What's up with Jacksonville?

Why is Jacksonville so often overlooked as a leading Florida city?  
What are the under currents that do not allow this city to compete with other major Florida cities including Orlando, Tampa, Ft. Lauderdale and Miami?  

Jacksonville has the infrastructure to support and compete with any of these cities.  It is the gateway into North Florida and is home to many regional offices of fortune companies.  
Property values are very competitive, especially when comparing them to other major Florida cities.  
The weather is certainly considered to be a mild/seasonal climate. 

Yet in a recent survey of the southeast, projections for commercial growth (South of Atlanta) moved beyond Jacksonville and focused on Orlando and Tampa for growth, employment and housing.
Jacksonville cannot seem to shake off the image that it has had for decades as a "stereotyped" city that lacks the diversity and insight to lead it into the years ahead to compete with it's neighbors.
Of course, many are satisfied with the status quo and not to undermine the growth that has occurred during the last decade would be foolish.

Let's not stall, or worse yet fall backwards into a city of the past.  Progress can only occur when forward thinking citizens and those who represent our best interests do what is right for us and the prosperity of all.

Flip or Hold

It appears that the debate on whether to flip or hold has already begun in regions throughout the US.

Of course, it makes sense to flip in areas where higher profit margins can be expected in short  turn abounds.  New York City for one continues to see a higher flip rates than other parts of the country.  Many areas of California are also flipping faster and not holding properties for rent.

I think that one factor which is being overlooked is the economics of the regions of the country that we are discussing.  In my opinion, it does not just depend on that flip margin.  Many investors will flip a property for a few thousand dollars in gains.  The cost of money and the capital available to those who choose to hold or flip is equally important.

Buy and hold vs. buy and flip has been going on for decades.  The cost of funds and access to those funds are as important if not more important than the margins made.  Of course, we all want maximum profit margins.  Not all of us in the business have the luxury of making these decisions based on margins alone