Gary

North Florida has a lot to offer near Jacksonville. Jacksonville is a 2 hour drive to Orlando.

The majority of our coastal homes are not 2nd homes. You may like St. Augustine or St Augustine Beach. There is also Ponte Vedra Beach, Vilano Beach, Neptune Beach, Atlantic Beach, Jacksonville Beach and Amelia Island. These coastal towns are located in Duval County, St Johns County & Nassau County

Ponte Vedra Beach and Vilano Beach have excellent schools. The school district is ranked among the top 12% of school districts in the US. Three high schools ranked among the top 5% of high schools in the US.


One difference to consider between Florida and Georgia is that Georgia has a state income tax, Florida does not. Home owners insurance rates are lower in North florida than central or South Florida. North Florida near Jacksonville has a less than 1% chance of being hit by a Hurricane.

http://www.floridahurricane.net/
http://www.shopandcomparerates.com/HOCompareRates.htm

If you would like any additional information about any of our Norht Florida areas please don't hesitate to contact me.

Sun Jun 1 2008, 20:15

Dear Sir:

Come visit one of America's best kept secrets and you will truly fall in love with our subtropical paradise!

Just 35 miles east of Orlando, Brevard County prides itself as the home of Kennedy Space Center, the only facility in the world that launches the Space Shuttle; Port Canaveral, the second-busiest cruise port in the world; 72 miles of beautiful Atlantic Ocean beaches; and the largest collection of endangered wildlife and plants in the continental United States. With its tropical weather, cultural activities, educational opportunities, active and passive recreation options, high-technology industries, and family-friendly atmosphere, the Space Coast offers an exceptional quality of life that residents and visitors enjoy year-round. Nearly 500,000 people call its 15 municipalities and unincorporated areas "home."

We personally have several British friends who love it here! You will find great deals here and can actually live on the ocean for the price range that you have mentioned. Our firm specializes in helping international buyers. We look forward to hearing from you.

Feel free to visit http://palacepropertiesonline.com/localareainformation.aspx for more information regarding the local area. Our schools are among the best in the United States of America.

Best,
Mark Palace, CEO/Founder
Palace Properties International, Inc.
http://www.PalacePropertiesOnline.com
321.773.5611
321.704.9305

Sat Nov 24 2007, 06:12

Anywhere in Okaloosa and Walton Counties (Destin,Sandestin,Rosemary Beach, Santa Rosa Beach, Seagrove, Seaside, Dune Allen, many small communities along Rt 30A known as the "Beaches of South Walton would be a great place for your portrait business and quality of life. There are some very "high class" shopping areas due to the high tourism trade, including Grand Boulevard, the Markets at Sandestin, Destin Commons--and the prettiest beaches in the USA (white quartz sand, emerald clear waters). These beaches contribute to beautiful portraits and lots of business for high quality photographers and artists. The schools in Okaloosa county (Destin & Niceville) are ranked as the best in the state for your children. Also, Niceville is a very affordable family-oriented town to live in. I would love to assist you.

Fri Sep 14 2007, 13:35

There are number of areas in the Tampa and St. Petersburg area. Some of these areas have been named in the top 10 beaches. St. Pete Beach, Tierra Verde, St. Petersburg and a few other areas offer wonderful photo ops, but also great living. The weather here is winderful year round and while there are some "snow birds" in some areas many of the communities are residents. There are many areas in Tampa as well that offer what you are looking for and can provide more infomation for those areas if you want. There are also some areas a little further south but it depends on what other things you want in your community.

Tue Jul 10 2007, 17:44

Hello Gary,
I live in Santa Rosa Beach, FL and love it. Ialso have family in Orlando, which is where I grew up. I am also a realtor so I can help you with any questions you may have about the area. Santa Rosa Beach is in south Walton county and is where you will find the neighborhoods of Seaside, Watercolor, Rosemary Beach, Watersound, etc. South of Hwy 98 you will find county road 30A, which runs along the coast. There are little beach communities all along this road with restaurants, art galleries, etc.
Regarding REAL family neighborhoods: I live in a neighborhood called Escada which is toward the west end of 30A. While it does have some rental properties, no short term rentals are permitted and it is one of the few neighborhoods in the area where there are lots of permanent families and yet you can still walk to the beach! (Also, we are friends with a British family who own a home in our neighborhood and may be moving back soon.) There is a path to the elementary and middle schools which are a 5 minute walk away.
As you can see, there is alot to tell about this wonderful area and I would be happy to share more if you are still interested.
debvernon@kw.com

