Possible new job in Tampa -- need help!

[Dax]

About 2 years ago we traveled to a softball tournament in Winter Haven & it did not seem like a very safe area in my opinion. (Just saying the experience I had). We stayed on a main road & the hotel desk clerk told us that we should "be careful" etc.

There is nothing wrong with Winter Haven...its a great town to live in, with a few not so friendly areas, but all towns have that.

I lived in Lakeland and commuted to Temple Terrace for over 3yrs...It was GREAT...I would be at work in about 45min most days, and if I caught the traffic wrong...1hr 30min max, but I also looked for back road alternatives when I could..

I would love to move back to Lakeland..Its a great town, and very convienent to everything

 

[lakelandgal70]

There is nothing wrong with Winter Haven...its a great town to live in, with a few not so friendly areas, but all towns have that.

I lived in Lakeland and commuted to Temple Terrace for over 3yrs...It was GREAT...I would be at work in about 45min most days, and if I caught the traffic wrong...1hr 30min max, but I also looked for back road alternatives when I could..

I would love to move back to Lakeland..Its a great town, and very convienent to everything

We would be very happy ifyou guys moved back here too.

 

[lakelandgal70]

We currently live in NJ and DH has an interview for a position in Tampa, Fl. I'm trying to gather info in case he is offered the position and my biggest thing is where to look to live.

My not-so-short list at the moment is (in no particular order):
Spring Hill
Lakeland
Winter Haven
Tarpon Springs
Apollo Beach
Wesley Chapel
Dade City
Auburndale
Land o' Lakes
Lutz

Can anyone suggest other towns to check out or stay away from? We'd like to be within a reasonable commute to Tampa, and are looking for something along the lines of 3bd/2bath pool home on SOME land (more than a postage stamp), at least 1600 sq. ft., where fences are not prohibited (3 dogs) and reasonably priced (say under $150K).

Interview is Monday and we'd like to check out some areas while we're there. DIS'ers know everything, so I thought this was a great place to ask!

All those towns are pretty good. You definatley right now can get a house under 150k. We live in Lakeland and hubby commutes to downtown Tampa. Takes about 45min and we live bout 30min from Disney depending on traffic of course. Its a pretty nice town and cheap to live here. Closer you get to water of course more expensive it is.

 

[AshleyW]

I live in Clearwater, up near the Safety Harbor line. It's a great area, easy commute to Tampa and a very pretty area. You might want to check out this area. Some of the towns are Safety Harbor, Oldsmar, Palm Harbor, Countryside.

I'll vouch for the Clearwater area, as well. My parents moved there a few years ago and they love it. They rented a large apartment in Clearwater (dog friendly) for a year, to get a feel for the area, and now they're renting a house a little north of Clearwater, in Dunedin. If I were going to move down there, I'd probably go somewhere in that triangle of Clearwater, Palm Harbor, and Safety Harbor. The drive to Tampa from that area isn't bad at all - just hop on the causeway and you're there!

 

[leight]

We rented in New Tampa-hillsborough side for 4 yrs when we moved here from NY. I would recommend wesley chapel but suggest looking at the subdivisions based on what priorities are most important. Its in the New Tampa area and many people from NY/NJ relocated here.

Schools?
No hoa restrictions?
Community pool/center/ facilities
shopping
commute locality

Unfortunately, most of that is learned by experience so finding a good local realtor is important(I don't have one to recommend-ours was not so good!) Seven oaks is a fabulous community- right off the highway so an easy commute- but taxes are higher because of the CDD. (Our top contender in Wesley Chapel before we moved to Lithia instead)

Meadow Pointe is great for starter homes- you'll find lots of reasonably priced homes, but it is more of a transient neighborhood-so resale value is tighter than in a more resort oriented community. But you will have lower taxes and in most of their subdivisions fences are easy to get approved.

