Country area near Tampa, Relocating to FL from NC (Brandon: sale, rent)

[Armycerveza88]

I am wanting to move somewhere near the Tampa area but not too far from St Petersburg(Have family member there). I am a police officer in NC and would like to relocate with my wife and daughter to a nice country setting in FL where I can transfer to a medium-large Department. Any ideas where a good area is?

[BucFan]

Parrish/Ellenton ----work St Pete PD or Tampa PD or Bradenton PD or Sarasota PD.

[TampaPam]

Brandon, Bloomingdale, Riverview or Valrico are all very nice areas. It depends on a few more things..."country" can mean different things to different people. For some, "country" means being off a main road with .5 to 1 acre of land. For others, it means being further removed from the "hustle" of a neighborhood and 5-10 acres of land.

I used to live in Asheville, NC, and "country" there, means something much different than what it means here in the Tampa Bay area.

It also depends on what your spending budget is. You can get more land for your money in Plant City, but your commute may be longer depending on what precinct you connect with.

You also didn't specify about your daughter's age and taking the school district into consideration and if your wife is going to look for employment.

It's probably best to first research your potential work situation first, then the school district and then decide how far of a commute you want to make from that central point.

Do you have a house to sell in NC before you move here? You would be wise to discuss your moving/buying plans with a FL mortgage broker before you do anything because I know the one I work with sometimes recommends out of state buyers to buy their FL property first with 10% down, then move after closing. It all has to do with the way the bank underwriters qualify you for your mortgage.

Hope this info helps!
Pamela

[Pragmaticus]

Originally Posted by TampaPam

Brandon, Bloomingdale, Riverview or Valrico are all very nice areas. It depends on a few more things..."country" can mean different things to different people. For some, "country" means being off a main road with .5 to 1 acre of land. For others, it means being further removed from the "hustle" of a neighborhood and 5-10 acres of land.

I used to live in Asheville, NC, and "country" there, means something much different than what it means here in the Tampa Bay area.

It also depends on what your spending budget is. You can get more land for your money in Plant City, but your commute may be longer depending on what precinct you connect with.

You also didn't specify about your daughter's age and taking the school district into consideration and if your wife is going to look for employment.

It's probably best to first research your potential work situation first, then the school district and then decide how far of a commute you want to make from that central point.

Do you have a house to sell in NC before you move here? You would be wise to discuss your moving/buying plans with a FL mortgage broker before you do anything because I know the one I work with sometimes recommends out of state buyers to buy their FL property first with 10% down, then move after closing. It all has to do with the way the bank underwriters qualify you for your mortgage.

Hope this info helps!
Pamela

Solid advise......except your mortgage guy. Why would anyone would advise to buy first with 10% and THEN sell what they have. That doesn't make sense at all. First, the debt profile will look so bad wih two mortgage at same time, costing them on the interest rate. Second, the FL home will be considered a vacation home that would carry a higher interest rate, another cost. The best is to sell their home from out of state, move here, rent for a while, study the area, and then buy home on a neighborhood and commute that they are comfortable with.

[John Alecci]

What is your timeframe to move here? I would recommend a contract contingent upon the sale of your current home. I have helped many people relocate and I would avoid buying a home here until you sell your current home and have a job figured out if at all possible. You could always rent for a year first to decide if you like the area although rents are pretty high around here right now. What would be the max distance you want to be from St. Pete? As others have mentioned Parrish sounds like a potential fit. Possibly even Land O Lakes. There is some country like setting in Odessa and Lutz as well. These would likely be about 35-50 min to St. Pete depending on where the house is and where in St. Pete you are going. All depends what commute you are comfortable with and how country you want to be!
John

[MortonR]

Originally Posted by Armycerveza88

I am wanting to move somewhere near the Tampa area but not too far from St Petersburg(Have family member there). I am a police officer in NC and would like to relocate with my wife and daughter to a nice country setting in FL where I can transfer to a medium-large Department. Any ideas where a good area is?

An alternative to the "big city" environment while still being within an hour or so of St. Pete would be Plant City. All the rural you want and still within Hillsborough County for the sheriff's department or Plant City police department.

RM

[Armycerveza88]

Originally Posted by TampaPam

Brandon, Bloomingdale, Riverview or Valrico are all very nice areas. It depends on a few more things..."country" can mean different things to different people. For some, "country" means being off a main road with .5 to 1 acre of land. For others, it means being further removed from the "hustle" of a neighborhood and 5-10 acres of land.

I used to live in Asheville, NC, and "country" there, means something much different than what it means here in the Tampa Bay area.

It also depends on what your spending budget is. You can get more land for your money in Plant City, but your commute may be longer depending on what precinct you connect with.

You also didn't specify about your daughter's age and taking the school district into consideration and if your wife is going to look for employment.

It's probably best to first research your potential work situation first, then the school district and then decide how far of a commute you want to make from that central point.

Do you have a house to sell in NC before you move here? You would be wise to discuss your moving/buying plans with a FL mortgage broker before you do anything because I know the one I work with sometimes recommends out of state buyers to buy their FL property first with 10% down, then move after closing. It all has to do with the way the bank underwriters qualify you for your mortgage.

Hope this info helps!
Pamela

I live in Gaston Co. Country to me is where you can drive for miles and miles with the view being farms, trees and open fields. Only passing a house ever so often and very few big chain supermarkets.

We are looking to have a minimum of 2 acres and our budget is $150k. My daughter is 3 years old and my wife has been bartending for about a year which pays good in our area. I would not mind up to a 30min commute for me to work and an hour for my wife. I currently rent so there is no house to sell first before relocating. I will be using a VA Home Loan and have just started speaking with a VA friendly Realtor. Thank you for replies.

[TampaPam]

Ok, good luck with that.

[BucFan]

Originally Posted by Armycerveza88

I live in Gaston Co. Country to me is where you can drive for miles and miles with the view being farms, trees and open fields. Only passing a house ever so often and very few big chain supermarkets.

We are looking to have a minimum of 2 acres and our budget is $150k. My daughter is 3 years old and my wife has been bartending for about a year which pays good in our area. I would not mind up to a 30min commute for me to work and an hour for my wife. I currently rent so there is no house to sell first before relocating. I will be using a VA Home Loan and have just started speaking with a VA friendly Realtor. Thank you for replies.

Maybe out toward Barstow and work Brandon? Or look toward areas Central FL (Lake Wales).

[BucFan]

.....or north of Lutz