Relocation questions about schools? (Tampa, Brandon: for sale, rent, chapel)

[djhorse]

I have been searching through this forum all night. I am relocating for a job at Moffitt. I want to live no more than 30-45 minutes away in an area with good middle and high schools. I'd love to be near some kind of water but that's not a requirement. Can anyone give me some zip codes to search? Will be renting a single family home to start before we buy.

[roadtrip75]

Do you have a budget?

North of Moffitt are a bunch of communities with good schools, like Wesley Chapel, Land O Lakes, and Lutz. The only water would be the many small lakes and ponds that dot the area. Places like Oldsmar and East Lake would fit the bill, but might be stretching it with the commute. It would be 100% surface streets as opposed to expressways. South Tampa north of Gandy would fit the bill, if you can afford it.

[djhorse]

Renting at first up to $2000 a month. Housing budget in the low 300k's. What would the commute be like from Oldsmar? What about Tampa Palms, New Tampa or Brandon? Are the schools good in those areas? I know they are farther away from the water.

[PhotoProIP]

Wesley Chapel. That's the closest and most places have ponds, but if you're renting that's irrelevant...when you buy look for water views, no need to pay extra rent just so you can look at a pond...

[jcal8]

Oldsmar would not be a good commute.

[PhotoProIP]

Oldsmar would be an awful commute. It takes over 25 minutes from Lutz to Oldsmar, 45 from Carrollwood...(we went to that Pump It Up, and that skating rink on Race track Rd, and it took forever to get there!)

Stick to Wesley Chapel. Carrollwood would suck because of those school zones on Bearss making traffic awful in the morning and afternoon. In Wesley Chapel at least you have Bruce B Down to deal with and no other side roads.

[roadtrip75]

Go to Trulia or Zillow and look at the houses for sale in South Tampa in the Plant High School zone (roughly between Euclid and Kennedy). I see quite a few in the $300s.

[tampamynewhome]

Welcome to Tampa Bay, next to Texas, the second preferred area for relocation this year alone. I would recommend the Lutz, Wesley Chapel, Land O Lakes area. It meets your driving distance requirement, beach trips are usually between 30-40 minutes, depending on time of day and traffic. I recommend Caladesi Island for a quick getaway, just spectacular.

I'd be happy to provide you with more detail via email if you are interested.

[jcal8]

South Tampa would also be a an awful commute. Stick to the Wesley Chapel, lutz, land o lakes area that others have recommended.

[jaybird45]

You can find good schools in Lutz. Stay west of US 41 for the Steinbrenner school district. You can find homes in the low 300's there depending on size, age and community.