Really bad houses in Tampa (Bayshore Gardens, Sunset: sales, chapel, home sales)

[biggoose9000]

I've been here for nearly a year and I can't hold back any longer. The houses in Tampa are really bad. Has anyone else noticed this? I am from Ohio and the houses there are far superior. I keep scouring Tampa for decent looking homes, and even the most high-end neighborhoods like Davis Islands and South Tampa yield what would be considered mediocre homes in Ohio.
Even with the housing market upside down, the prices for the decent homes are through the roof. I drove by this very, very average, unimpressive single-story ranch home on Davis Islands with no curbs and bad landscaping, picked up a flier and it cost $700,000.
I know Florida should cost more because it's so beautiful but can someone please tell me why the houses here are so shoddy? Why, with all the development, they didn't tear down some of these shacks and build normal homes? I would like to buy a house someday but in all of Tampa I can't seem to find one decent house.
Is there some neighborhood where there are curbs, nice homes with LAWNS and decent square footage?

[Susan C.]

Have you looked in the Tampa Palms/New Tampa area? The homes there are on the newer side and there are some lovely subdivisions in those areas.

[kwflconch]

Average home prices in Tampa are lower than the US average, $149,800 in Tampa compared to $181,300 for the country. Tampa has some pretty nice houses, especially in the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel area.

International Property News | US Existing Home Sales Plummet
Bay Area Home Prices Continue Downward Spiral - News- msnbc.com
http://www.realtor.com/search/search...000&bd=4&bth=3

[biggoose9000]

LYes mainly I have been looking around South Tampa at homes. I love South Tampa neighborhood. I would feel lucky to live there. Davis Islands is okay too. But I get discouraged because the curbs are nonexistant and lawns bleed into the streets which often have giant ponds in them for lack of adquate drainage. I almost expect to see lilies and geese in these sinkholes everywhere.

[tampaguy03]

As you drive throughout South Tampa , you will see LOTS of 'mcmansions' (older homes demiolished for brand new huge homes)...neighborhoods like Beach Park, New Suburb Beautiful, Golfview, Bayshore Gardens, Bayshore Beautiful, Sunset Park, Stoney Point, Culbreath Bayou, Culbreath Isles, Palma Ceia to name a few, and most under the 700k you saw on Davis Islands....

[LoganFL]

If you have some free time, drive around Tierra Verde, Belleair Beach, and the Old Northeast in St Pete(particularly the Shore Acres/Snell Isle neighborhoods) just to name a few. Not many "ugly" houses there.

As for South Tampa, I'd have to agree that it's somewhat overpriced but not to the extent you're suggesting. No way that for $700k you cannot find a relatively nice renovated house even there.

[Krulik]

Originally Posted by LoganFL

As for South Tampa, I'd have to agree that it's somewhat overpriced but not to the extent you're suggesting. No way that for $700k you cannot find a relatively nice renovated house even there.

I have been looking into houses in South Tampa (as well as other areas) and I have to agree: for 700k you can find nice, renovated houses there. The "ugly" 700k houses are generally on large lots, which are responsible for the price tag.

[sueinge]

When I first moved here from the midwest I thought the same thing about the houses, I couldn't believe how ugly they all were and how expensive they could be! But that was almost 15 years ago and I guess you get used to the "look" of the houses down here eventually. Actually some of the ugliest houses on the outside are quite nice and newly renovated on the inside. It does take a long time to get used to the houses not looking like they do up North. I moved away to NC for the last few years and when we had to move back I was feeling worried about having to live in an ugly house again after living in a new house in NC, but we decided to look in Pasco County (I live in Odessa) this time and we are totally pleased with the new-ness and nice-ness of the neighborhoods up here. I agree to look in New Tampa, or around Pasco County and you might be surprised what you find up here is just a bit nicer looking since the homes are newer. Hope this helps!!

[Nav]

Bay Area Taxes are a big reason the older homes are still there. IF you heavily renovate or scrape and build new you will get reassessed at the current market value. That 700k house you are seeing most likely is valued on the tax roll at 150k since it was purchased so long ago. If you were to scrape and build a new 700k house on the property (or purchase the house and have it appraise at 700k), the taxes would jump to the neighborhood of 15k per year. In hillsborough county, they will not reassess your home value unless there is a change of ownership or major renovation. Once homesteaded, the county will only raise your assessed value 3% per year.

Oh the joys of living in Florida!

Nav

[gypsychic]

How funny - I think the houses in all the other states I have been (especially NC) are really, really ugly and I absolutely LOVE the houses in Florida - at least the vintage ones built in the 1950's and back. I love the Florida stucco ranches and the old vintage Mediterraneans.

Different strokes, I guess.