24 year old girl planning the move: Need tons of help! (Future UT student) I need to narrow down areas to live! come in! (Tampa: apartment)

[sunsetladyx]

Hello everyone! I am a dental hygienist (24 years old) planning on getting my bachelors in public health at the University of Tampa. I am going in Fall of 09'. I do not want to live on campus, as I am done with the whole dorm experience thing! I will most likely be working as a hygienist in the area. Coming from Jersey, I havent been able to pin point the rate per hour of hygienists in Florida. (anyone have that info? Jersey is roughly $40 per hour)

Okay, after coming on this form for the past year and reading peoples opinions constantly, everything is getting a little blurred together. I even created a list in Microsoft Word of recommended places to live, and I tried narrowing it down that way, but I am still confused even using google maps.

I am some what familiar with the area. Distant relatives in St. Pete, and a friend at USF...

My question (Finally!) is.... :::drumroll:::

[RENTING] within a half hour commute to University of Tampa.
I will focus on the pricing after I narrow it down, thats not really my top priority, although I think I have to shoot for under $1300 a month (If it can be done.)

I want newer property, and I liked equestrian parc in Tampa, however it may be too far to UT (Is it? I dont know the traffic pattern). Also, I need safeness, as I will commute in and out on my own and do my own shopping around the area.

Can a safe new complex be done within that constraint to UT? And of course: How far from the beach! ... I'm a Jersey girl, and in order to get to Long Beach Island my fav, it takes me an hour and a half.. so im not looking to be too spoiled.

So basically:
Anywhere within a half hour of UT:
Safe newer complex, Beach, Safe, Safe, half hour.

Thanks a million in advance. I owe you a coffee if youve read all that!

Sunsetladyx, out!

[sunsetladyx]

Oh yea, condo or apartment. As long as its renting!

[rich67]

There's a lot of areas you could be looking into, so this is a tough one. If I had to throw out a recommendation, I'd have to suggest the Town N' Country area or Safety Harbor. These areas put you within a reasonable commuting distance, and still keep you close to the beaches (some right within 20 minutes or even less). I am not all that familiar with Tampa proper, the area right near the university, so I am not really at liberty to discuss it.
As for the other 2 areas I mentioned, housing and rentals can be affordable, the areas (many of them) are newer and safer than in the city itself, and you are centrally located to any location within Tampa Bay.
Good luck to you!

[Eastern Roamer]

UT is in downtown Tampa, so it's the urban scene, albiet not a relatively lively one. For $1300 you will easily find a nice apartment or condo either downtown, Channelside, or in trendy South Tampa. (see a map: south of Kennedy Blvd. and west of downtown, but not South of Gandy Blvd.) Don't limit yourself to apartment "communities." There are a lot of nice, semi-historic, renovated palces. This will put you about 45 minutes to the beaches though, but very close to school.

I would not recommend commuting very far from outside of Tampa. Most people live outside of the city to the north and northwest and traffic into downtown can be a bear. Davis Island is nice. You'd be surrounded by water but no beaches - you don't want to swim in the bay.

Good luck. Tampa is pretty seedy, but not necessarily dangerous if you're half street-smart.

[tampaguy03]

For $1300 a month, and you lie shopping, and need a safe area, reletively close to UT, why not Harbour Island ro Davis Islands or Hyde Park Village...you will find lots of great rentlas for that amount and less in these areas...safe, CLOSE to everything(UT about 5 minutes, LOTS fo shopping in Hyde Park, Intl Plaza and Westshore Plaza about 5-10 min, Gulf beaches about 30-35 minutes)...just a suggestion....why live so far out fo the city when you will be gogin to school, and most probabaly shopping, eating and going out in the city...