Are there many Europeans settling in Tamp Bay area? (Tampa: real estate, homes)

[paxquest]

There seems to be a large contingency of Europeans living on the Atlantic coast. Has the Tampa area seen an influx in recent years from countries on the other side of the pond, and if so, which communities have the most?

[bentlebee]

Less and less are interested to move here. I'm a European and I have heard how many think they are treated unfair to obtain visa's and if they buy here a property and live here all year round they won't get homestead for their primary property. In Europe all home owners are treated equal...where ever you come from you pay a certain percentage for property taxes and not less if you a citizen....I agree with that system and unless they change tings over here they will lose out on Europeans moving over here.

Some Countries also give silver cards to retirees who move to their country and spend money, the USA doesn't do that and that is preventing retired wealthy people from moving here since they have to leave the country every 3 months.

Sometimes it seems that illegals have more rights than people who want to come here the legal way and don't need soc. security and have money and are willing to spent it over here.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by paxquest

There seems to be a large contingency of Europeans living on the Atlantic coast. Has the Tampa area seen an influx in recent years from countries on the other side of the pond, and if so, which communities have the most?

I don't know about Tampa, but there seems to be a LOT down here in Sarasota. There seem to be a lot more French people here lately, but also I hear many accents when I go downtown or out shopping or even to the beach. We also have European friends who are wanting to buy in the area. I think they are taking advantage of the real estate bargains to be had right now.

[BucFan]

Germans love the Gulf Coast - I know many that own property from Tampa to Ft Myers. Nice way to get out of the dreary winters here.

[bentlebee]

I'm not sure if every one can egognize accents and really can be sure where the people are from...I'm told sometimes "au revoir", I guess some people think I'm from France, than people think I'm from Germany, Skandanavia, etc....I'm not from any of these countries...

[RiWrites]

The opposite is also true. Americans who want to move to Europe have a really hard time unlike people who live in other European countries. It is near to impossible for an American to move to Britain.

A lot of Americans have not traveled abroad because of the cost of it. So unlike Europeans who hear the different accents more often it is hard to discern where someone is from.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by bentlebee

I'm not sure if every one can egognize accents and really can be sure where the people are from...I'm told sometimes "au revoir", I guess some people think I'm from France, than people think I'm from Germany, Skandanavia, etc....I'm not from any of these countries...

We know accents, especially my hubby - he grew up in Belgium and has traveled all over the world. I easily recognize French, Spanish and Italian, and "New York" lol - others I'm not so sure about.