Is Tampa for me? (Orlando, Lutz: fit in, renters, amusement parks)

[chrisredfield96]

I am currently living in Texas, I am not from this state though, and no longer want to stay here. I have been considering Tampa for awhile now but have some questions about the area.

1. Does it rain there everyday in the summer? I heard it only lasts an hour or so, is that true?

2. When was the last time a hurricane hit Tampa? Do they come often?

3. Does renters and/or home owners insurance cover hurricane damage, or do you have to pay extra for that?

4. If you live in Tampa, or have lived there can you tell me what you liked, and disliked about the area?

I dont like Texas because of the heat, this past week the high temp has been 107 degrees. I know Florida is hot but it cant be that bad. Also I like the beach, as well as amusement parks. There are no beaches in the part of Texas I live in, and there is a 6 Flags Amusement Park, but it is often too hot outside to go there. The excess heat really ruins a lot here, at least during the day.

thanks

[CrowGirl]

Originally Posted by chrisredfield96

1. Does it rain there everyday in the summer? I heard it only lasts an hour or so, is that true?

2. When was the last time a hurricane hit Tampa? Do they come often?

3. Does renters and/or home owners insurance cover hurricane damage, or do you have to pay extra for that?

4. If you live in Tampa, or have lived there can you tell me what you liked, and disliked about the area?

I dont like Texas because of the heat, this past week the high temp has been 107 degrees. I know Florida is hot but it cant be that bad. Also I like the beach, as well as amusement parks. There are no beaches in the part of Texas I live in, and there is a 6 Flags Amusement Park, but it is often too hot outside to go there. The excess heat really ruins a lot here, at least during the day.

1. It varies and has bee getting a bit less predictable. IT does rain quite a bit in the summer, and has been raining fairly non-stop, it seems, over the last few weeks. But it is quite common to have an afternoon storm. Most commonly it will be an hour or two but it can last longer.

2. It has been a long time since a hurricane hit Tampa; I don't know the exact year. Certainly not a major one in quite a long time. Personally, I think that has lulled the area into a false sense of security. You could look at it like they don't hit here often, or you can look at it like the area is due for one any time. It's going to be a possibility here, period.

3. Yes, homeowner's insurance covers windstorm damage; I believe that is required by state law. Unfortunately that is one reason why so many companies have pulled out of the state. Deductibles are pretty high....5% I think is typical. Plus there is a cap on mold damage recovery of $10K. And of course flood is separate.

4. I like the beauty of the area, the price of homes (although this will depend what you are comparing against) and having lots of things to do. I don't find the heat intolerable, but it's an element I dislike about Tampa. I also hate the so-called public transportation system and how dangerous it is to bicycle in the area.


I will say if you are tempted to leave Texas because of the heat, you really need to visit here in the dog days of summer. I lived in Texas for a short while and yes, it was very hot. I don't remember it being palpably worse than it is here, although it will vary quite a bit depending on how close to the Gulf you are. We don't get many days of 100+ degrees on the thermometer but 100+ degrees with the heat index is not uncommon.

[rezfreak]

Flood insurance is not always separate - it really depends on the carrier.. with USAA our renters insurance includes flood damage, including if its caused by a hurricane.

[Kevin from Tampa]

I'll just comment on the heat....

If you're not sure about heat, come here RIGHT NOW. This is the hottest time of the year. Wait...it's not so much the heat, it's the humidity. I know that is a cliche, but in Florida, it's a true one. You need to experience it before you move here. I love Florida, and most of the year the weather is awesome, but from late May-early October, when you step out of your house, even at 3am, you'll develop a light sheen of sweat within a few minutes that only goes away once you're in AC.

[BucFan]

Its hot and miserable here - you learn to live with it. If you didn't like it in Texas, you won't like the weather here either.

[chrisredfield96]

Originally Posted by Kevin from Tampa

I'll just comment on the heat....

from late May-early October, when you step out of your house, even at 3am, you'll develop a light sheen of sweat within a few minutes that only goes away once you're in AC.

