Living on Madeira Beach (Clearwater: for sale, renting, condo)

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by FloridaKash

Do you want to be BY the beach or ON the beach? have you been on Gulf Blvd to see what the beaches are like here? The issue is that the beaches here are on a little sliver of land for the most part. Hotels and Condos on the beach side then a road and on the other side typically is commercial zones.

If you are looking to be BY the beach I would suggest Treasure Island. You can find water front property that is close to the beaches.

That is a good suggestion. Still going to be a hellish commute to TGH, though.

[Keeper]

I agree with everyone else's recommendations here. You can live on the bay in a house and be a lot closer to TGH. Davis Island which is where TGH is located is surrounded by water.

Not sure why you are against working with a Real Estate Agent as 99.9% of homes or condos on the water/beach are listed by an agent, so you are still going to have to deal with an agent irregardless and it is better to have one that is looking out for you instead of the seller.

[SummerBabe]

Originally Posted by GTULMAN1

There are private schools within driving distance. Just because Florida is for retirees dosent mean you cannot live by the beach and enjoy the beauty of Florida. Why live in Florida then if its not for the weather and to actually enjoy all the things florida offers? I mean for each its own but to me being on the beach is important because i do a lot of outside activities incl beach

No, it is not written in stone that because Florida is predominantly a retirement state that you cannot live by (or on) the beach/enjoy the beauty of the state. lol (sorry but that just sounded silly as I was typing it!)

However, you came on here asking for the advice of the people who live in Florida. If you aren't happy with the responses then I would make many more trips to Florida and secure a R.E. Agent to assist you with the process.

City-Data has a wealth of knowledge and great people who will tell you how it is. Use it to your advantage.

[crazynip]

Originally Posted by GTULMAN1

Hmm..that's so wiered. I've never heard of people not living on the beach. For me, the whole point of living in florida is to enjoy the beach. That's so wierd. I am even more confused. Why wouldn't people want to live by the beach? Where will kids play? I am sure there are places where kids play by the beach...There are some private schools in clearwater. I think!

You are more than welcome to not take our advice, you obviously know better than us. I'm still kind of confused why you asked multiple times if you have no desire to listen to the quality answers we are giving you...

You can live BY the beach, but not ON the beach, I will let you figure out what I mean by that, it's not hard.

[Keeper]

Originally Posted by crazynip

You can live BY the beach, but not ON the beach, I will let you figure out what I mean by that, it's not hard.

Of course you can live 'ON' the beach if you have a tent.

I know a few ppl who say they live 'on' the beach when they really live in a condo by the beach. Just a matter of semantics

[crazynip]

^ You know what I mean...

West of the Intercoastal

[GTULMAN1]

Nope I want to be ON the beach, not BY the beach!

[crazynip]

Originally Posted by GTULMAN1

Nope I want to be ON the beach, not BY the beach!

Well, then you are looking for what dont exist.

No schools, your kids will have no friends to play with, nowhere to play except the beach, a crappy commute for your husband, sky high insurance rates plus mandatory flood insurance, your home WILL (no question of if, it WILL) be destroyed if a hurricane hits, you are in a mandatory evacuation zone. That's the baggage.

And if you want a home, not a condo, you will NOT find a beachside property. You can get that out of your head now.

I dont know why you seem so surprised by our recommendations. It goes like this: Beach property is hellaciously expensive. So expensive, that for the most part, most residential and even hotel properties have been razed for condos, most of which retired people from "up nawth" have bought or people timeshare them. It's too expensive for people with kids to afford, so they flat out dont live there, and there is no infrastructure for them either. Add to that, there is no easy way to get from the beach to major employment places, so it just all around sucks. Unless you REALLY, REALLY like the beach... plus, since it's huge tourist destination, there will always been strangers, tourists, scumbags wandering around looking for things to do, drunk kids at spring break and all summer, and there isnt anything you can do about it...

I used to live in Seminole, the beach was fine, but even though I lived 2 miles from the beach, it's not like I went there much.

[FloridaKash]

Originally Posted by GTULMAN1

Nope I want to be ON the beach, not BY the beach!

Try SW Florida. Living ON the beach and being ina good family community does not exist here. This is what some would call "having your cake and eating it to".

Absolutely looking forward to another Manhattan Dweller moving to Tampa Bay letting us all know how things really are.

[GTULMAN1]

Originally Posted by crazynip

Well, then you are looking for what dont exist.

No schools, your kids will have no friends to play with, nowhere to play except the beach, a crappy commute for your husband, sky high insurance rates plus mandatory flood insurance, your home WILL (no question of if, it WILL) be destroyed if a hurricane hits, you are in a mandatory evacuation zone. That's the baggage.

And if you want a home, not a condo, you will NOT find a beachside property. You can get that out of your head now.

I dont know why you seem so surprised by our recommendations. It goes like this: Beach property is hellaciously expensive. So expensive, that for the most part, most residential and even hotel properties have been razed for condos, most of which retired people from "up nawth" have bought or people timeshare them. It's too expensive for people with kids to afford, so they flat out dont live there, and there is no infrastructure for them either. Add to that, there is no easy way to get from the beach to major employment places, so it just all around sucks. Unless you REALLY, REALLY like the beach... plus, since it's huge tourist destination, there will always been strangers, tourists, scumbags wandering around looking for things to do, drunk kids at spring break and all summer, and there isnt anything you can do about it...

I used to live in Seminole, the beach was fine, but even though I lived 2 miles from the beach, it's not like I went there much.

What do you mean my kids will have no one to play with? I cant drive to a park area? I can't drive somewhere for my kids to play if lets say they won't want to play on the beach? You guys are talking about us buying a condo...I didnt say I want to buy a condo now. I asked about RENTING for now. We want to rent for about a year or so and then we'll see. If we won't like it. We can always move inland to Hyde park or something.
What do you mean no schools? You're saying that all private schools in Clearwater is bad? Why can't I drive him to school?
Crappy commute? What do you consider crappy? Up to an hour is fine commuting.
Mandatory evacuation zones, high insurance prices, flood insurance. We already paying that in New York. You know whats really funny guys..we are living on Brighton Beach now..It's a beach area in New York and paying expensive rent's, flood insurances and everyone loves this area. Everyone have kids in our building and Everyone in New York wants to live in this area. And we can afford it. We can afford a 2million dollor house. It's not the money issue. I dont understand how can everyone say that its not a good area. I dont get it. I simply dont get it.