Florida houses?

[jeancbpugh]

I went around Tampa, FL earlier this week with a realtor looking at houses.

From a born and bred northerner's perspective, the houses were odd.
- cinderblock construction on top of a slab
- no basements (because of the water table)
- single pane windows
- tiny bedrooms
- every house had a pool that was too small to swim more than two strokes
- every pool was covered with a screen house (I assume to keep out bugs...are the mosquitos THAT bad??)

Can any of you Floridians give me advice on what to look for in a Tampa house? What to watch out for??

 

[minnie1928]

I went around Tampa, FL earlier this week with a realtor looking at houses.

From a born and bred northerner's perspective, the houses were odd.
- cinderblock construction on top of a slab
- no basements (because of the water table)
- single pane windows
- tiny bedrooms
- every house had a pool that was too small to swim more than two strokes
- every pool was covered with a screen house (I assume to keep out bugs...are the mosquitos THAT bad??)

Can any of you Floridians give me advice on what to look for in a Tampa house? What to watch out for??

I always thought the screen houses were for gators, but what do I know....I'm in PA looking at a snow covered yard.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

It is not just concrete block. There are rebars going through and also concrete poured in them. There is something about being hurricane proof.

Double pane glass is always an option.

In my development pools are an option and most people don't get them. As far as the screening, there is a state requirement that pools be secured against wandering children; a screened enclosure which can be locked is considered sufficient.

I have both my lanai and courtyard fully screened. Not only does it keep my cats in but it keeps all wildlife out. It allows me to keep the doors to the house open in decent weather while keeping bugs out.

 

[chrissyk]

I love not having a basement anymore! I don't need a place to accumulate "stuff". Living w/o a basement forces you to get rid of what you don't need. It's very liberating.

As for the small bedrooms...that bugs me too. I have no clue on that one. It's annoying.

The small pools are just stupid...if I were to go to the trouble and expense of adding a pool, I'd make it worthwhile at least! We ruled out plenty of houses based upon the fact that the pool was already there and it was too tiny. Either put in a normal-sized pool or leave the lot as-is and let the next buyers add it, KWIM?!

 

[pixiepower1971]

Cinderblock construction for hurricanes and also helps with cooling costs

Why would you need double pane? Doesn't get THAT cold in FL!

I hate the tiny bedrooms as well...theory is you spend more time outdoors in FL lifestyle so you don't need big bedrooms...

Which is why you have huge pool cage. I LOVE mine! I hate not having one in TX. Keeps animals out...your own animals and kids in, leaves and grass out of pools, provides a "sense" of privacy, keeps nasty little flying bugs out, and allows you to open all the huge sliding doors on the back side of your house to let the beautiful air in-after you have learned how to disable the HORRIFIC pool alarms- don't flame me...I have no babies or toddlers....

Small pools cost less. You can find bigger pools in the older construction.

 

[alikat99]

Ok, I live here in St. Petersburg, on the other side of Tampa.

As others have said, the cinderblock construction is much more than just concrete block, they are reinforced for hurricanes.

I do miss basements, because they do provide great storage, but make due with the garage.

As for us, we put in new windows in most of our house, and we put in double-pane to keep our AC costs lower in the summer.

I do agree, we also have tiny bedrooms (all rooms except for the master are only 10'x11'). But, we have HUGE living areas, and personally for my family, I would much rather have a large living area than large bedrooms.

I would have to say that our pool is definitely not the norm. We have a pretty large (15'x30') pool, but this is giant by most standards. It does take up most of the back yard, and it was built in the 70s.

Screened in pools are the best!! It keeps out bugs (and yes, they are THAT bad), leaves & debris. And, it keeps in your pets & kids. We have an indoor kitty, but he's allowed out onto the pool area, because it's screened-in.

As for the Tampa area, I would really look for those areas that do not get flooded. South Tampa is famous for flooded streets all the time. It really depends on where you're looking.

If you have any questions, PM me and I'll tell you more about the area.

 

[jeancbpugh]

As far as the screening, there is a state requirement that pools be secured against wandering children; a screened enclosure which can be locked is considered sufficient.

Thanks for the info.

 

[Southern4sure]

I think the main reason the pools are small is because most homes do not have room for a standard size pool unless you have a really large yard. The average home in the developements we looked at were 1/8-1/4 acre.

I live just north of Tampa, we have been here a short while but I have not seen any flooding.

PM me if you have any questions.

 

[Feralpeg]

It probably depends on the builder, but my bedrooms are not that small. The master is 15' X 17'. Two bedrooms are 10' x 12'. The other is 10' x 10'. That is pretty much what I had in Missouri. I do miss the basement.

 

[safetymom]

I miss having a basement for storage but love being able to walk in the door with groceries instead of walking of steps.

The bedrooms in my home are as big or bigger than what I had up north. When the hurricanes came through last year I was glad I had cement block construction.