You can find lots of short sales and foreclosure bargains, its just really narrowing down the community that suits your family most. We decided to move to the other side of tampa to be in Fishhawk Ranch because we wanted A rated schools and a real family oriented community-and we have friends there. Seven Oaks would have a been a bit less in taxes but my mom, brother and uncle work in the middle school in Wesley Chapel and I didn't want dd to start middle school where they worked and would torment her! So off to Lithia we went.

Ask any questions-

 

[sweet angel]

Okay, here goes. Schools are not really a concern as my DS is almost 20. I'd prefer no deed restrictions. I'd prefer NO homeowners association, but guess that's rare in Florida? Not really a "development" or "subdivision" type of girl -- I prefer more established "neighborhoods" -- if that makes any sense. Not real big on cookie cutter homes.

Not looking for a starter home, as this will be the 4th I've owned -- although the first in Florida, so maybe. LOL

I don't want to be in the city, but don't want to be miles from my nearest neighbor either. Shopping within 20-30 minutes would be ideal, as long as there's somewhere I can run closer to get milk!

Don't need a community with a pool since I'm looking for a house with a pool.

A non-awful commute (which, I suppose, is relative) -- say 45 minutes or under -- is a must.

SAFE town is a must.

If someone can direct me to a specific area that has no snakes, I'd be a happy girl -- but that's not likely...lol.

I've tried contacting two realtors already, including one from the local branch of my own agency! Neither has gotten back to me. You'd think with all the housing available, they'd be chomping at the bit...

 

[Tampa Mousekeeter]

We live in Apollo Beach and when I worked downtown in Tampa it was a perfect commute! No one lives south of the city, all the traffic is coming from the north into town....we love Apollo Beach...just close enough to everything but far enough away from all the congestion.....btw we were originally from NJ too!

 

[Scott'sAuntJill]

About 2 years ago we traveled to a softball tournament in Winter Haven & it did not seem like a very safe area in my opinion. (Just saying the experience I had). We stayed on a main road & the hotel desk clerk told us that we should "be careful" etc.

My parents, sister, nephew live in Winter Haven and I lived there for several years (as a child) when we first lived there. My family liked the area so much that they returned when my folks retired. It does have some rough spots, but as the PP pointed out, many communities do. There is no where in Winter Haven where I would feel truly unsafe, but you should use common sense anywhere you go.

We love to visit my family and like the small town feel Winter Haven has. The shopping wasn't always so great, but there has been a reasonable amount of development so now it isn't such a production to just go to Target. (Love Publix grocery store though). There are some great schools, terrific public parks, a wonderful library, lots of community activities, and the beautiful lakes. Our dogs are ever so delighted that Nana and Pop-pop live on a lake! It isn't a bad drive from there to Tampa, but it is a drive. (The relatively quick hop to WDW is also a plus). We also really enjoy visiting Lakeland, but what I know of it is more the downtown. It isn't big city, but might feel more "city" than you want.

I'm not as personally familiar with the other towns on your list, but have visited a few - sorry, that's not really helpful! Good luck with your move! That has to be a pretty nerve-wracking but exciting prospect.

 

[chyam]

Have you checked out the Brandon or Valrico areas? There are also smaller towns between Tampa and Plant City that would not be that bad of a commute. I would say stay away from the Pinellas county areas...just because of the insurance, since Pinellas is across the bridge from Tampa and basically has water on 3 sides, the insurance companies have been sticking it to us, if you can even find someone to insure you. I would look at your map, and while you are down here check out those areas. Every town has good and bad areas, personally I wouldn't mind being closer to Lakeland, simply because there is still quite a bit of "country living" still available in the the surrounding areas. But as always everyone has their own opinion and what may sound bad to some is not so bad to others, you can also pull up on your computer the crime stats for the areas that you are interested in and work from there.

 

[ilovefh]

I work in the town just south of Lakeland and a lot of my coworkers live in Lakeland and love it. Tomorrow I'll ask them where in Lakeland they recommend and report back! I also have another coworker that lives in a safe area in Winter Haven. I'll ask her what she thinks tomorrow.

