Relocating to Tampa Area. Asking for Recommendations for Residential Planned Communities (Tarpon Springs: to rent, insurance)

[Onaiac01]

My family will be relocating from NY to the Tampa area this fall (2016). We have a 2 year old boy and a seond on the way, so scouting communities in person has become increasingly difficult. We are searching for a planned community with good schools, 20-30 minute drive to beach, and 30-40 minute drive to the city of Tampa, where my office will be located. The exact office location is not yet known. Areas that we've visited and liked inculde; Lakewood Ranch, Naples, City Place (Palm Beach). If there are any communities that you can recommend similar to these it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[MortonR]

Originally Posted by Onaiac01

My family will be relocating from NY to the Tampa area this fall (2016). We have a 2 year old boy and a seond on the way, so scouting communities in person has become increasingly difficult. We are searching for a planned community with good schools, 20-30 minute drive to beach, and 30-40 minute drive to the city of Tampa, where my office will be located. The exact office location is not yet known. Areas that we've visited and liked inculde; Lakewood Ranch, Naples, City Place (Palm Beach). If there are any communities that you can recommend similar to these it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

20-30 minutes to the beach would place you firmly in Pinellas County. 30-40 minute commute to downtown Tampa from Pinellas County during rush hour would be tricky at best.

Understand that everyone who moves here wants to be "close to the beach" until they realize the logistics of such a move. If you were going to be working in Pinellas County it would work, but working in Tampa and looking for that short of a commute will make it exceedingly difficult to do.

There are other considerations when it comes to being close to the beach. Property values, flood insurance, etc., etc. are all things that have to be considered as well. Without knowing your housing budget it's near impossible to identify any areas that might fit your requirements, or even be close to them.

Pinellas is built out and has been for many years, so the potential for finding a planned community in this area is slim.

Do some searching of the forum using "relocation" and "beach" and see what comes up. These are all topics that have been addressed time and time again on this forum.

RM

[Onaiac01]

Thank you for your reply MortonR. I suppose recommendations of Master Planned Communities within a 30 mile radius of Tampa would be a more specific request. We are initially looking to rent with a budget not to exceed $3,200 per month.
Thanks!0

[Sunscape]

This area is an excellent one. Nearest beaches are Honeymoon Island and Fred Howard park in Tarpon Springs.

Management and Associates | Oldsmar, FL 34677

[MortonR]

Fishhawk Ranch in Lithia is within a 30 mile radius but farther from the beaches.

Do understand that nearly everyone who relocates here wants to be "close to the beach". More often than not, once you arrive here you realize that the normal day to day living doesn't allow regular beach visits, just as a New Yorker living in the city doesn't visit the Statue of Liberty or the Empire State Building once or twice a month.

Living further inland has some advantages in that you're less likely to sustain damage from a hurricane, and you probably wouldn't have to evacuate, either. There's far more newer (safer) construction inland as well, as much of Pinellas County has been built out for years.

Some of the best beaches aren't in the immediate area. Anna Maria Island, for example, is well south of the area but an easy and relatively short drive.

Just some additional food for thought...

RM