Family Move to JAX - Biggest Mistakes To Avoid? (Jacksonville: extended stay, rent)

[Mosco]

Hi gang. We're considering a move to the JAX area. Married couple with 2 kids (5 and 1). Looking at maybe a gated community in St John's county. Seems like lots to choose from. Will have to tour the area and get a feel for what best suits us.

Thought I'd start this thread to get folks to list the biggest and most common mistakes people make during these transitions. A great way to help others with the experiences you may have had and learned from the hard way.

I would work at home with occasional trips to clients in the area. Priority is safe neighborhood where kids can just run out the door and play with neighbor's kids. Hate driving to playdates. Shortest trip possible to school as well.

Thanks!

[chictofl]

I would recommend Orange Park which is a very quiet and safe area. Excellent for raising a family. I live in a nice community off of Argyle. I like it here. There is an elementary school and high school within 3 minutes from me. I am currently registered at St. Johns Community College, which is nice. Downtown Jax is a good 35 minutes depending on traffic. Keep in mind, you will be doing a lot of driving if you live in this area. Jax is huge and spread out! Actually, all of FL requires a lot of driving. I lived in Orlando and Tampa and I have to say that the worst traffic was in Tampa! I almost got killed on a daily basis with all of the crazy drivers there. Orange Park traffic is not too bad, but it def is not good either. The Mandarin area seems to be more congested probably because it is more develped. That too is a nice area, but I chose Orange Park due to the college here. Your best bet is to visit here for at least a month at an extended stay and drive around the areas to see the best fit for you and your family. That is what I did. Good luck with your move.

[SaintCabbage]

Orange Park and Mandarin are probably the worst for traffic/congestion IMO.

Everyone is going to recommend St Johns county --- Julington Creek, Durbin Crossing, or Nocatee.

A lot of folks rent for a year first before committing, I would say that's the best advice I can give just to get a lay of the land and make a decsion on where you want to permanently end up.

[fsu813]

RENT.

I can't tell you how many people move to the places in town that happen to have the biggest advertising budgets or easy to Google website, only to move a year later because they found out that there's more than generic, stucco developments with heavy traffic in Jacksonville.