Post: #26

(04-10-2018 10:35 AM)Investment Bro Wrote:  Wanted to bump this up to get some more current information as opposed to starting my own thread.

I'm relocating down to Tampa in a few days, and am starting from scratch completely. I've been to Clearwater beach a few times and loved it, and would like to try to live in the area. I'm a young guy, and I have a high income compared to what the average is in Florida.

So what's happening in the area now? Any suggestions on where to live, where to make some new friends, etc.

It's been awhile since I was in the area, but if I were to move back I'd consider downtown St. Pete, SoHo/Davis Island in Tampa, or the southern Pinellas beaches. I'd also look close to the proposed new baseball stadium site in Ybor City. I lived close to the Trop in St. Pete where the Rays play and had some great times, so I'm maybe a little biased.

Clearwater is nice, but it's hard to get to the rest of the area from there. The far north suburbs and south of the Skyway are pretty far from the main nightlife areas, although I'm sure there are little pockets all over. I don't know too much about the north 'burbs, and only went to Sarasota and Bradenton for spring training games. I'd recommend avoiding large parts of Pinellas county - Pinellas Park, Largo, Gulfport (unless you can see water from your place). That may be old info based on when I lived there, but I'd kick the tires thoroughly before committing to one of those neighborhoods.

Traffic can suck and the area is spread out, so not knowing your commuting situation makes giving a recommendation difficult.

As far as making friends go, the area is incredibly transient. Many, if not most, people you meet won't be natives. Meeting people can be pretty easy, since many are in the same position as you. That said, don't be surprised when people move back home or on to their next stop. I met a decent friend group through volunteering and my job, which was a unique setup. Join a sports league, volunteer, hit up sports games, go to the beach, or just head to the bars. As a young guy with a decent lifestyle, the local colleges (USF, SPC, Eckerd) are all easy pickings.

Enjoy it! I definitely have several fond memories of my time there.

Post: #27

(04-10-2018 10:35 AM)Investment Bro Wrote:  Wanted to bump this up to get some more current information as opposed to starting my own thread.

I'm relocating down to Tampa in a few days, and am starting from scratch completely. I've been to Clearwater beach a few times and loved it, and would like to try to live in the area. I'm a young guy, and I have a high income compared to what the average is in Florida.

So what's happening in the area now? Any suggestions on where to live, where to make some new friends, etc.

If you're working in downtown Tampa, then look at SoHo (South Howard) or Hyde Park (if you can afford it).

Another good and way cheaper area in Tampa is the square between MacDill and Westshore (east to west) and Cypress to Kennedy (North to South). Still close to downtown and SoHo, but rent is significantly cheaper than SoHo or Hyde Park.

For SoHo/Hyde Park you'll live walking distance from bars full of 18-24 year old University of Tampa students and a ton of 25-30 year old white yuppies.

UT girls are way hotter than USF girls. You also don't want to walk around at night around USF.

Clearwater is nice, but if you work in downtown Tampa that work commute is going to be 30-45 minutes each way with rush hour traffic. Plus, the nightlife in Clearwater is lackluster compared to SoHo and St. Pete.

Post: #28

Did you decide yet?
Agree about St Pete beach. If you like Clearwater beach and if you make good money I'd rent a condo down there short term to see if you like it. It's going to be completely different than living in Tampa, St Pete or Clearwater.

Clearwater is not Clearwater beach. As St Pete is not St Pete Beach. Completely different places.

Clearwater beach is full of tourists. It's difficult to get on and off, as there is no major hwy there. There are lots of traffic lights between there and Tampa or St Pete. But that still might be what you are looking for. Try it out.

St Pete Beach is where locals go. That's because Hwy 275 is an easy shot to St Pete Beach.

Either beach is going to be transient compared to other parts of TampaBay.

Tampa is much different. That is a true city. You are close to the beach but many don't go that much. If they do go to the beach they go to St Pete beach.

There is so much to do in Tampa that many don't end up going to the beach as much as you would think. Driving around Tampa can be a pain.

St Pete is not St Pete beach. It is not as spread out as Tampa. It has a true downtown that is growing fast with apartments. A lot of people want to live there now. Lots of people walking dogs around downtown and riding bikes.

