is pensacola a good place to live? (Miami, Tampa: rent to own, insurance)

[TD*]

Tallahassee is better for Families.

[Hoops33]

Originally Posted by beachmouse

Whether you find Pensacola to be a good place almost entirely relies on whether you've got a decent job in the area.

I am a single male in my late 20's and I'm headed to the Pensacola area this month. I came across this thread and found your reply very helpful. I do internet marketing, so I can really live anywhere. I chose Pensacola because the fam can make the drive down in a decent time. I would like to be close to the beach if possible, but not wanting to pay a crazy amount. I also don't want to be near a the tourest, and closer to the cute single ladies if possible So...where am I going to live?

I appreciate your input!

[summerdreams]

I've moved to Pensacola about 5 years ago to raise a family and I truly think that it's a lovely place. The community really embraces you, the rent is affordable,ect.

[Northerngal29]

I'm moving to Pensacola from Brevard county. Where is a safe area to raise a family? Currently I have a 2 year old and another on the way. We will be renting, as this is short term. But need a safe area for my child. And I do not want to live near the beach.

[PILMAN]

In my opinion, it depends why you want to live in Pensacola or northern Florida in general, if you simply want to move here because you came as a tourist and you want to live in Florida, I think you would be making a very very big mistake. If you already have a job lined up that pays well and there isn't anything else available in any other states, then it's not a bad place to live but it wouldn't be my recommended primary location. I've lived in Northern Florida for the past 12 years throughout Fort Walton Beach, Navarre, and Pensacola, back in 2002 there were more jobs if you were going to school and wanted to work at a restaurant and make some money on the side, but overall your going to find yourself limited if your coming from a big city like Atlanta, or Houston, or Chicago. Pensacola is primarily the locals from the area or military that were deployed down here, your not going to find much in terms of night life if your younger, food options are non existent and pretty limited, if your looking for work, there's not really anyone hiring in the area, there are some call centers, restaurants, mall jobs and retail, a lot of people work at the hospital, computer jobs are kind of hard to come by unless you know someone. I think if you have a job that pays well and can guarantee you a future, it can be a nice place but to be honest, I think there's always going to be much to be desired, I am relatively happy as I have a good job, I have a lot of friends here, I have the church, and we do have the beach, but sometimes the food options I wish we had more. You won't find the museums, attractions, that kind of thing that you would find in a big city. It's already hard enough for locals here, I think it will be difficult for someone coming here who has never been here, doesn't have family or something lined up but this is just my honest opinion. In regards to Fort Walton Beach and Navarre, Fort Walton has nearby Destin which has a large number of tourists, I think most of the commercial area is near Mary Esther and Okaloosa Island. Navarre, there's nothing really there unless you have work in Gulf Breeze, otherwise there's some nice ocean property there but there's no work to be found in Navarre. Pensacola does give you access to Mobile and we don't have state income taxes, so if you have work in Alabama, then this can also be a nice area to live as well. There's some nice areas around the North part of Pensacola, the south part can get kind of rough.

[MedicalPartisan]

Originally Posted by PILMAN

*snip*

I've never read a post about Pensacola that better conveys the way I feel. I often find myself telling people "no, you shouldn't move here" without any good justification, and because on my own personal reasons but you are spot on. Great post.

I'm 23 and have a bachelor's degree in healthcare management and I've just began nursing school. I'm young and ambitious. I love innovation, technology, growth, et cetera. And I want to be a part of something big. Pensacola is absolutely not the place for me. :/

[laviews]

Pensacola is an up and coming area. I purchased a property there last year in the Westside downtown area and renovated it. I stayed away from the "more desirable" East Hill area because I found it to be double the price for the same type of houses and a lot more congested. The Eastside has the mall and more stores and chain restaurants in general but it also has a lot more traffic and airport traffic. There seems to be a lot of growth going on right now due to new buyers and businesses coming in like the Navy Federal credit union moving from Virgina to Pcola. Also the Airbus (airplanes) are going to be built in nearby Mobile so that should really boost the economy. They are missing stores like Ikea for example. I can't figure out why in the world the mayor and city council don't get on the phone and invite Ikea to open a store there. It would be HUGE!! for the economy. (Also 24 Hour fitness gym). The city should be begging them to come and even give them the land and pay for the buliding if they have too. The city has a new beautiful Baseball park built on the water which a lot of people like to go to to watch the games. The west downtown is nice and close to Palafox street (the main drag, Bar's restuarants) which the city spent a lot of money on renovating.It looks like a clean version of old New Orleans. This area is close enough to downtown and just the right distance so you don't have to put up with noise from the bars and clubs from Palafox. (you could ride your bike or take a bus or even walk) to downtown.
This area is also close to the water. People have boats and wave runners and go fishing a lot with easy access to boat ramps. The beaches are incredible in the summer with white sand beaches and clear water. Not to far away going north from pensacola you'll find a lot of big pine tree's and more rural areas. I was surprised at the difference only a few mins away. They also have billboards advertising river adventures but I haven't done that yet.

Pensacola also has a Gay scene. They have several Gay bars/clubs and a huge Memorial day beach scene every year. I think they may have a gay pride weekend to but I'm not sure. I think that pensacola does need to offer more restaurants in the downtown/west downtown area that stay open 24 hours. I did find several restaurants that were open strange hours opening late closing early because they're family owned. If you want to drive an 1 hour and 45 mins you can go to Biloxi Mississippi. They have many vegas style casinos. Golden nugget, Beau Rivage, Hard rock, Imperial palace and more. (Great buffets and restaurants) The other good thing about Pensacola is there are no State income taxes at the end of the year just the federal. Pcola does have a large military population which I'm cool with and they bring in a lot of revenue to the community.

[MedicalPartisan]

Sorry to say but IMO Pensacola is definitely not "up and coming" and I don't see any major rennovations happening any time soon. We have a new shopping center, that's about it. And even that is hardly "new" because all of the old businesses that we already had flocked there to be in a nice, new complex.

[southernnaturelover]

Originally Posted by MedicalPartisan

Sorry to say but IMO Pensacola is definitely not "up and coming" and I don't see any major rennovations happening any time soon. We have a new shopping center, that's about it. And even that is hardly "new" because all of the old businesses that we already had flocked there to be in a nice, new complex.

What new shopping center? Are you talking about the old University Mall?

[MedicalPartisan]

Originally Posted by southernnaturelover

What new shopping center? Are you talking about the old University Mall?

Yes, it's now called University Town Plaza.