Pros and Cons to Living on St. George Island Florida
St. George Island is a barrier island in Franklin County off the Florida Panhandle in the northern Gulf of Mexico. It’s 28 miles long and 1 mile wide at its widest point. It’s adjacent to Cape St. George Island, also known as little St. George Island, and is connected to the mainland at Eastpointe by a 4 mile long St. George Island bridge over Apalachicola Bay.
St. George Island is divided into three regions, the Dr. Julian G Bruce St. George Island State Park, private and gated housing communities, and the public strip of restaurants and small businesses. The private, gated housing community has its own airstrip that boasts exclusive multimillion-dollar beach homes.
Why St. George Island?
Pros
People vacation and live on St. George Island because of the quiet and tranquil setting. It’s small, quaint, and many of the homes are rented out to during the spring and summer months.
St. George Island State Park takes up about 9 miles of the island and is ideal for camping, swimming, and fishing. The park offers several hiking trails, observation platforms, and is perfect for birdwatching. Those that love fishing can also fish for oysters, scallops, and multiple types of local and native fish. Of course, we’re often a nesting ground for the Loggerhead sea turtles when they lay their eggs between May and October.
Our Beach has some of the most unspoiled serene beach environment in the entire state of Florida and there’s something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for the laid-back attitude and simply taking in the breathtaking beaches and unspoiled nature or feeling a little more adventurous by renting a kayak, bicycle, or scooter and exploring the land.
There are a variety of home styles and prices to choose from. We have several local hotels and resorts but nothing so extravagant that it seems out of place.
You can buy a vacant lot perfect for building your custom home for less than $100,000, a condominium for $350-$1 million, or single-family home with three bedrooms and 2000 ft.² right on the beach for less than $500,000. There are quite a bit of options when it comes to homes and real estate on St. George Island.
You are surrounded by nature preserves on each side. The Dr. Julian G Bruce St. George Island State Park to the north or northeast and the Cape St. George Island State Reserve to the southwest. Both allow for limitless exploration and beautiful scenery.
Cons
The island has no central sewage system and receives very little funding for road and infrastructures improvements. Most residents feel that the island should have its own special taxing district but so far has not followed through on this.
There’s only one way on and off the island. Highway 300, which runs south from Eastpointe is the only access point to St. George Island, which means and in case of an emergency, this may or may not be accessible. Those with severe medical issues that need access to the mainland may find this a disadvantage.
Amenities are limited. Due to its location, major amenities may be limited such as large box stores, shopping malls, and the like, however, recognize this fact and actually find it more of an advantage than a disadvantage. The closest major city is Panama City, which is about 72 miles away or about an hour and a half. Tallahassee is 2 miles east or about 75 miles.
Ready to make St. George Island your home? Start your search here or call us to schedule a showing
