Moving to Biloxi MS post Katrina (Jackson, Gulfport: insurance, for sale, apartments)

[JimiandGeneva]

I need some info on the Gulfport/Biloxi area. The situation is this: Husband and I lived in Biloxi in 2003-2004. Loved it. Moved to various places during husbands enlistment in AF. About to finish enlistment and would love to move back to the Biloxi area but unsure of condition of area. I having some trouble finding info and such on affordable housing and the job market outside of the casino industry. We are planning a trip there this summer to view the area for ourselves to make a decision. I would love some feedback from people who actually still live in the area. We will be moving there in 2009 if decided. Husband is in telecommunications ( mainly networks, but can do phone and satellite things though) and Im in the restaurant industry. Looking to rent at first but eventually buy a home. How are insurance costs as well? Is the rebuilding process going smoothly?

[DB3]

Insurance costs are still high and it's hard to find companies writing policies. But rebuilding is continuing. I personally hate to see all the high rise condos going up in Biloxi on 90 but some think that's progress ;D

The residential rebuilding is slow but ongoing. The further away from the Gulf you go the more "normal" it appears. I was over there last week and was surprised and happy to see that a few of the old homes on Hwy 90 have been rebuilt. But honestly, mostly I just get depressed traveling West so I try not to do it if I can avoid it and spend more time north of the interstate or East in Jackson County or Mobile.

[cia191630]

I just moved back last week and I see a lot of rebuilding going on. I'm in Gulfport where I was in Biloxi. Hwy 90 is soooooooooo changed. Where the old homes were is now grass & weeds, I did see some rebuilding of homes there though. The boardwalk is still all torn up, there's sand EVERYWHERE, guess the boardwalk kinda helped it stay where it belongs. The oaks that were in the median are replaced with palms...I'm very upset about that...then they aren't grown yet so it's really just a palm tree trunk lol. In Biloxi riding on the beach, I for once had to pay attention to the street signs because I didn't know where I was, all of my reference points are gone. They are still rebuilding but you can definitely see the potential, I just hope it doesn't get too big here, I loved the smallness of the area.

[winkatme]

I have lived on the coast my entire life and it is sad to say that things are still very different than before Katrina. The rebuilding process may be slow, but it is moving along very well. As for insurance, you can find good policies, although the prices are higher than before. For your husband, there is a pretty large AT&T/Cingular center in Ocean Springs, I believe it is a regional headquarters of some sort. As for you, there have been major efforts to rebuild the restaurant business on the coast. However, most of the more expensive and popular locations are in the Casinos.

[cia191630]

No it's not headquarters...headquarters is in ATL...it's the cellphone call center, 1 of 3 that operates for customer service that serves the southeast region. I used to work there lol.

[Gretchenfur]

There are several places to check job variety and availability, including the websites of TV stations and newspapers from Biloxi, they cover a wide range of locations. The local papers will also help with housing questions. Unless you absolutely desire to be "on the coast", affordable housing is more likely to be found inland, Saucier and surrounding areas, and even north of there, if you don't mind the drive. There are a few places for sale on Hwy 15 N, between D'Iberville and Hwy 26 in Stone County. Things aren't built up as much there as they are in the Woolmarket area and on Hwy 67. There are lots of new homes and apartments supposedly being built around McHenry, but I am not sure of the price range or the completion dates. I actually live in relative isolation in Perry County, or the "middle of nowhere" as I like to call it, but I can be in D'Iberville/Biloxi in 45 minutes with very little traffic.

[JimiandGeneva]

Yall really answered some questions for me. Thanks for the insider's prospective.Its been really reassuring to me knowing that the area is building up. Ive always considered the gulf coast my home. THANKS!