The best neighborhood is . . . . (good, separate)

[smbdy]

Originally Posted by ferret111

Seminole to the St. Pete Airport shouldn't be difficult at all. Depending on where you live, you could go down Park and up 49th Street or straight down Bryan Dairy/102nd Avenue.

thank you - does anyone have an approx. time for me? 30 min commute maybe?

[prden]

Downtown St. Pete seems like it might be a nice place to go to. But I am not sure I would want to live downtown. Is there a suburb that is safe, fairly low cost and that has easy access to downtown?

[sandman22]

Your wife is right about St. Pete area, very nice, just stay away from Shore Acres(flood acres). With the money you are talking about, you could get something in the Snell Island area. Great area. South Tampa, the Westshore area, and Hyde Park also seem like the kind of neiborhoods your wife would like, good schools too.

[thirtytwopaws]

Just found this thread, wondering if anyone wants to revisit the topic! We are moving to St. Pete from Winston-Salem, NC. We love older neighborhoods close to downtown with unique homes, but we are also concerned with school quality. We are thinking that may need to be the overriding issue in our decision of where to move. We are looking in the $200k price range. Any thoughts?

[BBI]

Originally Posted by thirtytwopaws

Just found this thread, wondering if anyone wants to revisit the topic! We are moving to St. Pete from Winston-Salem, NC. We love older neighborhoods close to downtown with unique homes, but we are also concerned with school quality. We are thinking that may need to be the overriding issue in our decision of where to move. We are looking in the $200k price range. Any thoughts?

My thoughts:
1. Start by looking on zillow to get the names of the neighborhoods that have houses you like in your price range.
2. Come here and search for those neighborhood names and/or ask questions to get some background info.
3. Figure out what schools are zoned to the properties you like. You can search for specific addresses here: sap.pinellas.k12.fl.us/PubInfo/
4. Finally, figure out how FL rates those schools (this is entirely FCAT driven, and there's a lot of data) at this website: schoolgrades.fldoe.org/

Generally, the schools in north St. Pete are pretty average, and the schools in south St. Pete are pretty bad. St. Pete HS is actually highly rated, though. There are also magnet/charter/fundamental schools in Pinellas county. I understand that those are good, but your kids wouldn't be guaranteed admission. In addition, there are a lot of younger people buying in/around my neighborhood (Old NE), so it's just a matter of time until the zoned schools improve; not sure if you have time to gamble, though.

[punkfan39126]

I live here in Old NE and love it.

Be very, very careful about catching Tampa-suburb-itis. Comparing places like Old NE to a Tampa suburb is like apples and oranges. You can buy much bigger house and not have to worry about crime but you'll realize pretty soon why. I can't tell you how many people I know that moved down here and can't wait to get the Hell out because they're stuck in Riverview or Westchase or Town N' Country.

If your wife loves Old NE, move there. I don't know anyone who doesn't like living here.

[msoler29]

South Manhattan ave, Gandy, are all good areas. Stay away from 22ND st in Tampa and South St Pete.

[msoler29]

Hillsborough and certain areas of Tampa are really bad.North Tampa and 22nd old Tampa are the pitts.. South Saint Pete is HORRIBLE..

[KittyAtlanta]

I live on Davis Islands and it is wonderful. If you don't have time to look, sign up with a real estate agent if you are going to buy and a rental agent if you're going to rent. When moving to an unknown place, I would always recommend renting. The apartment complexes in the Tampa/St. Pete area generally offer 6-14 month leases. Take some time and since you have children, come in summer so you can make a decision before school starts.

For retirees, Sun City Center across the Skyway Bridge is a super place to live. My mother has been there for 20 years and loves it.

[Desperate mom at st Pete]

We currently moved to St Petersburg from New York. We are now living in an apartment and I have 2 preschoolers. Before we buy a house in 5 months later when our lease is due, I would like to ask is there any great catholic school in safty harbor area or any reputable catholic school around st Pete or north part of st Pete?
There are so many neighborhoods to choose from and I really have no clue where should I start. Should I pick the neighborhood first and find school around that area or I should look for the schol first then find house around the school?
We will like to buy house 4+ bedrooms and around $450,000.
I would deeply appreciate all of your opinions. I deparetly need help.
Thank you again for your advice.