 

[AllyBri]

I think small rooms is a relative term, depends on what you have now.
My master is 18x18 and the other bedrms. are somewhat smaller. The living room is 20x26.
Would not want my own pool, just a safety issue with me, most people do want one of their own though. Came home one day, in a prior home and the neighbors teens had unlocked the entry and were swimming, get a panic attack when I think of them getting hurt.

 

[znjmom]

I miss our basement too, but the bedroom sizes are really not bad. You want to discuss the prices down here....that's another story!!!

My husband is in the pool business and there are several reasons for the pool enclosures. Although not required, most people do get them. It keeps critters of all kinds out and makes it bareable to be out at night.(with the bugs)

Good luck on your home search!!

 

[jeancbpugh]

I looked up our floor plan here near Chicago. Our smallest bedroom (too small for the kids so we use it as a guest room) is 12x14. The kids' rooms are 15x16, 15x14. The master is 21x17 with 13x13. Would it be unrealistic to hope to match these in the Tampa area?

 

[safetymom]

We have a very close knit neighborhood that keeps an eye on each others houses. It just so happens there are some short term rentals in the neighborhood. It hasn't been any problem at all. I love my neighborhood.

 

[ducklite]

I'm 70 minutes from Ybor City barring traffic problems, closer to Orlando.

- cinderblock construction on top of a slab

Wouldn't want to be in a stick built during a hurricane. My home in NJ was also on a slab.

- no basements (because of the water table)

Yup--but we have a large, fully decked attic that works just as well.

- single pane windows

We thought this was odd as well--until we researched it. The tinting on the windows reflects the solar heat, and down here you worry about heat rather than cold.

- tiny bedrooms

Nope--Mine are 10 x 10 (guest room--this room is small), 12 x 13 (den which could be a 4th BR), 13 x 20 (plus a full en suite bath) DS's room, and 19 x 20 plus 7 x12 sitting MBR (exclusive of bath).

- every house had a pool that was too small to swim more than two strokes

We don't have a pool as there is a community pool just around the corner. I have plenty of room to add one if I decide to down the road.

- every pool was covered with a screen house (I assume to keep out bugs...are the mosquitos THAT bad??)

The bugs can be pretty bad. Our lanai is screened, and we enjoy spending time on it when the weather is nice.

Anne

 

[stingfancb]

Please don't start the flames and this really is meant to be tongue in cheek, but.....

You're right - the houses are VERY tiny, horribly built, WAYYYY too many bugs and mosquitoes, never enough room to swim in our pools
Can't imagine why anyone would ever consider moving here!

 

[jennifer293]

Please don't start the flames and this really is meant to be tongue in cheek, but.....

You're right - the houses are VERY tiny, horribly built, WAYYYY too many bugs and mosquitoes, never enough room to swim in our pools
Can't imagine why anyone would ever consider moving here!

How about we switch I have a 2000 sq ft home on 5 acres in TN, for your house in FL...LOL

Anything closer to Mickey would put a on my face!!!

I have family in St. Pete and they have a fairly large home, no pool but they do have a mosquito netted porch...

 

[jeancbpugh]

Please don't start the flames and this really is meant to be tongue in cheek, but.....

You're right - the houses are VERY tiny, horribly built, WAYYYY too many bugs and mosquitoes, never enough room to swim in our pools
Can't imagine why anyone would ever consider moving here!

Yes, I know I sound like I'm whining, but really I'm just trying to understand the local housing market, and whether the houses I saw in one afternoon are really representative.

There are good points and bad points to living in any area.

 

[ducklite]

Please don't start the flames and this really is meant to be tongue in cheek, but.....

You're right - the houses are VERY tiny, horribly built, WAYYYY too many bugs and mosquitoes, never enough room to swim in our pools
Can't imagine why anyone would ever consider moving here!

My home in FL is built FAR better than my NJ house was--that one was falling apart before it hit 15. The rooms are more spacious, I've got 1200 more sf under air and only one more room than when I was in NJ(ie aignificantly larger rooms). The pool at our clubhouse is seldom used and large enough to swim laps in. And the bugs here are no worse than when I lived near the great Cicero Swamp outside of Syracuse--in fact I'd have to say that was far worse!

To answer the question, people live here for the leaner air, slower pace, and WE NEVER HAVE TO SHOVEL SNOW LOL!

Anne

 

[ducklite]

Yes, I know I sound like I'm whining, but really I'm just trying to understand the local housing market, and whether the houses I saw in one afternoon are really representative.

There are good points and bad points to living in any area.

If you were looking at older homes, then that sounds about right, but new construction for the most part seems to offer spacious rooms with open floor plans. It just depends on where you look. The closer you are to the city the smaller the lot will be. We built 20 miles outside of Orlando and have a half acre.

Anne