Gulfport or Mobile? (Biloxi, Houston: foreclosure, homeowners insurance, condo)

[bls5555]

Does anyone on here have opinions on between the 2?

I would be looking for a housing BELOW $150,000 in a nice family neighborhood with good elementary schools.

Which of the areas would I get more bang for my buck?

Thanks for the help.

Also, if anyone knows what homeowners insurance might run in Gulfport on a $150,000 house.

I was told in the AL thread that in Mobile I should expect $1700 to $1800 and a 2% deductible on claims relating to a hurricane.

[ggluvbug]

I am not sure about the insurance in Gulfport, but you can find a nice house for around $130-$150K. Some good schools in Gulfport are Bayou View and Anniston.
You could look in Woolmarket. North Woolmarket is the one of the best schools in the entire state. I have priced houses out there but I would imagine you could find something in that range.

[stokes]

My husband is from gulfport and one of the most country good men I have ever known . They have an airforce base there . We go to visit his family and we had a lot of fun . he recently sold his house there and it went for a lot more than what he bought it for. He is in the army and I just got out of the army. A good nice house there n a nice area cost like at the most 80,000 he always braggs I can get a house for way cheaper than that in gulfport.lol . When I was there it was fun .It does not seem like a lot of crime and his family does not tell us about it. They have casinos in biloxi that r at the most 30 min away . They have a lot of cool things to do at the beach like jet ski. I would move there. I have also lived in birmingham alabama and been through mobile a bit. I don't know about mobile but I liked birmingham when i used to spend summers and christmas vacation there.

[ggluvbug]

Mobile proper has alot of crime...way more than Gulfport. But there are more facilities in Mobile too. From what I understand, Mobile schools aren't anything to write home about.

There are two bases on the Coast. The airforce base is in Biloxi and the Navy base is in Gulfport.

[smarino]

I wouldn't move to either place. I spent my early years in Mobile, and later years in Gulfport. Mississippi is a lot better place in my opinion. The people are friendlier. Mobile has far too much crime and many of the blacks there are angry and mean (or what's called reverse discrimination, but let's call it as it is). Gulfport is great. Nice folks, a more liberal attitude, casinos, entertainment, a beautiful man made beach. Racial relationships are a lot better. Everyone seemed more polite and civilized when I was living there. But the place has changed after Katrina hit, and it's not like it was. It may get better sometime in the future, but there is still a lot of suffering and everyday inconveniences. Crime has gone up due to refugees from New Orleans. This has affected us even over in Galveston because Houston's crime rate went way up after Katrina and it's trickled over to Galveston. Which brings me to my main reason for nor recommending either locale. The cities you mentioned are in direct hurricane paths. You do NOT want to go thru another Katrina. We fell in love w/ Galveston while visiting and moved here a year and a half ago and it has been nerve wracking watching the storms in the Gulf form the last two summers. We are selling and moving inland away form the coasts. Global warming is real. The Gulf weather patterns are changing due to the hotter summers, and spawning stronger and more frequent hurricanes. Your life savings in your home could be wiped out from by the whim of some unseen insurance agent. You and your family could be killed. Evacuation is not the smooth operation you see on the TV. It is a dangerous and expensive thing to go thru. Insurance rates on the coast are going up and up, and a lot of insurers are pulling out. You can do what you wish, but if it were me, I would research moving to a place where the weather isn't going to try and kill you.

[kevin_1975]

Mobile may have a higher crime rate, but Mobile is also much larger. It also depends on what part of the city you live in.

[Alatex]

My suggestion is the "Eastern Shore" area near Mobile (Daphne-Spanish Fort-Fairhope). Safe, beautiful, good shopping, good schools, and better public access to the bay than Mobile proper.

The beaches in Alabama are much nicer. Sorry, folks, they just are.

The casinos in Mississippi are a whole lot of fun, though, plus you have the proximity to New Orleans. I expect even more and bigger casinos to be built along the MS coast in the next few years.

Basically, I love everywhere the Gulf Coast. It's just a matter of what kind of stuff you prefer living around 24/7. If you prefer being around casinos and New Orleans, pick Gulfport. If you prefer being around better beaches, while being just far enough away from the coast to not worry about major hurricane damage, pick Daphne-Spanish Fort, AL.
My condo in Daphne is about 30 years old and has never had damage of any sort related to a hurricane.

[Muhnay]

Considering I just moved from Gulfport back to Texas to take care of a family member.. I know the area pretty well. Gulfport and Biloxi and the entire area are still rebuilding after Katrina... and changes are happening quickly. I also worked in the State Farm claims building on Popps Ferry, and can tell you getting a house for 150K can be done.. but can you get it insured is the other important question... Lots of people on the verge of foreclosure not because they cant pay their bills but because they cant get insured.

I will say its a great place to live, one I miss greatly. As far as the schools go, its a mixed bag. The one my teen-aged son was in was horrible. The elementary my youngest was in was outstanding!

Now there are areas to avoid out there too with high crime and nightly shootings.. out past the Sea Bee base, and near the hospital there... you'll know what I mean once you get out there. I forget what they call it now.

Gulfport, Biloxi, and that whole area is a great place to live, with great people, and lots of events and stuff to do. You'll be happy you moved there. I hated leaving, and vowed to return someday. It felt like home the moment we moved there.. after all Mississippi, its like coming home.

Let me add, If you inclined to move more to Mobile, try the coast out there.. Gulfshores, Orange Beach and that area.. still with in driving distance to Mobile.. Better schools out that way too.

Good Luck!

[cia191630]

Originally Posted by Muhnay

Now there are areas to avoid out there too with high crime and nightly shootings.. out past the Sea Bee base, and near the hospital there... you'll know what I mean once you get out there. I forget what they call it now.

Good Luck!

Gaston Point???

[Muhnay]

I think thats it.. what is the other name for it?