Fleming Island Plantation or Mandarin with 350K

[LewLew]

Originally Posted by LibertyCedar

Hello Jax Locals! I'm moving to town in the next year from Norfolk, VA. I have +/- 350k to spend on a home. What are pros and cons to FIP/Eagle Harbor in Orange Park compared to Mandarin in Duval?

Important things to me: school for 8 yr old, commute to large potential employers (I'm in the IT field), proximity to restaurants (more than the average chain-food types), proximity to parks for biking, walking... pools.

Please confirm or deny: land lots are typically larger in Mandarin. Taxes appear to be less in Mandarin. Schools rate about the same. How else should I compare these two locales?

It depends on truly what you are looking for in a house. Mandarin architecture, and FIP are very different. FIP is a PUD, where there are all new home neighborhoods inside a larger neighborhood mixed in with other things such as condos, townhomes etc.
Both are nice areas...I think you'll find the commute to things from FIP arduous to say the least.
Mandarin is a good choice b/c it's central. Equal driving to most all of Jax...so good for your commute. Mandarin has good restaurants, and is close to San Marco for some great eats.
Both places will be good for biking, walking. FIP will have community pool, but for 350K you can find a nice home in Mandarin with a private pool.
Mandarin has LOADS of character, large lots (ours is 3/4 of an acre with a pool), huge cypress and oak trees.

IMO, I would choose Mandarin, but you are most likely going to live in a home built before 2000, and some may or may not be updated. Ours is. Loads of brick, and different types of homes in Mandarin.

The downside of Mandarin is you'd probably vote for private school, although the schools in South Mandarin are very good. I would stay away from public schools in North Mandarin (I've heard) Private Schools in this area are VERY good.

What you'll get in Mandarin for 350K will probably be the following: (based on info I have gathered recently)
2200+ sq foot 4 bedroom, 2-3 bath home. Brick or stucco, updated, pool, 1/4-1 acre lot, no HOA fees or CDD fees, or VERY LOW (like 50 bucks a year) HOAs...but NO CDDs which will add another 100-200+ per month on your payments in FIP.

Good Luck.