Moving to Tampa area - looking for good schools and such - any info on Riverview? (Valrico: rentals)

[babypodof4]

My husband was just offered a job at Tampa GEneral Hospital. He will be working regular 9-5 hours (IT management)

We are looking for a safe neighborhood with decent schools. We want to rent - not sure if I ever want to purchase - but we are looking for a four bedroom home - hopefully in a pooled community (not a pooled home though) - $1600 a month or less. We like elderly people - so living around old people is fine. The thing is we have four kids - the oldest will be entering the sixth grade and he has something called Asperger's syndrome - where has a lot issues with social interactions (super smart though - so he won't need special education).

The houses and distance seem to be Riverview area. That puts us in the Eisenhower middle school and I have read hit or miss reviews of it. Would love some info. I have also looked at the Valrico area.

Mostly - we need a large home because we have a large family - but we want a fairly safe community - one where I as a female can jog alone during daylight hours - one where our children can play outside without too much worry of them being shot or abducted - and a decent school. OUr children are smart and we supplement with some homeschooling - so test scores aren't as important to us as safe school.

We are fine with a 45 min to one hour commute to the hospital - any suggestions would be great - especially those who live in Riverview and send children to elementary and middleschool there.

Thanks in advance,
Angel

[NALEXAND]

Angel,
I live in Riverview and I absolutely love it. Riverview is part former farmland turned new, up and coming community. I feel extremely safe here and as a matter of fact there is an article about the decreased crime in South Hillsborough in one of the local publications. There are many beautiful subdivisions and you will find ample housing options that fit your description. I have traveled all over Tampa Bay since relocating here and I still prefer Riverview over other places due to its "newness" and all of the exciting things such as shopping venues to come. I contemplated on whether to let my middle-schooler attend Eisenhower but eventually gave in because it is now considered a "good" school, however, I now regret that decision. Academically the school is ok, but the fighting there is OUT OF CONTROL on a weekly basis and all the administrators can say to justify it is that it has 1500 students and is one of the largest in the county. That is the most ridiculous crap I have ever heard in my life and my child WILL NOT be returning next year! With that said, Sessums and Collins Elementary are among the best in Riverview and I've heard great things about Kids Community College Middle School (Charter School). I do not think you'd regret Riverview at all! Best of luck to you.

[Innertuber]

Why would you want to be that far from work when there are many options much closer? Your going to pay tolls and you have what - 3 choices to drive 41, 75, 301. Any one can be a mess on any given day.

I'd start looking in South Tampa or NW Tampa before I went that far away.

[babypodof4]

Housing costs are the biggest reason we are looking at Riverview. We need a large four bedroom home and we need it to be less than 1500 a month - it is hard to find a large home to rent that is that price closer to down town region - plus I do worry about the crime closer to tampa proper.

[Innertuber]

Have you looked at anything like CList for rentals? I think you can find something you like and are focusing on the wrong things. Just my two cents worth.