Condo/Apartment Rentals in South Tampa - what to avoid? (St. Petersburg: apartment complex, homes)

[lmw36]

Hi Friends!

I'm relocating from St. Petersburg to South Tampa for work, and I am exploring my options to rent. My SO and I require at least a 2 bedroom. 1 Bath is fine. Our budget is anywhere from 1000-1400. We could go higher but want to save for a home.

I am still knee deep researching several apartment homes in the area, however I was wondering what everyone thought of these:

Westwinds
Grand Key Condo's
Mainsail South
Southpoint
Camden Westshore
The Preserve Condo's

I know there are several threads however many of them are over 3 years old. Looking for a refreshed opinion. Thank you!

BTW - I'm not terribly picky with a gym in the complex. I have a crossfit membership so a gym is of very little importance to me. A pool would be nice, but that's not a dealbreaker. Something that is convenient to Gandy, and preferably somewhere I can walk a dog/take a jog would be nice. I'm aware Tampa is much more of a car city than St. Pete and I'm prepared for that. W/D in unit would be nice, but I am OK with it just being on site. As far as I'm concerned, these all at least have that.

[roblu]

I live at mainsail south at the moment. It is fine. Location wise it is nice because you can easily walk to Publix and the Y. The gym is terrible, but the pool is nice. The apartment we are in is pretty old and a little run down, but fine, most have W/D in unit. Also if hearing the upstairs neighbors bothers you then this is not the apartment complex for you, we can hear their kids run around. Doesn't bother us (many many years of apartment living), but it might for some people. Parking hasn't been a problem at all for us, but in some of the areas of the complex there is less parking than in others. I highly recommend not renting here sight unseen as there are large differences between the apartments - some of the apartments look over an area of the water that is pretty disgusting and not well maintained. Oh and we do see lots of people walking there dogs around here.

[lmw36]

Thank you for your input. I was thinking of Mainsail and I do know someone who used to live there - they liked it just fine. I'm also used to apartment living. Thank you!