NJ/NY to Pinellas (Tampa, St. Petersburg: apartments, to rent, insurance)

[JDT]

Husband and I may be moving from NJ/NY area. He'll be working in St Petersburg (South) and I'll be working in Tampa, West Tampa I believe (near the airport). He wants a commute no more than 30 mins (as opposed to his 1-2 hour commute now). Both early 30's, No kids right now, but we have a furry one (a cat), but still living in a decent area doesn't hurt.

Any advice of decent places to live?
What's the condo/townhouse situation?
Are houses better?
I've heard that Pinellas county is expensive, but given our job situations seems like the only convenient option.
Other?

[scorp200]

The area around downtown St. Petersburg might make you guys really happy (I'm also from NJ/NYC) - of course the closer you get to downtown the more expensive. But try anywhere say east of 16th street for a decent commute to Tampa. Homeowner's insurance and property taxes are expensive here - don't know how that works for condos (I rent) but you might be better off.

I recommend renting for a while and getting a feel for the area. If you rent in St. Pete in addition to complexes, try the local weekly for apartments to rent:

http://tampa.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/index

And here's a great non-complex complex:

http://crescentlakeapartments.com/main.php

I would compare the area around downtown St. Pete to Montclair in terms of artsy qualities and great houses.

[JSnFla]

pinellas county is nice in spots but is extremely congested and nearly entirely built out. generally speaking i believe its more expensive to live there becasue of the proximity to the water. US19 which disects pinellas county going north/south was rated the most dangerous road in the country a yr or so ago

[scorp200]

Originally Posted by JSnFla

pinellas county is nice in spots but is extremely congested and nearly entirely built out. generally speaking i believe its more expensive to live there becasue of the proximity to the water. US19 which disects pinellas county going north/south was rated the most dangerous road in the country a yr or so ago

True but if her husband is working in S. St. Pete then they probably don't want to go much further than South Tampa.

[JDT]

JSnFla - any other thoughts, suggestions then??

Yeah husband will be working near Eckerd College, and well I'm a consultant so I really go where they tell me to go, but when I have no place to go, my office would be in Tampa, near the airport. We're not looking for the "big city" but definitely do not want the boonies either.

[JSnFla]

if u r early 30s with no kids and u will work in tampa and he in st. pete then i would look around the south tamp area.....westshore, bayshore, hyde park, davis island maybe....otherwise u may have to live in pinellas somehwere near st pete if he is working there....not sure how much money u guys will be making but tierra verde, south of st pete beach is real upscale nice, sorta ritzy community

[klinkette57]

Tierra Verde has a ton of townhouses to rent if you would like to give the area a test drive before buying. Easy commute to tampa, right around the corner from Eckerd. I work in South Tampa, my commute is half an hour.

[teetee30]

Originally Posted by JDT

Husband and I may be moving from NJ/NY area. He'll be working in St Petersburg (South) and I'll be working in Tampa, West Tampa I believe (near the airport). He wants a commute no more than 30 mins (as opposed to his 1-2 hour commute now). Both early 30's, No kids right now, but we have a furry one (a cat), but still living in a decent area doesn't hurt.

Any advice of decent places to live?
What's the condo/townhouse situation?
Are houses better?
I've heard that Pinellas county is expensive, but given our job situations seems like the only convenient option.
Other?

If you move to the St. Petersburg Area u probaby want to move on the pink streets in the south part of st. pete that is where the nice area is. If you go more north in st. petersburg it will get worst until you get to 60th street north that is a really good area. Around the Northeast High School Area or over by Lakewood High School is your best bet.

[Aconite]

If he wants a commute of less than 30 minutes to Eckerd College you pretty much have to live in St Pete, Gulfport, or Pasadena; maybe one of the southernmost beaches. (Unless you work nights, the commute across the bay or very far North-South is brutal.) Within that range, though, it depends on what you want and what your resources include. Tierra Verde's great, but pricey; South St. Pete sucks, but it's really cheap. Kenwood and Euclid-St. Paul are cute if you're into the craftsman-midcentury architecture; the pink streets are good, too. Gulfport's very artsy but has some iffy edges, and you'll want to check flood zones ANYWHERE.
When we've relocated I've gone to a site like Realtor.com and typed in what I want in a house, with a wide range of areas. Invariably you'll get about 200 results, but one area is represented far more than others-- and that's where you want to look.

Whoever said rent for six months or a year before you buy is probably right, btw. Prices are pretty depressed right now, and rumor has it they're going to drop further. Plus you'll get to see the lay of the land, and not get stuck with something because you were in the midst of moving.

[FL Sunshine]

I have lived in west central area of St. Petersburg practically all of my life. Living here offers so much - but what I love best is St. Pete Beach. Living in the west part of the town you are close to the beaches which are gorgeous. Sunsets are spectacular. There are some really nice family areas in St. Pete also. There are numerous parks in the area. The Northwest area north of 22nd Avenue N is nice, close to Tyrone Mall and shopping, 10 minutes to the beaches, 10-15 minutes to downtown, close to everything really. Fort DeSoto, Pinellas Trail, Seminole Park...all places to check out and explore. St. Petersburg has a lot to offer!