Valdosta - Specific Neighborhoods and City vs County schools -- This is LONG (Hahira: rental homes)

[FSU2016]

Hiya! Well, I've posted in other forums thinking NC was the place for me... Turns out, as much as I love it, I don't think I'd ever adjust to winding and steep mountain roads, esp once some snow lands on them! I am a Florida native, about 5 minutes from the beaches that I never visit!

A friend of my husband and I recently relocated to Valdosta, and he has been saying all kinds of good things about it; He knows we want to leave Florida and has been urging us to consider his new town.
Our current town is LARGE; infact, it is the largest by area AND population in the entire 72 miles of my Space Coast county of Brevard. It was not always this way, and I fondly recall smaller town times, just 10 years ago. I miss that, and I want it. I want my kids to experience a smaller town feel, friendly people, be encouraged to spend lots of time outdoors in the fall-spring (in central FL, we do not feel cool weather - under 70 - until 1 week or so in January, so we don't do much outside except fish or swim in the pool).

So... I've been trying to do my due-diligence and research on my own about Valdosta. It seems Hahira may also be a good option, although rental prices seem a bit more expensive. We are drawn to the rents I've seen in Valdosta (we will not be buying until we have lived anywhere for at least 2 years) around $800 or less. My concern with that though, is jobs paying less than we earn here. I was told in the medical record field I may make $10/hr... whereas I make a bit more than that. It also seems agriculture and maybe food service (chain restaurants?)... and some farm-type work might be the jobs in the area? I am not opposed to driving up to 30 min or so to work in a hospital to make livable wages. I also have current experience as a banquet server for Hilton and as a legal assistant for a small injury atty office here.

In my rental searches, the areas of Blue Pool Subdivision keep coming up, as well as a beautiful historic home on Toombs Rd. - both listed in Valdosta. Does anyone who is VERY familiar with this area have input? I really like the homes in Blue Pool, but they seem really cookie cutter, and many similar ones are for rent at once..I'd love a southern-looking older home. We live in a ranch style, so a change would be nice; Also, it seems a garage is not an option!

I know this is lengthy... bear with me, please. Finally, I spoke to some folks in Valdosta who told me I need to research county versus city school zoning - and that if I want my kids in good schools (VPK, elem., and middle) we need to live somewhere that is county-zoned. Can anyone explain this? What is the difference? Why is there a difference? Which has better schools?

I appreciate insight.... And I know that like everywhere else the area will be what we make of it. People say where I live is a high crime bad area, but it is actually lovely - except that it is in Florida, hahaha. I look forward to reading helpful responses!!

PS: We plan to drive up the week after Christmas to check it out, so any things/places we must do/go/ etc.... one thing, we plan to pretend we live there - you know, gas, groceries, clothing shopping, etc. to see how the experiences are.

[galaxyhi]

Hello
I will be watching this thread carefully t see if I can glean anything, as we are strongly considering the retirement move there for the NE states too.

I started a thread, while nothing about schools, as we don't have kids, just asking general "retire there" questions. Answers are there, but not as helpful as I thought. Maybe people there don't want people invading their territory!

Here is the thread:
//www.city-data.com/forum/georg...what-know.html

I do have a duplex in FL I inherited, but MOH and I have decided we don't like it/the area/FL in general..JUST the Disney complexes LOL!

I actually have gotten more info online than in my thread. There ARE a few other Valdosta threads here, but not much in them either. The City's website shows very much "welcoming people" to its fair land. Hoping that is true now and in the 15 years later it will be when we retire fully.

We might just buy a property to rent out and then live in in 15 years, o pay for another house then...

We have yet to visit in person, but will hopefully next year! Then we can decide more if is a "good fit", though no place is perfect.

Best of luck to you in getting the information you desire!

[FSU2016]

haha, if you buy and rent it out, reach out to me! win-win .

I did also post in a Valdosta-Lowndes county facebook group for jobs and got some great responses from kind people. Overall, it seems like a good place for my family, but I have to research EVERYTHING before I leave my life here. FL is so expensive that once you move out... you have to live somewhere making a lot of money to afford to move back! One person did warn me to be sure I want to live in GA because pay is lower so moving out is also harder.

I have googled a lot and spoken extensively to a friend who lives in Valdosta, but he does not know some answers, like the above ones I asked.... I can't find anything on google about the specific subdivision I am seeing rental homes in which is why I came to this site actually.