Questions for Possible Move to Tampa (Clearwater, Brandon: rent, college, DMV)

[MortonR]

Originally Posted by LKJ1988

You won't be liking the peeps here i can see lee.

Another angry transplant. Just what we need, right?



RM

[LKJ1988]

Originally Posted by MortonR

Another angry transplant. Just what we need, right?



RM

Seems so...

[blueslily]

Hey folks,

Im not an angry person, haha. Thats really funny.

I have read several threads on here. People get into arguments, speak negatively, and can simply be rude to someone who is just asking a question. Seems odd to me to talk down to someone who is asking a question. I would think that you just would not respond if you were so annoyed by reading people ask the same questions over and over.

Im full of sunshine folks just thinking about moving. LoL. Simple.

Relax.

[MortonR]

Originally Posted by blueslily

Hey folks,

Im not an angry person, haha. Thats really funny.

I have read several threads on here. People get into arguments, speak negatively, and can simply be rude to someone who is just asking a question. Seems odd to me to talk down to someone who is asking a question. I would think that you just would not respond if you were so annoyed by reading people ask the same questions over and over.

Im full of sunshine folks just thinking about moving. LoL. Simple.

Relax.

No annoyance. What's off-putting is when someone comes into the forum and asks questions that have come up interlay hundreds of times without ever searching first. Not saying that's what you did, just that if you looked over the last 3-4 years in the forum the same things get asked over and over again, that's all.

RM

[sinatras]

I would be full of sunshine if I was leaving that hellhole called NoVa/DC too (I assume you are in DC now, maybe not)! In fact, I did the same move in 2008 (lived in Oakton) and have never looked back.

I am not at all familiar with the area where the VA is but I would venture to say that it's certainly not ideal. What I would recommend to you is Westchase. I think that is exactly what you are looking for. 30 min to the VA. 45 min to the Gulf beaches.

[sinatras]

I myself do not mind replying the same stuff to the same questions. As a matter of fact you are prolly the 15th or 20th person I have seen coming from the DC area to ask about Tampa. Anyway I can help, let me know!

[justthe2ofus]

Originally Posted by blueslily

Any suggestions of areas to look for housing based on what I shared? Any specific communities you recommend?

It comes down to whether you want to live in Hillsborough where you'll have a short commute to work with a longer drive to the beach

or

whether you want to be halfway between your work & the beach, so maybe something in East Pinellas, or West Hillborough.

[The_Egg_]

As someone that just moved here for work, in the area you're looking...I can say that the driving is a bit bizarre/frustrating.

Mainly Bruce B Downs is what I have been on, but once you get on 275 it's pretty standard.

[hants2]

born and raised in tampa, i move out to just north of fox's corner in odessa near tarpon springs road, it was fairly central to what you are talking about . just nw of the va hospital is suit case city. stay away was a nice area when i was a kid. i did maintenance at va in the 80's

[MAniacTHW]

Wow, there are some pretty terrible suggestions on here. While Citrus Park is a decent, middle class area, there is nothing "upscale" about it. It's just another suburb where people can pretend to live in Tampa. I will say, given the choice between Carrollwood/Citrus Park vs. Brandon/South Hillsborough, I'll take Carrollwood/Citrus Park any day. That said, to be relatively close to the VA and the beaches (not so much "close" to either one, but closer), I'd suggest looking closer to Downtown Tampa. They're doing a lot of work in it right now, creating a lot of new housing options, and it will go on to be a really nice area. That said, they're still struggling to rent out/sell units out that way, and you should be able to find something nice for a decent price. If that's not really your thing, Tampa Heights, just outside of Downtown, will put you close to the interstate which will get you to beaches and work.

As others have pointed out, the area directly surrounding the VA is iffy. There are a lot of college students around the area, as USF is right across the street, but there are a lot of budget apartments in the area which bring out some of the worst in people. For proof, sign up for USF's crime watch app thing through your text messages. Something new going down on or near campus weekly. Temple Terrace will put you close to work, but not really close to the beaches, and Odessa is neither near the Pinellas beaches or near your job. Outside of that, Odessa is a ghost town. I think they have a Publix... And that's your only grocery store. You'd have to drive to one of the nearby cities to go shopping (like the ever desirable New Port Richey).