[WIFERN]

can anyone tell me somethings about pensacola? good areas to live, areas to stay away from? how about property taxes and home insurance on a $240,000 home?
any info would be appreciated.
thanks

[topropeprincess]

Hello. I just moved from Milton (outside Pensacola) about 3 months ago. I will see if I can help.

As far as areas to live. Anywhere in NE Pensacola is good. Anything around Summit, Cordova, Langley are excellent. The 9 Mile area is also good. As long as you stay on the northeast side of Chemstrand. East Hill is nice, but expensive. If you have school aged kids, then I would suggest private school in that area.

The Pace area is nice also, if you want a small drive. They have excellent schools and it is beautiful there.

Now when I left, the property taxes / homeowners insurance were high. They may have come down some since then, I don't know. I do know that I have a friend that lives in Pace and has a home worth about $225,000 - $250,000. Her homeowners insurance alone was around $4000.

[mattvj5]

4K wow...I live in Pace (Pea Ridge) and thought I was paying alot at 1800...we moved in the area early last year and although there were nice places in Pensacola, when I priced the homes we were looking at buying, usually 2000 square feet, the insurance was crazy...4K one quote and 6500 the other...with the new stores and resturants, we drive into Pensacola for the beach, hospital, and mall and it takes about 20 minutes...

[trev77x7]

Areas to live really depends on where you will be working and if you mind a commute. Schools also can be a factor. I live in Pace, just NE of Pensacola and love it. Good community and schools.
Insurance is expensive right now. Many companies won't even give a quote for this area. But, if you go right across the FL/AL line to Foley area, I have heard the rates are better. Not sure about that one, though.
Property taxes are based on how much you paid for your home, so that is high right now.
Folks are saying it is a buyers market. That is true in that there are too many homes on the market, but the supply/demand curve thing has not brought the prices down significantly yet. Everyone is hanging on for the rebound.
Hope this is helpful. If you have an area that you are going to be near, for work, then maybe I could give you a better idea of where to avoid.