Luxury family neighborhood - working near Tampa Int'l Airport (St. Petersburg: real estate, houses) - Tampa Bay - Florida (FL) -Tampa - St. Petersburg - Clearwater - City-Data Forum

mobilefamily · 07-31-2011, 08:52 PM

Hi all,

After reading many informative posts on this site (thanks to all you helpful folks out there), I am hoping to get some very case-specific info. My husband is considering a job that will be located virtually adjacent to Tampa International Airport. Luckily for us, he is very successful and our housing budget will be 1.5 million - 2 million. We have two kids (2nd and 3rd grade) so neighborhood safety and great schools are a top priority. We can afford private schools if need be. We love the idea of living directly on the water if possible, and are attracted to neighborhoods that feel like neighborhoods (interesting restaurants, shops, culture--- not just a string of strip malls). Can anyone recommend places that we should consider? Is commuting from St. Petersburg a ridiculous idea? Are we better off in Tampa? I have read great things about South Tampa and some suburbs like Hyde Park, but with our budget I want to be sure we are considering all our options, including St. Petersburg if it makes sense. Any help would be much appreciated.

planedition · 07-31-2011, 09:13 PM

My sister lives in Beach Park (South Tampa). Loves it, very quiet, very safe (you can look up the stats, she says), sidewalks, tree-lined shady streets, minutes to TIA. You will love it. Make sure you research the streets and buy on a good street, away from busy roads/intersections. A street where maintenance of homes is consistent, where you go on a Saturday night or a Wednesday morning or a Sunday afternoon and there's no shenanigans going on with parking, noise, etc.

She says the South Tampa schools are good (best in the area, allegedly), but not good enough for her, so she does private school.

Moderator cut: realtor listings not allowed

mobilefamily · 07-31-2011, 10:43 PM

Thank you Planedition! Do you know what private school your sister chose for her kids? Also, where is the closest beach to her neighborhood?

ferret111 · 07-31-2011, 11:08 PM

South Tampa's public schools are at least equal to private schools and, in my opinion, better (and yes, I've been to both in South Tampa). Most of the Pinellas beaches are more or less equidistant from South Tampa.

Sunscape · 08-01-2011, 08:37 AM

Beach Park is a very nice area, so is Bayshore.
But the best that you can do is find a very good RE agent who knows the area and can show you what you want.
We find that the most important thing with a particular case like yours.
Good Luck!!

gypsychic · 08-01-2011, 03:13 PM

I agree about Beach Park, I have relatives who have lived there since the 1960's and love it - it's a great neighborhood and great location. South Tampa in general is a great place to be and has great schools.

Keeper · 08-01-2011, 03:56 PM

The few beaches in Tampa are on the bay not the gulf. You can probably live on a canal off of the bay but most houses do not have beaches. If you live on the bay you will see dolphin jumping. Most homes are older that are on the bay but the sunsets are beautiful.

I agree with S. Tampa, Bayshore or Davis Island all very good areas. The commute would be 20 minutes or less depending on where you live. Excellent schools in that area too.

Feel free to ask questions on different neighborhoods here too. We all have opinions here. LOL. We also have some very good real estate agents who post here. They will have little house icons next to their names

LKJ1988 · 08-01-2011, 03:58 PM

Danashores is close to the airport and has all that one would need, for under $1 mil.

ferret111 · 08-01-2011, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CHASLS2

Danashores is close to the airport and has all that one would need, for under $1 mil.

True. What about traffic? There's not too many ways in and out of there; both Hillsborough and Memorial get pretty heavy. What schools are zoned to that neighborhood, anyway?

LKJ1988 · 08-01-2011, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ferret111

True. What about traffic? There's not too many ways in and out of there; both Hillsborough and Memorial get pretty heavy. What schools are zoned to that neighborhood, anyway?

Traffic in and out of Danashores has always been bad since the 60's, most all of Tampa has bad traffic. Beats me when it comes to schools since i was out of school in 1981.