Tue Jul 10 2007, 08:08

Hi Gary,

Although I am currently residing in the Atlanta metro area of Georgia, I have lived in several locations throughout Georgia, Florida (including Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and Daytona Beach), Alabama and other states across the country. Our family also owns property in Miramar Beach/Destin, Florida, so we vacation there several times throughout the year.

If you are looking for a coastal area in Georgia to set up your photography business, I would recommend Savannah. If you prefer Florida beaches (like I do), I would recommend Santa Rosa Beach, Sand Destin, Destin, Pensacola, Fort Walton Beach or Perdido Key. There are a number of other honorable mention cities along Florida's East and Gulf coasts (like Amelia Island, Fernandina Beach, & Frangista Beach) but the seasonal population fluctuations may not be as conducive to your business. Good luck with your home search. - Ted

Sun Jul 8 2007, 11:17

Hi Gary,

While I might have more than one suggestion for you, the first place I thought of was Vero Beach. It has both year round and seasonal populations, is quaint, well protected from high rise building, and commutable to Orlando for short visits. Within a short distance you will find quite diverse subject matter for your paintings.... and of course, gorgeous beaches.

Check out the following links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vero_Beach,_Florida
http://www.verobeach.com/

If you have any feedback for me about Vero Beach, I will respond accordingly by giving you additional similar suggestions, or alternates based on preferences you describe that Vero Beach does not meet. I just completed an exploratory trip (May 2007) for real estate purposes along the entire eastern coast of Florida.

Having completed several "international" real estate transactions for clients, (one was last week) I would be happy to answer any questions you have about the financing or the real estate process as it pertains to UK residents.

Please feel free to post any questions or feedback here or contact me directly. When the time comes that you have identified prospective communities and are ready to work with a Realtor, we can find you one that has the background and skill set to meet your specific needs.

Let me know what you think of the links above and what further info I can provide.

Regards,
Deborah

Sun Jul 8 2007, 08:15

I live and work in Navarre, North West Florida. It's located about 20 miles East of Pensacola city limits and 6.5 hrs from Orlando (almost completely Interstate). The Navarre area has about 30,000 residents - which is hard to believe, even when you are living here. It doesn't appear this way. I love our snow white beaches and the blue green water of the Gulf at the Emerald Cost since I came here with my American husband and the USAF in May 2003 (I am German/Dutch). It's nice to have Pensacola close by, but have our "peace and quiet" here. The sign to Navarre Beach Island calls it "Florida's Best Kept Secret". We have a lot of weddings on the beach and people that like to have their picture taken out there - super background! With the Airforce Base close by (you don't here ANYTHING out in Navarre), the professional community of Pensacola and the high end properties in the Destin area 30 miles East of Navarre you should have a lot of potential customers.

And the prices are at a low right now. You can get a 4 bedroom, all brick, 1800 sqft, starting at about $200,000 right now, half the time with a lot of almost .5 acres. And the schools in our area get great ratings.

If you want, please, send me an e-mail. I'd be glad to further help you with any questions or concerns, any support you need. I also don't want to forget telling you that our company is specialized in relocation, national and international.

Have a good day, Leonie

Sun Jul 8 2007, 07:13

Hi Gary, I live and work in Panama City Beach, Florida. I am a licensed real estate professional. Panama City Beach is located in the northwest corner of the state. We have GREAT beaches, it is a small town with very good schools. If you would like more information or have questions or concerns w/ regard to re-locating and purchasing as a foreign buyer please let me know. I'll do my best to help you. Kind regards, Capt. Mike

P.S. The link below will show you our demographics.

Wed May 23 2007, 12:11

Gary: Though I am in San Diego, I can assist you with a relocation firm that will be able to help you with all aspects of your move. Please email me through my profile.

Welcome to the US and your new venture!

Tue May 22 2007, 16:27