Advice for a young couple looking for a starter home... (Jacksonville: real estate, housing)

[agreatlife]

Townhome sales are down 40% over this same period last year. For the first quarter this year, only 267 townhomes have sold. Having said that, however, existing SFR sales priced between $100-200K have actually shown a 1% upward tick in the first quarter. Folks are starting to buy what they can afford, rather than their dream home.

[stephen3]

Are there homes in the 210 area for under 200k you think?

I have been living in Jax for just over a year now and still learning my way around and what areas I might want to live in.

I currently live in San Marco, 32207, with a friend that bought a house last year. He paid around 205-210k and it is a 3 bed/1 bath and needs alot of work. He is from that area so we wanted to stay around there. I figured I could get a bigger and newer house for what he paid in a different area away from downtown.

[jackaroo]

Originally Posted by stephen3

Are there homes in the 210 area for under 200k you think?

I have been living in Jax for just over a year now and still learning my way around and what areas I might want to live in.

I currently live in San Marco, 32207, with a friend that bought a house last year. He paid around 205-210k and it is a 3 bed/1 bath and needs alot of work. He is from that area so we wanted to stay around there. I figured I could get a bigger and newer house for what he paid in a different area away from downtown.

You can probably find something around 1600-1800 sf or so with 3 br/2 bath down in 210 for about 200k. The home will be under 10 years old and on a 1/4 acre lot.

[SlickP]

Originally Posted by stephen3

Are there homes in the 210 area for under 200k you think?

I have been living in Jax for just over a year now and still learning my way around and what areas I might want to live in.

You just need to consider that 210 is a family oriented area that's a little ways from Jax or Jax Beach. You are still young, not married yet and no kids I'm guessing. If you and your fiancee spend weekends and weekday nights out in town or at Jax Beach you will be driving alot. If you plan on living there a while and starting a family soon, it's a great place. If you still like your freedom and nightlife, I would look closer into town.

[agreatlife]

I agree with Slick's assessment. 210 is a growing family oriented area, might be great if you are planning on starting a family soon, but you might want to be a little closer to nightlife until you do have a family. Contrary to vdecapio's continued rants about the lack of everything here, there are things to do and decent restaurants to eat at.

I'm a Realtor, and I do have access to much data concerning home prices, but the stuff I just mentioned actually was lifted out of yesterday's Fla Times Union - business section. I like townhomes / condos, but there is such a glut of them on the market right now, I'd be very careful about where I bought. More than likely you'll be looking for a SFR down the road, and you'll want to know that you'll be able to sell your townhome without 25-50 just like yours for sale in the same complex.

[stephen3]

Thanks, I will take all of this into consideration.

I am from a small town in Alabama (graduated from Auburn though, War Eagle) and it doesn't take much to make me happy. I have only been to the 210 area a few times, mainly to play golf at South Hampton and Cimarrone, and I am just going off the vibe I got from driving around in the area. I really liked the kind of quiet atmosphere and neighborhoods it has. But you are right, we do like to go out to eat at good resturants alot and on the weekends we also go have a few drinks with friends a night or two.

I like Jacksonville and there is plenty here to keep me happy. Beaches, golf, Jags, good restaurants, fun nightlife atmosphere, etc. My fiance loves the beach (and so do I) and so hopefully we won't be too far away from there either. I would also like to be in an area that I could find an affordable golf course where I can get a junior golf membership.

[stephen3]

How would the prices of 3 bed/2 bath homes in these areas compare to San Marco, San Jose, etc?

[jackaroo]

If you are looking for golf, then 210 is definitely a good area for you to consider. All the golf courses are non-equity, which means there isn't a huge initiation fee. Recently, SJGCC ran a deal for $750 initiation fee and it's something like $250 per month.

Also, although there are only a handful of restaurants on 210, now that all the county roads have opened up, it's only about 10-15 minutes up to Mandarin where there are lots more selections and it is about a 20-25 minute drive to PVB.

If you like the beach, you may be interested in looking at Nocatee, which is a little closer to the beach than the 210 corridor. When Nocatee first opened up, prices were high, but they may have come back down again.

Unless you are ready for a fixer upper, I think a 3/2 of about 1600-1800 sf in San Marco/San Jose area runs $200k to $250k, but maybe one of the realtors here can give a more accurate description.

[agreatlife]

You should check out Realtor.com to see what's for sale. You can hone in on Zip Codes - 32217 for San Jose, 32207 for San Marco. Riveree & apanda are quite fond of 32246, so you should also check those out. San Marco tends to be pretty pricey, so does San Jose, but there's some very nice homes around in your price range. Don't look for new construction, or even newer construction, however. Both areas are farily built out and stable.

[Bette]

Originally Posted by stephen3

24 years old, engaged, about 70k total combined income a year.

Looking to buy a 3/2 starter home in Jacksonville within the next 6-8 months.

Can we find something nice for under $180 k?

Should we look at townhomes?

Any advide on good areas? Southside, 210, San Jose, etc.

Any help or general advice would be appreciated. Thanks,

One of my clients is buying an absolutely townhome/villa in Orange Leaf Plantation in Orange Park for around $175K - all updated, gorgeous. Also, the appraiser I used said he is now busy with purchases! Check out this area!