When I first relocated to Florida, I moved around a lot.
I rented apartments in Orlando, Gainesville, Green Cove, and Palatka. I switched jobs several times and my income fluctuated a great deal. When I finally felt secure in my career and started making decent money, I bought a home on the outskirts of Jacksonville. The area offers an eclectic mix of culture, history and activities. Because of the close proximity to the ocean and the St. Johns River, there are opportunities such as boating, kayaking, paddleboarding, fishing and swimming. The landscape is truly beautiful. Jacksonville is the most populous city proper in the state. It is situated in northeastern Florida and on the Atlantic coast. The city continues to grow and expand, drawing new residents from all over the county. It seemed just perfect. Unfortunately, my circumstances changed for the worse without much warning. Three things happened at once. The company I worked for folded, leaving me without a job. I got into a car accident that was my fault and resulted in major expenses. I was also diagnosed with cancer and required very costly treatments. I was looking at losing my house. I didn’t have the time or luxury for a traditional listing with a real estate agent. That can take months. There can be contingencies. I contacted a Jacksonville home buyer that provided a cash offer that very same day. They expedited the closing so that I had the full amount from the sale in a week. This gave me the freedom and the finances to seek treatment and get my life back in order. It was a huge relief. I was able to avoid showings, staging, inspections, appraisals and repairs.