Ponte Vedra Beach? I am highly considering a move from NM (Atlantic Beach: apartment complexes, rentals)

[Alesiag]

My husband and I just returned from a visit to JAX. We were staying at the Sawgrass Marriott during our stay and fell in love with that general location. We even found the perfect apartment (we think).

A little about our background before I start asking questions. We are in out early 30s. We have two small elementary school aged children. I am a nurse but currently teach nursing at a small community college in NM. We are relocating primarily because my husband will be attending school in JAX for underwater construction (welding)/ and dive medic.

Ok, so now the questions. While there, we noticed that Ponte Vedra Beach seemed like it was a more upscale area. Is that true? If so, why did it seem so affordable? We found a great apartment close to the beach for under 1000.00. How is the crime rate there? Schools? I was thinking about applying for a position at the Mayo Clinic and I noticed plenty of hospital/medical clinics so I am not too worried about finding a job. However, it will be just my income as my husband will be away at school 12 hours a day 6-7 days per week. I want to make sure that I am making the right choice uprooting our whole family for this.

We currently live in Abq, NM so we are so excited to see trees and the ocean. Any input regarding the questions to this post will be appreciated. Thank you in advance.

[hlauburn]

PVB is pretty upscale. I guess "afforable" is all the eye of the beholder, and I don't know much about rentals, but house prices are definitely higher than other areas close by.

My daughter goes to school in PVB (we live in Ponte Vedra), which is St Johns County. SJC schools are some of the best in the state, and PVB schools are arguably the best in the county.

While I know a lot of people who live in PVB with small kids, everytime we go out there to eat or shop, I feel like we are the minority. There are a lot of snowbirds who come down in the winter and a ton of retirees in general, and I definitely think you get that "feel" in PVB. I can think of worse "issues" to have, but if it's important for you to be around other families with young kids, I'd check out the apartment you like to see what the demographics of the complex are like.

[Robyn55]

The JAX metro area has a very large number of medical institutions (hospitals and the like). But they're all over the place - and this is a very large metro area. I would get a job first - then find a place to live (you don't want to be in PVB if you wind up with a job in Orange Park).

Will your husband be attending the Tulsa School of Welding? Reason I ask is there was a thread about it a while back - and there was at least one unfavorable comment about it (I personally don't know anything about the place).

PVB is relatively upscale compared to many neighborhoods in the metro area - but a fair number of the apartment complexes aren't that upscale. Also - there were a lot of condo conversions here at the Beaches during the building boom. A lot of the condos wound up in the hands of speculators - who are finding them very hard to sell or rent. So there is a lot of competition in terms of rentals.

PVB is pretty safe (although we did have an armed home invasion last week! - luckily a very rare event). As in most parts of the US - you have to use common sense (don't leave your car unlocked - lock your doors at night - the victim of the home invasion left her back door open at night so her cat could get into and out of the house ).

As for the schools - they have excellent reputations. When you're looking at apartments - keep in mind that the line between St. Johns County and Duval County can meander a bit around the Butler Blvd. area. So make sure what county you're looking at.

In terms of demographics - the median age here will skew higher than in some other parts of the metro area. But it is by no means the kind of "retirement area" you'll find in other parts of Florida (a lot of younger people move here because of the school system). In my community - the average adult age was early 40's perhaps 5 years ago. It has probably gone up since then - because the housing bust has made it hard for "empty nesters" to sell their houses and downsize. At least a few people we know have decided to remodel and "stay put" for now. Robyn

[Alesiag]

Thank you so much for the replies. My husband is attending Commercial Diving Academy, but we did hear alot about "tulsa" during our visit last week. I am confident that the school will offer him what he needs but also realize that the rest is up to him and his level of dedication and willingness to make it work ( in regards to finding a job after schooling).

I am not too concerned about being close to other families with children. I guess I can find extra curricular activities to put the kiddos in if I want them to socialize a little more. I am just so excited about the possibility of being close to a beach, trees, and grass ( something we dont have here in NM). I just do not want to be in over my head. I guess it all narrows down to taking a blind leap of faith, and knowing that "failure is not an option". As with any city, there is going to be pros and cons. I think if I go in to this with a positive attitude and optomistic outlook, our chances of thriving are much greater. Plus, in NM our school system ranks #49th in the country. I guess as long as we dont move to Mississippi, then anything is better. : )

Thanks again for the insight.

[Robyn55]

Good luck. BTW - my husband and I think Mayo is the best in terms of secondary and tertiary care here in the metro area. If you can get a job there - go for it ! Robyn

[abvavgjoe]

Most of the "nasty" areas of town are in the areas immediately north and west of downtown. PVB is located completely opposite from there, it's coastal and near the only east-west freeway to the beaches. Perfect! In my limited time here, I think PVB and Atlantic Beach are where I'd buy I house if a bunch of $$$ fell from the sky. I say go for it and don't look back. There are good and bad things here (like any area), but it sounds like you're ready for a change. Good luck whatever you decide.