Tarpon springs ? (Tampa, Palm Harbor, Dunedin: condo, homes, safe area)

[sandy37]

Is Tarpon Springs a nice community ? And how are the prices of homes there? Is that an area were there are Hurricanes ? thanks

[kelly3120]

grew up in Tarpon Springs!!!!
It's yuppy and beautiful! ....I love it!
...majority of the community is awesome ...even the lower quality areas have been upgraded. It's a well maintained little town.

The majority of the town is greek orthadox(sp) and Christain but there is a little silliness here and there(like all cities). People are nice, but expect to see someone you know everywhere you go. It's a pretty safe area.
There is of course alot of Greek influence in EVERYTHING BUt it is a Greek town. =)

The high school is fine and the middle and elementary schools lack a little. The Junior college is a great junior college and many opt to go there instead of USF ...even tho I am a USF-er GO BULLS! =)

Homes vary from the 200(for a 3 bedroom) to a few mil(if living on the water), depending on where you decided to settle. Because of the way Tarpon is set up, Hurricanes don't hit that hard.
I grew up on the water across from Howard beach and there are islands surrounding the area, which break up most storms.


There are flooding issues in bad storms and the water can get very high.
One year the ocean in back of our home and lake in from connected and all our homes were little islands for about a day. ...but that has only happened once in about 15 years.

that's all I got!
I loved growing up there, but I'm just as happy in Lutz!

[DecoDiva]

Gee, that's not what I have heard. I'm living in New Port Richey, one town north of Tarpon. Tarpon is MUCH nicer than NPR but I was told it's more expensive. I do go there to shop, dine, hang out in general. According to information received during a waterfront tour of Tarpon, I was told that even though there are many Greek stores, restaurants, churches and such (the Easter cross-diving thing takes place in Tarpon, in Spring Bayou, where the manatees come in the winter), the Greek population now is only 19%. It DOES seem like it should be higher, though, especially down by the Sponge Docks.

I have only lived in this area for a year, but the locals tell me that the area (both NPR and Tarpon) are low-lying and as such are usually evacuated at least once every hurricane season. Last year we weren't evacuated, but last year there was only that one storm, I wouldn't even call it a hurricane.

That's what I've heard at any rate.

I will say it's a pretty town with some nice areas, seems like a nice place to live. Whenever I have out of town visitors, I always take them to Tarpon...and tell them to please close their eyes as we drive on the nightmare that is Route 19 that goes through New Port Richey. I'm so embarrased to live by such an eyesore...I just put my condo on the market.
I'm looking at Tampa, St Pete and Dunedin right now...trying to narrow it down...

[kelly3120]

ohhh tarpon is a little expensive ...but not much more the NPR!

When I lived there there was a "greek Corner" at school. ...maybe it's changed.

In the ten years we lived on the water we were given about a good amount of voluntary evacuations and never evacuated, because the islands break it up. Never one mandatory evacuation.
The one storm that got us was the "No-Name storm" and it was a surprise to everyone.

I like Dunedin alot! Yu couldn't pay me to live in St. Pete(traffic is so confusing) and Tampa is ok. We have resided here for about 4-5 years and don't mind it.

[dawn4261]

Tarpon Springs is going down hill very fast. Choose either Dunedin or Palm Harbor instead.

[DecoDiva]

Originally Posted by dawn4261

Tarpon Springs is going down hill very fast. Choose either Dunedin or Palm Harbor instead.

Going down hill in what way? There's a lot of road construction going on right now, is that what you mean? I haven't noticed anything else. Businesses and restaurants are the same. Waterfront is the same. What do you see that I haven't noticed? I'm in Tarpon almost daily.

[donna123]

There's more and less diserable areas of every city. Tarpon Springs is no different. I live in the East Lake area of Tarpon Springs and it is fantastic! I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. East Lake is a little more expensive but the schools are all grade A and the area is clean and upscale. You can get a really nice home for a little over $400K. google "east lake homes" and you will get a lot of good info.

[CHASLS2]

New port richey is pretty bad! I lived in Tampa all my life, moved to NPR back in 04. Main reason i moved to NPR it was cheaper than living on the bay in Tampa, much cheaper Taxes, homes for under $100,000, so like a fool i paid cash for a home in NPR.

I plan on moving to Glades or Hendry county FL, i wanna be far away from traffic and city life!