Considering Job Offer in Biloxi, But Where to Live? (Gulfport: lease, crime rate)

[SoBelle]

Hello. My husband just received a job offer in Biloxi. He hasn't accepted the offer yet because we want to find out more about the area before committing ourselves to living in Southern Mississippi. We have visited Biloxi and don't care for the city in terms of living there, the casino scene, etc., but we really haven't seen the whole city and don't know anything about surrounding areas in close proximity. We love the ocean but don't necessarily have to live right on the coast and would love to have cultural venues within a reasonable driving distance, but more prefer a small-town "feel" to where we want to live. We have heard mixed information about crime. There won't be a need for schools since we don't have young children. Although we currently live in Palm Beach County, FL, we are Southerners (born, raised and/or lived in Tennessee, North Carolina and, briefly, in Columbus, MS many years ago) and love and miss the neighborly charm of the true South (which we are NOT getting here in PBC.)

I would appreciate any information anyone could give me on what you consider to be the best and safest places to live in close proximity to Biloxi. Also, are there any nice, safe, desirable places to live in Biloxi since I've not had the chance to see the whole city? I would also be willing to give any further information on our preferences in terms of the personality/"feel" of living options in order to help you help me. Thanks so much!

[brickpatio]

You are in for a treat, IMHO. Everyone is going to direct you to Ocean Springs, right across the bridge from Biloxi, which has the idealic tree-lined streets, sidewalks, shops, restaurants, houses with front porches, art festivals, and their own community beach.

However, there are other places that have their own character. In Biloxi itself, I like the neighborhood along Father Ryan Avenue, just one block from the beach highway, roughly around the Biloxi city natatorium. Nothing fancy, but charming small homes, huge Live Oaks arching over the streets, sidewalks, and occasional glimpses of the Gulf when passing the cross streets.

Also in Biloxi there are very nice newer neighborhoods on either side of Popps Ferry Rd. just south of Biloxi Bay.

In Gulfport, the nicest neighborhoods south of I-10 are on either side of Bernard Bayou. There's a very nice neighborhood called Bayou Oaks on the north side of the Bayou. North of I-10, depending on your price points, there is a brand-new development called Florence Gardens which is designed to look like a historic small town community. It's beautiful.

There is another new-urban style community under way called Tradition off Hwy 67 which is about 10 minutes north of I-10 roughly on the line between Gulfport and Biloxi. Also in that area along old highway 67 is the north woolmarket community, which is basically an area of nice sizable grassy lots and pleasant homes.

A bit further down the beach, probably 20 to 30 miles west of Biloxi are Long Beach, Pass Christian, Diamondhead, and Bay St. Louis. In the area just north of the beach highway roughly along the line between Long Beach and Pass Christian are some very nice new subdivisions. This area is not heavily developed and post-Katrina there are not many homes left along the beach highway itself.

If you haven't been to Pass Christian, it was known as the yachting capitol of the South and has a drop-dead beautiful marina complete with boats and an oyster-bar with deck overlooking the gulf. And many of Pass Christian's beachside mansions survived Katrina and are in different stages of being redone. North of the beach in Pass Christian is the Oaks golf course and subdivision just south of I-10. Very nice.

Next is Diamondhead, although now you're getting 30 or 40 minutes from Biloxi, which is a golf course community just north of I-10 and only about 40 minutes from New Orleans. This is very nice. And Bay St. Louis has perhaps the Coast's most beautiful setting. Much of this area was destroyed in Katrina, but the streets and beach reconstruction are underway and there are still some lovely Victorian cottages dotted a few blocks away from the water near downtown Bay St. Louis (now being rebuilt).

[SoBelle]

Wow...brickpatio...you have given me some great information! I really appreciate it. My husband just showed me some properties he found online right before I checked back on this website and I think all of them were in the areas you named! He is especially smitten with one he found in Bay St. Louis, but we will be SURE to check out ALL of the areas you named. I will admit that I was a bit concerned that we wouldn't find the atmosphere we are looking for, but what you named and described fits us perfectly! Again, thank you for taking time to respond and give us something to be excited about! Just a couple of questions...do you know the statistics regarding crime in Biloxi and the surrounding areas? Are there areas that we need to steer clear of that wouldn't be obvious to out-of-towners?

