Help! Moving iowa to Tampa Bay Area! Wanting housing area recommendations (Five Points: apartments, rentals)

[Kayleyann86]

Hello I am moving to the Tampa Bay area at the end of March. I am a 30-year-old young professional, active, love the beach, music, bicycling, have a dog, and love to go out. I currently live in downtown Des Moines Iowa so I would want least the same or larger downtown area...I have been looking at st. Petes then also received a bad recommendation. Welcoming all opinions and helpful ideas!! I'll be working from home.

[indytoflgirl]

Welcome!!! Knowing that you will be working from home is helpful. Offering your monthly housing budget is needed. There is a wide range of rental costs. As in any city, there are fantastic areas in St Pete as well as unsafe areas. You will receive lots of positive suggestions on this forum. Again, welcome, the difference between Iowa and Florida is YYYYUUUUUGGGE! (Local car dealer advertises his deals as that!)

[071402]

Originally Posted by Kayleyann86

Hello I am moving to the Tampa Bay area at the end of March. I am a 30-year-old young professional, active, love the beach, music, bicycling, have a dog, and love to go out. I currently live in downtown Des Moines Iowa so I would want least the same or larger downtown area...I have been looking at st. Petes then also received a bad recommendation. Welcoming all opinions and helpful ideas!! I'll be working from home.

What's a bad recommendation for ?

[wallyb2013]

I would focus on the areas in and around downtown St. Pete. It's very vibrant with lots to do for people in your demographic. On and around Central Ave. there are 5+ breweries, dozens of bars and restaurants, museums, festivals almost every weekend, music venues, very walkable/bikeable, and generally a lot of activity year-round.

If you're willing to live in an older apartment building, or in a garage apartment or carriage house, you can live in the nicest neighborhood in St. Pete (Old Northeast) for around $800/month. Keep in mind that most rentals do not advertise online, so you'll need to walk around and also ask around at coffee shops. If you want a townhouse, condo, single-family home, or new apartment, rents will be well over $1000/month for a one bedroom.

The prime St. Pete neighborhoods for your demographic that are very safe, walkable or bikeable, and vibrant are: Old Northeast, Old Southeast, Historic Kenwood, Historic Uptown, Crescent Lake, Woodlawn, and Crescent Heights. Euclid St. Paul is also nice but I believe has an older demographic. Magnolia Heights, Allendale Terrace, Five Points, and Northeast Park are also very safe but have less apartments and aren't as close to downtown.