Moving to St Augustine area (St. Augustine: to rent, condo, buying a house)

[Barnes66]

Hello. We are hoping to get some current info regarding the St Augustine area, please.*We are relocating from GA to St. Johns county. We have made a few trips to look at areas to live. We would like to know more about neighborhoods along 16 (between 1 and 95), or other alternative neighborhoods in that general area. Our concerns are; a safe clean neighborhood, while we do not have school age children the schools may be valuable if we ever sell, we are working class and can't afford the pricier areas, so houses around $200k max.*Is this possible on our salary? Any ideas on which areas we should consider or avoid? Thank you.

[ssclulow]

To better answer your question, it would be helpful to know more precisely what you are looking for. Are you wanting to purchase a single family home and/or a condo and / or a townhouse? Would you consider purchasing a newer manufactured home? How many bedrooms / baths do you require? Is there a reason why you are exclusively looking at only the neighborhhods off of State Route 16?

[Peter the Brit]

I purchased a new home last year in Heritage park a great neighborhood with many homes under 200k Safe near St Augustine but not in the best school are though all schools are highly rated in St Johns County. There is also Royal St Augustine, Mission Trace, Olde Florida, Sebastion Pointe, Madeira
Any help I can give you pleas pm me

[Barnes66]

Thank you. Our first thought is to rent a house, then buy a house after we learn the area better. However, we are open to buying a house initially. A 3/2 is our choice. We prefer to avoid manufactured homes. The reason we focused on SR 16 is because that is where our main destinations are; work, Technical College, The ARC of St Johns, and it is close to shopping. We love the historical district of St. Augustine but realize the expense and the headaches of being there.

[ssclulow]

Peter has a good first hand knowledge about that area. I agree with his recommendations.

[Barnes66]

Thanks Peter and ssclulow. We will look at these areas especially.

[bobandsteve]

we would second the recommendations of peter as well. we have lived in st augustine for only 3 months now, and we love it here. we currently live in the san savino subdivision in st augustine shores. we paid $250K for a 3/2 house with all the bells and whistles--but there are also homes in here for around $200K. you might also look at King's Trace--as Peter suggested. we drive by it almost every day on our way back from the grocery store--it is definitely in your price range--and is really convenient to the stores and businesses along Hwy.1 South and 312, as well as being within minutes of historic downtown. if you want to live over on anastasia island, you might look at homes at Sea Gate--they're not new, but it's a fun little gated community, and you can probably find a few places in your price range.

good luck with your search--it was this very site that led us to the wonderful community of st. augustine, and we are forever grateful to the generous contributors here for their time and information!!

bob and steve

[Barnes66]

Thanks bobandsteve. We will definitely take a look at those too. I agree with your comments about the posters on this site. This has been our main source of real information. Thank you all.