How to visit Shalimar, Niceville, Pace, Milton, etc to get a feel for the place (Pensacola: rent)

[Priya36]

I wish to move to Panhandle with my Family (early 80s)

Two years ago I posted about this, and then had injury (which I am now managing with proper exercise)

Then my Father was told he needed Heart Surgery (for which he is still recovering, and is dealing with other health problems)

Below are requirements:

- Safety
- Safety
- Safety

I posted this three times because when my Father was in post-op and I left the Hospital building to get him his favorite coffee, he got VERY upset that I went out by myself. It was only a block in a residential, religious community.

- Least flood risk
- At first will rent ($2K), but then wish to purchase ($500K), preferably rancher
- Minimal noise and smell
- Doctors and specialists should be nearby (20 min drive)
- Grocery shopping (Publix?) should be nearby (20 min drive)

And I have IT background. Looking for jobs Federal Government and School Districts IT department.


Question

I think I narrowed down the areas to Shalimar, Niceville, Pace, Milton

How do I visit these areas? Do I book a hotel and then rent car to drive around. I don't go to restaurants, etc My idea of a good time is staying home and doing hobbies, housework.

[slduvall]

Originally Posted by Priya36

I wish to move to Panhandle with my Family (early 80s)

Two years ago I posted about this, and then had injury (which I am now managing with proper exercise)

Then my Father was told he needed Heart Surgery (for which he is still recovering, and is dealing with other health problems)

Below are requirements:

- Safety
- Safety
- Safety

I posted this three times because when my Father was in post-op and I left the Hospital building to get him his favorite coffee, he got VERY upset that I went out by myself. It was only a block in a residential, religious community.

- Least flood risk
- At first will rent ($2K), but then wish to purchase ($500K), preferably rancher
- Minimal noise and smell
- Doctors and specialists should be nearby (20 min drive)
- Grocery shopping (Publix?) should be nearby (20 min drive)

And I have IT background. Looking for jobs Federal Government and School Districts IT department.


Question

I think I narrowed down the areas to Shalimar, Niceville, Pace, Milton

How do I visit these areas? Do I book a hotel and then rent car to drive around. I don't go to restaurants, etc My idea of a good time is staying home and doing hobbies, housework.

I can't speak about Pace and Milton, but will address Shalimar and Niceville.

Shalimar is just a town with some houses, it has some expensive areas, along the water, but other than that, it is older homes that have become less and less desirable. I lived there back in the late 80s and not much has changed. It has one road that runs through it and can get congested. Nothing in the county is more than 20 minutes from any Publix, hospital or dr. though some of the better ones are further away in the Destin area, or many prefer to go to Pensacola for medical. My mother owned two townhouses in Shalimar and the rent 8 yrs ago before we sold them was $2200 for the 3 bedroom and $2K for the two bedroom. Not sure if it has gone up, but these are older 1980's townhouses, and the last time I drove by I saw that they have really gone downhill since my mom past away and we sold.

Niceville is much more pricey as it feeds the better High school. Rent in a nicer neighborhood would run you about $2500-3000K. My neighborhood for instance starts at about $3200 and goes up. Why? Because of the military housing allowances. Many senior officers can afford it, so it drives up the prices. There is also limited land to build new houses, as we are surrounded by military reservation and the water.

Most of the area is safe, these are not big cities with violence on every corner, but there are some neighborhoods I wouldn't walk through at night, but we're not talking gang-type violence.

Noise - well that we have plenty of. Eglin AFB flies the F-35 and the F-22 two of the loudest planes ever made! I can hear the jets warming up on the runway...I'm 8-10 miles away. And on the other side of Niceville is the EOD bomb training center...which blows up bombs...literally shakes my house! Add regular air traffic noises and this is not quiet.

It will be easy to get a hotel room in either Niceville or Shalimar, as we have about 3 new hotels that have gone in. But beware they aren't cheap in the summer.

Since there are no less than 4 major bases in the area, and a large school district in Okaloosa County it might not be too hard to find a job. Easier if you have security clearance.

[Priya36]

Originally Posted by slduvall

I can't speak about Pace and Milton, but will address Shalimar and Niceville.

Shalimar is just a town with some houses, it has some expensive areas, along the water, but other than that, it is older homes that have become less and less desirable. I lived there back in the late 80s and not much has changed. It has one road that runs through it and can get congested. Nothing in the county is more than 20 minutes from any Publix, hospital or dr. though some of the better ones are further away in the Destin area, or many prefer to go to Pensacola for medical. My mother owned two townhouses in Shalimar and the rent 8 yrs ago before we sold them was $2200 for the 3 bedroom and $2K for the two bedroom. Not sure if it has gone up, but these are older 1980's townhouses, and the last time I drove by I saw that they have really gone downhill since my mom past away and we sold.

Niceville is much more pricey as it feeds the better High school. Rent in a nicer neighborhood would run you about $2500-3000K. My neighborhood for instance starts at about $3200 and goes up. Why? Because of the military housing allowances. Many senior officers can afford it, so it drives up the prices. There is also limited land to build new houses, as we are surrounded by military reservation and the water.

Most of the area is safe, these are not big cities with violence on every corner, but there are some neighborhoods I wouldn't walk through at night, but we're not talking gang-type violence.

Noise - well that we have plenty of. Eglin AFB flies the F-35 and the F-22 two of the loudest planes ever made! I can hear the jets warming up on the runway...I'm 8-10 miles away. And on the other side of Niceville is the EOD bomb training center...which blows up bombs...literally shakes my house! Add regular air traffic noises and this is not quiet.

It will be easy to get a hotel room in either Niceville or Shalimar, as we have about 3 new hotels that have gone in. But beware they aren't cheap in the summer.

Since there are no less than 4 major bases in the area, and a large school district in Okaloosa County it might not be too hard to find a job. Easier if you have security clearance.

Thank you for giving this detailed and thorough information.

You are helping myself and so many others with all these details.

i guess a major issue would be noise. God-willing if my Dad is still with me, we need a place with minimal noise (he has sleep disturbances)

And I read Destin is really really nice.


I did have a security clearance, but long time aga.....