[DB3]

I'm hoping to get some input on riverfront communities/developments along the Gulf Coast of Florida.

We'll be relocating to Florida in the next few months and are pretty open to anywhere no more than 15-30 miles inland along the Gulf Coast from the Spring Hill area down to North Port.

Here's what we're looking for:

1. Safe family-oriented community with more year-round residents as opposed to more tourism-oriented and with more people in their 30's thru 50's with kids as opposed to senior/retirement communities.
2. Would prefer not to be in a very congested area. (Developing towns are okay with us as our current town's shopping choices consist of one store -- Walmart -- so we really can't do much worse than that.)
3. Good schools
4. A neighborhood/community feel with sidewalks and such but houses not so close that you can reach out your window and touch your neighbor's home (i.e. some of the Venice communities)!
5. Water access to Gulf via river for powerboat through community dock or nearby marina.
6. Home prices somewhere in the low to mid 300's or less.

We've been researching and have done a lot of driving on some short trips over that way but the 120-plus miles of area we're searching makes it hard to really get the feel of any one place or to find specific neighborhoods.

And some of the figures you read on Florida are pretty disturbing. For instance, in Riverview the crime stats on Moderator cut: linking to competitors sites is not allowed are very high (double the national average), yet they have all "a" and "b" rated schools. In Bradenton I've read on this board that there are gangs and a lot of crack neighborhoods and I'd rather not live in a town like that. Ruskin schools are rated pretty poorly in comparison to other west coast schools. Supposedly Apollo Beach smells, getting into the Gulf in the Spring Hill area doesn't seem to be an easy trip with the low water depths and certainly a lot of the towns are just way out of our affordable price range. But I know there has to be great neighborhoods to live in along the West Coast and am hoping for some specific development names that I can look into.

Thanks for any feedback!

[121804]

Stay away from North Port.

1. Very desolate. A lot of empty homes owned by European investors. Those who live there full time, well, it's questionable at best.

2. Not congested but considers Wal-Mart & Target to be the major developments of the area.... There is little to any professional development.

3. Good schools. Again, this is questionable in North Port. Depends on what you consider good. Many do not consider the school anywhere in SW FL to be good.

4. Sidewalks Yeah, we've been looking for those up & down SW FL. They don't exist But septic tanks & well water do.

5. Not much direct access.

6. Definitely can find a home in your price range in North Port. Excessive over inventory.

To be bluntly honest, don't waste your time looking in North Port & further south.

Brandenton is sketchy & you read right about the crime.

There are areas of Sarasota & further north that are suppose to be quite nice. Best of luck researching & I am sure you will find something!!!
Just stay away from things south of Sarasota. It is not worth your time.

[Carbondated]

http://www.city-data.com/city/Sarasota-Florida.html

If you scroll down to the crime statistics you will see that Sarasota as of 2005 has about double the national average crime stats. Unfortunately, I can't recommend anywhere in Sarasota County at the moment. Things are changing rapidly here (for the worse) in relation to economy, education, crime, drug use, etc.
North of Tampa may be a better area to focus your search on. There is a Tampa forum and I'm sure the locals there would have plenty of great information.

[Ladywithafan]

Originally Posted by DB3

I'm hoping to get some input on riverfront communities/developments along the Gulf Coast of Florida.

We'll be relocating to Florida in the next few months and are pretty open to anywhere no more than 15-30 miles inland along the Gulf Coast from the Spring Hill area down to North Port.

Here's what we're looking for:

1. Safe family-oriented community with more year-round residents as opposed to more tourism-oriented and with more people in their 30's thru 50's with kids as opposed to senior/retirement communities.
2. Would prefer not to be in a very congested area. (Developing towns are okay with us as our current town's shopping choices consist of one store -- Walmart -- so we really can't do much worse than that.)
3. Good schools
4. A neighborhood/community feel with sidewalks and such but houses not so close that you can reach out your window and touch your neighbor's home (i.e. some of the Venice communities)!
5. Water access to Gulf via river for powerboat through community dock or nearby marina.
6. Home prices somewhere in the low to mid 300's or less.

We've been researching and have done a lot of driving on some short trips over that way but the 120-plus miles of area we're searching makes it hard to really get the feel of any one place or to find specific neighborhoods.

And some of the figures you read on Florida are pretty disturbing. For instance, in Riverview the crime stats on Moderator cut: linking to competitors sites is not allowedare very high (double the national average), yet they have all "a" and "b" rated schools. In Bradenton I've read on this board that there are gangs and a lot of crack neighborhoods and I'd rather not live in a town like that. Ruskin schools are rated pretty poorly in comparison to other west coast schools. Supposedly Apollo Beach smells, getting into the Gulf in the Spring Hill area doesn't seem to be an easy trip with the low water depths and certainly a lot of the towns are just way out of our affordable price range. But I know there has to be great neighborhoods to live in along the West Coast and am hoping for some specific development names that I can look into.

Thanks for any feedback!

My first thought is, "what's your price range?"

Riverfront, for example, in Bradenton can be anywhere from $300K and up and that would be along the east side of the Manatee River. Going North on the river, towards NW Bradenton, prices go north.

You will find crack everywhere in Florida and in every neighborhood. It's just better hidden in some than others. The abundency of substances available for use is due to our ports. The rest of the U.S. drug trail starts down here, thus we get it cheaper and that gives more potential for abuse. Keep this in mind as you do your research.

Florida is not known for it's educational system. If you're seeing A & B schools, you're lucky.

Gangs are all over as well; you will find them less in retirement communities as Gang members fall way short of the retirement age. Worst gang activity seems to occur in the fall & spring months. Probably has to do with initiations.

North of Tampa might be just what you're looking for.

[gypsychic]

I have to agree about north of Tampa best fulfilling your needs. Perhaps you can narrow down your target area and ask more questions about areas north of there.

We just moved to Lakeland, and this is a beautiful community with sidewalks and lots of parks and lakes, plenty of things here for people of all ages, and it is not a retirement town. It is a small city between Tampa and Orlando, so this might be too far inland for you. We moved from Dade City, (north of Tampa) which is a very small town a little further west, about 30 miles inland, you might like it there as well.

[DB3]

Thank you both, lady and gypsy for your thoughts. It sounds like it's pretty much a consensus on both boards that we should look to the north. We actually started out really liking the Spring Hill/Weeki Wachee area but were afraid we weren't exploring all of the options. Seems like we're coming back round full-circle Thanks again.