Relocating: Need Help! (Tampa, St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island: real estate, 2013, apartment complex)

[msuvols1]

Hi ya'll!

My parents recently purchased a house near St. Pete Beach and will be retiring there in about two years...my aunt and uncle already live there. My husband and I have decided to move to the area also! We are so excited! I have vacationed to St. Pete Beach numerous times, but never went further than the beach. We pay $900/month here in Mississippi for a 3 bedroom home. We are hoping to find something in the same price range or cheaper, but only need 1 bedroom with a den/office or 2 bedrooms. We are planning to move in April 2013, but are going there for vacation in October of this year. While we are there we are planning to look at different area's to get ideas, but I am trying to research first. We will probably both be attending college at USF and working (who knows where). I feel so overwhelmed because there are so many area's to consider. I obviously would like to be close to a beach, but I realize that our budget is low. I hate to go too high on rent since we don't know what we will be making once we move there. I would appreciate any help!

Must Have's: washer/dryer hookups, small dog friendly, SAFE area

Don't really care about: night life, public schools

**I have googled reviews on a lot of apartment complex's that I thought I liked and most of them are either overrun with roaches or are VERY unsafe. Is our budget really going to put us in the ghetto?? So concerned!

[purpletie]

If you go to USF in Tampa you will be about 1 hour from St. Pete beach. If driving isn't a issue than there are parts of St. Pete that would work in your budget for a 1 bed or 2 bed. If you like something newer and in a nice neighborhood over in Pinellas County (St. Pete) then hopefully somewhere here will know more about that area. I'm in Wesley Chapel, which is about 20 minutes to USF. It's north of it.

If you are thinking of living near USF be careful because a lot of the area around there is not safe to live in, in my opinion. Apartments near there are older and run down. I would look at the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area. Wesley Chapel is nice, newer and safer than most areas of Tampa Bay area. Their traffice is also a bit lighter than most of New Tampa.Look at rent. com or apartmentguide.com and search Wesley Chapel. Most apartments here have specials that will give you a free month (some prorate it so that your monthly rent is cheaper) and some just give money off your 1st month.

If you come in Oct. Take a few days to ride around and get the lay of the land in St. Pete and near USF. Also check out New Tampa and Wesley Chapel. Sometimes it's hard to tell how a neighborhood is until you see it and evaluate it according to your own standards.

Good Luck! PS Hope you are ready for the HEAT!

[engineman]

Purpletie is right about the drive to USF. Our daughter did graduate work there, but did not live home. We had 13 good years in Treasure Island in a townhouse condo before circumstances caused us to move to the southwest. The beach is never very far when you live in Pinellas County. It is a wonderful place for boaters.

Do spend some time to get the lay of the land. Any real estate office will give you a free street map to help you find your way around.

[algia]

1. You budget will put you in the ghetto in both Tampa, or St Pete
2. Commuting to USF from St Pete is not a good idea considering that you don't know what money you'd making, and that you are already on a low budget. Have you considered GAS prices? with that commute I don't forsee a lot of time left to spend at the beach!
3. Do drive that commute when you visit during rush hour.

I think you can find a decent place around Bruce B Downs, lost of college people in that area...and a very short commute to USF. But BE WARE, The area immediate to USF is very rough, and undesirable.

REALLY explore in October, and also look at the prices for groceries etc.

[tampagator89]

I would look first in Wesley Chapel and New Tampa, but also add South Tampa to the list. If you don't mind renting an older-style place with not as many amenities, you can find some cheaper options near Hyde Park or North Westshore that put you about half an hour from the beaches and half an hour from USF. Also keep an eye out for places in Carrollwood. This tends to be a more upscale area but you will find places here and there that fit your price range, and the area is generally safe.

I would not rent in Pinellas if you're going to be driving to USF at least 3-4 times a week. Your commute will be an hour or maybe two depending on traffic.