However if you like Clearwater beach try a short-term rental and check out different areas of Tampa Bay. Heading into summer and rates for short term beach condo rentals will start dropping. As you see many people buy condos there and rent them out when not around through a local beach rental agency.

Of the two beach areas, St Pete beach is going to be a younger crowd. As more from St Pete and Tampa will go there. Clearwater beach is going to be more families and convention types.

In St Pete beach if you could swing a month at the Postcard Inn there is no way you wouldn't have fun. If you make good money like you say then I'd start there and see if you can get a good rate for an extended stay.

Post: #29

I ended up moving to Egypt Leto Lake area. Im cheap. Posted there for a while. Moved to New Tampa for a while. Then, I moved to North Hyde Park. That's probably my favorite spot. Close to 275, SOHO, UT and downtown.

I just bought a house in Ybor. Hoping it will become the next Seminole Heights. They are getting ridiculous with home prices now. I bought 1300 sqft for under 180k. I'm seeing home near me, same style and size trying to be sold for almost 300k.

If you need to help, hit me up. I'll be in country for another three weeks then I'm headed to the horn of Africa for work. I'm always open to a meetup.

Post: #30

(04-17-2018 12:33 AM)Belize King Wrote:  I just bought a house in Ybor. Hoping it will become the next Seminole Heights. They are getting ridiculous with home prices now. I bought 1300 sqft for under 180k. I'm seeing home near me, same style and size trying to be sold for almost 300k.

Just as how freeways and limited-access highways can break apart a neighborhood, I think the opposite will happen in that part of Ybor thanks to the Crosstown Connector. That strip of elevated highway effectively segregates the depressed, blighted parts of Adamo/60 and 7th Ave from the parts Tampa is clearly trying to gentrify and tie-in with Channelside and downtown as a whole.

Post: #31

Glad I checked back in on this.

I ended up doing a 1 year rental at this place down on Clearwater Beach right over near Caladesi Island State Park. You probably know exactly where I'm talking about if you're from the area. Very impressed with the cost of living here as compared to Boston. Grateful for it every day.

It's worked out really well so far. It's relaxing as hell when I come home from work, and I'm way more productive because it's so laid back here.

I work over near the Clearwater/St Pete Airport, so it's a short jet into the city. Chances are, after my lease is up I'll probably try to buy the place I'm living at now and come here on the weekends, and rent something downtown, considering all my girls at the moment are in or around the city.

Everything you guys laid out here was spot on. Thank you! If any of you are still in the area, first drink is on me. Shoot me a PM if you're up for it.

Post: #32

How is Tampa?

Hot white girls?

Decent nightlife throughout the week?

I'm Irish and suspect my accent my be a DHV down there(?)

Thinking of fleeing the Midwest winter and going down there for a month or two.

Post: #33

Tampabay has a very midwest feel and attitude as this is the one part of Florida that Midwest people move to because of I-75. Whereas South Florida has more of a Northeast US population.

For example, when the Packers come here it is like family rather than rivals.

However, if you come here for a month or two I would suggest staying close to the beach rather than Tampa. There is much more of a difference than it seems.

Decent nightlife but most places are busy during the weekend. During the week you might want to focus on the beaches.

Will it give you DHV having an accent? Maybe but Florida has people from everywhere and many different accents. Florida is used to tourists so accents are not unique.

Post: #34

Yeah, Tampa seems awesome, went to vacation there and want to move there full-time. I've heard Naples also has a large retirment community. How is the football fan community? Are they mostly Bucs fans or other teams? It seems like the Bucs are doing better now and the stadium seems nice.

Post: #35

Best places to live in Tampa, I recommend some places especially for families

1.Seminole Heights.
2.Downtown Tampa.
3. Hunters Green
4.New Tampa

Post: #36

Tampa and St. Pete are both great Thursday-Sunday, there is night life during the week, however it definitely is lower quality. Overall, Tampa and St. Petersburg are both good. I would also recommend Sarasota, it is a great town and is easy to pull. I would stick to these three and I think Tampa would be more receptive to the accent than Miami or Orlando, however SEC towns would be best for this.

Post: #37

Best places to live in Tampa.

1. Harbour Island

2.Spanish Tampa

3.Davis Island