St. Pete Relocation questions. (Tampa, St. Petersburg: rent, insurance, condos)

[icorvidae]

Hi Everyone, I have been researching all the relocation posts and am hoping you can help me with some further questions.

I am excited by the possibility of moving to a 'young' city with a lot to offer. I worry a bit about leaving a good job here in Mass, but can use the HATE word when referring to winters. How hard has the economy hit you down there? Is there desperation, or are people hanging on.

Could anyone tell me about buying a condo (I can afford up to about 135k), what the average fees are and what they cover, what are property taxes like in St. Pete, what insurance will run me, and which are the best new (built since 2005) condos.

Also, I am currently an oral surgery assistant who got her start in general dentistry. Do you feel there would be employment opportunity for me?

And finally, I am single, educated, cute, fit and seem to be into a lot of guy activities like muscle cars, golf, UFC. Am I going to meet viable men looking for relationships?

Thanks in advance!

[Lstcats]

Hi icorvidae,

I, too, am moving to Tampa Bay area from near Boston. I am putting my condo on the market in the next month or so. Lot to do. Very exciting but scary as to the whole process. I am not sure where to live and been researching. I was down there for 10 days in Nov. meeting people in my profession (nursing) and just driving around. Isn't so nice down there to have people who are respectful drivers, no potholes (that is a big issue with me), nice happy people, and more. When are you moving or do you know? I can't wait to get out of this city I live in with drug house across the street and gang house below me. I don't want to get into the same situation in FL so safety is a big concern of mine.

[icorvidae]

Hi BEfriend,

I'm not sure about when I am moving (or even if). My main goal is to take advantage of the Firsttime Homebuyer's tax credit of 8k, so I need to close by 11/30/09, whether it will be in Sunny St. Pete or here in W. Mass. I will be going by myself, so it is a bit daunting, but "If not now, when" was a quote I read the other day! Do you have a family? Where did you like when you were there in Nov? Good to hear the people are friendly down there, I get so exhasperated by the generalized rudeness of Mass-Holes!! I'm sure you do to! Thanks for replying, keep in touch! I'm thinking about taking a last minute flight down on Tuesday (on vacation this week) to check everything out. icorvidae

[TampaStar]

Smoothwaitress, do you have a saved copy of your post that you just cut and paste into every topic about someone moving to Tampa???

[matchpoint]

Originally Posted by TampaStar

Smoothwaitress, do you have a saved copy of your post that you just cut and paste into every topic about someone moving to Tampa???

Took the words right out of my mouth... smoothwaitress must be an agent for an anti-tampa propaganda machine

[SunsetBeachFL]

Didn't the OP refer to St. Petersburg? Just sayin'

[LoganFL]

The unemployment rate in Florida is higher than the national average, for whatever that's worth. I believe it's over 10% in the bay area. But that doesn't necessarily mean you won't find a job here. I'd imagine the medical field hasn't been hit as hard as some other industries, and last I checked people still have teeth, and they still require maintaining, so...

There are some very nice new condos just being completed right in downtown St Pete. For example, this and this. Not sure what 135K will get you though, but a word of advice if I may. Rent first, at least for a little while. Get to know the area, explore the different neighborhoods, see where you wind up working, and only then start thinking about buying. Not to mention, with all the property taxes, condo fees, and property insurance, you'll be able to get a much better place for the same money if you rent.

[Lstcats]

Originally Posted by icorvidae

Hi BEfriend,

I'm not sure about when I am moving (or even if). My main goal is to take advantage of the Firsttime Homebuyer's tax credit of 8k, so I need to close by 11/30/09, whether it will be in Sunny St. Pete or here in W. Mass. I will be going by myself, so it is a bit daunting, but "If not now, when" was a quote I read the other day! Do you have a family? Where did you like when you were there in Nov? Good to hear the people are friendly down there, I get so exhasperated by the generalized rudeness of Mass-Holes!! I'm sure you do to! Thanks for replying, keep in touch! I'm thinking about taking a last minute flight down on Tuesday (on vacation this week) to check everything out. icorvidae

