nice neighborhoods in Jacksonville/St. Augustine (Country Club, Orange Park: short sale, foreclosure, rent)

[rosayomalley]

We're going to be relocating to Jacksonville/St. Augustine and have found a home in the Parque Aviles neighborhood (street is Calle Cortez). Does anyone know this area?

We're looking for a nice and safe neighborhood where the neighbors take care of their properties and are just great regular folks. Does anyone have suggestions? We'd like to be no more than 15 minutes to the ocean if possible and withing 30 minutes to Orange Park. We'd really appreciate some help in identifying areas that would suit us.

Thanks, R

[EricBoyd]

I don't think you live in St. Augustine and be both 15 minutes from the beach and 30 minutes from Orange Park. I guess if you lived off CR210, which has a St. Augustine zip code, that could sorta work.

[runswithscissors]

Whatever you do don't BUY, rent at first until you actually live here and see how your priorities may change. Also you get to examine so many more neighborhoods while you're deciding on a place to actually purchase. Right now it's likely a depreciating asset, imo. You'll need to stay in it for quite some time.

[mawipafl]

EricBoyd is correct to say that a St Augustine location would not give you both a 30-minute trip to Orange Park (more like 50 minutes at the least) and a 15-minute trip to the beach. A better bet would be the Southside area such as 32257 or parts of 32256 or maybe 32216 etc. However, if it's a work commute from there to Orange Park, the Buckman Bridge becomes an issue.

runswithscissors makes a great point about renting first if possible to see what your priorities are. We live just south of Orange Park which means the closest beach is about 40 minutes away - but we don't mind that at all. When we first moved here our work commute was on this side of the river (our priority), but has now moved to the other side (Mandarin), so the Buckman commute is a pain (doable, but annoying).

You may find that the "why" for living 30 minutes from Orange Park vs the closeness to the beach may change once you're here.

[ajandjj2000]

CR 210 area would be perfect for you. You would be near the beach and OP. Some nice neighborhoods are St. Johns Golf and Country Club (zip code 32092), Cimarrone(32259), South Hampton(32092), Johns Creek (32097). The neighborhoods with a 32092 have a St. Augustine address and the 322... have a Jacksonville address. This might be helpful to know if you are seaching online. These subdivisions are all off of the same main road (CR 210), but the ones on one side of 210 are Jax and on the other are St. Aug. Baymeadows could also be good for you. What price range are you looking for? What age home/neighborhood? Do you have children in school? There are lots of nice areas that are within 15 mins of the beach and 30 mins of OP (San Marco, Baymeadows, Intracoatal West, etc) I can give you some specific subdivision names if I have a better idea of what you are looking for.

[rosayomalley]

you've all be really helpful! Thank you.

ajandjj2000, we're looking for a home with three bedrooms/two baths, fireplace, MUST have mature trees/landscaping on property, would love a lanai and would be tickled pink with a front porch. Hoping to negotiate around 130K but could go higher. Any advise re subdivisions would be greatly appreciated. We do not need amenities for children - we are in our early fifties.

Thanks for any help you could provide. R.

[fsu813]

you won't find a house for that much in those listed areas. They are all very nice, new construction gated communties. Try trippling your number then you'd be in the market for the kinda house you're looking for in that area.

[ajandjj2000]

Originally Posted by fsu813

you won't find a house for that much in those listed areas. They are all very nice, new construction gated communties. Try trippling your number then you'd be in the market for the kinda house you're looking for in that area.

For the most part I agree, however there are a few subdivisions off of 210 where you may be able to get a short sale or foreclosure at that price. Those neighborhoods are Southlake (probably your best bet), Vinings, Wingfield (or something like that), Johns Creek (maybe if there's a foreclosure), and there are a few new ones built by DR Horton that I don't know the names of (check the DR Horton website). You will have to adjust your expectations, but you may be able to find a place close to that price if you search and negotiate well. Good Luck!