Moving to Tampa Bay Area-Help (Orlando, Clearwater: 2015, apartment complexes, rental)

[Michalovitz123]

Hope someone can give us some great feedback! We are looking to move from Wisconsin to the Tampa Bay, Florida area. We are thinking either Sarasota area or Clearwater area. We are also looking to start a courier business as well there. So some of the things we are looking for is the following. Your help is appreciated!
Looking to rent the first year- $800-$1000 price range. House,apartment, condo is all fine.
Would love a walkable area that's close to farmers market, coffee, etc.
SAFE area that we can walk at night!!!!

We are in our early 40's but would be ok with any age area. If anyone knows at point of contact that I could talk to while are are down there visiting to show us some apartments that would be great!

[Candh07]

Hello there! We are also looking to relocate, but in the Tampa Bay area. While doing some research, I found a service called "Apartment Hunters", which helps people find apartments in the area. They claim they are free, you can google and contact them. We have an appointment to apartment search with them in april, they seem like they will be helpful. Hope this helps!

[Michalovitz123]

Thank you I will try them! During your research, did you find any good areas in Tampa you would suggest? Or stay out of? I would love to her your import after your vacation! Good luck

[MAniacTHW]

It's important to note that Apartment Hunters gets money from apartment complexes to send people there. I've used them in the past and have been sent to many... Undesireable... Areas around the Orlando area.

[Candh07]

Ok Maniacthw, good to know. While talking on the phone with them, we did ask them how come their service was free, and how they were getting paid. They said what you just said, that the complexes were paying them to get new tenants. So, we are also doing our own apartment search, using rental property search engines, and we will use their service. Ultimately, we will pick what fits us best, being careful to stay away from "undesirables"!
Michalovitz123, I have been reading tons and tons of posts on this fine site here, Citydata, concerning good vs bad neighborhoods in Tampa and St Pete. Just read back posts (I read posts all through 2015 to now), and you'll get PLENTY of info. Also, you can use the Trulia crime map of Tampa, you can google it. It seems to match what the locals say here on CD. Will let you know what we think after our April trip!

//www.city-data.com/forum/tampa...rwater-fl.html

//www.city-data.com/forum/tampa...learwater.html

To start you off...Good luck!

[Michalovitz123]

Thank you!! I will check out that info.

[Candh07]

We are back from our trip. We actually saw lots of apartments, in St Petersburg, Clearwater, and Tampa. Clearwater was pretty nice to our opinion, a little less busy than St Petersburg. The Clearwater apartments had a little more space for your money than St Petersburg did. Most had nice landscaping, but for below $1000 (for a 2 bedrooms) the older complexes (built in 1970s and 1980s) would be more in your budget than the newer ones. I advise too that you look at how far highways and main streets are from your place of residence. We drove out to a complex for a good 15 mins away from a main road to find it, and that may not be ideal for convenience and easy access to other parts of the Bay area. Tampa is VERY sprawled out, it's a driver's place, so be ready for that!

[Candh07]

We drove to Sarasota just for one day. Although beautiful, so way more retirees there, just so you know. Hopefully you were able to sign up with apartment hunters!