Moving From TN to FL

[Bones429]

Originally Posted by X_KIOWA_X

Just wanted to throw a thread up that I am in the process of moving from Clarksville TN <Ft. Campbell> to Crestview FL <Eglin AFB> now that I am retired and got a Government job. If anyone is from around that area please let me know as I would love to talk about the area and what to expect and what the housing market looks like and what I can get for my money their, yeah I have looked on the web and have an idea but nothing like first person knowledge of what to expect.

It's a bitter sweet move, on one hand I'm used to the area and know it and have a house here and now I have to venture into new lands and start all over after being in one place for the last 8 years. Yeah being in the Army I have moved a lot but like I stated it's been a while since I have had to do it. Also if you have even been through that area and can tell me about your experiences their would help out as I have no knowledge of it except what I can read on the internet.

Thanks in advance if you can provide any input, if not then just hijack the thread like you usually do lol, j/k....or not....lol.

I was stationed at Eglin back in the late 70's and was a Deputy there in the 80's it is a great place...lots to do in the summer...kinda sucked in the winter tho...it is a beach town....But I wouldn't live in Crestview if ya don't have to Shalimar is a lot nicer, and closer to Ft Walton Beach and the Destin...Destin has turned into tourist trap...Valporiso just on the north side of Eglin is ok...or maybe Mary Ester...go the Hog's Breath and have a beer for me... remember "Hog's breath is better than no Breath at all"...Most of the base is on the south side of Eglin.. everything north of ValP to Crestview is most woods and target ranges...The ranger camp is over on the west side of the base...in the middle of the woods. Lots of wild boar, some panthers, lots of snakes, ( one in perticular is a pigmy rattlesnake) it is about 1 ft long and bad as hell it ain't a baby it is full grown and bites...and those big ass lizards that eat people...gators...

PS the only thing worse than Rocky Top is blasted Indian chat from FSU.....Go Cats....Kentucky....

[woodenhorse]

Originally Posted by Bones429

I was stations at Eglin back in the late 70's and was a Deputy there in the 80's it is a great place...lots to do in the summer...kinda sucked in the winter tho...it is a beach town....But I wouldn't live in Crestview if ya don't have to Shalimar is a lot nicer, and closer to Ft Walton Beach and the Destin...Destin has turned into tourist trap...Valporiso just on the north side of Eglin is ok...or maybe Mary Ester...go the Hog's Breath and have a beer for me... remember "Hog's breath is better than no Breath at all"...

I moved from Pensacola to Niceville back in 75, left Niceville for DC area in 76. About 6 months or so ago I decided to ride down to Niceville to see the old homestead.....didn't recognize 98% of the area......has really gotten crowded and has built up. When I was in Pensacola - mid 1960's to 1975 - I used to hang out at the beaches from Gulf Shores, AL down to Destin - there was very little commercial building on the beaches and the sand had a bunch of sea oats along the way.....has totally changed now.

Only other place in Florida that I used to go visit a bunch was Holmes Beach, near St. Pete's neck of the woods....my ex's parents used to live there. The thing that struck me the most about that place was that wild peacocks used to roam it.......I was near one, but didn't know it, and it let out a yell that startled the heck out of me.

I agree with what the others are saying.....rent for a short time and then buy where you like it.

[Bones429]

Originally Posted by woodenhorse

I agree with what the others are saying.....rent for a short time and then buy where you like it.

I agree rent when ya first get there, there are some really nice brick home off Beal Parkway that were built back in the 80' and 90's I knew the contractor that built them he was a rare one '''Honest" so they were built good.

[TrueBlueFury]

My sister and brother-in-law live in Crestview - I'll email you their contact info.

[X_KIOWA_X]

Originally Posted by woodenhorse

When you get settled in and are ready to ride, let me know. I go to Pensacola often and your area is only another hour from there. I'd be glad to ride with you.

Oh, yeah "FEAR THE STAR!"

Yeah we'll definitely

Originally Posted by BarFury

Ya, new job AND moving to another area is doubly stressful. I retired and moved to a new area 3 years ago, and I still haven't fully adjusted.

On the moving issue, now you get to truly find just how much useless "baggage" you've accumulated since the last time you moved; I can't believe how quickly stuff a accumulates!..........LOL.

Anyway, best of luck on the move and the new job. I'm sure it'll all come together for you once you get settled-in.

Cheers

Thanks! Actually the wife and myself are pretty good about getting rid of stuff we don't need or want so actually we won't have to get rid of a bunch of crap, but before I met her I was like that lol. Yeah I know in the end it will work out, I just need to get over that hump, not like when I was in the military and had orders up front and then got Permissive TDY when I got some place so I would have time to find a place and get moved in before I started to work.

