Family moving to JAX, need advice (Jacksonville, Fernandina Beach: to rent, buying a home, transferring to)

[jrez10]

We're a family of 4 planning to move to Jacksonville from NJ in the summer. We were recommended to look at Orange Park, Baymeadows and Mandarin as places to live. We have 2 children ages 2 and 10 and we're looking for a safe neighborhood with good schools. We plan to rent for the first year and then buy a home. Where would be some good areas to rent for our first year?

[fsu813]

The one's you already mentioned would seem to fit the bill. Of course, there are little pockets of "not nice" and sketchy in those areas too, but the majority will be what you want: safe & good schools.

Of course, most of Jacksonville will have both of what you listed.

The 2 most important questions are:

1) What's you budget?

2) What grades will your children be in?

Form there, it's easier to narrow down.

[JCayless]

Originally Posted by fsu813

The one's you already mentioned would seem to fit the bill. Of course, there are little pockets of "not nice" and sketchy in those areas too, but the majority will be what you want: safe & good schools.

Of course, most of Jacksonville will have both of what you listed.

The 2 most important questions are:

1) What's you budget?

2) What grades will your children be in?

Form there, it's easier to narrow down.

This is a great platform to begin from. All areas in Jacksonville, as with any large city, will have its ups and downs. There are numerous areas that are very child friendly, as well as areas that do not fit the bill. I myself enjoy an area just north of Jacksonville, Fernandina Beach. I decided to reside here due to the laid back lifestyle and smaller town feeling, but close proximity to Jacksonville for jobs, shopping, ect. Once you set a range, where you will be working, ect we can give you a better idea of what area to look into. Jacksonville is a very spread out city, and if drive time to and from work is a factor, then that is a major consideration in the decision.

[MrsCDF]

I am looking for a place as well with basically same requirements. I would prefer the $175K range. I have been looking in Mandarin, Orange Park, St Johns, and general Jacksonville but it's very difficult to tell what the neighborhoods are like being from out of state and doing all of my research online! I am looking for a good neighborhood for a multi racial family, my husband works for the YMCA and will most likely be looking at transferring to one of the Jacksonville branches. I can do my job(s) anywhere.

We currently live in Louisville, KY which has terrible areas and great ones. We are in a standard, middle class neighborhood right now and want the same or better, of course. We are renting now for $1100 per month, but will be buying a home when we move.

My children will be in middle/high school.

[mawipafl]

MrsCDF - recommending where to search would be based upon which YMCA branch. For example, it would not be a great choice to live in Mandarin and commute to the YMCA in Clay County and vice versa -- the commute would be a pain. If it's possible to get the transfer in place first and then search, that might be better. Like Louisville, and any other city in America, the Jacksonville area has its not-so-great and awesomely-great areas. But the difference is that Jacksonville geographically is huge.

[HLH0622]

Considering your price point, and family check out Bartram Springs: [url=http://bartramspringscdd.com/]Bartram Springs CDD[/url]

Another good area would be Julington Creek (close to Mandarin).

My suggestion would be to shy away from Orange Park, has great areas, but also a lot of trouble areas.

[JCayless]

Originally Posted by MrsCDF

I am looking for a place as well with basically same requirements. I would prefer the $175K range. I have been looking in Mandarin, Orange Park, St Johns, and general Jacksonville but it's very difficult to tell what the neighborhoods are like being from out of state and doing all of my research online! I am looking for a good neighborhood for a multi racial family, my husband works for the YMCA and will most likely be looking at transferring to one of the Jacksonville branches. I can do my job(s) anywhere.

We currently live in Louisville, KY which has terrible areas and great ones. We are in a standard, middle class neighborhood right now and want the same or better, of course. We are renting now for $1100 per month, but will be buying a home when we move.

My children will be in middle/high school.

Every area of Jacksonville will offer different positives and negatives. Also depending upon commute times ect. Do you know which YMCA he will be working at? I agree that would be a great starting point. Feel free to contact me, I can either set you up with a realtor down in south Jacksonville, or assist you with finding something in north Jacksonville or Fernandina beach Amelia island / Yulee area. There are plenty of great new communities outside of Jacksonville! Please feel free to email me and I can send out local information to try and help you have a better idea!

[fsu813]

No response from the original poster. I guess we'll never know.

[fsu813]

Originally Posted by MrsCDF

I am looking for a place as well with basically same requirements. I would prefer the $175K range. I have been looking in Mandarin, Orange Park, St Johns, and general Jacksonville but it's very difficult to tell what the neighborhoods are like being from out of state and doing all of my research online! I am looking for a good neighborhood for a multi racial family, my husband works for the YMCA and will most likely be looking at transferring to one of the Jacksonville branches. I can do my job(s) anywhere.

We currently live in Louisville, KY which has terrible areas and great ones. We are in a standard, middle class neighborhood right now and want the same or better, of course. We are renting now for $1100 per month, but will be buying a home when we move.

My children will be in middle/high school.

As others have said, pretty much every large city will have good/bad areas, and everything in between.

How many beds/baths do you need for $175k?

How old are your children?

From there, you can narrow it down pretty easily.