[brickpatio]

Overall for the Coast, the crime rate is below the national average. The only area that seems a little sketchy might be the part of Gulfport roughly north of the railroad tracks and south of Pass Rd. Gulfport around Bernard Bayou, which would be roughly north of Pass Rd and east of the airport is a nice area. Otherwise, there's not really a bad area. There are many working class neighborhoods but violent crime isn't a huge issue on the Coast compared to some places. Certainly in Bay St. Louis, Pass Christian, Long Beach, Ocean Springs and north of I-10 it would be a non issue.

[SoBelle]

Again, thanks, brickpatio. All of your information is very encouraging and is allowing us to be excited enough to accept this job offer and relocate. It will be so nice to be back in the true South. I appreciate all of the info so much and my husband does, too! If you think of anything else, I will check back at this thread from time to time. Kindest Regards!

[Suzig]

So Belle, I would say, "let's start with your budget and your preferences".

[SoBelle]

My husband just accepted the position today...it was too good of an opportunity for us both financially and in opportunity to serve the community. He is now the new COO for a non-profit agency rebuilding Biloxi, post-Katrina. I didn't want to mention this before because I wanted YOUR point of view, but we are staying with my husband's parents who just only recently retired in Ocean Springs. They have a very nice place with a view of the Gulf and they've generously invited us to stay with them until we learn the area, as they have little information outside of their neighborhood.

My husband and I have decided we would like to do a short-term lease/rental. The reason for this is that he has to report to work in only two weeks, we have a LONG move ahead and we don't want to jump into buying anything we might regret. We didn't have much time to get out and look around, but we did go through Pass Christian and Bay St. Louis while driving from the airport in New Orleans. We loved both of those places, however, we did drive from there to his new office and it's just too far of a drive. We will definitely need to get closer to Biloxi. We didn't get a chance to check out many of the other places (although we did fall in love with a subdivision in St. Martin, just over the bridge and another at the far end of Pointe Aux Chenes) and we will want to get out and drive and check out houses, as well as neighborhoods.

What about Gautier? We haven't seen it at all, and have NO idea what it even looks like, so any thoughts/opinions before we drive there? We fly out tomorrow so won't get to look until we move here in two weeks.

Also, I am not very old, but I have numerous health issues. It's going to be very, very hard to leave all of my specialists at Cleveland Clinic, as they are one of the top five healthcare facilities/physicians in the US. This area of decision-making has me concerned. Where to go for healthcare? Mobile? New Orleans? Are there any large university teaching hospitals nearby...Tulane? I know I will get a primary care doctor somewhere local to where we live, but I will drive however far I need to for good specialists. I know I can't replace the ones at Cleveland Clinic, but I want to get the best there is within reasonable driving distance. Any suggestions?

As far as budget and preferences, we don't want to pay any more rent than $1000 - $1200 a month. If we were purchasing, we would be willing to pay more for a mortgage, but with rent we want to keep it on the conservative side. We also want a single family dwelling, preferably on the water or with a water view (either gulf, bay or bayou) for a boat. We want an established neighborhood with mature trees/flowers. You mentioned Traditions...my husband used to work for the company who builds the Traditions neighborhoods. He was a Senior Customer Relations Manager for them in North Carolina some time back before Pulte and Centex merged.

I hope that helps define us a little better. Your information is priceless and very much appreciated. We just don't know a thing about this area, except for the bit of driving we did around here on Sunday afternoon. We have the luxury of living in a very nice home with my in-laws and they have left the invitation open-ended for as long as we want to live here, but (even as nice as my in-laws are) we will want to be on our own fairly soon for we are too old to live very long in that arrangement. We are thankful it will buy us some time to look around, but we just don't know where to head. We have always lived in the city (larger cities, except during our childhoods) and as much as we would love some privacy and country living, we can't handle living out so far that there are few amenities there. Ocean Springs is tiny compared to what we are used to, but it's very pretty and we love the artsy vibe. Just don't think we want to live around the corner from the in-laws, even as much as they are pushing the matter to have us very close by! ;c)

[docnkateholiday42]

I am looking to move to the Florida area. I need work that will provide a place to live untill I can get my own.

[FINNMAN1095]

Hi what would be the very best up scale area near biloxi maybe gated price is not important,

[Brucifer]

Florence Gardens

Tradition | Your new hometown on the Mississippi Gulf Coast