Searching for a town! (Tampa, St. Petersburg: for sale, apartments, rent)

[travelings]

Hello. Here's a little background: My family and I want to relocate to a small town near Tampa. We are currently living in North Carolina.

My father is retired. He wants to live in a retirement town that offers golfing and fishing. In addition, I have a brother who is still in high school. We want to find a small town that offers cheap rent, but is close to the beach as well. Do you guys have any ideas for me to look into? Towns that I've looked at so far that seemed interesting were St. Petersburg, Sarasota, and Tarpon Springs.

Thanks!

[Tampasteve]

Good luck coming down to Florida. Finding a "small town" in one the largest metropolitan area in Florida might be tough unless you look at some of the outlying areas. I would not consider St. Pete or Sarasota small towns but they are nice cities. Parts of these cities have that small town feel, like Old Northeast in St. Pete or Bradenton. A few areas to check out Seminole, Bradenton, Crystal River, and Madeira Beach. Crystal River, Spring Hill, Tarpon Springs might be a good starting point as you work your way down.

[lovethetruth]

Or Brooksville to the north, it kind of has that small town appeal.

[lavender]

Try Seminole, great for schools (public) and close to beach. Many homes are non flood even though only a couple of mins from the beach at Indian Rocks. Lakeview of Largo are great retirement apartments, there are currently a whole bunch for sale at a really good price, they are very well kept and safe and walking to shops/banks etc. Lakeview of largo is right next to seminole. The beach is half a mile from Lakeview of Largo too. Fishing and golf nearby. Nearest golf is the newly redone Largo Municipal about 3/4 mile away. Lowest price condo in Lakeview 1/1 for $70K ground floor. You can buy or rent from an owner there. Homes in Seminole, right now, I bet you can get one for $1000 and it will be pretty decent.