30 something looking to move from DC (Jacksonville, Springfield: where to stay, real estate, apartments) - Florida (FL) - City-Data Forum

DC Desiger · 05-31-2010, 07:24 PM

I am an Interior Designer in Washington, DC and would really like to move to a city with a beach. I tried San Diego and it wasn't the place for me, and I have lived in South Carolina and loved it.

It's time to move to a new city with a beach on the East Coast. I know nothing about Jacksonville, except I did look at going to college there. I would like to visit but don't know where to start.

Where would a 31 year old single female want to live? Currently I live in a condo in a close nit community 2 miles from downtown. All the amenities one needs are within walking distance but I do have a car.

This is just the beginning of my exploration into moving. Any suggestions on where to stay for a visit and where to look for a place to live? Any place one should avoid?

Thanks!

fsu813 · 06-01-2010, 07:16 AM

The Sandman · 06-02-2010, 01:12 PM

Hey, my wife and I moved from DC about a year ago. We're both in our early thirties so we may have a similar perspective. I lived in Bethesda and she lived in Fairfax. Jacksonville is very suburban especially compared to DC. Now that I've been here a year I could tell you what I've learned about the city and what I would have done differently if I had the chance to do it over again. But this website is a good place to start. I learned alot before moving here. Just look through some of the threads that fsu813 posted to give you an idea of the city. If you have any specific questions you can PM me.

KerryB · 06-03-2010, 02:04 PM

Moved from DC as well 3 years ago (wife & I). Let me give you the advice that I was never given. If you're used to living in those areas of DC (we were in similar places there too), don't move to the suburbs here. You'll spend all day driving to the areas of town that actually have a pulse to them. And that includes living at the beach as well, unless you REALLY want beach living. The beach is out there all by itself & isn't close to anything.

If you like where you are now in DC, I wouldn't even look in any other places here besides Riverside, Avondale, Springfield and (maybe) San Marco. San Marco has more of a suburban feel than those others though, to me anyways.

Choose carefully & if your realtor isn't familiar with these areas & tries to push you into something suburban, drop them & get someone else.

luvingme23 · 06-03-2010, 02:50 PM

fsu, seems to always know the right things to say in these type of threads. i cosign his post. no need to rehash the same old where to live question again when those threads are posted everyday and the same answers are given.

Dappleganger · 06-03-2010, 06:59 PM

It would not be wise to move to Jacksonville unless you have a job already lined up. There are quite a few unemployed interior decorators around here. Just trying to give you a realistic heads-up. The job market in DC is FAR and away better than anything Jacksonville (or all of FL) has for the present, and probably at least the next decade. People's disposable incomes level have severely dropped so this affects those who are in the decorating business.

riveree · 06-06-2010, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KerryB

Choose carefully & if your realtor isn't familiar with these areas & tries to push you into something suburban, drop them & get someone else.

^^^Such good advice. I really feel for people who have to be entirely dependent on a realtor to help them choose a place to live. This is just too big of a city - too spread out - for every realtor to know every area. If the realtor doesn't have enough years behind them, they'll probably just recommend the far flung new developments. It's an easier sell since the developers will do much of the work for the realtor.

This is a niche city. Too bad more realtors don't take a chance and market themselves that way.

mississippimagnolia · 06-07-2010, 06:27 AM

We're coming from the D.C. area too. We are in Burke (Fairfax County), Virginia. Our movers come in three weeks. It's almost go time for us!