Please help! moving to St. petersburg from Southern Ca (Tampa: apartment, rental market)

[GCJC]

We are relocating from Southern California to St. Petersburg due to my husband's job transfer. Can anyone recommend any neighborhoods with excellent school districts and good, safe neighborhoods? (We have a 4 yr old and a 9 month old.) Some friends told me that Tampa is close by too, and told us to look into Tampa as well, so we are also considering looking at homes in tampa. The number one priority is for us to find a good school for my 4 yr old who will be going to kindergarten this fall. Thanks!

[kdubose]

I was born and raised here and wouldnt recommend any area of St Pete except the Northeast or Snell Isle (coming from SoCal you may feel more at home in Snell Isle!! The rest of it has seemed to go a little downhill over the years with some questionable and shady neighborhoods and schools. As for Tampa, the closest part to St Pete that I think is great would be South Tampa (just over Gandy Bridge from St Pete). Hope this helps a little.

[bchlver123]

Welcome to Florida! I just moved from Orange County Calif in June 08. My suggestion is to stay away from S. St. Pete. I live in a fairly nice gated complex in South St. Pete on the water and it's not a good area. I'm actually looking to break my lease and move up to Snell Isle. I probably actually wouldn't recommend any area of st. Pete either like Kdubose said except Northeast, shore acres, snell isle, that area. Those areas are really nice!!! People jogging, walking, families. I'm not familiar with Tampa. Where are you moving from?? You will love the beaches here!! Very different from Cali beaches. If you love the water, you will love it here...fishing, snorkling, kayaking!! I love the afternoon thunderstorms in the summer. It's a bit humid in the summer, but you will get used to it!!

[GCJC]

Thank you kdubose and bchlver123!! I really appreciate the info. We are looking to move to FL by Sept., before the school year starts. I feel really overwhelmed, your feedback will really help me out.

Bchlver123-- we live in Fullerton, North orange county. We are going to miss So Cal! How do you like living over there?

[nar69]

i would also like to recommend south tampa. great schools, safe, and close by to everything. st. pete is right across the bridge. good luck!

[Stewabby]

South Tampa would be great for you. Good schools, safe area and it is just over a bridge from St. Pete.

[lavender]

Hello
dont forget the gulf side of the county. Seminole has wonderful (state) schools in all 3 ages. The beaches are close by, anything from one to eight mins in a car. Closer to the beach is the better/safer locations. Crime is pretty low here, sidewalk streets mostly, so good for walking, biking etc. We have great parks around, of course the beaches, it's accessible to St Pete by several roads, depending on which area you are working and it's very laid back and friendly. Homes are definitely less expensive than in CA and if you are renting before you buy, which is always a good idea, there are a ton of decent homes on the rental market just now, as sellers are unable to sell and will rent at pretty good rates.
Good luck with the move. Where will the job be located, that might be helpful for others to see, and recommend living areas, however, S.Tampa, the NE/Shore Acres/Snell Isle and then Seminole area are all good for you and offer lots of different types of homes and facilities.

[DC2Tampa]

Old Northeast/Snell Isle area would be my recommendation also. If you'd like to live a little futher out from downtown St. Pete and closer to Tampa(but still across the bridges) you might also wanna look into the Feathersound area. It's a very nice area and neighborhoods that kinda have a SoCal feel.

[Angler]

All of west ST. Petersburg out to the Jungle neighborhoods are excellent and safe and have better than average schools.

[sligotenn]

My son is coming to USF in St. Pete for grad school and will be moving to area with wife. He is looking for a good/safe apartment with nice shopping areas close by. Can anyone recommend anything? You say that the Snell Isle or northeast area are good? any apartment recommendations?