Real good chance I could move to the Tampa area

[Paul Taylor]

I got the green light to work in another state in a few years. 

Sunshine state is on the radar.   

We will be in the area in a week or so and I am sure the wife is going to want to take a day and just look at the real estate. I will have to go into our sales office located on the west side of Tampa 3 days a week. The wife is thinking the Indian Shores area, I am thinking next door to the closet CL field. So how far is it from a CL field to a modestly priced beach community? Any areas that I need to avoid?

We have some time, just trying to start planning. 

Looking forward to the feedback.   

[Eric Viglione]

Well... Clearwater is nice where I live, so is Valrico where Bill Rich lives, both are a good 45-60 minute drive to the field in Manatee County, just over the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.
There ARE NO OTHER Tampa Bay club C/L fields... there are some on the other coast near Palm Bay, or over towards Orlando, Jacksonville, or more south towards Venice.

FYI - They are battling the de-funding of flood insurance for flood zones, so buyer beware. If you want waterfront or beach community, some local residents were hit with 5 figure flood insurance this year!

That said, get with a realtor, pinpoint your job and the MCRC field on a map, ( 7315 71'st Ave East Palmetto, Florida 34222 ) and tell the realtor what you want or use one of the on-line realestate search engines.

Shopping long-distance is kinda hard, because no matter what I tell you, that won't be where you end up because either nothing you like will be available there, or something else will get your attention.

As far as what areas to avoid, almost every little berg has a low rent district, and a red light district, first decide what berg you will end up in, then maybe we can talk about what to avoid, if I'm familiar with that area.

Hope that helps!
EricV

[Paul Taylor]

Thanks Eric!

We for sure are looking at the Clearwater area. Wife has family there.

Good to know about the flood thing.  I will keep you posted.

[Howard Rush]

Something I said to a lady once gave her the notion that I was going to move to Tampa with her. 

[Dick Pacini]

We just returned from a 10 day stay in Florida.  Stayed in Ormond Beach and traveled (got lost) every day.  Florida has the worst road markings I have ever seen.

We visited a cousin, a couple of friends and an old flying buddy.  Went to Daytona Beach, Middleburg, Fort Meyers, Orlando and St Augustine.  On one of our got lost treks, we were 11 miles from Georgia.  Map Quest sucks and my GPS doesn't recognize some addresses.  If we had more time to go to Miami, I would have looked Les McDonald up.

All in all, one of our best vacations.  Florida is beautiful and looks like a great place to move to.  I have heard it called Heaven's Waiting Room.

[EddyR]

Paul I was a realtor for many years in that area. You said"modestly priced beach community? ". There is no such thing. I lived in the Tampa bay area for 30 years. Do as Eric said. I bought my first Florida house in Clearwater in 1972 ,cost $18,000. I was one mile from Clearwater beach. I use to get customers from mid USA say to me "I would like a little house in Dunedin" That is just north of Clearwater. I would show them MLS listings and we would start looking somewhere they could afford,not Dunedin. I had customers from NY who though the prices were cheap. Flood insurance is a big problem. You must know the elevation of the property. Rebecca and I were there 30 years and enjoyed it a lot at the time.
Ed

[Ward Van Duzer]

Paul,

Suggest you think about renting when you come down here at first. Many areas are very different from some a few miles away. Clearwater is rather urban, we are more suburban). We scouted the area for three years (various 'vacations') before we decided to buy. One major piece of advice we were given was to go south of the sunshine bridge. Why? It's more 'Florida' here. That's what we were looking for! That is, Palm trees flowers, weather etc. We think it is. Some may disagree. Would advise to stay within shooting distance of I-75. It is how you get anywhere on the west coast. You don't want to spend an hour and a half in traffic to get to 75 just to travel to Venice or Naples. We are in Bradenton, East of I-75 in a sub-divison  (nearly its own town) called Lakewood Ranch in Manatee County. (Exit 217, I-75) Only 10 to 12 years old with homes ranging from the $200's to over a mil. I am 25 minutes from the flying field. No flood insurance needed! But, we are roughly 45 minutes from the shore (Anna Maria Island) and 50 minutes to the Tampa airport.

 At your service sir. Don't hesitate to contact us.

BTW, we love it!

Ward

[Bill Johnson]

I have a condo in Clearwater at the corner of Hercules and Sunset Point. We're on the "high ground" at 45', I think. That entire area has changed so much since we moved there in '76. We used to be surrounded by orange groves. Now we vacation in the panhandle around Orange beach to get the "Florida" feeling.

[Eric Viglione]

I have a condo in Clearwater at the corner of Hercules and Sunset Point. We're on the "high ground" at 45', I think. That entire area has changed so much since we moved there in '76. We used to be surrounded by orange groves. Now we vacation in the panhandle around Orange beach to get the "Florida" feeling.

Bill, your condo is within 3 miles of my house. I'm off Belcher, across from Morningside. You ought to accompany me to the field some Sunday, if you are uncomfortable with the long drive.
Let me know if/when you are in town and want to get together.
EricV

[Paul Taylor]

Good info guys.
Good thing is my wife's sister will be our realtor.
We know to stay out of the flood zone. Noted. 
I hope I can break away next week and check out the field. We are in no rush we are just scoping things out. Have to get my youngest out of collage in the next three years.