I know what you mean about "IF". My condo is not on the market yet but will be in 2-3 weeks. I live near boston in a crime ridden drug/gang infested city...no names. I want to get out so bad! Drug house across the street and a gang house below me and two shootings/wild parties/noise etc. (those homes mentioned) in the past 2 years. I am definitely not buying in FL. I have had it with condo fees (312.00 per mos. for nothing but a parking lot), mortgage, RE taxes over 2,000 for nothing and trying to upkeep repairs. Can you believe the rents in Tampa Bay area? What you get for $1,000 a mos. would be $1800-2000 a mos where I live and you may not have a pool or fitness room. And, the amenties WOW...pools and fitness clubs and palm trees and screened porch/lanai. I have had it with potholes, winter, rude horrible people, bad drivers, (me included sometimes and am a nicer person in FL), the politics here, liberalism, and on and on. No, I am single also with two cats. I looked around Dundee/Palm Harbor area and went to meet some nsg. professors @ PHCC (NPortRichey). I don't like Rte. 19 at all and most of the condo complexes are right off of it. And, too far from the beach. I stayed down Madeira Beach and you must go to St. John's Pass. Really wonderful place. Gorgeous!!! But, I headed down near St. Pete and said I have to be here. St. Pete beach is gorgeous. Clearwater Beach and the area is horrible now. changed a lot. I was in Tampa a lot and went to meet some nurses and nsg. students at USF-Tampa. One thing to tell you is that I couldn't find any traffic anywhere. No bumper to bumper traffic taking you 35 min. to go 9 miles like it does here. I left Madeira Beach & went to Tampa Convention Center on a Friday AM at 6:45 AM and got there @ 7:05. I couldn't believe there was no traffic and no people anywhere. I parked for $5 for the entire day in the lot next to the convention center. I could not believe it! parking here, as you know, is $20-25 per day and more. It would take me 40-45 min. to go the same distance here at the same time of day that it took me 20 min. to get there. Floridians do not know how good they have it. I just pray that I can move there soon. Well, enough info??? Just wanted to encourage you.

[On-da-Beach]

Originally Posted by Lstcats

I know what you mean about "IF". My condo is not on the market yet but will be in 2-3 weeks. I live near boston in a crime ridden drug/gang infested city...no names. I want to get out so bad! Drug house across the street and a gang house below me and two shootings/wild parties/noise etc. (those homes mentioned) in the past 2 years. I am definitely not buying in FL. I have had it with condo fees (312.00 per mos. for nothing but a parking lot), mortgage, RE taxes over 2,000 for nothing and trying to upkeep repairs. Can you believe the rents in Tampa Bay area? What you get for $1,000 a mos. would be $1800-2000 a mos where I live and you may not have a pool or fitness room. And, the amenties WOW...pools and fitness clubs and palm trees and screened porch/lanai. I have had it with potholes, winter, rude horrible people, bad drivers, (me included sometimes and am a nicer person in FL), the politics here, liberalism, and on and on. No, I am single also with two cats. I looked around Dundee/Palm Harbor area and went to meet some nsg. professors @ PHCC (NPortRichey). I don't like Rte. 19 at all and most of the condo complexes are right off of it. And, too far from the beach. I stayed down Madeira Beach and you must go to St. John's Pass. Really wonderful place. Gorgeous!!! But, I headed down near St. Pete and said I have to be here. St. Pete beach is gorgeous. Clearwater Beach and the area is horrible now. changed a lot. I was in Tampa a lot and went to meet some nurses and nsg. students at USF-Tampa. One thing to tell you is that I couldn't find any traffic anywhere. No bumper to bumper traffic taking you 35 min. to go 9 miles like it does here. I left Madeira Beach & went to Tampa Convention Center on a Friday AM at 6:45 AM and got there @ 7:05. I couldn't believe there was no traffic and no people anywhere. I parked for $5 for the entire day in the lot next to the convention center. I could not believe it! parking here, as you know, is $20-25 per day and more. It would take me 40-45 min. to go the same distance here at the same time of day that it took me 20 min. to get there. Floridians do not know how good they have it. I just pray that I can move there soon. Well, enough info??? Just wanted to encourage you.

Some Floridians...not all.




We went from this^^

to this:



And we're not goin' back!

[cameraLens]

Originally Posted by icorvidae

Hi Everyone, I have been researching all the relocation posts and am hoping you can help me with some further questions.

I am excited by the possibility of moving to a 'young'

Let me guess, are you another "young professional" on city-data ?