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Old 02-26-2019, 06:03 PM
 
110 posts, read 187,310 times
Reputation: 57

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Just moved here with a wife and three-year-old, been house hunting, and am rather dismayed by the selection of non-flood zone block homes under $400k near the areas we want to live. The wife and I are trying to decide if living in a highly-walkable community with a lot going on is worth the extra ~$100k for a home. We've looked at some nice homes in less-expensive-but-nice areas, like say, near the Roberts Rec Center (54th and MLKish), but the neighborhood just seems so quiet. For example, we drove by the park there last Saturday and there were *zero* people. Conversely, the Crescent Lake and Coffee Pot parks were brimming with parents and kids. We're from out of state and would like to have ample opportunities to meet other people where we live. That said, we're looking at close to $400k for a place that needs a lot of work there.

Does anyone live in those or similar areas and want to weigh in? Or have you gone through the same deliberations? Any and all feedback appreciated.

And I know there are a million "where should I live" threads out there, but I think they all have different specifics and usually spur some good conversation.
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Old 02-27-2019, 04:45 AM
 
Location: Central Mexico and Central Florida
7,150 posts, read 4,875,478 times
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Location location location. That's the premium people pay for. It's a personal choice. We wanted a non-cookie cutter home in a walkable town to a variety of non-chain restaurants. Gulfport fits the bill for us. We have friends who own farther inland in mundane subdivisions where their car is needed for every errand, going out to eat. They love visiting us so they can park their cars and walk around town, walk out to dinner.
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Old 02-27-2019, 06:21 AM
 
110 posts, read 187,310 times
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Yeah, we're used to being able to walk to a few things at least - bar, restaurant, grocery store. Gulfport is great; it's just too far from my work in South Tampa. Trying to be closer to the bridge and/or farther north, while staying in St. Pete where family is.
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Old 02-27-2019, 06:57 AM
 
Location: South Tampa, Maui, Paris
4,417 posts, read 3,782,607 times
Reputation: 5204
Quote:
Originally Posted by BBurn View Post
Yeah, we're used to being able to walk to a few things at least - bar, restaurant, grocery store. Gulfport is great; it's just too far from my work in South Tampa. Trying to be closer to the bridge and/or farther north, while staying in St. Pete where family is.
You work in South Tampa and are moving to St. Pete? Now there's a nightmare commute. You should be house-hunting in South Tampa, where there's tons of families, some parts are very walkable, and property values are always going up.
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Old 02-27-2019, 07:16 AM
 
110 posts, read 187,310 times
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Originally Posted by sinatras View Post
You work in South Tampa and are moving to St. Pete? Now there's a nightmare commute. You should be house-hunting in South Tampa, where there's tons of families, some parts are very walkable, and property values are always going up.
I've made it a few times over the Gandy and it doesn't seem so bad. 30-40 min. I work pretty early.

We're not ruling out S. Tampa though. What areas would you recommend specifically? Non-flood zone, 3/2 homes under $400k, walkable to good things. Thanks.
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Old 02-27-2019, 08:40 AM
 
17,485 posts, read 38,929,023 times
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Originally Posted by sinatras View Post
You work in South Tampa and are moving to St. Pete? Now there's a nightmare commute. You should be house-hunting in South Tampa, where there's tons of families, some parts are very walkable, and property values are always going up.
I have to agree with Sinatras here. I would really recommend looking in South Tampa and avoid that horror commute. It's true, it's expensive and properties are always going up. Location, location, location.
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Old 02-27-2019, 10:15 AM
 
110 posts, read 187,310 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gypsychic View Post
I have to agree with Sinatras here. I would really recommend looking in South Tampa and avoid that horror commute. It's true, it's expensive and properties are always going up. Location, location, location.
That bad? I'll be at MacDill AFB. What neighborhoods would you recommend? Haven't been impressed by what I've seen south of Gandy other than Ballast Point, which is almost entirely flood zone AE. Some people have recommended Palma Ceia and Hyde Park but there's not much under $400k in either.

Last edited by BBurn; 02-27-2019 at 10:39 AM..
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Old 02-27-2019, 10:27 AM
 
Location: Central Mexico and Central Florida
7,150 posts, read 4,875,478 times
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Originally Posted by YahwehbenYahweh View Post
South Tampa is nice but far overpriced and full of some a bit weird people, and always has been for 25 years, and too leftist/liberal for most.
It may surprise you that many new transplants seek out liberal and diverse communities, myself included.
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Old 02-27-2019, 11:42 AM
 
Location: South Tampa, Maui, Paris
4,417 posts, read 3,782,607 times
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Originally Posted by dothetwist View Post
It may surprise you that many new transplants seek out liberal and diverse communities, myself included.
He's actually one of the "weirdos". He creates a new fake name/account every day. Here's the running list of his fake account names:

SaraManaMan
Charlie Allnut
InsideNews
Weaponized_Funk
Quentin RD
Ivey Burleson
Marine_Park
YahwehbenYahweh
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Old 02-27-2019, 11:46 AM
 
Location: South Tampa, Maui, Paris
4,417 posts, read 3,782,607 times
Reputation: 5204
Quote:
Originally Posted by BBurn View Post
I've made it a few times over the Gandy and it doesn't seem so bad. 30-40 min. I work pretty early.

We're not ruling out S. Tampa though. What areas would you recommend specifically? Non-flood zone, 3/2 homes under $400k, walkable to good things. Thanks.
First of all if you want good housing stock under $400k, neither Northeast St. Pete nor South Tampa are your best options. You have to hit the burbs for that. Pretty much anything in that price range in those areas is gonna be small and need work.

Here is the kind of stuff I would be looking at if I were you and working in South Tampa. Non-flood zone.

https://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sal...33_rect/15_zm/

https://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sal...19_rect/15_zm/

https://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sal...58_rect/15_zm/

Great area full of families.

You can't have it all. You will have to pick what's most important. walkable, or family area, or nice house, or close to work. You cannot have it all unless you can pay over $600k.

https://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sal...58_rect/15_zm/

Maybe you are one of those people who doesn't mind having two hours of commute every day.
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