[MTFRED]

I'm thinking about calling it home, but would like more info. How the cost of home owners and do they have a sinkhole problem like they have in Spring Hill?
I need to get as much info as possible. I'm thinking about taking a job in St Petes. How are the area hospitals? Anyone work for "All Children's"?

[pioneer8]

Hi there! I lived in New Port Richey for 2 yrs. in very different areas. One was deed restricted- which, as you probably know, has it's pros and cons. Things around were newer... actually nice. The other was a house close to the river... (Shirley Temple's childhood home was on the street- old charming area- spotty though-) I believe they were doing a lot in that area for growth and improvement. I don't feel that the old New Port Richey is very nice on the whole. There are some spots that are good though. I read on a few posts before yours - the same kind of question- there may be some good responses there as well. Also, if I may, living in NPR and traveling to St. Petersburg to work each day could be a challenge. It's about 40 mins from NPR to Clearwater... my husband had to make that commute at one point and it was awful. There are nicer places to live when you work in St. Pete... even St. Pete itself has some good places. I know there was some tension (riots or something) in the predominately African American neighborhoods a couple of years ago. Maybe you'd like to investigate (maybe, old St. Pete Times newspapers online?) . Also, some areas of St. Pete are rather pricey now. Clearwater or maybe Largo would be good spots for a tolerable commute... Depending where in St. Pete you actually have your job. I hope I was of some help.

[summergal]

Mtfred, yeah the commute to St.Pete from NPR is really not feasable for much longer. When we were house hunting in NPR, we met some folks there who said it takes them more than an hour to get to All Children's (the husband works there). The traffic here is getting worse and worse as more people are moving here everyday and the sprawl is creeping out even as far as Hernando county. The thing is there are only TWO major roads out of Pinellas going north. And there are a bizzillion people trying to make that same commute since it's becoming more difficult to find any affordable homes here. All the areas north are growing like crazy with new developments. You really would be better off living down in Pinellas. There is Tarpon Springs, which is a town very much like NPR with an inlet going thru town and a very cute downtown, but closer and I imagine the commute would be better, although still pretty far from St. Pete.

There are lots of nice areas around here but the cost is kinda high and yes the insurance is skyrocketing. A coworker of mine was cancelled three times since last year. His home is 1600 sq', not near the beach and he just got his new "adjustment" ... $4300 per year! More than doubled. I have heard of some folks with larger homes geting raised to as much as $6000 - $8000! That's alot of wasted cash per month that could be going into your IRA or whatever... For some, it's more than what their income can bear. Others that can afford it just see it as part of the price of living in "paradise" lol.

[MTFRED]

Thanks for the heads up. Any further info would be greatly appreciated. I'll check other areas.