Cape Coral to Tampa? (Miami, Brandon: apartment complexes, rent, car insurance)

[NoSnow4me]

Hi all,

I'm considering moving from Cape Coral to the Tampa area to be closer to stuff to do. Could someone please offer suggestions on where good places to live are, considering the following?

1. I want at least a three bedroom house with >2200 square feet and a pool.
2. House budget is ~$250k, give or take a little depending on what the house has to offer.
3. I'd like to be in a suburban area or even rural, away from the hectic dense city, but close enough to not have to go too far to enjoy it. My wife and I both work from home, so are completely flexible on location in that regard.
4. I'm looking for a middle class area with low crime.
5. We're in our 40's, so wouldn't like being in an area where there's nothing but retirees.
6. Of course, as close to beaches as we can get is always good. We're used to a little over an hour (it would be shorter if the Caloosahatchee wasn't so disgusting. Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel are not worth going to), and would like to cut that down some.

Thanks for any help!

[MAniacTHW]

If you're looking to get away from the city, might I suggest not looking into Tampa? Try Lutz, Land O Lake, etc.

[NoSnow4me]

Thanks for the tip! I'll definitely check them out.

I'm actually looking to get closer to a big city, but not in the thick of it. This corner of Florida is pretty dull, so being closer to the action is why we're thinking about making this move. Having lived in the center of Phoenix for a while, I know that being in the middle of the rat race won't make me happy, but I don't want to have to travel two hours to go to a Bucs game, for example.

[MAniacTHW]

Originally Posted by NoSnow4me

Thanks for the tip! I'll definitely check them out.

I'm actually looking to get closer to a big city, but not in the thick of it. This corner of Florida is pretty dull, so being closer to the action is why we're thinking about making this move. Having lived in the center of Phoenix for a while, I know that being in the middle of the rat race won't make me happy, but I don't want to have to travel two hours to go to a Bucs game, for example.

Stick to unincorporated Tampa. Carrollwood, Westchase, Northdale, etc.

[NoSnow4me]

So, the wife is trying to get out ahead of me with all this. She's starting to get fired up about houses she's found in Riverview. Is there anything about that area that I should beware of?

[paradiselost]

Riverview is the center of the greatest urban sprawl of the Tampa Area. Its filled with accidents and traffic especially on roads such as the dangerous Big bend Road, us 301 and i 75 . The population went from 10,000 in Riverview in the 90s to currently about 80,000 with little infrastructure improvements. Since 2000, it has had a population growth of 126.63 percent. Crime has increased as well in the Riverview/Brandon corridor. Bloomingdale avenue sometimes reminds me of parts of Miami. My rent up 100 dollars in the last year and im moving out of Florida, living here was my last bit of Florida i want to experience. If your under 45 your car insurance in Hillsborough county will be extremely high. It will be a lot higher than Lee.


There is an expected growth of 32,000 south of SR 60 in the next 3 years, which will make the sprawl and traffic worse in the Eastern Hillsborough area. Brandon and Riverview used to be nice and small town feel country like now it feels dirty and urban, with homeless camps, ghetto neighborhoods, commercial strip malls and overpriced luxury apartment complexes going up everywhere. I am actually a foodie as well, and Riverview/Brandon is probably the worst place I lived in my life as far as mom and pop restaurants. Lived in both Hillsborough and Pinellas I wouldnt suggest either. Pinellas although has some good beaches where you get find parking and no doubt had better restaurants than East hillsborough did. Fred's is about the best mom and pop place in Riverview it is good, but other than that its tepid.

[MAniacTHW]

Originally Posted by paradiselost

Bloomingdale avenue sometimes reminds me of parts of Miami.

What part of Miami is that, exactly?