Buying a home soon - thinking of Springfield...

[tpot]

fsu813, I've lived in SPR for around 5 years on both the East side and the West side.  All of the incidents you described happening in SPR have also happened in Riverside and Avondale.  In fact i believe that crime is worse in Riverside and SPR.  You won't find a better community of neighbors.  Last night around 20 SPR neighbors all got together for the 1st Springfield Italian Club Dinner.  It was a great time. 

[downtownparks]

I am not discounting anything described. It is disturbing. What else disturbs me, however, is this is the first time I have heard about it.

I think that perhaps were you and your neighbors to plug into the neighborhood a bit more, you would feel more secure. check out the SPAR forum at www.sparcouncil.org/forums and see whats going on. We have talked quite a bit about the recent uptick in crime, and ways to fight it.

Matt McVey and several others are hoping to put together a plan to get help to neighbors who need it, as it relates to criminal element. The recent crime has reawaken a lot of people, and I sincerely hope that the response is strong.

[fsujax]

FSU813...don't give up on Springfield. I know it can seem hopeless sometimes, but we have to stay and fight the good fight! I live on 3rd between Walnut and Ionia and believe me this past couple of months I have seen some action. I have great neighbors and we all work very hard to make our section of Springfield safe, clean and nice. Get involved with the neighborhood and I assure you, you will want to stay.

[nvrenuf]

FSU813 - I certainly understand your wife's concerns. I'm the safety/security type that regardless of where we live insists on a few things: dog, fence, alarm, weapons. I won't try to paint Springfield as utopia but I have to agree with people who say they have no interest in living in other parts of this city. Springfield is a real neighborhood where you know your neighbors for several blocks, not just the guy you wave at across the street. We've had a recent bad rash of crimes, no doubt being perpetrated by the same couple sets of people. They are breaking in during the day because they think no one is home to stop them. They are brazen and will eventually be caught. I'd hate for you to leave just to find out that crime is just as bad if not worse in other areas. Educate yourself about those areas before you go. Check out the crime stats for other neighborhoods you are considering and you will find that unfortunately this is happening all over the place. Please go to the SHADCO meeting at the Health building on Boulevard on Jan 27th, make your voice and concerns heard.

[Bativac]

I wanted to jump back in here, since I started this topic back when my fiancee and I were seriously starting to look for homes.

We've decided to sock away a bigger down payment before we get too serious about trying to find something, but I think we've decided against Springfield for now. I grew up in the San Marco / St Nicholas area, and we live in Lakewood now. I think we're going to look for something in those areas.

We spent a few days walking around a few streets here and there in Springfield and while I felt fine, she just didn't feel safe. Whether it's a realistic fear or her being paranoid about being attacked is irrelevant - if she doesn't feel safe outside during the day walking the dog, then I can't see us living there. It's a shame, too, because there are some beautiful homes there.

Our other issue is that some of the "fixer upper" homes are still too expensive, for the condition of the home and the location. They have the potential to be big, beautiful homes, but for the money we'd have to invest, it doesn't make sense to us to spend $150K on a house in an area that's still coming up but still has a ways to go. If we can find something cheap enough we may reconsider. Of course, we wouldn't buy a new home in the area. We'd want one of the older homes.

I wanted to ask something I haven't seen discussed yet -- how big are the backyards in Springfield? Compared to, say, Lakewood or St Nicholas?

[Deuce]

Highly variable. The lots tend to be narrower and deeper in Springfield. Overall I would say they are smaller. Sorry to hear you won't be my neighbor. Surprised you couldn't find a bargain in this market.
Not that it will change your mind, but here's one that's a steal:
http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1314-North-Market-St_Jacksonville_FL_32206_1103970333

[fsujax]

Wow, i remember when that house was selling for over $400k

[jtwestside]

Not that it will change your mind, but here's one that's a steal:
http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1314-North-Market-St_Jacksonville_FL_32206_1103970333

That's a robbery, especially in this market. I love the Springfield area. My fiancée and I have looked there as well; but it's up and coming - It's not there yet. Speculators inflating prices to what they think the homes should be worth once the hood makes it is will continue to keep folks out.

