Niceville home prices (Pensacola, Destin, Eglin AFB: chapel, homes, neighborhood)

[jamco0023]

Hello, we are considering a move to FL after military retirement. We have visited the Pensacola area many times and have family there in Pensacola (they are retired military that chose the area after retirement and love and live for their NEX, gas station, commissary, medical, on base chapel support, ability to go to Elgin Main Exchange, basically involved still with military life post retirement in some capacity this is important to them). Closer to family would be the only decision in choosing the Panhandle of FL. Otherwise, spouse would like to go to the east coast of FL or central FL. The Panhandle area would not be a consideration for us if not for family, as we just don't have these same installation interests as relatives post retirement and also have different area interests and hobbies.

We aren't looking at Pensacola as we don't really like it, and also not the school district (have middle and high school aged children). But further east maybe Navarre or Niceville as we like the areas more. It seems like the prices of single family 4 bedroom/2 bath homes 2000 sq ft are significantly higher in Niceville in particular from what I see on Zillow, and also very limited amount. Navarre seems to have more affordable homes for us, we are looking in the 250k to 350k range. Can anyone elaborate on the cost of living and reason for high home prices in Niceville, and reason for less available homes in that demographic? Is Navarre a more newly built up area for homes and thus more availability? Thank you for your time.

[beachmouse]

1. It's right next to Eglin AFB for a really easy commute.

2. Eglin controls 98% of the land in south Okaloosa County where a lot of people want to live and the land in private hands is largely built out at this point, and that scarcity drives up prices. South Santa Rosa County has taken longer to build out than Okaloosa because it's further away from job centers and still has a lot of open private land.

3. There are still a lot of folks living in south Okaloosa because of jobs temporarily shifted there and lack of liveable semi-affordable housing points east during the Bay County/ Tyndall AFB Hurricane Michael recovery process, which is going slowly.

4. Niceville schools still are seen as some of the best in the Panhandle and people want to be in the guaranteed attendance area.

[slduvall]

Originally Posted by jamco0023

Is Navarre a more newly built up area for homes and thus more availability? Thank you for your time.

This...and all of what Beachmouse said. We made the same decision to retire back here (I'm originally from Fort Walton) and Niceville had all we were looking for. It is closer and easier to get to Destin than getting to Pensacola from Navarre. Traffic in Navarre can get seriously backed up - as there is basically one major road, Hwy 98 - traveled by both locals and tourists alike.

Due to the available jobs on base and the fact that a lot of high ranking officers retire here, demand is high and supply is low. There is a new subdivision Deer Moss Creek going in that will add some more inventory. And there are lots of older homes in Bluewaterbay that might need a remodel, but you get a nice big lot and and great neighborhood. You will see more homes going on the market in the Spring, which is when the military usually move.

[jamco0023]

Thank you both for replies. This makes sense about housing. I like Navarre but at the same time don't like relying on the 98, and highway pass through feel. I also liked Gulf Breeze, but yet not certain we want to be reliant so much on the bridge or this far inside the peninsula if this makes sense (considering possible drive to installations and traffic). I'm looking more for a community feel area yet not very far from things to do that we like, and as mentioned school system is very important. I do like the shorter drive from Niceville to Destin vs. Navarre to Pensacola. Hoping to spend time in the Okaloosa County to decide and perhaps look at some other areas to be sure I'm not missing anything.