Wanting to move near MacDill AFB (Tampa, Clearwater: loans, townhouse, neighborhoods)

[Needsomesunshine]

Hi everyone!

My husband and I currently live in WA state. We love many things about the area (both born and raised here) and have 3 small children of our own now. Now we are looking to move to someplace warmer, and with more things to do and experience with our children (ages 5 and 3). We have a couple of friends in FL, and hear nothing but good things.

While my main concerns are bugs, humidity, and hurricanes... our friends have talked us into looking past these things. We've been told that the beaches, museums, theme parks, water parks, etc are worth dealing with the humid weather! I hope this is true!

Currenly we experience about 4 months of nice, summer weather. This just IS NOT enough for us! As our children grow, we are wanting to do so many things with them, and be outdoors with them more and more. Would love to have warmer weather during the winters and be able to get out of the house more. I understand that the summer in FL is hot and humid and rainy... but considering that the remainder of the year seems nice and mild/moderate, we look forward to that over ice storms and blizzards, grey rainy weather for 6-7 months...

My husband is currently looking at work at MacDill AFB. If that doesn't work out, probably somewhere still in the Tampa area. We originally fell in love with the Trinity community north, and wanted to live up there. But I've read that the commute would be more than an hour to the AFB. So we're looking for a great community to raise our kids in farther south in the Tampa area. Is there anyplace near/around the AFB that anyone can recommend? We'd like to be near (within 1/2 hour drive) of some nice beaches, good schools, nice entertainment and shopping.

Any recommendations? Any comments? We're looking to hear the good and the bad. This will be a very big move for us, and we really want to consider everything!

Thanks!

[tampaguy03]

South Tampa

Since you say that you would "like to be near (within 1/2 hour drive) of some nice beaches, good schools, nice entertainment and shopping", I may suggest South Tampa areas like Beach Park, Sunset Park, Culbreath Isles and Bayou, BelMar Shores, Hyde Park, Bayshore Beautiful and Gardens, Davis Islands, Palma Ceia, New Suburb Beautiful, Golfview. (Zips 33629, 33609, 33606) These are some of the nicest city of Tampa neighborhoods(not suburbs or gated communities except for Culbreath Isles), within a few miles of MacDIll AFB and downtown Tampa/Westshore Business Districts, Westshore Plaza, Hyde Park Village and International Plaza shopping, all major sports facilties, about 30 minutes to St. Pete Beach/Pass-a-Grille Beach, Fort DeSoto, etc..and one of the best School districts in the city.

Wasnt sure of your budget though, as with all these amenities, it can be some of the priciest areas of Tampa too.

[Sunnydee]

I agree with Tampaguy03. If you're on a budget you might want to check out Brandon or Riverview which are a bit farther from the beach, but more affordable.

[davidhomes]

There are many nice areas close to the base,but you will pay for it. There are also many surrounding areas that are within 30 minutes drive that are also nice.

[bnepler]

We live in Riverview (South Fork sub-division). It's located about a mile from the I-75 Apollo Beach exit on the east side of the interstate. We have many employees of McDill living here. There are also other sub-divisions here, some new and some older. It's a growing area away from the city and traffic. It's 45 minutes from some of the greatest beaches.

[The water Doctor]

Originally Posted by Needsomesunshine

Hi everyone!

My husband and I currently live in WA state. We love many things about the area (both born and raised here) and have 3 small children of our own now. Now we are looking to move to someplace warmer, and with more things to do and experience with our children (ages 5 and 3). We have a couple of friends in FL, and hear nothing but good things.

While my main concerns are bugs, humidity, and hurricanes... our friends have talked us into looking past these things. We've been told that the beaches, museums, theme parks, water parks, etc are worth dealing with the humid weather! I hope this is true!

Currenly we experience about 4 months of nice, summer weather. This just IS NOT enough for us! As our children grow, we are wanting to do so many things with them, and be outdoors with them more and more. Would love to have warmer weather during the winters and be able to get out of the house more. I understand that the summer in FL is hot and humid and rainy... but considering that the remainder of the year seems nice and mild/moderate, we look forward to that over ice storms and blizzards, grey rainy weather for 6-7 months...

