Has anyone else given up on South Tampa? (Plant City, Seminole: real estate, buying a house)

[saltzman143]

I am about to give up on buying a house in South Tampa. The houses I am seeing are so crappy, pardon my french. Either they are in need of major remodeling, or they have been remodeled and have two kitchens or three dining rooms or bedrooms with drains on the floors, or some other atrocious layout problem!

Even though I have a big down payment and can afford to spend 500k, I feel faint every time I think about plunking down that much money on one of these shacks, which is really what they are.

Did anyone else make the decision to take South Tampa off the list and look elsewhere? If so, where did you end up buying? I am looking for a house that has been TASTEFULLY and INTELLIGENTLY remodeled (or built within the last 20 years), that is a 4/2, 2000 square feet, on a quarter-to-half acre (oversize) lot, quiet street with canopy, sidewalks. I didn't think that was too much to ask for at 500k, but apparently it is in South Tampa! I am just trying to save myself a big commute, but the housing stock in South Tampa is not up to par, not even for 500k!

[duttygal86]

Did you try Craigslist? I am seeing lots of nice large homes and townhomes for well under 500K

[Nav]

Tree lined streets with 1/2 acre lots under 500k ????? Ha Ha Ha...not in Tampa. Unfortunately, Most areas in tampa are devoid of trees. I know exactly what you are looking for but its not an easy find. If you must live within 5 miles of Downtown you may want to consider looking in the Seminole heights area. Its an area like south Tampa used to be before it was redeveloped. You can easily pick up a house in your size range for 300k, then put another 150k into renovations to get the house you really want. I know you want to stay downtown, but if you don't mind going out a bit, you can get something in the historic district of Plant City in your price range. Canopied brick streets, lots of character and only 20 minutes from downtown.

Nav

[saltzman143]

I check C-list, the MLS, Trulia, Zillow, all the FSBO web sites on a daily basis.

Basically I want something like this:

Tampa, FL, 33618 - MLS ID#T2312415 - Single Family Home Real Estate - REALTOR.com®

But SMALLER (2000 sq feet max) and without a pool or any water frontage. On a quiet street. For less than 500k. In South Tampa. If that is impossible, someone please tell me and I will immediately stop looking in South Tampa.

[gypsychic]

Hi - I sent you a DM with a website I found that seems to have good listings on it. Hope this helps!

[tampaguy03]

Originally Posted by Nav

Unfortunately, Most areas in tampa are devoid of trees.
Nav

Huh? no offense, but I find this very untrue, ESPECIALLY in south tampa.

[SLCPUNK]

Originally Posted by tampaguy03

Huh? no offense, but I find this very untrue, ESPECIALLY in south tampa.

Yes, South Tampa is full of trees. Big ones at that.

[Keeper]

Check out Seminole heights or Riverside heights close to the river but there are some iffy areas close by.

I surely wouldn't recommend Plant City to anyone new to the area

[Nav]

Originally Posted by tampaguy03

Huh? no offense, but I find this very untrue, ESPECIALLY in south tampa.

Tampaguy,

If you look at the first post, we are talking about tree lined streets except those in south Tampa. South Tampa has some trees, that is already a given. But most other neighborhoods do not have tree lined streets. The newer communities bulldozed them to make construction easier then they plant seedlings to replace them. There are pockets around, but in general, Tampa's streets are not tree lined like you would find in other places.

Nav

[Nav]

Originally Posted by Keeper

I surely wouldn't recommend Plant City to anyone new to the area

Isn't that kind of a slanted opinion on an area you apparently do not know very well? Not wanting to offend, but Plant city is actually a nice quaint small town. There are some sections that are less desirable but to condemn a whole city is just wrong. Can you please give us your reasons?

Thanks,
Nav