retireing to the panhandle (Panama City, Crestview: crime, house, homebuyer)

[lunkerlander]

looking for some help, my wife and I are looking to retire to the panhandle of fl from Michigan. I am retired marine corps so we are looking to live with in reach of a base ( say 50 miles ) prefer inland We have been doing research on crestview, Freeport, Blountstown and Marianna we don't need much in respects to big cities. our kids are all grown and safety is our biggest concern. Information or knowledge would be greatly appreciated.

[30AGuy]

These are all nice communities...Crestview is a bit more populous while the other three towns have more of a country feel. If you chose either Crestview or Freeport, the closest base is Eglin Air Force Base. On the other hand, if you chose Blountstown or Marianna it would be Tyndall Air Force Base. There is also the NSA Navy Base in Panama City and they have just completed construction of a new VA Clinic in Panama City as well. Hope this helps!

[lunkerlander]

Thank you ,we are really looking forward to the move . Did not know about the nsa navy base that helps a lot. Thanks again.

[beachmouse]

There are a lot of developers that keep trying to make Freeport happen, and I think it's going to see some big growth in the next 10-15 years as middle class homebuyers continue to get priced out of the South Walton beach area. So don't buy there if you expect things to be unchanged.

Same goes for Crestview to some degree- south Okaloosa privately held land is largely built out and I'd go northeast of town toward the Baker area if I didn't want my house to be swallowed up by new subdivisions. Sad to say that the Army Ranger relocation to the Crestview area seems to have caused a spike in crime in the area. (The Air Force geeks around here tend to be better-behaved.)

I'm not too up on Blounstown or Marianna, but you're starting to talk about a significant drive to anything more exotic than a Walmart, and that might get kind of old if you discover your needs aren't met locally or by what can easily be bought on the internet.