areas too, so there would be work for my dh who is in construction. The roads are pretty good too. Except if you have to go to St.Augustine Beach and cross the Bridge of Lions, it is awful with the construction, and traffic congestion.
From St.Aug to Jacksonville, lots of stores and home developments in a range of prices. Also, lots of apartments. It looks clean too, and the restaurants we went to were good and affordable, (much less $$than here in NJ.)
Beautiful wide beaches, and not so many beach rules either (up here we have to pay to use the beach, or join a beach club, they're smaller and the sand is rough, and no dogs allowed .)
I 'm thinking to come down there in the summer and see if I can tolerate the heat at all, or maybe that would be the time to go visiting family up north. :-)

[backtofla]

iriegirl, what does your hubby do in the construction field?

[mmccool719]

If $$$ were no object, I have to admit, Naples ain't so bad. We have good schools, nice beaches, great shopping, easy to get around since they are building all new roads. I am surprised to see that no one has mentioned Naples. We are in abundance with young families and greats schools, beaches and parks. Like I said, if $$$ were no object. To be in total paradise here, you need to spend a million.