The same thing happens in Texas from June till at least September. I will have to visit before deciding, but I was interested in Florida since it seems like there is more to do, like going to the different beaches and theme parks which I dont have here, but always wanted. Also I am originally from the northern states, and I feel like I dont fit in Texas at all with their southern accents and slower way of life.

I am self employed so I can live anywhere, however I do want to take some college classes soon for computer/tech related stuff, so I need to decide where I am going to live, before I commit to 2 or 3 years worth of college classes. I will probably be asking more questions on this forum soon on which particular area of Tampa to live in. I would want to rent first, and currently pay $800/mo for a 2 bedroom apt and would like something similar as long as the crime rate was low. Thanks for responding everyone.

[chrisredfield96]

Originally Posted by CrowGirl

I will say if you are tempted to leave Texas because of the heat, you really need to visit here in the dog days of summer. I lived in Texas for a short while and yes, it was very hot. I don't remember it being palpably worse than it is here, although it will vary quite a bit depending on how close to the Gulf you are. We don't get many days of 100+ degrees on the thermometer but 100+ degrees with the heat index is not uncommon.

Doesnt going to the beach help with the heat though? Its really dry here in Texas, it rains like once every 10 days.

**Also I forgot to ask, how is the Tampa weather in the winter? I heard its like 50 to 70 degrees during the day usually?

[algia]

yeah, more to do? hmmm, sure if you're into water sports and theme parks which are in Orlando BTW Tampa only has Busch Gardens,...everywhere you go within 400 miles you end up on another beach! and they all look the same with the exception that on the east coast you get more surf (Daytona etc) .....it is darn hot, but like someone else said, it is the humidity that makes it horrible....need 9 showers a day......it rains and rains and rains, and thanks to last years El Nino, we had a whole winter with rain that put us in a whole summer with rain...and when it rains, it pours you can't see in front of your car, and people forget how to drive instantly.

To each his own they say.......I hate it here...it is boring, traffic it miserable, took me 1 1/2 to get from Lutz to downtown in no rain, just bumper to bumper...and scenery wise it is boooooooooooooooooooooring, no diversity. No jobs...and everyone expects something for free!

Originally Posted by chrisredfield96

The same thing happens in Texas from June till at least September. I will have to visit before deciding, but I was interested in Florida since it seems like there is more to do, like going to the different beaches and theme parks which I dont have here, but always wanted. Also I am originally from the northern states, and I feel like I dont fit in Texas at all with their southern accents and slower way of life.

I am self employed so I can live anywhere, however I do want to take some college classes soon for computer/tech related stuff, so I need to decide where I am going to live, before I commit to 2 or 3 years worth of college classes. I will probably be asking more questions on this forum soon on which particular area of Tampa to live in. I would want to rent first, and currently pay $800/mo for a 2 bedroom apt and would like something similar as long as the crime rate was low. Thanks for responding everyone.

[BucFan]

Yeah, probably best to go somewhere else - the last thing this CD forum needs is another poster who posts "what I hate about Tampa" threads. Look into New Mexico - I hear it's nice there.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by chrisredfield96

Doesnt going to the beach help with the heat though? Its really dry here in Texas, it rains like once every 10 days.

**Also I forgot to ask, how is the Tampa weather in the winter? I heard its like 50 to 70 degrees during the day usually?

For me Tampa beats Texas any day of the week - I hate the heat and dry brown of Texas. Yes, it does get hot here, usually doesn't go over the low 90's, but this was a very hot summer and it got a bit hotter than that. It is humid here, so 4 months of the summer feel pretty sticky. The thing is, we get breezes off the Gulf and the ocean here, which to me keep things a lot better. Also the rains in the summer cool things off, and everything here is always lush and green. There is plenty to do here, people who say there isn't don't want to do anything, that's all.

But bottom line, it DOES get hot and humid here, as people suggested, visit for yourself in the summer and see how it compares. That said, winters here are BEAUTIFUL - 6-7 months of the year I live with windows open. Yes, average winter temps 50 to 70 in the day, perfect.

Last, I grew up in Tampa, it's a nice city, but like any city has good and bad. People looking for bad will find it, people looking for good will find that too. The Tampa Bay area is large, and there is usually a niche for anyone that really wants to live here.