Relocating to Tampa (Clearwater, Brandon, Westchase: bank owned, foreclosure, houses)

[zoey519]

Hi: We will be relocating to Tampa Area from New York in 7months and we are looking for a great middle school for our daughter and also looking to purchase a home ($200,000) with a mother in law suite in a great neighborhood. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[jaybird45]

Tampa is a big area, where will you be working? Do you mind an older house or want newer construction? Do you want urban, suburban or more rural?

If you want good schools, research the different schools via sites like greatschools.org. Then focus on looking at houses in a particular school district to see if there are houses in your price range that meet your needs/desires. There are several online realty sites you can use to start your search. I would then find a realtor that knows the area you would like to be in and that you can trust. I would interview several realtors.

We recently moved from the Atlanta area and have a daughter in middle school. We ended up in the Steinbrenner HS/Martinez MS zone. Both schools are very good but it might be hard to find something newer for that price. There are some older ranch houses in that price range but you need to do your homework.

[PhotoProIP]

Originally Posted by jaybird45

Tampa is a big area, where will you be working? Do you mind an older house or want newer construction? Do you want urban, suburban or more rural?

If you want good schools, research the different schools via sites like greatschools.org. Then focus on looking at houses in a particular school district to see if there are houses in your price range that meet your needs/desires. There are several online realty sites you can use to start your search. I would then find a realtor that knows the area you would like to be in and that you can trust. I would interview several realtors.

We recently moved from the Atlanta area and have a daughter in middle school. We ended up in the Steinbrenner HS/Martinez MS zone. Both schools are very good but it might be hard to find something newer for that price. There are some older ranch houses in that price range but you need to do your homework.

First of all, I don't know how many homes have a "mother-in-law" suite...I am pretty sure that at that price point there aren't any, or if there are, they are really old, and need fixing up. That's not a common feature with builders in FL.

You may want to find a realtor.

That school district is sooooo crowded now, it's not funny. I would look into Westchase. But again, you didn't say where "work" is, so I can suggest Lakewood Ranch too at this point and it won't matter much.

Did it get cold up there? I'm seeing a lot of NY-ers looking to move down this week.

[Tamatem]

Originally Posted by PhotoProIP

First of all, I don't know how many homes have a "mother-in-law" suite...I am pretty sure that at that price point there aren't any, or if there are, they are really old, and need fixing up. That's not a common feature with builders in FL.

You may want to find a realtor.

That school district is sooooo crowded now, it's not funny. I would look into Westchase. But again, you didn't say where "work" is, so I can suggest Lakewood Ranch too at this point and it won't matter much.

Did it get cold up there? I'm seeing a lot of NY-ers looking to move down this week.

Very true re: MIL suite - very uncommon here, but Westchase/LWR? I doubt there are any houses in those places for a 200k budget.

[PhotoProIP]

Originally Posted by Tamatem

Very true re: MIL suite - very uncommon here, but Westchase/LWR? I doubt there are any houses in those places for a 200k budget.

There are some "older" areas down in Westcahse that could work, maybe an REO/Foreclosure...the MIL thing is not going to go easy for sure. the MIL is the one that usually moves here! LOLOL...and kids pile together until they can afford to live on their own. LOL

[jaybird45]

Some homes that we recently looked at did not have MIL suites but did have a bedroom by off itself with it own bathroom (I think the layout was called Siesta Key). You could also find a house with a upstairs bonus room that could be converted to MIL suite minus any kitchen type area. It might take some creativity but someone could make it work. Again finding this in a good school district for $200K may not be easy but not impossible.

[rye-rye]

Here's another option (focusing on your housing style you described) Most of the neighborhoods between 30th avenue and downtown St Petersburg have mother in law cottages (or at least they are allowed). Many of the schools are tucked in the neighborhoods and walkable.

The school ratings are not as good in the City because, in Florida, all the resources are being sucked out and given to 'burbs'. The suburbs have much better schools, but the housing choices are less (basically they just have new cookie cut houses with lots of deed restrictions, eg you cant have a mother in law cottage) and everything is car -oriented.

Either way, we do have great weather. Hope you find what you want. Best of luck.

[tom11011]

It would best to describe the area of Tampa you need to be in or where you will need to work. Tampa traffic can be murder so it matters a great deal.

Have a look at Lennar homes, they build a model of home that has an inlaw suite. I can't remember the name of the model but there are two separate entrances.

If a particular area of Tampa is not something you are concerned with, you could have a look at "New Tampa" where schools are good and construction is new.

[rye-rye]

Originally Posted by tom11011

It would best to describe the area of Tampa you need to be in or where you will need to work. Tampa traffic can be murder so it matters a great deal.

Have a look at Lennar homes, they build a model of home that has an inlaw suite. I can't remember the name of the model but there are two separate entrances.

If a particular area of Tampa is not something you are concerned with, you could have a look at "New Tampa" where schools are good and construction is new.

This is a good point. The overall metro is not very well connected and traffic can be a real boar. For example, people kind of find a live/work vicinity and stay in that region. of course this is very general.

[lavender]

Honestly, you need to rethink your budget. Good Middle school - will be sought after for many parents, so homes at premium. Great neighborhood, ditto. Mother in law suite - implies larger home, ditto. If you are looking to relocate in 7 months and hope for a foreclosure/bank owned, you should start looking and negotiating pretty soon, as these things take time. You should let folks know where you are working. A house in Brandon area is not going to work if your job is in Clearwater for example.