Schools in the Bradenton area (Tampa, Clearwater: foreclosure, HOA fees, crime)

[Grahamclan25]

Hello everyone,
I am in the processing of interviewing for a job at our plant in South Clearwater. My wife and I are considering Bradenton as an area which we might want to live if I get the job. I have two teenage boys and would like to finds a school district that is smaller in size (600-800 kids in grades 9-12). I would like to avoid any communities where you have to pay any HOA fees but we really do not want to spend more than 220,000 on our house. Any suggestions?

[loves2read]

FL schools have lot of mixed reviews both on this board and in the state and outside it

right now the issue is on budgeting
the legislature is trying to cut the funding to schools because the money for its share is supposedly falling
the state has qualified for federal stimulus funds which will be shared with districts in sort of an uneven way so not every county will get the same amount
a recent study showed FL as improved in some evaluation areas but some of the more important indicators of quality schools like teacher salaries ranks them 45--meaning that it is in the botton 10% for salaries...
and the state contributes less per student than most other states--think it ranks in bottom 10% there as well...

[Ladywithafan]

Let me tell you something, the drive from Bradenton to S. Clearwater will get very old very fast.

Look in Clearwater/Tampa/St. Pete instead.

[Grahamclan25]

Someone here at work warned me that the commute would be bad so I am not sure if Bradenton is an option. We want a 4 bedroom house with 2 bathrooms and a pool for under 240,000. I have not seen a lot of options in St. Pete or Clearwater. If I go up by Tarpon Springs or down towards Bradenton, everything gets cheaper.

[miketblack]

go up by tarpon. its a much shorter commute.

this house is in seminole, its in my sub division where i live now. ive seen it, its very nice.
Beautiful Seminole near Keswick (http://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/reo/1628768118.html - broken link)

clearwater Beautiful Home Move-In Ready (http://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/reb/1627250990.html - broken link)

or even this is you clean it up a lil NEW FORECLOSURE READY TO GO (http://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/reb/1623151989.html - broken link)

while bradenton is a nicer area, that drive will be a good hour plus each way. i work in st.pete and am looking in bradenton myself, my drive would be about 35 miles and 45 minutes, but i think its worth it.

mike

[Oobie119]

I have to say, Bradenton may not be the place. Nice homes out east, but Im not sure you will find what you are looking for in that price range. The schools and area are MUCH nicer out east, stay away from the other areas, we are on our way out, too much crime and it's just not a pretty place. We just finished our home search, our price rance was comparable to yours and we could NOT touch a home with a pool, let alone with 4 bedrooms. Check out these areas Mote Ranch, University Pkway area (Stay south of University Pkway to stay in Manatee schools , Sarasota ones can be a bit rough in that area). Check out subdivisions like Mill Creek, Greefield Plantation and Greyhawk Landing these all have good schools and good proximity to I75. AND there is always school choice..A bit further south, but still East, you have Tara, Creekwood and Braden River area. These all have good schools also, they are just further south, but still offer great access to 75..
Id stay with Manatee County schools, Sarasota ones get nicer the further south you go. Here are the good schools in the county (Im a teacher and My hubby is employed by the district too)..these are based on academia as well as student population..
Elem: Tara, Braden River, Willis, Williams, McNeal, Freedom
MS: Braden River, Nolan
HS: Braden River

[miketblack]

im looking in mill creek right now. im looking at 3 ( or 4) beds/ 2 bath/ 2 car garage for 200k and under down to 169k. 1 has a pool, 3 have fireplaces. all around 1800 to 2200 feet. most are 1 acre lots, very nice area. i live in seminole right now in pinellas, and that eastern manatee area just makes my place look like the hood. no comparrison.

if you can swing 220k, id even be looking at 250 and under, and that opens a whole new range of homes.

Moderator cut: realtor websites not allowed

[Oobie119]

We loved Mill Creek, however, with no community pool we ruled that one out! With me teaching and off all summer, and my little one loving to swim, a pool was a must. We couldn't find one with a pool to suit our desires.. : )