This question ought to get some posts. Help me move!

[mirage2521]

I mentioned in my introduction post that I might be losing my house in Panama City to imminent domain in the next year or two. My wife and I have discussed at great length where we want to move and we have narrowed it down to somewhere between Yankeetown and Carrabelle. My budget will be around 200k (I'm 52, I don't want a big mortgage) I have three boats, two cars a truck and a tractor and 3 12x24 workshops so room is definitely a factor. We are interested in a little spot of acreage or a place on the water somewhere. Not looking for fancy or upscale, just a safe area with ZERO, NO, NADA Home Owner Associations or deed covenants. Please share with us your favorites areas to live full time and why they are your favorites. Fishing, hunting, convenience, shopping, neighbors and so on.

[bman]

Warning - A Realtor owns this site
2nd Warning - Its me

I'd suggest you come visit.
You can get a lot for 200k near, but not on the water, in Wakulla County.
Or you can get something small on the water for 200K - but expect higher insurance.
Crawfordville has a WinnDixie, Ace, auto parts store, Wallmart, several good restaurants, fast food etc...
And your no more than 1 hour from Tallahassee(where I live) and about anything you need.

Most of the rest of the coast from Appalach to Econ is pretty remote.

The other option would be to get closer to Perry.


I was just showing places in the 190k - 250k range at the coast last weekend.
There are a few on Alligator Point, Shell Point, and Live Oak Island.

And I have sold several small 10 -25 acre farms in Wakulla county that sound a lot like what you have right now.

Curious to hear what others suggest...

[mirage2521]

Warning - A Realtor owns this site
2nd Warning - Its me

I'd suggest you come visit.
You can get a lot for 200k near, but not on the water, in Wakulla County.
Or you can get something small on the water for 200K - but expect higher insurance.
Crawfordville has a WinnDixie, Ace, auto parts store, Wallmart, several good restaurants, fast food etc...
And your no more than 1 hour from Tallahassee(where I live) and about anything you need.

Most of the rest of the coast from Appalach to Econ is pretty remote.

The other option would be to get closer to Perry.


I was just showing places in the 190k - 250k range at the coast last weekend.
There are a few on Alligator Point, Shell Point, and Live Oak Island.

And I have sold several small 10 -25 acre farms in Wakulla county that sound a lot like what you have right now.

Curious to hear what others suggest...

LOL.... I knew a realtor owned the site. We actually come visit pretty often. Remote is what we are looking for. I love the Crawfordville Wakulla area but I hate that it is in commuting distance of Tally. I have seen the morning and afternoon traffic there. UHG! My wife doesn't have to work so that's not really an issue and I don't work where I live so again, commuting and employment are not concerns. I am guessing on the 200k assuming I get a fair valuation on my house. Its still in the beginning stages of development but when/if the time comes I want to have an idea where I am going. I have loved the Big Bend since I was a kid but have spent most of my life either in Panama City or going where my Uncle sent me.

Thanks for replying....we need all the input we can get.

[big bend gyrene]

Bit off the water, but if it's traffic you're wanting to avoid, you like living off the beaten path, AND IF SCHOOLS (and impact on resale) aren't a concern my vote would be (and has twice been ) on the Lloyd/Waukeenah/Wacissa area. Most of the housing lies just above the flat coastal plains so you get beautiful rolling farm country where cattle outnumber people. When we moved to Lloyd I remember the clerk of court bragging about the lack of red lights in Jefferson County (true story! ) and you won't run into a fraction of restrictive covenants you find in Leon.

Flip side is outside a few gas/convenience mom & pop spots you'll drive 10 to 15 minutes to get to the store and my trips to salt require me trailering about 45 minutes each way -- mostly to Econfina because much like housing I like its remote location / much lighter boat traffic versus St. Marks and other spots westward. On the shopping note, one nice thing about the Lloyd/Wacissa area is that you're about the same distance from south TLH as north TLH so if it's shops on the north side of town you just drive a couple of miles up to connect with I-10... need to get to the south side of town just take Apalachee, and if you want to avoid traffic you face very little running to the Publix right off 10 on Mahan, as well as little traffic getting to Costco/WalMart/BassPro via Chaires and Buck Lake roads.

Hunting is pretty decent over our way too. I actually live right off Appalachee Parkway near the Wacissa turn and though my home lies only 16 miles or so from the steps of the capital building, it's a WHOLE different world... this past week alone I've had a nice bachelor group of bucks, turkey hens with poults, sounder of feral pigs, and a bear feeding in fields just outside my back door.

Barry can attest, $200,000 can get you quite a bit in Jefferson... just not on the water unless you're open to freshwater as a compromise.

[big bend gyrene]

And a true story on the relatively light / manageable traffic flow of the Lloyd area.

Few years back when my wife and I where weighing our last move we looked at home options closer to our office off the Thomasville Road / I-10 intersection.