 

[sweet angel]

I work in the town just south of Lakeland and a lot of my coworkers live in Lakeland and love it. Tomorrow I'll ask them where in Lakeland they recommend and report back! I also have another coworker that lives in a safe area in Winter Haven. I'll ask her what she thinks tomorrow.

Thanks!

 

[sweet angel]

Quick update: drove around some yesterday. Seem to favor north Lakeland so far. Took the ride straight down I4 from Orlando and then continued on from there to the job site. Even if the commute was DOUBLE the time it took us, it's still shorter than DH's current commute.

As an added bonus, I ate at Cracker Barrel for the very first time!

 

[Lucky4me]

I love Lakeland. Big city amenities and small town feel. It's also the lightning capital of the world. Or it used to be. Every time we visited, every year for over 20 years, there would be huge thunder and lightning storms. mil lived in a mobile home which made it that much louder. Thunder and lightning scare me so much and is one of the main reasons I don't move down there.
If it thunders three times a year here, it's a lot.

 

[HeatherFeather]

I live in Valrico and commute to my job that is in the Temple Terrace/USF area On a good day, I can make it in 40 min...on a regular day it is about 50 min. I think it is about 26 miles. We chose this area for schools as we have school age children, but it is really nice. We are close to the country (Dover) but still have everything we need very close by. I do take the back way to work and go up to I-4 to 75.

As far as housing, there are a lot of controlled developments with HOAs CDDs and all that business, but there are also just regular homes too. Just make sure your realtor is aware of what you want.

Good luck!

 

[kimmyann]

I don't live in FL........yet, we've also been looking. I have found a forum with lots of info that may help you somewhat its www.city-data.com/forum/search.php Good luck.

 

[lakelandgal70]

Quick update: drove around some yesterday. Seem to favor north Lakeland so far. Took the ride straight down I4 from Orlando and then continued on from there to the job site. Even if the commute was DOUBLE the time it took us, it's still shorter than DH's current commute.

As an added bonus, I ate at Cracker Barrel for the very first time!

Wow glad the commute would be better for ya. Glad you like the area and got to eat at Cracker Barrel. I enjoy their breakfast! Good luck with the job for your hubby!

 

[PigletsPal2]

Lakeland is also home to Florida Southern College, a Frank Lloyd Wright designed school. Lovely campus on Lake Hollingsworth; small private Methodist school. DGD lives in a sorority house on campus but spends A LOT of time in town at coffee shops, little boutiques, small music venues, etc. It's a sweet little town from what I've seen, and she loves it there.

Queen Colleen

 

[Art 1]

Quick update: drove around some yesterday. Seem to favor north Lakeland so far. Took the ride straight down I4 from Orlando and then continued on from there to the job site. Even if the commute was DOUBLE the time it took us, it's still shorter than DH's current commute.

As an added bonus, I ate at Cracker Barrel for the very first time!

I know the Cracker Barrel that you are talking about. That thing is really hard to get in and out of.

 

[Singleminnie]

I live in Valrico and commute to my job that is in the Temple Terrace/USF area On a good day, I can make it in 40 min...on a regular day it is about 50 min. I think it is about 26 miles. We chose this area for schools as we have school age children, but it is really nice. We are close to the country (Dover) but still have everything we need very close by. I do take the back way to work and go up to I-4 to 75.

As far as housing, there are a lot of controlled developments with HOAs CDDs and all that business, but there are also just regular homes too. Just make sure your realtor is aware of what you want.

Good luck!

I tried sending you a pm, but unable, so I hope you get this. I am looking to move to Valrico, FL this year. My brother has a rental house there where I will be living with my three DDs, ages 14, 10, and 5. I was wondering about the local schools. I have looked online, but I feel its always good to get a first hand opinion. I am just needing to find new employment down there. I would appreciate any information you can give! Thanks

 

[Singleminnie]

Bump hoping for a response from HeatherFeather!