Moving from MI to Jacksonville FL what advice do you have? (St. Augustine: transplants, foreclosures)

[Heavensentmeboys]

Looking for any advice you may have. What should we know about Jacksonville or areas around Jacksonville? We have school age children. Trying to get as much info as possible. We have never been to Jacksonville FL, we thank all of you so much in advance!!!

[Heavensentmeboys]

We will be looking to rent a home.
Looking for a Christian Church.
Elementary School children.
We are being re-located for my husbands job.
Thank you so much again!!

[ssclulow]

Best wishes for your upcoming move. In 1997, I moved from Livonia, MI to St. Augustine, FL which is 35 miles south of Jacksonville's southside neighborhoods. We love living in N.E. Florida. In what area of Jacksonville will your husband be working? There are many very good Christian Churches (both large and small) in the Jacksonville area. St. Johns County, which is south of Jacksonville, has an excellent school system. The house rental market is very tight right now due to so many people flooding the rental market as tenants due to foreclosures. If you have dogs in your household, finding a rental could be difficult.

[mawipafl]

There are many good schools, churches, house rentals in the Jacksonville area, but because Jax is so huge (land-wise), ssclulow's question of where your husband will be working is the first question to ask.

We also enjoy living in NE Florida (northern transplants). People are quite friendly, there's a lot to do here, and certainly the weather is more tolerable than Michigan's.

[wb3690]

Fellow Michigander here. I grew up in West Bloomfield outside of Detroit. I do NOT miss Michigan winters at all.......

[wewantseasons]

The only area in Jacksonville (Duval County) I would recommend for public school is the Mandarin area (zip 32257/32258) There are churchers everywhere of all size and denominations, it's just a matter of "shopping" around to find the best fit for you. I have several friends who have moved down from MI and love it here. St. Johns county does have the better option for public schools, but if you or your husband are working in Jacksonville, it would probably be a bit of drive(with traffic at least 45min. each way). Southside(zip 32246/32216) have many nice neighborhoods, but I would have to suggest looking into private schools, there are plenty of private christian schools in the area! Finding a place to rent or buy won't be a problem! Check craigslist.com and jacksonville.com in the classified section. Anything under $900 for 2-3 bedroom is probably in a not so nice area

[912]

Originally Posted by Heavensentmeboys

Looking for any advice you may have. What should we know about Jacksonville or areas around Jacksonville? We have school age children. Trying to get as much info as possible. We have never been to Jacksonville FL, we thank all of you so much in advance!!!

I must ask...why are you moving somewhere sight unseen? Do you have employment already lined up? This doesn't make any sense.

The one piece of advice I can give, aside from what I stated above, is to NOT come to Jax looking for anything resembling MI, or comment on how things are done here vs. back home.

[CandaceMM]

Bring your winter jackets .... It doesn't get super cold down here, but it does get cold in the winter.

[Robyn55]

Originally Posted by 912

I must ask...why are you moving somewhere sight unseen? Do you have employment already lined up? This doesn't make any sense.

The one piece of advice I can give, aside from what I stated above, is to NOT come to Jax looking for anything resembling MI, or comment on how things are done here vs. back home.

OP said:

"We are being re-located for my husbands job."

Robyn

[JagFan27]

Sell or give your snow shovels away before moving here.
But, keep the winter coats. I have one wool pea coat and one wool dress coat that gets worn more than once a year.

Someone has already mentioned the Mandarin area. The beaches have decent schools also.