NYCity to Jacksonville (rentals, crime, house)

[Fbillionaire]

Im a cable installer with significant IT experience (ccna..ccnp etc) looking to relocate for quality of life and lower cost of living. I'm a black male, 26 and looking to buy a home within 4 months of my arrival. I preferably like to live close to "da hood" as I've seen it described in these forums. Please let me know the names of the neighborhood areas in Jacksonville where there is a significant but safe black community where homes are cheaper than 60k. I dont mind if I have to do any work. I just dont want to rent ever again in my life.

one more thing. I've been using google maps and I see alot of people park on their lawns! What is that about? That would drive me nuts.

[Robyn55]

Ok - I'm a older white Jewish woman (retired lawyer) - and you're a young black man (cable guy with IT experience). I think we have about exactly zero in common .

Still - I don't think you want to live in or near "da hood" in the JAX metro area unless you like to duck and cover while in your living room. Nor do I think you can find any decent place to buy here for $60k or less. Unless you're perhaps talking about a doublewide in a hicks in the sticks place (where you'll likely find a lot of crackers). As for people parking on lawns - that is common in places that don't have homeowners' associations.

You might perhaps be able to find a decent job here - and a decent place to live here that you can afford - in terms of renting. But a decent house for less than $60k - no way IMO. Robyn

[Fbillionaire]

Thanks for the info.

[GadgetRick]

I can assure you, "da hood," here in Jacksonville is NOTHING like what it's like up North (I'm from up there). It's MUCH worse up there than it is here.

With that said, why do you want to live there? I mean, what's the point? Black, white, or whatever, I don't want to live there.

You can find homes in that price range in Jacksonville, however, how nice it is depends on what your definition of nice is. Typically, you'll be in a neighborhood which is either bad (crime-wise) or marginal (at best). The schools in these areas (typically) aren't going to be the best either (don't know if you have kids).

Another thing to consider is, you're moving to a new place. Why would you want to buy something right away before knowing what it's like here and where you'd like to live? I ALWAYS suggest people rent for (at least) a year when moving to a new area. You'll get to learn what the area is like, what you like (and don't like) and where you'd like to settle down.

Rents here are quite inexpensive compared to where you're coming from. Take advantage of it.

[williamwebb49]

Originally Posted by GadgetRick

I can assure you, "da hood," here in Jacksonville is NOTHING like what it's like up North (I'm from up there). It's MUCH worse up there than it is here.

With that said, why do you want to live there? I mean, what's the point? Black, white, or whatever, I don't want to live there.

You can find homes in that price range in Jacksonville, however, how nice it is depends on what your definition of nice is. Typically, you'll be in a neighborhood which is either bad (crime-wise) or marginal (at best). The schools in these areas (typically) aren't going to be the best either (don't know if you have kids).

Another thing to consider is, you're moving to a new place. Why would you want to buy something right away before knowing what it's like here and where you'd like to live? I ALWAYS suggest people rent for (at least) a year when moving to a new area. You'll get to learn what the area is like, what you like (and don't like) and where you'd like to settle down.

Rents here are quite inexpensive compared to where you're coming from. Take advantage of it.

What he said!

[JaxFlaGal]

Originally Posted by williamwebb49

What he said!

What they both said! Jax is a varied place, and neighborhoods in that price range will vary a lot. Definitely an opportunity to try an area before you buy, though I understand being tired of rentals, too.

You've clearly done reading in these forums, which is good, too. If you're skipping much of the 'burbs, then you may also want to visit Metro Jacksonville | Covering Downtown Jacksonville FL, Northeast Florida, Jacksonville Transit, History, Neighborhoods, Photos - lots of info from "townies" that may give you additional insight into some of the older in-town communities. From a safety perspective, use the JSO crime mapping tool to find out what Duval county neighborhoods you're considering have what type of issues. No community will be crime-free, but it helps to know if the worst and most prevalent issues in an area are violent or if they're theft from unlocked cars...
COJ.net - Crime Statistics/Crime Mapping

[abvavgjoe]

I agree with everything the others have said. Can you explain why you want to live in "da hood"? Perhaps there are some similar communities or areas we could recommend based on what you are really looking for. $60K though, that's going to be tough.

[williamwebb49]

You can definitely find a house in the Sin City area for $60,000 and under (which goes from Arlington Rd on the west to Southside Blvd on the east and from Arlington Expressway on the north to Atlantic Blvd on the south) A lot of people consider Sin City to be part of the hood, but only because it's a poorer area of town and not because of it's demographics.

[abvavgjoe]

FYI, here's a crime map I made from the Sheriff's Office website. It shows murders this year.

COJ.net - Crime Statistics/Crime Mapping