[redraven_y2k]

Greetings all,
My husband and I are relocating our family to Florida and we need some help on what part to move to.

We are AA family consisting of us (43 and 38)and our 3 kids a girl 7 and 2 boys 17 and 19. We are looking for an area that is diverse, active, and friendly.

What I mean is we don't want to worry about cross burnings, child molesters, people standing on the corner trying to sell you drugs or robbing you or your house, basically no "ghetto or poor trailer park areas". Trust me between Baltimore,MD and Petersburg, VA I done seen it all and don't want to see it again.

Where is a good place that has nice beaches, schools, actives for the kids, malls and some kind of nightlife that will stay open late and is not a strip club hubby likes them but I hate strip clubs.

My hubby and I have been looking at some really nice houses online at Craigslist around Tampa bay area like New port Richey, Port Richey, and Holiday but after reading some post here I am scared real scared .
So, any area will be worth a look I was looking at Daytona Beach and Ft Myers too. Please don't say Miami I can't afford to move there and too many Latins and such there. I don't want to lose out because I can't speak anything but english.

Jobs are not a problem my husband is a otr driver and my oldest works for Walmart. I go to college so we are ok money wise. But we are not rich my husband said for me to find a house that is no more than $900 mo with 3br 2 ba so it is all on me so if I mess up I will be the bad guy.

I lived in Pensacola (Escambia)over 20 years ago but I was a Navy kid so we did not stay long but we stayed long enough for hurricane season so I am not afraid.

Any advice you give I will take it to heart when making a choice on where to look.
Thank you,
Mrs. H

[vgandjsmom]

What is AA ? I feel dumb asking, I don't remember that one!

And good luck. Even in the more rural places I have been looking where rent is cheaper, a thousand a month for a 3 bedroom is at the BOTTOM end of what I have seen. But like my husband and I think, that is what is advertised, when you get to a place all the good deals aren't advertised.

[verobeach]

Florida is like anywhere... there's good areas and there's shady areas. Get into a good neighborhood and you'll be okay.

[GentleWind]

The Gulf Breeze area in Santa Rosa County is a great place for kids. The schools are top notch. The university is over in Pensacola and a Junior Community College is there as well. I left this area 3 yrs ago and went to western NC. I cannot wait to get back to FL. Good luck.

[seain dublin]

You sound like a great fit for Polk County.

[doggiebus]

Originally Posted by vgandjsmom

What is AA ? I feel dumb asking, I don't remember that one!

African American most likely.

[jpicard]

Originally Posted by doggiebus

African American most likely.

I read it as an "Alcoholics Anonymous" family and thought they wanted the avoid areas that would entice them to drink.

[redraven_y2k]

Originally Posted by jpicard

I read it as an "Alcoholics Anonymous" family and thought they wanted the avoid areas that would entice them to drink.

AA= Afro American

Believe me I live in Virginia where alcohol is sold everywhere but the schools.

I know Pensacola, Gulf Breezes area loved it when I was a Navy Brat. But my credit is shot due to upside down mortgage on my current house and medical Bills in fact I will be doing a chapter 7 within the next month or so. I am scared to do real estate companies and giving away what money we have saved dealing with credit checks when we know it looks bad. I don't mind background checks because we are clean. So, unless we find people who just care about income and background check we are limited.

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by redraven_y2k

Please don't say Miami I can't afford to move there and too many Latins and such there.

You said you wanted a diverse area? You sound like you would otherwise like some suburbs in South Florida.

[redraven_y2k]

Originally Posted by seain dublin

You sound like a great fit for Polk County.

What's Polk County?