The area were from just went insane with prices. Many homes more than doubled 😔 On the flip side, where we live now is definitely better to raise a family. It’s pretty based where we are now
I grew up in FL and moved away in the 1980s. When I go back to visit relatives now, it is so crowded I almost can't take it, and the weather is definitely hotter there now, probably because of all the additional pavement, ACs, and cars. Some areas of the panhandle seem to be the only places that are still reasonably uncrowded now.
Where in the panhandle?.. ..would you tell me please ! I’m in San Diego and I’d like to buy something close to a beach that isn’t packed Miami style ..thank you !
All the immediate beach areas of FL panhandle are pretty well maxed out, but if you go inland, you not only have more "country" type places, you also avoid the worst of hurricanes (FL panhandle has about the highest hurricane landfall potential possible in the eastern U.S., possibly only exceeded by outer banks of NC). Go on zillow and check out what you can find in those outer areas. If you don't mind higher density population, higher prices, and higher hurricane potential, there are plenty of coastal properties/towns to choose from. (I lived in San Diego a few years ago and loved it; but the weather was too perfect (and my wife wouldn't move there), and of course, I would never have been able to afford a house there. I rented a room not far from the beach, and got in more surfing in the 18 months I lived there than in the previous 30 years of living back east :) )
Navarre Beach is between Ft Walton Beach and Pensacola. Used to live there. Strong military presence as Hurlburt Field is about a 15min drive and Eglin AFB is about a 30min drive. Mind you, this was back in the 90's. Wasn't dense with people and was a great neighborhood and literally a stones throw from the beach.
Niceville/Valparaiso is (was?) full of retirees, on the East side of Eglin, situated on an inlet to the ocean, is also a great place to be. Also very high Military/retired Mil presence.
Traveling along the coast eastward, you have Destin. Ok place to live, but it's got a lot of party places catering to the military so it get a bit rowdy.
Further along HWY98 (Gulf Coast hwy) you have Sandestin. Lot of money in this town (or was) with nice houses, streets, people.
Last one I know (knew?) fairly well is Panama City. This place is crazy during Spring Break. Great place to visit but unless you're into a flood of drunk and horny College people once a year, I waffle a bit on living there. As I said tho, it IS a pretty fun city to visit.
In between all these main towns and cities are smaller towns. They didn't offer much in the way of conveniences so you'd have to travel a bit if you wanted to get everything in one or two stops, but that also was their charm. Navarre used to be like that until it "blew up" in popularity.
I reiterate, this is opinions based on 1992-1998 and what I experienced while stationed at Hurlburt Field at Ft Walton Beach. There's online guides to these places you can look into for just about any question you might have on them; i.e. property taxes, housing costs, schools, crime rates, etc.
Good luck!
Edit: oh and, BTW...these are ALL on the beach ;-)
I read somewhere that the entire world could fit comfortably in texas, and the US could fit in Houston alone. FL could take half the country easy, but hopefully soon that wont be necessary
Good!
Damn it. I was born and raised in FL and moved out 4 years ago. We miss it terribly.
Time to move back?
The area were from just went insane with prices. Many homes more than doubled 😔 On the flip side, where we live now is definitely better to raise a family. It’s pretty based where we are now
I grew up in FL and moved away in the 1980s. When I go back to visit relatives now, it is so crowded I almost can't take it, and the weather is definitely hotter there now, probably because of all the additional pavement, ACs, and cars. Some areas of the panhandle seem to be the only places that are still reasonably uncrowded now.
Where in the panhandle?.. ..would you tell me please ! I’m in San Diego and I’d like to buy something close to a beach that isn’t packed Miami style ..thank you !
All the immediate beach areas of FL panhandle are pretty well maxed out, but if you go inland, you not only have more "country" type places, you also avoid the worst of hurricanes (FL panhandle has about the highest hurricane landfall potential possible in the eastern U.S., possibly only exceeded by outer banks of NC). Go on zillow and check out what you can find in those outer areas. If you don't mind higher density population, higher prices, and higher hurricane potential, there are plenty of coastal properties/towns to choose from. (I lived in San Diego a few years ago and loved it; but the weather was too perfect (and my wife wouldn't move there), and of course, I would never have been able to afford a house there. I rented a room not far from the beach, and got in more surfing in the 18 months I lived there than in the previous 30 years of living back east :) )
Navarre Beach is between Ft Walton Beach and Pensacola. Used to live there. Strong military presence as Hurlburt Field is about a 15min drive and Eglin AFB is about a 30min drive. Mind you, this was back in the 90's. Wasn't dense with people and was a great neighborhood and literally a stones throw from the beach.
Niceville/Valparaiso is (was?) full of retirees, on the East side of Eglin, situated on an inlet to the ocean, is also a great place to be. Also very high Military/retired Mil presence.
Traveling along the coast eastward, you have Destin. Ok place to live, but it's got a lot of party places catering to the military so it get a bit rowdy.
Further along HWY98 (Gulf Coast hwy) you have Sandestin. Lot of money in this town (or was) with nice houses, streets, people.
Last one I know (knew?) fairly well is Panama City. This place is crazy during Spring Break. Great place to visit but unless you're into a flood of drunk and horny College people once a year, I waffle a bit on living there. As I said tho, it IS a pretty fun city to visit.
In between all these main towns and cities are smaller towns. They didn't offer much in the way of conveniences so you'd have to travel a bit if you wanted to get everything in one or two stops, but that also was their charm. Navarre used to be like that until it "blew up" in popularity.
I reiterate, this is opinions based on 1992-1998 and what I experienced while stationed at Hurlburt Field at Ft Walton Beach. There's online guides to these places you can look into for just about any question you might have on them; i.e. property taxes, housing costs, schools, crime rates, etc.
Good luck!
Edit: oh and, BTW...these are ALL on the beach ;-)
Come on down
I read somewhere that the entire world could fit comfortably in texas, and the US could fit in Houston alone. FL could take half the country easy, but hopefully soon that wont be necessary