We looked at a number of nice homes off the areas around Meridian (our daughter goes to Maclay) north Thomasville Rd / Bannerman, and though only 4 or 5 miles away from our office we found that morning traffic made it take just as long as our 20 minute commute from Lloyd but with it seemingly an hour LONGER due to the stop & go traffic factor.

[rockyg]

Born and raised in Tallahassee. 50 years worth. It's not what it used to be.

My vote is a gentleman's farm in Jefferson County. You are less than 30 minutes of easy driving from both Thomasville and Tallahassee. Thomasville is very nice......kind of Tallahassee 20 years ago nice. We are very happy over here.

[mirage2521]

Bit off the water, but if it's traffic you're wanting to avoid, you like living off the beaten path, AND IF SCHOOLS (and impact on resale) aren't a concern my vote would be (and has twice been ) on the Lloyd/Waukeenah/Wacissa area. Most of the housing lies just above the flat coastal plains so you get beautiful rolling farm country where cattle outnumber people. When we moved to Lloyd I remember the clerk of court bragging about the lack of red lights in Jefferson County (true story! ) and you won't run into a fraction of restrictive covenants you find in Leon.

Flip side is outside a few gas/convenience mom & pop spots you'll drive 10 to 15 minutes to get to the store and my trips to salt require me trailering about 45 minutes each way -- mostly to Econfina because much like housing I like its remote location / much lighter boat traffic versus St. Marks and other spots westward. On the shopping note, one nice thing about the Lloyd/Wacissa area is that you're about the same distance from south TLH as north TLH so if it's shops on the north side of town you just drive a couple of miles up to connect with I-10... need to get to the south side of town just take Apalachee, and if you want to avoid traffic you face very little running to the Publix right off 10 on Mahan, as well as little traffic getting to Costco/WalMart/BassPro via Chaires and Buck Lake roads.

Hunting is pretty decent over our way too. I actually live right off Appalachee Parkway near the Wacissa turn and though my home lies only 16 miles or so from the steps of the capital building, it's a WHOLE different world... this past week alone I've had a nice bachelor group of bucks, turkey hens with poults, sounder of feral pigs, and a bear feeding in fields just outside my back door.

Barry can attest, $200,000 can get you quite a bit in Jefferson... just not on the water unless you're open to freshwater as a compromise.

Don't care about schools, don't care about resale (much,lol) but 45 minutes to the water is 35 minutes to far. I currently have 5 ramps within 5 miles and my big boat is in a dry rack. Its going to be hard to get used to trailering but I think it is something I am going to have to do. I would have to find a compromise closer. The rest sounds awesome!

[TomParis]

sounds like based on what you are looking for something in an area like Keaton Beach would be more up your alley. I checked realtor.com and only see one home for sale there and its 123k and needs some work. But that is an area unlike St. Marks and Steinhatchee that is right on the water but not busy or touristy.

[JIm Smith]

visit Cedar Key, you might like it

[MudDucker]

Look up the river on the Carrabelle River. When helping a friend with Zillow search a couple of months back, looked like there might be some acreage a little off the beaten path. Barry can be a big help.

[mirage2521]

Thanks for all the input guys. Its appreciated.

[FUTCHCAIRO]

I HAVE A LITTLE ADOBE UP HERE IN SOUTH GA. THAT I MIGHT BE PERSUADED TO PART WITH, IT IS 1 HOUR FROM ECONFINA, 1 1/2HOURS FROM CARABELLE, OR 1 HOUR AND 15 MIN. TO ST. MARKS LIGHTHOUSE LAUNCHING RAMP. HAVE 428 ACRES OF FARM LAND ALL LEASED OUT TO FARMER, APPROXIMATELY 200 ACRES OF WOODS AND PONDS FOR A TOTAL OF 628 ACRES. THE LITTLE ADOBE WE LIVE IN CONSISTS OF 4400 SQ. FT. OF LIVING SPACE, 4 BD.ROOM, 3 BATHS, GREAT ROOM 24X40 WITH VALTED CEILING 16 FT. HIGH, TRACTOR SHEDS, WORKSHOP WITH 3 BAYS, APPROXIMATELY 1,500 FLOWERING PLANTS AND TREES, 4 PONDS TOTALING APPROXIMATELY 15 ACRES, APPROXIMATELY $250.000 OF TIMBER YET TO BE HARVESTED, ADDITIONAL APPROX. 100 ACRE OF PLANTED PINE TREES 8 YRS. OLD. ONLY 5 MILES TO TOWN FOR GROCERY, SHOPPING, AND HISTORIC MOVIE HOUSE THAT IS CURRENTLY RUNNING DAILY. ESTIMATED SALE PRICE OF $1,750,000.00, ALSO HAVE 2 BOATS, FOR SALE, CAN NOT MANAGE THEM ANYMORE, OLD AGE HAS CAUGHT UP WITH THE OLD MAN.
PA
SEMPER FI