Best family neighborhood outside of pinellas county? (Tampa, Brandon: real estate, insurance)

[firsttimeowner]

I was told by my morgage lender who lives in palm harbor how nice that area is and what good schools it has. But I can only afford 175k and there are only very old or very small houses for that price there.

So what I wanted to know is, where would you suggest I look?


I can go to Sarasota or anywhere really that has good public schools and a safe family environment.

I mainly want 3 bdrs under 175k with 1500plus living space in a non gated community. Lush backyard with maybe a pool. Newer or updated.


I would like to be kinds close to a city or large town that offers many activities and diverse people of all ages.

Please help me decide.


I dont know the area well.

Basically I want san diego but at florida prices.


Thanks
Debbie

[Kevin and Sultana]

Sorry, this is not an answer to question, but sort of adding my own needs on to what you are asking.

Original poster's request is almost exactly what we are looking for in terms of schools, price range, etc., except we are NOT interested in the lush backyard or pool.

Thoughts/suggestions anyone?

[floridabonds]

Check out Brandon area. I'm moving to the area and I've noticed that the prices are lower and it seems to be a big family area. I've been told the schools are good.

[Sunnydee]

You might also want to check out Riverview. There are some really good buys right now.

[a_fl_vol]

You might want to look a bit north of Sarasota at the Palmetto area http://palmettofl.org/ . I think it matches exactly what you are looking for in a house and easy access to Tampa.

I found this house on Realtor.com in Palmetto. Not too shabby for the price and amenities.

5011 Hemingford Ct, Palmetto, FL, 34221 - MLS ID#A3907465 - Single Family Home real estate - REALTOR.com®

[imguytpa]

Your May want to check out
-Land O lakes
-Wesley Chapel/New Tampa
-Brandon/Riverview
More bang for your buck than Pinellas County, not as crowded
Much further from Beaches
You don't mention work/commute, that would be a big factor for me....

[Traderx]

Simply put there are no good, safe areas with good schools in Tampa Bay where a house costs 175K. Especially if you want a pool and a yard.

Also when you say you can afford 175K are you taking taxes and insurance, especially insurance, into consideration? Those could easily run you 5K a year or more. Florida is not a cheap place to live.

Btw Land-o-lakes is more like Arkansas than San Diego
Brandon /Riverview are congested beyond belief and the homes are mostly cookie cutter and very poorly built with many streets having multiple vacant forclosed homes.
Wesley Chappel the same thing. Drive through there and you'll lose count of all the vacant houses. Not very safe either although I wouldn't save anyplace is all that safe. Depends on what you're use to to I suppose.

In any event, compared to Palm Harbor none of those areas are really much of a comparison. You might be better off lowering your expectations and looking for a condo in Palm Harbor. The Florida lifestyle you seem to be dreaming of costs quite a bit of money.

[LianeJamason]

I would disagree re Brandon and Riverview. Sure there are some communities that are cookie cutter or built badly - that happens anywhere. But there are also a lot of affordable homes in that area - and its far less congested than the New Tampa area - which would be the other area of town that has homes in your price range and that match your description. Kids and condo life don't often go very well together.