Originally Posted by Bones429

I was stationed at Eglin back in the late 70's and was a Deputy there in the 80's it is a great place...lots to do in the summer...kinda sucked in the winter tho...it is a beach town....But I wouldn't live in Crestview if ya don't have to Shalimar is a lot nicer, and closer to Ft Walton Beach and the Destin...Destin has turned into tourist trap...Valporiso just on the north side of Eglin is ok...or maybe Mary Ester...go the Hog's Breath and have a beer for me... remember "Hog's breath is better than no Breath at all"...Most of the base is on the south side of Eglin.. everything north of ValP to Crestview is most woods and target ranges...The ranger camp is over on the west side of the base...in the middle of the woods. Lots of wild boar, some panthers, lots of snakes, ( one in perticular is a pigmy rattlesnake) it is about 1 ft long and bad as hell it ain't a baby it is full grown and bites...and those big ass lizards that eat people...gators...

PS the only thing worse than Rocky Top is blasted Indian chat from FSU.....Go Cats....Kentucky....

Actually Crestview is on the North side of Eglin and Valparaiso is on the South side of Eglin by Shalimar and Destin, from what I can see in pictures it looks pretty decent and I'm sure it's changed from what it use to be and now it has 7th Special Forces Group in that area and Ranger Training is still there. Yeah I already mentioned that their might be some alligators down their to the wife, needless to say she wasn't thrilled about that lol. I'm sure it's going to be different than what I have lived in which has been Ohio, Colorado, Tennessee, but I'm sure it will end up being a good experience once we get settled in. Thanks for the information though.

Originally Posted by Bones429

I agree rent when ya first get there, there are some really nice brick home off Beal Parkway that were built back in the 80' and 90's I knew the contractor that built them he was a rare one '''Honest" so they were built good.

Yeah to be honest I'm sure it would be a good idea to rent at first, but that won't happen, I'll find a nice house in a nice neighborhood even if I have a little drive to work, I just don't want to waste money in a rental or a hotel when that money can be used towards the purchase of a house, if I was single and didn't have to worry about getting the family down their and settled in I would take more time, but unfortunately that's a luxury that I don't have at the moment, but thank you for your opinion, nothing like getting honest, open opinions from friends!

[Bones429]

Originally Posted by X_KIOWA_X

Actually Crestview is on the North side of Eglin and Valparaiso is on the South side of Eglin by Shalimar and Destin, from what I can see in pictures it looks pretty decent and I'm sure it's changed from what it use to be and now it has 7th Special Forces Group in that area and Ranger Training is still there.

For the whole yes you are correct but 90% of Eglin is target ranges, secret satilite stations...(D-51 range is what it is called) and woods and swamps. Just about everything north of Niceville is just that all the way to Crestview, remote woods except for Duke Field that is an air base with in the base.
There are a couple of those at Eglin. When I said Valp was north of Eglin, well it is since the main part of Eglin proper is between ValP/Niceville and Shalimar. ValP Niceville are outside what is called the North Gate of Eglin. That is were the HQ, personnel, training, most of the Barracks, base housing, BX, Comm, main runways, Fighter Squardon, Hospital are located. I attached a map and basicly all those things are located south of Hwy 85 on Eglin Main the rest of the area for Eglin except for Hurlbert Field, Duke Field , the ranger training camp is remote wilderness. Where most of those nasty animals live I talked about....

[X_KIOWA_X]

Well after my house has been on the market for only 3 days someone put in an offer, which was full price of what I was asking so things are looking pretty good so far. The next step is Tuesday they have a home inspector coming out to check things out, and then they'll have it appraised. I so can't wait until this place sells because I can't purchase the next house until it does, I can put in offers on other houses and do all that great stuff but can't close on the other one until this ones closed and paid for.

So far we have been working with a realtor that works the Crestview area and has sent me links to houses that are for sale in that area, lots of nice houses. We are planning on going down their probably next Friday and stay a couple of days and go look at some places and see if they look as good in person like they do online.

The stress has gone down just a little bit with them putting in an offer on the house, now hopefully the home inspection goes ok and they don't find anything major wrong, it's not the things you can see it's the things you can't see that worry me.

[Bones429]

Originally Posted by X_KIOWA_X

Well after my house has been on the market for only 3 days someone put in an offer, which was full price of what I was asking so things are looking pretty good so far. The next step is Tuesday they have a home inspector coming out to check things out, and then they'll have it appraised. I so can't wait until this place sells because I can't purchase the next house until it does, I can put in offers on other houses and do all that great stuff but can't close on the other one until this ones closed and paid for.


The stress has gone down just a little bit with them putting in an offer on the house, now hopefully the home inspection goes ok and they don't find anything major wrong, it's not the things you can see it's the things you can't see that worry me.

Dude that great news...there are 3 houses on my block alone here that have been on the market for over 3 years, one has now been abandoned now, one is being short saled and the third they finally put it up for rent. Be safe on the trip watch the back roads between Montgomery Al and just north of Crestview lots of speed traps. But the best way if your going down I-65 is get off on Hwy 331 south just south of Montgomery and stay on it til the Florida stateline then take Hwy 85 into Crestview....watch out around Opp Al..major speed trap..... will it used to be...

[X_KIOWA_X]

Yeah it is good news, just a few small hurdles to get through before it's done and hopefully they go smoothly. Don't know which way I'll head to get their, whichever way the GPS takes me lol, plus I have a Escort Radar Detector to help me out with the drive, I usually only go 5-10 over the speed limit but will definitely keep an eye out since you mentioned it, appreciate the heads up!