Moving from Orlando to Tampa! (Gandy: apartments, rentals, how much)

[TampaBound1]

My girlfriend and I are moving to Tampa from Orlando. We will be staying with family in Tampa while we search for jobs and an apartment. We are moving because I have been laid off my job. So we want to start searching for apartments and jobs now so we don't have to stay with family too long.

Now I've visited Tampa and St. Pete before but I have no clue about where to live. Reading this forum I hear NE is good S is bad. Can anyone give me any advice on how I can begin my apartment search so I don't end up in a bad area? We can afford to spend around 700-800 for a 1br/1ba.

Any advice or words of wisdom you can give are appreciated. I will keep reading through this forum.

Thank you in advance

[rlxin]

Hey TampaBound, I will also be moving from Orlando To Tampa in a week or two. I will be driving over on Sunday and/or Tuesday to check out the area and find an apartment. It hard to say because I dont know the area to well. But from what I understand NE St. Pete. and S. Tampa are good locations. I also need to be in the 600-800 range. Good luck on your search.

[jessiesma]

unless you can manage a studio. Even the OP doesn't have budget for more than a 1 br in those areas and that's a stretch. It won't be fabulous. Sorry
Both of you, try the area of St. Pete just around the Gandy bridge. it will be an ok area and very central while you're trying to get settled. Not a horrible commute to Tampa. What do y'all do?
The location thing is easy because St. Pete is a grid. Stay NORTH of Central Ave. The Streets run N-S and say which direction they are. Avenues are E-W. there are pockets running East/West, nothing as bad as South but if you pick up an Apartment Guide or Apartments For rent, one of those, you'll get an idea of areas. Don't assume that if they're old they're bad. We live in a complex from the 70's and it's find. Very solid, renovated, well maintained, good neighbors. Prices start at 775 for a 1 br that's large and well laid out. A full queen set fits in the br which is on the small side but great living space. Good storage. Pool, fitness room, public trans. close to malls and only 10 min from the beach. We go to Tampa a lot and it's not too bad because it's a straight shot on the avenue to I-275 and then up to the Gandy or "Frankenstein" depending which part of Tampa you're headed to.

Originally Posted by rlxin

Hey TampaBound, I will also be moving from Orlando To Tampa in a week or two. I will be driving over on Sunday and/or Tuesday to check out the area and find an apartment. It hard to say because I dont know the area to well. But from what I understand NE St. Pete. and S. Tampa are good locations. I also need to be in the 600-800 range. Good luck on your search.

[TampaBound1]

Originally Posted by jessiesma

unless you can manage a studio. Even the OP doesn't have budget for more than a 1 br in those areas and that's a stretch. It won't be fabulous. Sorry
Both of you, try the area of St. Pete just around the Gandy bridge. it will be an ok area and very central while you're trying to get settled. Not a horrible commute to Tampa. What do y'all do?
The location thing is easy because St. Pete is a grid. Stay NORTH of Central Ave. The Streets run N-S and say which direction they are. Avenues are E-W. there are pockets running East/West, nothing as bad as South but if you pick up an Apartment Guide or Apartments For rent, one of those, you'll get an idea of areas. Don't assume that if they're old they're bad. We live in a complex from the 70's and it's find. Very solid, renovated, well maintained, good neighbors. Prices start at 775 for a 1 br that's large and well laid out. A full queen set fits in the br which is on the small side but great living space. Good storage. Pool, fitness room, public trans. close to malls and only 10 min from the beach. We go to Tampa a lot and it's not too bad because it's a straight shot on the avenue to I-275 and then up to the Gandy or "Frankenstein" depending which part of Tampa you're headed to.

Thanks for the reply. Thats kinda disheartening that I won't be able to find much decent for 800 and under but we only need a 1 br. I have a BS degree in Business and I was an analyst for utilities company. I also have no clue where the majority of jobs are so that is another reason why I want more info where I choose to move to. I want to be closer to areas that I might be more likely to find a job.

Let me know if you have any other questions that I can answer that might help give me some advice. I do thank you for your advice though. I will definitely check out the st. pete area in the mean time.

[Lior Arel]

Originally Posted by TampaBound1

Thanks for the reply. Thats kinda disheartening that I won't be able to find much decent for 800 and under but we only need a 1 br. I have a BS degree in Business and I was an analyst for utilities company. I also have no clue where the majority of jobs are so that is another reason why I want more info where I choose to move to. I want to be closer to areas that I might be more likely to find a job.

Let me know if you have any other questions that I can answer that might help give me some advice. I do thank you for your advice though. I will definitely check out the st. pete area in the mean time.

Sweetie,

Don't be disheartened. I live in SoHo off of Bayshore (argueably one of the trendiest neighborhoods in the bay) and my complex is new, clean, with a gorgeous courtyard and swimming pool! Guess how much I pay for a 900 sq ft two bedroom?

$975

A one bedroom in my complex?

$725

One bedrooms in "private buildings" down the road?

$650

[rtjr]

Agree with the above poster - you can esaily find a decent 1br in a nice part of S Tampa for $800

[tampaguy03]

Yes, check out Craigslist.com, tbo.com, or even a realtor that specializes in rentals, $800 is doable for a one bedroom in South Tampa areas like SOHO and Hyde Park.

[jessiesma]

Then prices have fallen since last Summer or we were being discriminated against. We were told 975 for a 1 br. in a complex in SOHO. It wasn't new. It was renovated, have a courtyard and a Pool right on Howard Ave. If it's the same place, we were quoted over 1K for 2 br. does maturity = $$$$ in that area and is that legal. No to the first question I guess and not to the second. The private buildings??? at least that much. WE were offered a converted gaarge, one tiny 1 br. for $850. The only thing we found for 750 was right near the air base and garbage. Just great! one more strike against Tampa in our eyes.

Originally Posted by Lior Arel

Sweetie,

Don't be disheartened. I live in SoHo off of Bayshore (argueably one of the trendiest neighborhoods in the bay) and my complex is new, clean, with a gorgeous courtyard and swimming pool! Guess how much I pay for a 900 sq ft two bedroom?

$975

A one bedroom in my complex?

$725

One bedrooms in "private buildings" down the road?

$650

[TampaBound1]

Ok so what you are telling me is that I should just check SoHo out for myself since there are conflicting opinions??

[Keeper]

Well you know 'opinions' we all have them

I would check out the locations and see what appeals to you and GF. Your family might also know of other options that would work for you both. I think you have gotten several good opinions here on places and prices. If one place interest you and you want the name of a place, ask the poster either here or use DM.

Since you don't know where you will be working yet, it makes recommending an exact location difficult. I know traffic in Orlando is bad, but it isn't great in Tampa either during rush hour.

The folks here are really good about helping folks so if you have more questions... ask away