They have just had the mildest of winters, no cold to speak of. Tropical plants have thrived this year. JAX is a city and every city has it's bad spots but you have a multitude of good places with lots of activities around the water and off. There is an older area closer to downtown called Five Points that is an exciting place for people who want walkability. There are likely to be plenty of rentals in that area. Like they always say on HGTV, "lots of cafes and coffee shops." Ortega is another older neighborhood with lots of character.
