Your Guide to Buying a Home in Gainesville, FL

Buying a Home in Gainesville, Florida

(Kanapaha Botanical Gardens)

Gainesville is located in Alachua County

The Gainesville area is the nation's best place to live, according to Money Magazine, September 1995. For six consecutive years, it has been tapped as Florida's most livable city and has ranked among the leaders in the nation.

There is a quality home in the Gainesville area for every lifestyle. It is possible, for example, to find a new single family home with 1800 square feet of interior space on an 8000-square-foot lot for under $121,184 (source: American Chamber of Commerce Researchers Association). Such a home would likely have three bedrooms, two full baths, living and dining areas, kitchen, family room with fireplace, utility room and a two-car attached garage.

Situated in the heart of beautiful North Central Florida, the Gainesville area basks in Gulf breezes that make summer days warm and nights cool, and produce dry and mild winters.

Gainesville is the governmental seat of Alachua County, as well as the commercial hub for the entire North Central Florida area. A delight for nature lovers, 65 percent of the county's 969 square miles is a wilderness of forests, dotted with scenic lakes and wetlands.

The University of Florida sets the area's tone in education, cultural arts and sports. The university's cultural facilities include the impressive 1,800-seat Center for the Performing Arts. The university significantly impacts the local economy as Alachua County's largest employer.

Health care is a strong second industry serving all of North Central Florida and beyond. Other economic influences include high tech research, environmental engineering and agriculture.

The full scope of education is available in Alachua County. The Alachua County public school system includes 23 elementary schools, eight middle schools, seven high schools, two special education centers and an alternative middle/high school center. More than 30,000 students are enrolled. In addition, there are 14 private schools in the county: nine elementary, four K through 12 and one high school.

The Gainesville area boasts the highest percentage of gifted students in Florida. The school system gives full vent to their energies through a variety of programs for the academically talented. Career-oriented high school students can take advantage of dual enrollment programs offered by Santa Fe Community College. Eighty percent of high school graduates go on to some form of higher education.

To register children for school, call the School Board of Alachua County Zoning Office to identify the school, then schedule an appointment. Proof of residency is needed, such as sales, rental or lease agreement, utility bill or a property tax bill. In addition, the child's birth certificate and health and school records are required.