Avoid low areas. Good to know! Dealing with hurricanes will definitely be a new thing.

Jax is a HUGE city (largest in America by square miles). Its got waterfront mansions and its got ghettos, you really need to visit to understand the size/economic levels.


Hurricanes are realistically a every 3-5 year thing. I've lived in S Florida since the 70s, never had any significant damage from any storm. In 2004 we had 2 storms in 38 days! That was easy, the house was already shuttered up, generator was running so it was no big deal. The house I live in now I've been in for 20+ years, I've put the storm shutters up 6 times. 33 windows/door openings, I get day labor and they can button it up in 2 hours. Impact glass is a nice option if you find a newer house or one that has been updated. To retrofit impact glass at my house it is 65-75K, I've been getting prices recently.


You can likely look in St Augustine in addition to the areas you already mentioned. A neighbor from my area was moving to Jacksonville to be near her son but ended up in St Augustine because she liked the area better and that was 20 minutes from her son's house.


The land/pole barn idea will be harder to figure out than if you were coming down to buy in a gated/HOA type community. I'd try to rent something the winter prior to you moving down and give yourself 2-3 months to scout out the area before you make the big commitment to move/buy something.

Jupiter has a good suggestion on renting first. We had been all over Florida both sides for most of our adult lives before we moved but still ended up renting in 3 areas before we bought. Granted, when I say 3 areas I mean Citrus county, St Pete and then Orlando! LOL

It really does help to live here for a while before you buy, just don't come down to Cocoa Beach, you will hate it here.:whistle: