Moving from Midwest to Florida (Tampa, Sarasota: rental, credit, homes)

[MarielEsse]

We are planning a move from the Midwest to Florida in late October to early November. We will be looking for a two bedroom. Our credit is fairly poor. (We are working on it.) I am a student and am looking to get settled in the area before completing my degree so that I can obtain my license in the state I intend to live and work in. I would like to attend USF to complete my degree, but I intend to work for a year first so that I can pay in-state tuition.

What area would you recommend looking for low cost housing? We do have a child, but we are not concerned about schools because we will likely homeschool. We are very familiar with Bradenton (we love it) but have not seen a lot of rental listings for the area. Any recommendations for where to find listings?
Thanks for any help you can give.

I should mention that we lived in Tampa about 8 years ago. We do not want to live in the city if it all possible. Looking as far south as Sarasota, and no further north than Tarpon Springs. We would like to stay as close to the west coast as possible.

[kdalechek]

This is a little off subject, but what will you be studying at USF. I ask, because we just moved down from the Midwest and I intended to finish my grad degree at USF (pediatric nurse practitioner). However, they will not accept a single credit that I previously completed. I was originally told I could transfer up to 9 credits, but after I got accepted, they decided none of my classes would transfer. I understand where a policy class that focused on Missouri would not transfer, but seriously, what is the difference between grad level nursing research from the Midwest to here! Just a word of caution.

[MarielEsse]

Kdalechek- wow. I have been in contact with them. Can I ask what school you are transferring from? Is it an accredited program? Are your credits recent or older?