anyone familiar w/ these carrollwood complexes? (Tampa, Clearwater: apartments, lease, condo)

[gstam4]

i'll be moving down to tampa in mid-august to start as a grad student at USF this fall. i've never been to the city, but i'll be flying down for two days next week on the 8th and 9th to see as many apartments as possible and sign a lease (if possible).

i've checked out the apartment ratings websites, and exhausted the very limited amount of insight they can provide. at this point, i could desperately use any info or advice anyone has based on their experiences or knowledge of the following complexes:

1) lakeside north
2) palencia
3) three palms of carrollwood
4) carrollwood palms
5) the links @ carrollwood
6) deerpath on the lake
7) lake azzure
8) grande oasis (apts)
9) carrollwood station
...and any others in the immediate area you might have the ability to comment on. id say that the first 5 or 6 complexes listed are the ones that, so far, seem the most promising to me.

what im looking for, briefly:

-as much safety and security as possible, both in terms of neighborhood and complex itself (neighbors, etc.); also a fairly quiet complex
-a 1 BR unit w/ a nice balcony in a complex with at least 1 clean pool
-something under $725 before utilities (is it accurate to estimate i might spend about $200/mo. on electricity, water, and tv/internet?)
-reasonably easy/quick access to the gulf beaches (carrollwood seems like the perfect compromise between proximity to USF and promixity to clearwater and related beaches)
-competent, professional management and maintenance


a hearty THANKS in advance to anyone who can offer info to someone completely clueless at this point in time

[Sharon2226]

Originally Posted by gstam4

i'll be moving down to tampa in mid-august to start as a grad student at USF this fall. i've never been to the city, but i'll be flying down for two days next week on the 8th and 9th to see as many apartments as possible and sign a lease (if possible).

i've checked out the apartment ratings websites, and exhausted the very limited amount of insight they can provide. at this point, i could desperately use any info or advice anyone has based on their experiences or knowledge of the following complexes:

1) lakeside north
2) palencia
3) three palms of carrollwood
4) carrollwood palms
5) the links @ carrollwood
6) deerpath on the lake
7) lake azzure
8) grande oasis (apts)
9) carrollwood station
...and any others in the immediate area you might have the ability to comment on. id say that the first 5 or 6 complexes listed are the ones that, so far, seem the most promising to me.

what im looking for, briefly:

-as much safety and security as possible, both in terms of neighborhood and complex itself (neighbors, etc.); also a fairly quiet complex
-a 1 BR unit w/ a nice balcony in a complex with at least 1 clean pool
-something under $725 before utilities (is it accurate to estimate i might spend about $200/mo. on electricity, water, and tv/internet?)
-reasonably easy/quick access to the gulf beaches (carrollwood seems like the perfect compromise between proximity to USF and promixity to clearwater and related beaches)
-competent, professional management and maintenance


a hearty THANKS in advance to anyone who can offer info to someone completely clueless at this point in time

It might be hard to find a place for $725 in Tampa Bay, that is safe. Carrollwood is a nice area, but ugh, so busy! Lots of traffic.

I would move closer to Clearwater...like off of Waters Avenue...they have nice areas, safer...but still not sure if you'll find that price range...but I'd look there over Carrollwood...just my two cents.

[gstam4]

thanks for the reply. actually, all of those complexes i listed have rents available for a 1 BR under or close to $725/mo, so i should be okay with price - i hope (though it will still be a lot...currently im paying $525 a month for a 1 BR with all utilities included in pittsburgh, right off the pitt campus).

id love to live closer to clearwater, even by a bit - but wouldnt going west of dale mabry kill me in terms of commute time to USF?

[Keeper]

If you do a 'search this forum' for the names,you will find a few discussions on some of them. I know Lakeside and a few others have been discussed here

[tlwswa]

Hi, I have a one bedroom condo in Tampa. Its at the Landings with is on Linebaugh. The area is really nice and the complex is new with many great amenites. Its very close to the Veterans Hwy, which has easy access to beaches, night life, airport and downtown. I am sending you a link to check out some pictures and additional information. The rent is 750.00 a month and the first month is 1/2 off. Please feel free to call me at (225)235-2269 for email me at [EMAIL="TiffaniWilson@juno.com"]TiffaniWilson@juno.com[/EMAIL] - Thanks, Tiffani

[URL="http://tampa.fl.house.info/86857"]http://tampa.fl.house.info/86857[/URL]