Tell me about Lakeland (Tampa, Plant City: middle-class, for sale, to rent)

[hpotterfan77]

Afternoon all. I just found out that my husband may take a job with a company that has a hub location in Lakeland. Not sure if this thread is the right place to look but it looks reasonably close to Tampa. If so, can you wonderful people that know Lakeland give me their opinions about Lakeland...good, bad? Ok? How are the prices there compared with the Tampa area and are the high school(s) decent there? Please and thank you.

[lavender]

Its an interesting place, a mixture of rural and town, new and old, and the downtown has some charm, (there is a cute hotel there, which I can't remember the name of just now that is lost in the 20s and I believe was the first a/c hotel in Florida - nice for lunch) There is a lot of poverty around the area, but because of Tampa overspill and businesses - like Publix being HQ nearby, it has development going on too. Can't comment on prices, sorry not my area of knowledge, but I am sure less than Tampa. There was a piece in todays Tampa Bay Times property section about Plant City too, which is kind of midway between the two, and very old Florida IMO.

[LKJ1988]

It gets hotter than where i live on the gulf in the summer and sure gets much more rain than i do in the summer.

[ERH]

Lakeland North and Lakeland South provides two very distinct experiences. Most middle-class newcomers to Lakeland end up on the south side -- it's more middle-class suburban, with the typical commercial/retail development that you typically see aimed at folks with good jobs and disposable income living comfortable lives.

North is Redneck Central, not much going on there. Lots of trucks. A good bit of ignorance. Lots of poverty and hard-working people just trying to make a living, but the concentration of wealth definitely leans south of US 98. Land is more plentiful there, though, so if you want some acreage with your home, you could consider it.

Home pricing is all over the place -- maybe someone else can weigh in on that (or look at sites like Zillow or here on City-Data for the numbers). There are 2 homes for sale in our neighborhood; both are on about 3 acres, with houses built in the 1970s and upgraded through the years (though nothing fancy!). One is priced at $369k, the other at $389k. Knowing what I know about both those properties/homes, I wouldn't pay anything near that. LOL

I'd recommend positioning your home such that your kid is either going to Lake Gibson HS (northside) or Lakeland HS (southside), or maybe George Jenkins HS (also southside).

HOW I KNOW: I was born and raised in Lakeland, but my experience as a northside kid (and Kathleen HS grad) made me confident that I would not raise my kids here. I've been a regular visitor over the years, and now I live here part-time looking after my elderly father. I will inherit my childhood home. It's not ideal, as I'd rather stay in NC and retire there, but the prices there are outrageous and only getting higher, so I am trying to make the best of it and find the good in Lakeland. There's a lot more of it now than there was when I was coming up.

[hpotterfan77]

Originally Posted by ERH

Lakeland North and Lakeland South provides two very distinct experiences. Most middle-class newcomers to Lakeland end up on the south side -- it's more middle-class suburban, with the typical commercial/retail development that you typically see aimed at folks with good jobs and disposable income living comfortable lives.

North is Redneck Central, not much going on there. Lots of trucks. A good bit of ignorance. Lots of poverty and hard-working people just trying to make a living, but the concentration of wealth definitely leans south of US 98. Land is more plentiful there, though, so if you want some acreage with your home, you could consider it.

Home pricing is all over the place -- maybe someone else can weigh in on that (or look at sites like Zillow or here on City-Data for the numbers). There are 2 homes for sale in our neighborhood; both are on about 3 acres, with houses built in the 1970s and upgraded through the years (though nothing fancy!). One is priced at $369k, the other at $389k. Knowing what I know about both those properties/homes, I wouldn't pay anything near that. LOL

I'd recommend positioning your home such that your kid is either going to Lake Gibson HS (northside) or Lakeland HS (southside), or maybe George Jenkins HS (also southside).

HOW I KNOW: I was born and raised in Lakeland, but my experience as a northside kid (and Kathleen HS grad) made me confident that I would not raise my kids here. I've been a regular visitor over the years, and now I live here part-time looking after my elderly father. I will inherit my childhood home. It's not ideal, as I'd rather stay in NC and retire there, but the prices there are outrageous and only getting higher, so I am trying to make the best of it and find the good in Lakeland. There's a lot more of it now than there was when I was coming up.

Thank you for that perspective. So South might be more up my ally I think if we do end up there. As far as what I'm looking for, I'd like at least a 1/2 - 1 acre but I don't need anything more than that. Something updated but doesn't have to be brand new either. We'd be looking to rent for at least a year or 2 before we buy but at least I have some idea now.