Have job offer in Brandon...Where to live around Tampa withing 20-30 min commute? (Seminole: fit in)

[Globulin]

Its time to move and I need help of the board again.
Will be working in Brandon. Where to live to have 20-30 min commute to work??.

In the morning I should be in Brandon around 6:15-6:30.
Back from work vary from 16:00-19:00. sometimes later.

I am single guy, late 30ies. In order of importance:
proximity to good gym, not far from walkable neighborhood, outdoors (running trail, ideally beach for paddle/kitesrf, etc..), some nightlife(restaurants/music venues/etc).

I am planning to rent for 6-12 month($2-3.5k max), then probably buy.
From reading multiple threads it looks like South Tampa could fit in criteria, but I am not sure about commute time and traffic.
What neighborhoods you would recommend ?
Anything else then South Tampa?

Thanks a lot for help!!

[MortonR]

South Tampa wouldn’t be bad, but I would suggest some of the nice higher end apartments on Providence Ave. south of Lumsden in Brandon. You’ll be close to work, plenty of restaurants and retail, an LA Fitness, and an easy drive to downtown, Ybor, SoHo and environs.

Start out there, get an idea of where you might want to be in the area, then put down roots where you decide best.

RM

[Oreman]

No offense to Mortons advice, but I think it is terrible.

I moved from Washington dc to Tampa as a single 28 year old 3 years ago. I also worked in Brandon. South Tampa is the only place that fits what you want. I'd move to harbour island, channelside, or downtown. It is practically all young professionals between the ages of 25-45. You can walk everywhere. Great running, biking along the riverwalk and bayshore. Great bars, coffee shops, restaurants, etc. all within walking distance.
The commute to Brandon is a piece of cake. There is a road called the selmon expressway that takes you there, against traffic, in maybe 10 minutes.

I was a little hesitant to move to tampa coming from dc. After being here for a few years, no amount of money could bring me back up there. This city is incredible -- and the downtown area is exploding.

Nothing against living in the Brandon area. It will definitely save you money, and is a fine place to raise a family. But, if you are single, and can afford it, you should really be over here. Let me know if you have any other questions!

[MortonR]

Originally Posted by Oreman

No offense to Mortons advice, but I think it is terrible.

Understand that my suggestion was purely for a transitional place, not permanent. Not only that, but it would allow the OP to live in a nice place and not spend a boatload of money to start out with. Not only that, if they don’t know the area and try to make a decision on where to be based on a few days observation they could easily end up in a lousy place and be stuck there for a year.

Unless having nightlife close by is a major consideration, if it were me I would start out close to work and use that as a base to reconnoiter from before I made the plunge into such a volatile real estate market as downtown or SoHo.

Just my $0.02.

RM

[cjairo191]

Go with Oreman's suggestion. I made the mistake when I moved here at 29 to live close to a job in Brandon as a single guy. I only rented a room month to month and got out after 3 months and headed to South Tampa. If you like night life as a single guy, move there. Its easy to uber from there to surrounding areas on the weekend.

[Globulin]

Guys, thank you for such a quick suggestions!!
Nightlife is not a major consideration at all. Walkability to a coffee shop, running trail, few good restaurants around will do as a nightlife. Rather more on quiet side.

What neighborhoods would have better access to Selmon Expressway?

Is it just Hyde Park, Davis/Harbor Island?
Or could I look also a bit down south, at Bayshore/Ballast Point/South Tampa without compromising too much commute time?

[MortonR]

Originally Posted by Globulin

Guys, thank you for such a quick suggestions!!
Nightlife is not a major consideration at all. Walkability to a coffee shop, running trail, few good restaurants around will do as a nightlife. Rather more on quiet side.

What neighborhoods would have better access to Selmon Expressway?

Is it just Hyde Park, Davis/Harbor Island?
Or could I look also a bit down south, at Bayshore/Ballast Point/South Tampa without compromising too much commute time?

Access to the Selmon is about the same from both areas.

Your commute from those areas won't be bad as you'll be driving against the traffic. However, do realize that you wouldn't be able to utilize the express lanes for just that reason, but that's not going to have a significant difference on commute time.

Where you go in Brandon may have some effect on your commute depending on what major thoroughfares you have to use to get where you're going.

RM

[Oreman]

Originally Posted by Globulin

Guys, thank you for such a quick suggestions!!
Nightlife is not a major consideration at all. Walkability to a coffee shop, running trail, few good restaurants around will do as a nightlife. Rather more on quiet side.

What neighborhoods would have better access to Selmon Expressway?

Is it just Hyde Park, Davis/Harbor Island?
Or could I look also a bit down south, at Bayshore/Ballast Point/South Tampa without compromising too much commute time?

The further down you get the more neighborhoody/suburban feel you’ll have. Down by ballast point is a beautiful area, but you may have to do more driving on the weekends when going out to eat/etc. bayshore is a really long road (maybe 7 miles or so from downtown to ballast point). Definitely can be biked/run, but it’d be a hell of a stroll. Anytime I’ve gone down to ballast I’ve driven.

I am personally not a huge fan of Davis islands, but some people really love it. It seems disconnected from the rest of the area to me, but has a great little street with restaurants and a great dog beach. If you’re renting you can’t really go wrong with any area in south Tampa; but like I said, my personal preference is harbour island, downtown, channelside or near Hyde park village. With harbour island being hands down my top choice.

[MAniacTHW]

Seminole Heights. Leaving that early in the morning, the interstates should be dead. The only thing missing is the beach, but there are many houses that sit along the Hillsborough River.