Looking to relocate but worried about Tampa Bay Safety (Bradenton: sale, 2013)

[crazynip]

There are plenty of great areas. Do some research, find them, and buy there. If you dont, you will possibly end up in a bad area and hate it.

Avoid most of the city of tampa city limits, anything with "heights" in it.

South Tampa is good North of Gandy and South of Kennedy, Westchase, New Tampa, Carrolwood, Northdale, most of Lutz, parts of Valrico, etc

Use my maps, they will save your life!

This should be a sticky: Maps of the good/bad parts of Hillsborough County

[SouthFloriduhGirl]

Does anyone know of a good relocation specialist in the area (realtor that specializes in relocation)?

[FloridaKash]

Here's the deal. Riverview, Apollo Beach, Ruskin.... can be nice places but are not the most desirable in Tampa Bay. People on this board are from all over Tampa Bay... many living in the better parts. You have to imagine that anything near a huge power plant that has smoke stacks is obviously not the most desirable of places.

With that said... these are safe communities, many with good schools. However, many of them are newer communities that were built during the housing boom and purchased when banks would approve anything with a pulse. Well - people have fallen are hard times and/or their home values dropped significantly so many people walked away resulting in many communities in the area with vacant or unmaintained homes. Obviously this brings down the value of the area and typically the less value the less desirable the area becomes because of the type of people that move in.

On thing to remember in Tampa Bay - you typically get what you pay for when it comes to housing. If you find an area that seems pretty cheap - it's because that area is lower value/income.

You may want to look into FishHawk Ranch/Lithia. You may also want to look into New Tampa/Wesley Chapel. IMO - the reality of the situation is.... if you want to live in a nice Upper Middle Class Neighborhood... be prepared to commute 45min+ each way - if traveling during normal commute times. In summary - there are no great areas with good schools near ANY Power Plant.

[SouthFloriduhGirl]

Originally Posted by BucFan

Absolutely. Recommend you look at all the subdivisions around Big Bend and US 301. Panther Trace, Summerfield Crossings, Ayersworth Glen, Avelar Creek.

Panther Trace Real Estate & Panther Trace Homes for Sale - Zillow

Originally Posted by BucFan

You'll have to be careful about who you rent from - some houses may be in foreclosure or short sales and sold from under you while you're renting. Real estate agents on this forum can tell you more.

BTW, use Google Maps and plug in two locations to see the distance and commute times.

Google Maps say 6.7 miles.

As far as Apollo Beach is concerned, search Apollo Beach on this forum and you'll see several threads on the subject. Not much happening at AB, but not far from Brandon (20 mins) where most stores, restaurants, etc are. AB has a few grocery stores and restaurants, but not much else. There is a thread about one new person who is concerned about the schools in the area.

https://maps.google.com/

Originally Posted by FloridaKash

Here's the deal. Riverview, Apollo Beach, Ruskin.... can be nice places but are not the most desirable in Tampa Bay. People on this board are from all over Tampa Bay... many living in the better parts. You have to imagine that anything near a huge power plant that has smoke stacks is obviously not the most desirable of places.

With that said... these are safe communities, many with good schools. However, many of them are newer communities that were built during the housing boom and purchased when banks would approve anything with a pulse. Well - people have fallen are hard times and/or their home values dropped significantly so many people walked away resulting in many communities in the area with vacant or unmaintained homes. Obviously this brings down the value of the area and typically the less value the less desirable the area becomes because of the type of people that move in.

On thing to remember in Tampa Bay - you typically get what you pay for when it comes to housing. If you find an area that seems pretty cheap - it's because that area is lower value/income.

You may want to look into FishHawk Ranch/Lithia. You may also want to look into New Tampa/Wesley Chapel. IMO - the reality of the situation is.... if you want to live in a nice Upper Middle Class Neighborhood... be prepared to commute 45min+ each way - if traveling during normal commute times. In summary - there are no great areas with good schools near ANY Power Plant.

Yeah in our area the Power Plants are not in a desirable area so I thought it was a little strange. Panther Trace does look nice but if Lithia is a safer location we will look into Fishhawk and rent until we know the area a bit better. I know nothing about New Tampa or Wesley Chapel can you recommend some neighborhoods? My husband does not mind the 45 minute commute as long as we live in a desirable and safe neighborhood.

[brhsrr70]

A national developer, Newland Communities, will begin a massive new development of 4,500 homes in Apollo Beach beach starting this fall. Apparently, they are not turned off by the power plant.

[BucFan]

The continuous reference to the TECO plant is way overblown. The communities that I listed are about 6-10 miles from the plant and sometimes out of view from those communities. The place isn't Three-Mile Island. The communities that I listed should be visited it you want a shorter commute for your husband.

[gypsychic]

To me, it's not JUST bout the power plants, that whole region when you get south of the city is just really ugly. This is just me, but I would pick any of the other suburbs mentioned before the communities in or around Apollo Beach.

Crazynip mentioned some good areas, and I would second his advice.

[FloridaKash]

Originally Posted by gypsychic

To me, it's not JUST bout the power plants, that whole region when you get south of the city is just really ugly. This is just me, but I would pick any of the other suburbs mentioned before the communities in or around Apollo Beach.

Crazynip mentioned some good areas, and I would second his advice.

Agreed. We looked in the Riverview area when we first moved down because Panther Trace seemed great... on the internet. But when we drove around the many communities in Riverview we found it ugly. Trailer parks are randomly placed and you must drive by several. But hey - obviously different stroked for different folks. With that said - I am sure the area is safe... just not pretty.

[BucFan]

Originally Posted by gypsychic

To me, it's not JUST bout the power plants, that whole region when you get south of the city is just really ugly. This is just me, but I would pick any of the other suburbs mentioned before the communities in or around Apollo Beach.

Crazynip mentioned some good areas, and I would second his advice.

I live in the area and prefer this area to Carrolwoods, New Tampa, Wesley Chapel, Lutz, etc with all the the traffic congestion/gridlock, fast food joints, car dealerships, etc - and not much to look at in my opinion. This area is centrally located to St Pete via the Skyway, Bradenton-Sarasota, Brandon and downtown Tampa via the Selmon. US 301 has been greatly renovated around Big Bend to Riverview and looks very good. The subdivision development and landscaping is also very well done. Beaches are much closer than New Tampa. I can jump on I75 and be anywhere other than Clearwater in 30 mins or less.

[floridagirl777]

Originally Posted by crazynip

There are plenty of great areas. Do some research, find them, and buy there. If you dont, you will possibly end up in a bad area and hate it.

Avoid most of the city of tampa city limits, anything with "heights" in it.

South Tampa is good North of Gandy and South of Kennedy, Westchase, New Tampa, Carrolwood, Northdale, most of Lutz, parts of Valrico, etc

Use my maps, they will save your life!

This should be a sticky: Maps of the good/bad parts of Hillsborough County

This is great advice.