Don't laugh - we're leaving California (Tampa, Orlando: houses, neighborhoods, to live)

[Oldchevyguy]

Having only visited the Tampa Bay area once, we need help! Here's what we're looking for: a least 1 acre (I restore classic cars as a hobby, so I need space, plus we live in the country in California, so I'm really not to fond of neighbors too close). Smaller town (we live in a town of 20,000). Not too far from the beach (30 minutes or less). Good commute to Orlando (we go to Costa Rica once a year). Lower home prices. Ideally, riding my bicycle into town. Don't like big city life. MUST have older growth trees (no new neighborhoods).

Can anyone make a suggestion as to where we might start looking?

Thanks,

Patrick

[chi_tino]

You can get some GREAT prices on houses with acreage east of Tampa in areas such as Brandon, Dover, Valrico, etc. There are a lot of properties large enough for horses, barns, etc. You can easily find a house on 5 acres for less than $250k. The downside is that you are at least an hour from the beach.

You won't find many 1 acre+ lots in Pinellas, as Pinellas County has the highest population concentration in the state. You could also try less-concentrated Pasco County if you want to be closer to the beach.

I'm not sure what you mean by "riding my bicycle into town". Only someone who is suicidal would attempt to go from the further suburbs into downtown, as the roads are very, very unfriendly to cycling.

Also, why would the commute to Orlando be important if you are only traveling there once a year?

[DWMachineshop]

Florida Largo/ Pinellas Horse Acreage near the Beach! (http://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/reo/2538742080.html - broken link)

[Oldchevyguy]

Originally Posted by chi_tino

You can get some GREAT prices on houses with acreage east of Tampa in areas such as Brandon, Dover, Valrico, etc. There are a lot of properties large enough for horses, barns, etc. You can easily find a house on 5 acres for less than $250k. The downside is that you are at least an hour from the beach.

You won't find many 1 acre+ lots in Pinellas, as Pinellas County has the highest population concentration in the state. You could also try less-concentrated Pasco County if you want to be closer to the beach.

I'm not sure what you mean by "riding my bicycle into town". Only someone who is suicidal would attempt to go from the further suburbs into downtown, as the roads are very, very unfriendly to cycling.

Also, why would the commute to Orlando be important if you are only traveling there once a year?

I'll explain further. I like small towns, so riding into town does not mean riding into "the city". The "town" we live in has one main street, and I didn't know if there we any small towns in the area. Also, I should have mentioned that we would like to be within an hour of Orlando because we have MANY relatives that would visit and want to go to Disney World.

[tonyff67]

Dade City or Brooksville. Both very small town and country. very pretty areas

[Oldchevyguy]

Originally Posted by tonyff67

Dade City or Brooksville. Both very small town and country. very pretty areas

I'll take a look at both of them. Thanks. How about New Port Richey?

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by Oldchevyguy

I'll take a look at both of them. Thanks. How about New Port Richey?

Forget NPR, I don't think it's what you are looking for at all.

I highly recommend Dade City and it's unincorporated areas namely Darby, Blanton, Trilby and St. Joe. Also San Antonio to the south west. BEAUTIFUL gorgeous area, with rolling hills (some good sized!) green pastures, woods and lakes. It's a bit more developed than it used to be, and more expensive but as you get further out you can still find a deal. You might go north of there toward Ridge Manor as well, and as mentioned, Brooksville. I think you will like something in this general region.

You will be at least an hour from there to any beaches, but the area makes it worth it for what you want to do.

Good luck to you!

[Oldchevyguy]

Originally Posted by gypsychic

Forget NPR, I don't think it's what you are looking for at all.

I highly recommend Dade City and it's unincorporated areas namely Darby, Blanton, Trilby and St. Joe. Also San Antonio to the south west. BEAUTIFUL gorgeous area, with rolling hills (some good sized!) green pastures, woods and lakes. It's a bit more developed than it used to be, and more expensive but as you get further out you can still find a deal. You might go north of there toward Ridge Manor as well, and as mentioned, Brooksville. I think you will like something in this general region.

You will be at least an hour from there to any beaches, but the area makes it worth it for what you want to do.

Good luck to you!

Before I start looking up these areas, are they just residential, or are they small "main street" towns? As an example, I live near Sacramento. There are several "towns", like Rancho Cordova, Fair Oaks, Orangevalle, etc. that border Sac, but you couldn't tell one from the other as they all blend together. But areas like El Dorado Hills, Shingle Springs, and Placerville are seperated by a few miles and have their own business districts.

Just trying to get a lay of the land before we do our first "due diligence" trip to the aresa

[Not_liking_FL]

Dade City has a "main street" feel, and would be pedestrian/bike friendly compared to other areas mentioned. You may also want to consider Plant City. It's almost halfway between the beach and Orlando right off I4. You would need to live close to town to be safe for cycling.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by Oldchevyguy

Before I start looking up these areas, are they just residential, or are they small "main street" towns? As an example, I live near Sacramento. There are several "towns", like Rancho Cordova, Fair Oaks, Orangevalle, etc. that border Sac, but you couldn't tell one from the other as they all blend together. But areas like El Dorado Hills, Shingle Springs, and Placerville are seperated by a few miles and have their own business districts.

Just trying to get a lay of the land before we do our first "due diligence" trip to the aresa

OK, Dade City, San Antonio are small towns. You would love San Antonio, it's VERY small, but has a tiny town center, hills, lots of old trees. Dade City is a little larger, but still what I call a really small town. We lived in the area for years, had a couple houses on a couple acres with garages (my hubby loves old cars, and is building one of his own design!) some of the other areas I mentioned are in the vicinity but are not a "town" so to speak.

You will see developments around, this is Florida and a nice area. But it will be nothing like the large congested cities and areas to the south.