We are coming to Tampa area in May 2013 to explore now What? (Palm Harbor: rent, houses)

[imaculada]

Hello,

We already booked a trip to tampa this coming May. I've been looking at houses online, but would like to actually explore the different neighborhoods. We are a family of four (two girls one 5 months old and a three years old). Schools are my priority. We also want a safe, family friendly neighborhood. Our budget for a house is $350K and we need at least four bedrooms, three baths and an office. Ofcourse a pool.
We have narrowed it down to Safety Harbor, Palm Harbor, and Oldsmar. I would love to be close to a harbor to go for walks.This May will be our first time looking to those towns. What should I be looking for when choosing the town? Any advise?

[lavender]

As of now you are probably at the edge of your budget for a good home with all those requirements in a good school zone.
All of them are nice areas and close to water fronts and have nice parks with lakes for walking too.
Beaches are not as near as if you were in Seminole which is also good school zones, very safe, and very close to beaches.
Homes are zipping up in price in certain zones, and of a type that you will probably want - if you are looking after young ones and dont want to spend all your time fixing upping. If you are moving though and have a date to move, then renting might be an idea for the time being til you are comfortable with where you want to be. Everyone here has their own favourites, usually, like me, where they live LOL. Good luck to you.

[PhotoProIP]

I think it is also important where you will end up working so you don't end up with a nasty commute.

[Pragmaticus]

350K is not at the edge of your buget in those areas at all. You should be able to buy a nice place with that much money. Not sure what Lavender is looking at. May be with access to water body?

If I were you, out of the three, I would first look at Safety Harbor and perhaps rent first.

What should you be looking? Check the schools and perhaps go to the school and talk to them. Check communte times at different time and you should be good to go.

[tinytrump]

I can only say this- in Pinellas there are some kid friendly areas but mostly it's full of retirees,,, 3 different places my grands could NOT find neighbor kids to play with,,, 90% of the homes occupied by seniors,,, and many leave 6 months out of the year,,, so see if they have kids so your children can make freinds before you buy anything.

[imaculada]

Thank you for your replies. I will be working from home (telecommute). But my husband will be buying a business over there (convenience store/Gas station). We own both a house and a convenience store in Massachusetts. He has offers for the store already. I've never thought about renting, but it is a good idea while we get ourselves acclimated to the new environment. I think this will take away from my stress and anxiety right now; leaving everything we know (store, house, family and friends) is a big decision. Thank you for the great idea MeInDenudinFL.

PS: I don't need a house with access to water body. I'm afraid my crazy 3 years old will just jump in!

PhotoProIP, maybe we should look where my husband gets the store and then look for houses around that area. I heard commute is horrible over there. His commute is five minutes right now.

tinytrump: having kids around is very important. I want my kids to have neighborhood friends. Where in Tampa do you live?

[romes591]

Add Westchase to your list. Its close to those neighborhoods and in a perfect location. I use to live there and would love to go back.

[bavariantransplant]

Originally Posted by imaculada

I heard commute is horrible over there.

Never thought I would see the day that a resident of Massachusetts would refer to another locations commute as horrible.

When you sift through all the opinions of the traffic in Tampa/St Pete I think from a Northeastern perspective you will find the commute to be a dream.

[imaculada]

You are right BavarianTransplant, I work from home and if I need to go to the office it is a 10 minutes ride. So, I'm very spoiled but in previous jobs, I remember been stock in traffic for one hour just to get home and TWO when snowed. I don't want to go back to long commutes if I don't have to.

[Pragmaticus]

Originally Posted by imaculada

You are right BavarianTransplant, I work from home and if I need to go to the office it is a 10 minutes ride. So, I'm very spoiled but in previous jobs, I remember been stock in traffic for one hour just to get home and TWO when snowed. I don't want to go back to long commutes if I don't have to.

Exactly!

You are smart to value your time. I always shake my head when people say "commute is not a problem I have an hour or two now in -- (fill in your notheast big city here).". Why would one want to spend a lot of time on the road when you can have that time to do something else, you know, like enjoying the palce, the very reason that they moved in the first place? Just becasue you are used to long commute, you don't have to do it here. The average commuter spends 30minute over here. If you are spending much more than that, you are in select few group who are stressed up in the road and it shows by their driving.