Moving to JAX Soon...Help!

[kaseyk428]

Hello! I'm starting law school at FCSL in August.  In mid June I will be driving there from Dallas, Texas to look at housing options, and am excited about being close to a beach.  I'm moving with my significant other and hope to find a nice community to live in that is near either near FL Coastal or near the beach.  However, I'm not familiar with the area at all, and my "First Coast Rental Finder" seems to be more interested in my signing a contract ASAP than actually getting to tour each place or get to know what parts of town they are in.  We are willing to pay a little bit higher for a one bedroom to find something comfortable.  Any pointers would be great; if you love or loathe where you live, let me know!

[TheProfessor]

Riverside/Avondale

[Tripoli1711]

If you want to be near the school/near the beach, and you can pay a little more I would suggest some of the nicer apartments on Hodges Boulevard south of Beach Boulevard.  Everyone on this forum loves urban living, etc so I many will likely disagree with my advice.  You would be smack in the middle of suburban strip-mall world in that location.  You would also be about 10 minutes from sand and near the routes you'd need to take to make a rather quick commute to school.  It's essentially right in the middle of the two and not very far from either.  I know there were formerly some pretty nice apartments available there, but my knowledge is several years old on that aspect.

[RiversideLoki]

Ugh, most of those apartment finder places SUCK! There's a few good real estate agencies in the area. Riverside really is the nicest place to be. It's not suburban hell and is in the center of town.

Everyone says Traditions is great. http://www.traditionsjax.com/wp/
I use RES (www.chooseres.com, but their site is apparently down right this second. and haven't had problems with them.

The smaller real estate agencies around here are friendly and really looking to help people.

Avoid the big box apartment complexes like the PLAGUE. You'd be surprised to learn that you can probably rent a 3 bedroom house in Riverside for the same price as you can rent a one bedroom in the Tinseltown (southside) area!

[Shwaz]

Most of the neighborhoods surrounding downtown are the most popular with young people and honestly craigslist would probably have the most listings.

Another option for searching rentals: http://atkinsonrealtygroup.com/

The Beach has it's advantages... but it is a shitty commute back & forth to town... and for stretching a dollar you'd do much better in the urban core.

[JC]

If you do choose Riverside, stay closer to the river than I-10, it is the poverty/crime dividing line.  Also don't be fooled by how a Realtor may label a neighborhood, Edison Ave is not Riverside.

p.s

Does anyone know of an accurate neighborhood map?

[TheProfessor]

Queens Harbor is nice.  Not far from the beach.

http://www.queensharbour-homes.com/?gclid=CKyYtruVqqECFQRinAod629RDw

[floridaforester]

I'm partial to Riverside/Avondale, but if being close to the beach is important to you, there are some nice single family home neighborhoods off of San Pablo (Villages of pablo for one), Atlantic Blvd (Indian Springs, Kensington) or Girvin Rd.  Just depends on how much you want your monthly rent to be.  Also depends if you like character, walkability/bikability, etc in your n'hood (historic districts near DT) or just want to be close to the beach (mostly suburbs built after 1980).

[billy]

Have you tried Broadstone Beach House?
New apartments at 1300 Shetter, Jacksonville Beach 32250.

[kaseyk428]

Great, I appreciate the help.  I will check out both places, I'm sure it'll be a little bit easier to understand when I can see it.  Of course I want to go to the beach! I live in the upper middle part of Texas, so it's hard to resist the appeal, but suburbanites? Blegh.  I'm sure I'll get enough of that just being part of the legal community to start with.  It sounds like Riverside/Avondale might be more LGBT friendly but I hate to make assumptions...??

[JC]

Great, I appreciate the help.  I will check out both places, I'm sure it'll be a little bit easier to understand when I can see it.  Of course I want to go to the beach! I live in the upper middle part of Texas, so it's hard to resist the appeal, but suburbanites? Blegh.  I'm sure I'll get enough of that just being part of the legal community to start with.  It sounds like Riverside/Avondale might be more LGBT friendly but I hate to make assumptions...??

In a word yes, but this is still the bible belt

[Sportmotor]

The Southside is nice

St. Johns is far nicer but might cost a bit more.

[Shwaz]

The Southside is nice

St. Johns is far nicer but might cost a bit more.

Sport it might help to offer a neighborhood suggestion or heads up that St. Johns is a county... and not part of Jax.

[MusicMan]

Riverside-Avondale probably offers more rental choices in terms of price range and ammenities than any other neighborhood in Jax. Also very GLBT friendly, if that is important to you. It is one of those areas of cool historic homes, excellent infrastructure, and lots of parks.  I am a professional musician and also a Realtor, so I might be able to help you.    E-mail me at   drjml@hotmail.com   if you want some ideas.

[Sportmotor]

The Southside is nice

St. Johns is far nicer but might cost a bit more.

Sport it might help to offer a neighborhood suggestion or heads up that St. Johns is a county... and not part of Jax.

At work, will when I get home.
St. Johns is still really nice tho