Energetic neighborhoods in South Tampa (Orlando, Clearwater: real estate, rentals, insurance)

[Zeek1]

Hi All,

I'm looking to move from Arlington Hts (Chicago burb) to S. Tampa. I read through some forums and watched some YouTube videos about various areas. It seems like S. Tampa would be like moving to a Chicago neighborhood. Is that a correct assessment? Our target is 800k-1.5M for something above 3,500 sq ft home. More important than the size of the home is what type of neighbors we would have. Would you mind giving us your perspectives on specific areas to look for homes or rentals while we explore?

About us:
* business owners - commercial real estate
* income in the top 1%
* Current home 6,500 sq ft (~$1.2M)
* Travel 3 months out of the year (work and vacation) so we enjoy O'hare connectivity.
*We are in early 30s with 2 kids (4 & 2 yrs old)

What we are looking for:
* Access/proximity to business owners & like professionals
* Would like to live in a niche neighborhood where neighbors are friendly/inviting (genuine if that's not too much to ask)
* Ethnic restaurants & trendy bars

We're not fixed on Tampa. I've looked at Orlando as well but need to stay there a bit more to see if we like the environment. My move is mostly dependent on real estate climate. One of my major factors for moving is property taxes as I pay over $450k in IL due to my businesses. For similar assets I found FL residents are paying ~$120k.

[sinatras]

Originally Posted by Zeek1

Hi All,

I'm looking to move from Arlington Hts (Chicago burb) to S. Tampa. I read through some forums and watched some YouTube videos about various areas. It seems like S. Tampa would be like moving to a Chicago neighborhood. Is that a correct assessment? Our target is 800k-1.5M for something above 3,500 sq ft home. More important than the size of the home is what type of neighbors we would have. Would you mind giving us your perspectives on specific areas to look for homes or rentals while we explore?

About us:
* business owners - commercial real estate
* income in the top 1%
* Current home 6,500 sq ft (~$1.2M)
* Travel 3 months out of the year (work and vacation) so we enjoy O'hare connectivity.
*We are in early 30s with 2 kids (4 & 2 yrs old)

What we are looking for:
* Access/proximity to business owners & like professionals
* Would like to live in a niche neighborhood where neighbors are friendly/inviting (genuine if that's not too much to ask)
* Ethnic restaurants & trendy bars

We're not fixed on Tampa. I've looked at Orlando as well but need to stay there a bit more to see if we like the environment. My move is mostly dependent on real estate climate. One of my major factors for moving is property taxes as I pay over $450k in IL due to my businesses. For similar assets I found FL residents are paying ~$120k.

Yup, South Tampa would fit the bill. But as to your comment that South Tampa feels like a Chicago hood, I dunno. South Tampa is going to feel like a small town compared to Chicago and its close-in burbs. Also the Tampa airport does NOT have the fares or the routes that ORD does. Your flight options will be much more limited. The Orlando airport has more routes and better fares. The nice thing about living in South Tampa
is you will always be in a reverse commute and you live 5 minutes from the Tampa airport (if you stick to 33609 zip code).

You should be looking in the 33606, 33629 and 33609 zip codes. In South Tampa I highly recommend Beach Park, Culbreath Bayou, Palma Ceia, Golfview, Parkland Estates, Culbreath Isles, Henderson Beach, etc.. Property taxes are high in south Tampa, but lower than where you are of course. You will also pay much higher insurance costs, especially if you buy in a flood zone (a lot of South Tampa is flood zone). Lots of upwardly mobile couple in their 30s with young kids buying in Beach Park, etc. A lot of them are buying old homes and building new, or buying new construction in the $1.5M and up price point.

https://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sal...97_rect/16_zm/

[Concert D Major]

Why does "City Data" get so many rich people?

[Zeek1]

Thanks Sinatra.

Concert, I think there are more median income people here. Hence I couldn't find perspectives specific to my goal. Most of the forum topics I found were for under $400k homes, if not less.

[Taksan]

I’d recommend Clearwater/Largo/Belleair over South Tampa ... it’s proximity to the areas of current opportunity is good but it’s a better fit for consistency. Belleair bluffs has a Lake Forrest in the tropics vibe ...

[lluvia]

Originally Posted by Concert D Major

Why does "City Data" get so many rich people?

It's because the po folks are too busy working 2 or 3 jobs trying to survive to have time to post in CD.

[WinterParkLocal]

Originally Posted by Taksan

I’d recommend Clearwater/Largo/Belleair over South Tampa ... it’s proximity to the areas of current opportunity is good but it’s a better fit for consistency. Belleair bluffs has a Lake Forrest in the tropics vibe ...

Disagree. I grew up in Belleair and Belleair Beach. Lovely area but does not fit what the poster was originally looking for. Lived in 33629 as well and agree with all the neighborhoods recommended above. We lived in Beach Park but I loved New Suburb Beautiful and Davis Island.

Now I live in Winter Park and would say that if you are looking at Orlando, this is where you'd want to be. 32789 zip code. It's been my favorite city that I've lived in throughout Florida.

[sinatras]

Originally Posted by WinterParkLocal

Disagree. I grew up in Belleair and Belleair Beach. Lovely area but does not fit what the poster was originally looking for. Lived in 33629 as well and agree with all the neighborhoods recommended above. We lived in Beach Park but I loved New Suburb Beautiful and Davis Island.

Now I live in Winter Park and would say that if you are looking at Orlando, this is where you'd want to be. 32789 zip code. It's been my favorite city that I've lived in throughout Florida.

Love that area!

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by sinatras

Yup, South Tampa would fit the bill. But as to your comment that South Tampa feels like a Chicago hood, I dunno. South Tampa is going to feel like a small town compared to Chicago and its close-in burbs. Also the Tampa airport does NOT have the fares or the routes that ORD does. Your flight options will be much more limited. The Orlando airport has more routes and better fares. The nice thing about living in South Tampa
is you will always be in a reverse commute and you live 5 minutes from the Tampa airport (if you stick to 33609 zip code).

You should be looking in the 33606, 33629 and 33609 zip codes. In South Tampa I highly recommend Beach Park, Culbreath Bayou, Palma Ceia, Golfview, Parkland Estates, Culbreath Isles, Henderson Beach, etc.. Property taxes are high in south Tampa, but lower than where you are of course. You will also pay much higher insurance costs, especially if you buy in a flood zone (a lot of South Tampa is flood zone). Lots of upwardly mobile couple in their 30s with young kids buying in Beach Park, etc. A lot of them are buying old homes and building new, or buying new construction in the $1.5M and up price point.

https://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sal...97_rect/16_zm/

Yes^^ I agree with this. Also there are SOME folks I have known who felt that south Tampa (and Tampa in general) felt a bit like Chicago with its Bayshore Drive and older buildings. Of course we are just talking about a "vibe" and not a true comparison in any way. I feel like south Tampa is better than Orlando for your needs OP, but also agree with the other posters about Winter Park in Orlando. Good luck!