[Rabflmom]

Did you want to stay within an easy drive to get up to the relatives in the panhandle on a regular basis?
Down state is quite a drive. Even from the Melbourne area, it can take 7-8 hours to get up to Pensacola.

Might want to look at St. Augustine or Jacksonville Beach. They give you more a small town feel; but you can get into the city pretty quickly if you want to do things there.

[memphisblues1986]

Originally Posted by Rabflmom

Did you want to stay within an easy drive to get up to the relatives in the panhandle on a regular basis?
Down state is quite a drive. Even from the Melbourne area, it can take 7-8 hours to get up to Pensacola.

Might want to look at St. Augustine or Jacksonville Beach. They give you more a small town feel; but you can get into the city pretty quickly if you want to do things there.

We don't have to be close to family. We are 7 hours from them now, and we still see each other on a regular basis. We are more concerned with just finding a great, fun area to raise our son. We may actually be leaning towards the more central/southern areas due to the weather and lifestyle.

[RMD3819]

Well no one else has said it so I will.

Jobs, schools, housing. In that order. ALWAYS.

On the positive side that budget will get you some decent options. All those suggestions are good but the driving force should be the location of your employment. That will guide everything else.

[memphisblues1986]

Originally Posted by RMD3819

Well no one else has said it so I will.

Jobs, schools, housing. In that order. ALWAYS.

On the positive side that budget will get you some decent options. All those suggestions are good but the driving force should be the location of your employment. That will guide everything else.

Of course. We are looking at areas so we will know where to concentrate our job search. If it doesn't work out, then so be it, we just hope it will work out. With that in mind, do the areas mentioned have decent job markets? So the budget seems to be about on par with what we would need in most areas? The budget may be able to be pushed up as we will be selling our house here also. Thanks again for the replies

[RMD3819]

I'm not familiar with job markets in those areas.

I would start with the metro areas as that will give the broadest exposure to the job market.

Since you want to be 30 minutes from the beach that excludes Orlando and Jax since you want warmer.

That leaves Miami and Tampa Bay. If the beach criteria is an absolute must then start looking in Pinelllas County.