Wow, i remember when that house was selling for over $400k

Selling? or Listing? Because selling would mean someone didn't just get robbed they were sexually assaulted as well.

[fsu813]

Made an offer on a house in Springfield, we'll see what happens.

[fsujax]

Listing. I never thought they would get that kind of money for it. Even when the market was strong.

[Johnny]

Not that it will change your mind, but here's one that's a steal:
http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1314-North-Market-St_Jacksonville_FL_32206_1103970333

That's a robbery, especially in this market. I love the Springfield area. My fiancée and I have looked there as well; but it's up and coming - It's not there yet. Speculators inflating prices to what they think the homes should be worth once the hood makes it is will continue to keep folks out.

Wow, i remember when that house was selling for over $400k

Selling? or Listing? Because selling would mean someone didn't just get robbed they were sexually assaulted as well.

I think it's in bad taste to say that listing is robbery when it's highly likely these people are taking a loss. These homes don't fix themselves and it's not cheap to do so. If I have to sell my home here in Springfield (which I don't plan to, just saying), I'd have to list it for roughly that same figure at the very least. That is just to payoff loans not to make a profit, those loans don't pay off themselves just because you sell the house.

[Springfield Girl]

Bativac, I had to reply after reading your last post. After relocating to Jacksonville my husband and I bought our first house in Lakewood. When we outgrew the 2/1 ranch we bought our second home in St. Nicholas. We had one of the older, larger homes on the river side but I longed to have homes like mine as my view instead of 60's ranch homes. Even though our street was pretty, people kept to themselves and I found it boring. I loved the thought of being a part of the revitalization in Springfield and have been rewarded with great friends, a busy social life and a neighborhood with a sense of community second to none. I have been much happier here than the other two places I've lived in Jacksonville. No matter what you decide, I would reccomend finding out as much as you can about a neighborhood before you choose to make it your home. 

[Steve]

Baltivac - have you considered Riverside?

[Springfielder]

Bativac, it all depends on the size of the backyards....many have large ones, many have smaller ones....it's just a matter of looking around to see what's avail and on the market. Only you can decided where you want to live, and no matter what area, you'll find pros and cons to support a decision or to push you away from it. There's really lovely areas in Jacksonville, and it all depends upon what you're really looking for in a neighborhood (and of course, a house) as to what you will eventually decided upon making the investment.

I've lived in several areas of Jax and I have found Springfield to be where I prefer to live...but that's my choice. What I find here is what pleases me.

[Deuce]

"That's a robbery, especially in this market."

It's amazing the different perceptions on what constitutes a deal in housing.  Allow me to elucidate.

When I sold my condo in Montgomery County, MD in 2005 I got 230.46 sq/ft . For that market, that was easily the median, if not a little lower. That was for new construction (<3 yrs).  It was new when I bought it.

When I purchased my home in Jacksonville later that year, I paid 185.48 sq/ft for brand new construction. For that price I got a house not a condo, a detached 2 car garage, a yard, walking proximity to downtown (as opposed to living 4 mi from the nearest city center), and luxury touches out the wazoo (my condo in Maryland was not considered luxury). To me, I felt I was robbing the builder at gunpoint (to keep the crime metaphor here).

Fast forward to now, the same condo in Maryland is listing for 241.38 sq/ft. Not much of a gain over the last 3 years but then there’s that recession thing I keep hearing about. The house I posted in JAX  is listing for 101.38 sq/ft. 

Now you see why I think that’s a steal.

The larger picture is you are not competing against typical buyers in JAX when you buy a home in a neighborhood like Springfield. You are competing against new arrivals who have moved from higher equity urban areas and empty nesters and older singles who want an urban environment but don’t have the costs of children or student loans.  These factors inflate prices some (even in a downturn). Go to any similarly sized city, find the cool urban neighborhood right next to the CBD, and look at what the prices are. Even in an up and coming neighborhood, I bet they’ll still be more.