Just curious, why is the big move to Melbourne latley? (Jacksonville: house, transferring to)

[cocoapebbles]

I'm just curious, this was a sleepy town with cheap prices for many years and in the last 1.5 years Mel has become inundated with more than just the snow birds. What's the draw? I mean, there are many cities on the ocean and Gulf. I'm just curious. I like that more places to eat and stores are going up because of it which means my house value is too! Just wondering why people are drawn here? Thanks!

[CyberConch]

We're moving back to Viera East in August, having lived there from 2006-2010 while I was working for AuthenTec. We're from south Florida originally, but you couldn't pay me to live south of Jupiter these days. We lived on the west coast, too - Tampa area - and we considered Winter Park/Oviedo and the Jacksonville area as well (we have friends in all these areas), but when we were back there last summer sitting at a Manatees game and enjoying the breeze, that settled it. Our kids are both nearing college age now, so they'll probably start at EFSC before transferring to UF or elsewhere. The cost of living is decent, especially compared to northern Virginia where we are now, the people are friendly enough, and the area has the right mix of people stuff and nature for us. I work from home now, so location is irrelevant so long as I have decent bandwidth, and I'd rather look out at our pool from the office instead of seeing leafless trees or snow in the winter.

[Nypafl4u]

With improvement in the economy and increase in Jobs (I believe Harris had just hired or will hire a bunch more people and more going on with privatization of the space program), all make it attractive to be in this area.