My husband is currently looking at work at MacDill AFB. If that doesn't work out, probably somewhere still in the Tampa area. We originally fell in love with the Trinity community north, and wanted to live up there. But I've read that the commute would be more than an hour to the AFB. So we're looking for a great community to raise our kids in farther south in the Tampa area. Is there anyplace near/around the AFB that anyone can recommend? We'd like to be near (within 1/2 hour drive) of some nice beaches, good schools, nice entertainment and shopping.

Any recommendations? Any comments? We're looking to hear the good and the bad. This will be a very big move for us, and we really want to consider everything!

Thanks!

Clearwater is about 25 minutes to the base is half the money of Tampa, twice the beauty, less traffic and the beache is always ranked in the top ten in the country. From Oct. to May heaven, june through august, hot around 90 but there is always a breeze off the water. Sept, Prime hurricane season, just not here....If heaven isn't like Clearwater Fl., I don't want to go..

[cassidy336]

We have a 3 bedroom townhouse mod cut 2 minutes from MacDill. It is in a nice gated community, Bayshore Pointe, with a pool and view of the water. mod cut

[Lewis Stewart]

Hi anyone moving to Macdill afb feel free to ask me any questions. I just retired from the military and live near the base. Moderator cut: comment

[loans4homes4u]

Originally Posted by Needsomesunshine

Hi everyone!

My husband and I currently live in WA state. We love many things about the area (both born and raised here) and have 3 small children of our own now. Now we are looking to move to someplace warmer, and with more things to do and experience with our children (ages 5 and 3). We have a couple of friends in FL, and hear nothing but good things.

While my main concerns are bugs, humidity, and hurricanes... our friends have talked us into looking past these things. We've been told that the beaches, museums, theme parks, water parks, etc are worth dealing with the humid weather! I hope this is true!

Currenly we experience about 4 months of nice, summer weather. This just IS NOT enough for us! As our children grow, we are wanting to do so many things with them, and be outdoors with them more and more. Would love to have warmer weather during the winters and be able to get out of the house more. I understand that the summer in FL is hot and humid and rainy... but considering that the remainder of the year seems nice and mild/moderate, we look forward to that over ice storms and blizzards, grey rainy weather for 6-7 months...

My husband is currently looking at work at MacDill AFB. If that doesn't work out, probably somewhere still in the Tampa area. We originally fell in love with the Trinity community north, and wanted to live up there. But I've read that the commute would be more than an hour to the AFB. So we're looking for a great community to raise our kids in farther south in the Tampa area. Is there anyplace near/around the AFB that anyone can recommend? We'd like to be near (within 1/2 hour drive) of some nice beaches, good schools, nice entertainment and shopping.

Any recommendations? Any comments? We're looking to hear the good and the bad. This will be a very big move for us, and we really want to consider everything!

Thanks!

we just retired and live in Puyallup,wa ........can we say rain , rain, rain, ........not sure how washingtonians do it (stay sane I mean LOL) so were also looking at / around MacDill did you guys move there? any info would help .........we are 'checking it out' next month (sept 09) and will 'see' for ourselves but with only 3 days it is crazy to expect to really get the feel if we don't narrow down neighborhoods etc (ie Clearwater, sarasota or ?)

[Keeper]

Originally Posted by loans4homes4u

we just retired and live in Puyallup,wa ........can we say rain , rain, rain, ........not sure how washingtonians do it (stay sane I mean LOL) so were also looking at / around MacDill did you guys move there? any info would help .........we are 'checking it out' next month (sept 09) and will 'see' for ourselves but with only 3 days it is crazy to expect to really get the feel if we don't narrow down neighborhoods etc (ie Clearwater, sarasota or ?)

What price range?
What is important to you?

Why MacDill?

If you have lived in WA for a long time remember it is much hotter in Tampa for a lot longer than it is in WA. It does rain in Tampa but usually thunderstorms in the afternoon unlike WA where it is more overcast (at least in Seattle) with a drizzle rain.