relocation help (Tampa, Brandon, Plant City: rentals, insurance, condos)

[Schilly]

My wife and I are moving to Tampa in the next month or so. Actually, she has been renting there for a month and I am finally able to move. She is already there and we are looking to buy.

I work downtown and she plans on working from home. Please give me thoughts on various areas...realistically. I've seen where people were looking for suggestions for commuting to St. Pete and others suggested New Tampa/Wesley Chapel...that is unrealistic with the terrible I-275 traffic. I'm hoping for some good opinions.

I saw a couple of posters say to avoid Riverview/Brandon, but I'm curious about why. What about Plant City/Valrico? What other areas are there within 30 minutes at peak traffic times?

Any help is appreciated.

[NHtoFLMom]

If you are looking for a commute time UNDER 30 minutes, Valrico, Plant City and Riverview will all be more then that. Most areas of Brandon will also be more then 30 minutes. You may want to try the Westchase/Waterchase area or South Tampa.

[tampaguy03]

alot of where you live will depend on what kind of lifestyle you wish to have, type of neighborhoods, age, etc. If there was a perfect neighborhood the both of you could see yourselfs in, what would it look like(beaches, woods, culture, history, do you like WalMarts, Home Depot and Olive Garden, or Mom and Pop type places, does your ideal main street look like a 6 lane divided highway with strip malls, or smaller neighborhood type areas with two lane roads...
Within a 30 minute drive to downtown Tampa(im assuming you work 9-5) you have the following-Brandon, Riverview, Apollo Beach, Tampa Palms(New Tampa is pushing it), Carrollwood, Citrus Park, Lutz, Westchase, Town n Country, South Tampa.
tbo.com has a relocation area, and the CVB also has a good relocation guide.

[Schilly]

thanks for the response.

We are both nearing 30 and are pretty much partied out. We are at the trying to have kids stage, so we'd like a family friendly environment with close access to shopping/hospitals, etc. Even though its a ways out, schools are important as I'd like to be able to stay in one place if we like our surroundings. Price-wise will hopefully be $300K to $375K.

I really like South Tampa, but I'm paranoid of hurricanes. Is it less of a drive from Westchase to downtown than from Brandon? If so, that seems like a good option. What is Waterchase? How is the drive in from Carrollwood?

We've made a lot of trips to Tampa, so I've seen a lot of the areas, but unfortunately, I haven't been able to drive them at regular office hours (9-6 is about what I plan on working).

[tampaguy03]

Unless you live in South Tampa, you are going to have to deal with the commute traffic situation, which really isnt that bad compared to other cities ive been too, but can add an extra 20-30 minutes to your drive. Brandon has very easy access to downtown via the Crosstown(Lee Roy Selmon) Expswy, they completed a three lane upper deck which goes west in the morning, and east in the afternoons, a quick 20-25 minute ride from most of Brandon/Riverview, unless your far east in Brandon. My Aunt lives off Bloomingdale Ave and takes the express bus, and gets there in 25 minutes. No need to drive if your close to a bus route. Westchase traffic can build up more, you will be on roads with lights part of the way, then highway. I know people that live out there, and they say the commute can be from 30min to an hour depending on road conditions.(accidents, construction).
For 300-375k you can get some nicer older homes , south of El Prado Blvd in South Tampa. Homes in my neighborhood(Bayside West-which is north of Gandy, south of Euclid and West of Manhatten Ave), are running around 300k for a 4/2, 110x80 lots. There are homes from the 30's, 40's, 50's and 60's...all different, some with/without garages, remodeled, updated, etc. Nice homes next to rentals as well that are not so nice. South of Gandy and you can get better deals, that areas value continues to rise, there is alot of construction of 500k to 2million townhomes, homes and condos along Westshore Blvd south of Gandy. Whats nice is property values continue to rise in South Tampa, there are little pocket neighborhoods with great restaurants(Westshore Blvd near EL Prado, MacDill Ave south of Euclid, bay to Bay Blvd east of Himes), and of course SOHO/Hyde Park/and downtown all within a few miles. Plant High School in South Tampa is one of the best public high schools in the state, and ive heard many of the elementary in South Tampa received A's on the recent FCAT(scores that schools get in Florida).
Hope this helps!

[tampaguy03]

In regards to Hurricanes, my Aunt and Uncle lost 2 80 year old oaks, half there roof, the chimney, and screened in porch when Hurricane Charley skimmed the area in 2004....they live in Brandon! Im in South Tampa, and maybe saw a few sticks and leaves in the yard...you just dont know, and its a risk no matter where you are...

[ck819]

Westchase is definitely closer than Brandon to downtown. They have good schools also.

[kristimc25]

I would avoid the Brandon area because the trafffic is outrageous, the crime rate is higher in that section of the county, and the home values have been stagnant.

One suggestion would be Lutz (neighborhoods off of North Dale Mabry, Lutz Lake Fern Road area, Cheval, etc). We just moved from there and miss the convenience of the Veterens Expressway, but my husband moved his office to Wesley Chapel, so we moved to New Tampa.

If not Lutz, then off West Waters in the good section going towards Odessa, which is also off of Veterans, but much closer to 275. Westchase is a great area, and you can hop onto the Veterans as well. It has a great little downtown shopping area and restaurants and is also close to the water.

Try this site to research any home that you are looking at. I would also suggest buying home that was built in 2004 or later, so it is up to the latest hurricane codes. Will give you peace of mind plus lower your insurance rates quite a bit.

http://www.hcpafl.org/www/index.shtml

[mktitan]

I would also advise avoiding Brandon. Traffic is ridiculous and it has been overbuilt in my humble opinion. I live in the West Bay community in the town and country area and love it. Homes there are toward the lower end of your price range. Its about 20-25 min to downtown in the AM. We are selling our home now though and moving to Pasco. There are some great developments there too, but they might put you out of your time preference for downtown.

[gypsychic]

I agree, stay out of Brandon for the reasons mentioned in above posts. I too recommend NW Tampa to you, like maybe old Carrollwood. Nice area, lots of amenities, and commute shouldn't be too bad.