Anyone having second thoughts?

[JBtwinz]

We aren’t locals but 34 years ago we moved here to a sleepy little middle class coastal town with two mills, logging trucks an industrial port and shrimping fleet.

Fast forward and we have become a very affluent retirement destination to live and we
also have a thriving tourist industry.

Most if not all of our newcomers want the mills shut down, logging trucks off the road and now that they have moved here they want zero growth.

We still have a great quality of life but truth be told Floridas growing popularity as a retirement haven and a great place to live for others is what is turning Florida into what it is and that it is becoming unaffordable
In many areas.

[Vector1]

Originally Posted by JBtwinz

We have been here in the Jacksonville area for about 34 years and still feeling the love for the area but in the last few years the run away growth and now the insurance crisis are starting to plant little seeds in our head on whether this will be our forever location.

For those of you that weren’t here before 2000 Saint Johns County and Nassau County lacked any real growth and were very affordable.

Anyone else starting to feel a bit concerned about the housing prices, rapid growth and insurance crisis?

We are here for now but a few longtime friends are looking to move out of Florida.

Not sure I understand your trepidation.

If you have been in Duval, St. Johns, or Nassau counties and own your property, you likely are sitting on an equity goldmine like most Floridians around the state.
Assuming you moved into a middle class neighborhood in the late 80's/early 90's, your $150-$200k home is now worth 4 times what you paid for it.
As long as you still live in a desirable neighborhood, and said property is paid off, you could downsize and still have plenty of money to spare.

Yes insurance is a bear, but living in a state with no state income tax, low regulations, freedoms most people would give their left arm for, I again fail to understand where you think the grass is greener.

[Vector1]

Originally Posted by JBtwinz

We definitely appreciate the quality of life here on Amelia Island but it is no longer the sleepy coastal middle class town we fell in love with 34 years ago. There was literally nothing between the island an 95 but now it seems like Atlantic Blvd.

We aren’t getting priced out yet but we are more aware of living in a very affluent area now and the additional costs associated with our flood and homeowners insurance.

As a poster mentioned places like Tennessee, Washington State, and Nevada that don’t have income taxes are seeing crazy housing prices also. We don’t have any idea where we would relocate to so we are going to try to stick it out as long as our budget allows it.

Oh wow, I should have read (or you should have mentioned in your OP) you are on Amelia Island.
We enjoyed vacationing in Hawaii or on Hilton Head between traveling to Europe and other destinations. Once we discovered Amelia Island, it became a haven for us and replaced Hilton Head.

So while I'd agree AI has become overpopulated (why the commissioners allowed such overgrowth is beyond me for such a small island), you are still living in paradise my friend, especially if you are in the Plantation.

BTW- forget living in WA if you like FL weather, as there is no comparison.

[JBtwinz]

Originally Posted by Vector1

Oh wow, I should have read (or you should have mentioned in your OP) you are on Amelia Island.
We enjoyed vacationing in Hawaii or on Hilton Head between traveling to Europe and other destinations. Once we discovered Amelia Island, it became a haven for us and replaced Hilton Head.

So while I'd agree AI has become overpopulated (why the commissioners allowed such overgrowth is beyond me for such a small island), you are still living in paradise my friend, especially if you are in the Plantation.

BTW- forget living in WA if you like FL weather, as there is no comparison.

We definitely enjoy the quality of life here but it is no longer that small blue collar affordable beach town. We seem to cater to the affluent retirees and tourists now and our restaurants and other businesses reflect this. You probably noticed the crazy growth in Nassau County coming on to the island and it is only getting worse.

You are right the grass isn’t always greener but the first 15 years here until we got discovered were paradise.

[Vector1]

Originally Posted by JBtwinz

We definitely enjoy the quality of life here but it is no longer that small blue collar affordable beach town. We seem to cater to the affluent retirees and tourists now and our restaurants and other businesses reflect this. You probably noticed the crazy growth in Nassau County coming on to the island and it is only getting worse.

You are right the grass isn’t always greener but the first 15 years here until we got discovered were paradise.

Sadly many of the hidden gems get discovered sooner or later. I do agree with you that AI character has changed, just like many parts of the Florida Keys have changed, and not for the better.

In HI on the island of Molokai, the so called "Friendly Island" the residents there actively protest against tourist coming over by ferry, with signs about "no cruise ships", "don't turn us into Oahu", or even "haole go home".
It is the least friendly and frankly the worst one from a tourist standpoint. Then again, I can appreciate how they feel, as Oahu has way too many people and the traffic in Honolulu is some of the worst I have ever encountered.


Still I'd rather live in an overpopulated paradise like AI than most other places. Get involved in local politics to see why they are allowing unfettered development of the island.

[Gromicide]

I bet if we could fast forward a couple decades, we'd see those mostly unpopulated areas in the Florida armpit all sprouted up with master planned communities, a dunkin and wawa on every corner...oh and of course a two lane road to get to it all.

[Florida2014]

Originally Posted by Gromicide

I bet if we could fast forward a couple decades, we'd see those mostly unpopulated areas in the Florida armpit all sprouted up with master planned communities, a dunkin and wawa on every corner...oh and of course a two lane road to get to it all.

100% this is a certainty. Areas inland will become more and more desirable due to low land/real estate costs and if these master planned communities sprout up with brand new shiny schools people will want to call that home in droves.

[Vector1]

Originally Posted by Florida2014

100% this is a certainty. Areas inland will become more and more desirable due to low land/real estate costs and if these master planned communities sprout up with brand new shiny schools people will want to call that home in droves.

While not directly related to Jax, there was cleared but undeveloped land being sold in 13 acre parcels, not too far from Starke.
The price was $70k per parcel, and they sold out in one day.

[Florida2014]

Originally Posted by Vector1

While not directly related to Jax, there was cleared but undeveloped land being sold in 13 acre parcels, not too far from Starke.
The price was $70k per parcel, and they sold out in one day.

Well there you go. I think a large portion of people don't care about being close to the beaches so areas like Starke will become prime real estate for these developers who know they can buy the land at a discount and make money off of the throngs of people who still want to move to FL for the nice(r) weather.