Anonymous wrote:South Tampa (33629, 33606) can be great. It’s very expensive now, though, and the cost of homeowners insurance is shocking coming from this area. The rest of Tampa is pretty much sprawl. And not “nicer” sprawl you see in the DC area and other more affluent places. Nice beaches are maybe 45 minutes away. Lots of people even in the best school zones choose private school.

PP. Forgot to mention that people are generally friendly, laid back, and more into “fun”/hobbies than their careers. I miss this about FL a lot and would still love to move back despite all the negatives. I’d get a boat if I lived there, though.

Anonymous wrote:South Tampa (33629, 33606) can be great. It’s very expensive now, though, and the cost of homeowners insurance is shocking coming from this area. The rest of Tampa is pretty much sprawl. And not “nicer” sprawl you see in the DC area and other more affluent places. Nice beaches are maybe 45 minutes away. Lots of people even in the best school zones choose private school.

Red tide is a big problem on gulf beaches in florida. There are times where the beach is off limits for weeks or longer.

Bom Trady unretired. So there’s that.

Steinbrenner or Plant are the top public schools in Tampa. It’s extremely spread out, with many military-affiliated people living out in Lithia (great schools there) and carpooling into MacDill.

South Tampa (Plant HS pyramid) is lovely, with very expensive homes in Davis Islands, for example. Best private near there is Berkeley, with some outstanding Catholic schools nearby. Some more reasonably priced homes can be had, but inventory is incredibly low.

We love Indian Rocks Beach, Treasure Island, and Bellair Bluffs (St. Pete area). Great private, Shorecrest, is an easy choice and much less expensive than a DC private!

Friendly people, nice lifestyle, very different from around here— which can be a good thing!

South Tampa (33629, 33606) can be great. It’s very expensive now, though, and the cost of homeowners insurance is shocking coming from this area. The rest of Tampa is pretty much sprawl. And not “nicer” sprawl you see in the DC area and other more affluent places. Nice beaches are maybe 45 minutes away. Lots of people even in the best school zones choose private school.

We lived there for 5 years. Had to move for work but absolutely loved it. Quality of life is so much better.

I don’t think it’s inexpensive at all. The nice areas (S. tampa) are much more expensive than DC. I have a good friend from there and visit a lot. Everyone UMC at least goes to private school.

I love it, and would move there in a second if I could afford $3m, private, a boat and the taxes.

Anonymous wrote:Friends moved their for 2 years then came right back to DC area for better schools.

Florida is for retirement, not schooling children.

It’s still Florida, though.

All the places I wanted to move are becoming close to or as expensive as DC now. Tampa area is one of them.

Friends moved their for 2 years then came right back to DC area for better schools.

The Tampa Bay area is one of the hottest and growing real estate markets right now. It’s not so inexpensive any more.

Lots of hot and “open minded” women, so it’s a great place if you’re an attractive man.

Anonymous wrote:Houses are inexpensive there. Close to the beach. Major sport's teams.

What's it like living there? Besides being hot.

not in nice/convenient areas they're not.

Houses are inexpensive there. Close to the beach. Major sport's teams.

What's it like living there? Besides being hot.