THE DANGERS OF BUILDING A HOME IN BAY COUNTY, FLORIDA!

This may be the most important section of this relocation guide.

There is great danger in building a home in Bay County, Florida. I speak from experience and if I can save you even a fraction of the misery that my family has suffered then it is worth my time sharing the story of my nightmare with you.

It was so horrible that I even wrote a book that is now published and free to read on the book's site at HOME BUILDING HORROR STORY.blogspot.com

Building a home in Bay County is dangerous due mostly to lack of regulation. The Bay County Building Dept. does not enforce any of the State of Florida laws on the books to protect consumers from Contractor Scams. Please visit www.WMBB.com news channel 13 Panama city click on new, NWF is Talking. There you will find the monthly newsletter CONTRACTOR SCAMS which is published by a Consumer Advocate who formed the non-profit consumer action and advocacy group Clean Up Dirty Contractors, who is a person who also relocated to Tyndall AFB a few years back.

The locals don't speak up about things that need to be changed. Maybe they don't realize that there is a problem. However, for those of us who have lived around the world it is a different story. The voices of those fighting to make Bay County, Florida a more modern and crime conscious are sadly ignored.

The Bay County government like things just the way they are and aren't open for change.

Another danger of building a new home is the low standard of quality. The walls on my home are in such horrible condition. Sagging seams, pot holes throughout the walls. The dry wall finisher never bothered to return to apply the last coat of joint compound and it shows, believe me it shows.

The locals just like to get through life doing as little as possible. I wouldn't exactly say that they are an ambitious bunch. If you are looking for quality work then look somewhere else. You won't find it in Bay County, Florida.

Many of the contractors are considered hurricane contractors. They hang around waiting for a job when the "big one hits". All I can say for many of the local contractors is that they can hold a hammer. But, so can a chimpanzee.

The other major danger of hiring a contractor in Bay County, Florida is the lack of restriction on a contractor's criminal history. Many states would allow an ex-con or convicted felon to work as a laborer for a construction company but now grant them the license to own and operate the company on their own.

In Bay County, Florida convicted felons and ex-convicts own and operate construction companies and they committ just as much crime under their license as they did before being sent to Prison to start with.

We unexpectedly hired one of these companies that is owned and operated by an ex-con. The results have been disastrous.

If I cannot talk you out of building a new home then please take some advice and screen your contractor. We will post information on that topic in another section.

Always remember whether you hire a contractor, Realtor or especially anyone that will be around your children......Visit www.baycoclerk.com This is the link to the Bay County Courthouse where civil and criminal case history for Bay County is available for viewing absolutely FREE. This will be the most valuable resource in all of Bay County, Florida. Use it!

I didn't know that it was even available until it was too late. I could have saved my family with a five minute or less visit to that site. Always know who you are hiring in Bay County, Florida!

PURCHASING A HOME

I don't recommend purchasing a home as the real estate market is extremely unsteady. When we arrived a about 3 years ago the Panama City housing market was in a boom. People paid way more for homes than they are worth. For those of us who purchased during the boom we are pretty well stuck with our homes or face a huge loss.

Also, with the area being so run down it is not an area that would appeal to anyone other than those who are relocating mostly with the Air Force and Navy bases in the Panama City area.

When you contact a Panama City realtor you may ask where the good neighborhoods are, be prepared to get a vague response. Here in the Panama City area it is common to find a nice home right side of a run down trailer or shack. This place is set back in time about 30 years.

If you do decide to purchase then shop around for Realtors. Many are very inpatient and expect for you to choose a house on the first time out. This is due to them being spoiled by the boom back about 3 years ago when homeowners could name their price and if a buyer would hesitate or try and negotiate they would lose out to another buyer.

Those days are over in Panama City, at least for now!

The Air Force has made a move of the new F35 planes sending them to Eglin AFB. This is has the Bay County Commission kind of nervous as it could be seen to come as the start to a draw down. Bay County depends greatly on the presence of Tyndall Air Force Base for the stability of the local economy.

Any rumor of a possible draw down could be devastating for the local economy as it would make potential homebuyers skiddish.

BASE HOUSING VS RENTING IN PANAMA CITY

Currently there are beautiful new base housing under construction near the marina. If you get a chance to live on base then I say, absolutely be willing to accept!

Housing on the local economy:

RENT, RENT, RENT is your best and by far your safest option in the Panama City area.
Renting is a pretty good deal right now as the price of homes are steadily falling and many are for sale.

Renting in Panama City gives you the flexibility to live near the base without concerning yourself with the local plummeting property values or local politics.

LIFE ON TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE

If you could come here go directly to the base and not leave until your tour of duty is complete then Tyndall would be a great assignment.

Life on the base is great. The nicest stretch of the Northern Gulf Coast in my opinion in on Tyndall AFB. No condos, restaurants or tourists crowding up the beach. It is an all natural beach which you reach after about a 15 minute walk down a wooden board walk.

You can walk for hours and at times never see anyone except for an occasional boat passing by. The Tyndall is a great place to walk, sun tan, hunt for shells, you name it. I love the Tyndall AFB beach. There are also beaches on the bays that are smaller, but nice as well.

Do you like boating? Tyndall at a nice marina and public boat ramps. Several different water ways to choose from.

I have no complaint about the facilities at Tyndall AFB. It is life outside the base that I struggle with.

FIRST GLANCES OF PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA

If you don't mind mobile homes in massive proportions then you will be fine. However, many new comers consider this area to be possiblly the most depressed and poverty stricken area that you will ever relocate to. Have you ever heard this area referred to as "Hee Haw Hell" or the "Redneck Riviera"? Yes, that is unfortunately an accurate description of Bay County, Florida.

Be prepared to view the "plight of the city", anywhere and everywhere! There are pockets of housing areas that are okay but not near the base. Plan on driving about a 45 minute plus commute to live in one of these pockets of seemingly nicer neighborhoods.

Many people prefer to live on the other side of the bridge in Panama City Beach. That is very crowded and traffic is terrible on your expected one hour commute.