Wesley Chapel or Lithia (FishHawk Ranch) (Plant City, Union Park: apartments, rental, HOA fees)

[lynn9577]

My husband has gotten a job relocation in Plant City. We are looking at moving to either Wesley Chapel or Lithia (FishHawk Ranch area). Both school systems look good from what I've seen. Anyone have any preferences of one over the other? Is the cost of both areas comparable? Trying to get more imput on those areas before we come down to look. We will rent at first and would like to stay under $1900 when we buy in a year after we are sure we like the area we will have a budge of about $275,000. Thanks for your input!

[DUNNDFRNT]

Originally Posted by lynn9577

My husband has gotten a job relocation in Plant City. We are looking at moving to either Wesley Chapel or Lithia (FishHawk Ranch area). Both school systems look good from what I've seen. Anyone have any preferences of one over the other? Is the cost of both areas comparable? Trying to get more imput on those areas before we come down to look. We will rent at first and would like to stay under $1900 when we buy in a year after we are sure we like the area we will have a budge of about $275,000. Thanks for your input!

Based on location Lithia is a better commute to Plant City by far. I think you would stretch your budget at FH but there are surrounding older developments that go to the same middle schools/high school that very nice and more in line with your budget, not to say that you couldnt find something in FH it would be a lot harder than in WC where you have a lot of options in your price range.

[EngGirl]

Lithia hands down - better commute to Plant City, not so overcrowded schools and more options to buy within your budget.

[lynn9577]

Ok thank you both! I will keep looking in the Lithia area. WC seems to be more affordable but I like the idea of hubbys commute being less. I didn't realize the schools in WC are overcrowded so that's great to know! Thanks! Hopefully we can find an affordable rental in the FishHawk area.

[Stewabby]

Originally Posted by EngGirl

Lithia hands down - better commute to Plant City, not so overcrowded schools and more options to buy within your budget.

I've heard that FH schools are very overcrowded now.

[Stewabby]

OP, I think you can't go wrong either way. As far as I know both schools are overcrowded because they are good schools, the area has a lot of growth and tons of people wants their kids to go there. We will either build in Fishhawk or Wesley Chapel.

We are leaning toward Wesley Chapel because we like having Wiregrass mall, SuperTarget and a lot of restaurants nearby. We will worry about being re-zoned for schools that aren't as good as the years go by and they start rezoning and I think if you live in Fishhawk you are pretty safe being zoned for Fishhawk schools only.

Taxes are cheaper in WC than FH. Make sure you look at the CDDs and HOA fees when figuring out total costs. Good luck!

[Tim Tim Tim]

both areas are going to have the same issues with traffic and overcrowding. Thats what happens when you have good schools, everyone wants to go to them.

id check out both and see what yhou prefer, I personally like WC but as others said, the commute form FH would be shorter.

[TampaKaren]

My vote goes to Lithia just on location alone. You will pay more for less but there is very little to the north of Wesley Chapel. There's a reason it's cheaper there.

[EngGirl]

Originally Posted by lynn9577

Ok thank you both! I will keep looking in the Lithia area. WC seems to be more affordable but I like the idea of hubbys commute being less. I didn't realize the schools in WC are overcrowded so that's great to know! Thanks! Hopefully we can find an affordable rental in the FishHawk area.

Just to get you an idea, Wiregrass High is overcrowded and have extra 700 (!!!) student as of last year. No communities/apartments are getting build so the number will only go up!

[EngGirl]

Originally Posted by Stewabby

OP, I think you can't go wrong either way. As far as I know both schools are overcrowded because they are good schools, the area has a lot of growth and tons of people wants their kids to go there. We will either build in Fishhawk or Wesley Chapel.

We are leaning toward Wesley Chapel because we like having Wiregrass mall, SuperTarget and a lot of restaurants nearby. We will worry about being re-zoned for schools that aren't as good as the years go by and they start rezoning and I think if you live in Fishhawk you are pretty safe being zoned for Fishhawk schools only.

Taxes are cheaper in WC than FH. Make sure you look at the CDDs and HOA fees when figuring out total costs. Good luck!

I remember you were considering to build in Union Park, right? Have you ever went their? I am wondering what is the deal with their high speed internet. They advertise it as a super high speed internet included in all homes, but it tiny print they state something about limited amount of data and only for first 6 months. What happens next I am wondering?