Best City on the Gulf Coast to live?
Oct 15th, 2014, 10:40 AM
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Best City on the Gulf Coast to live?
My wife (59) and I (61) are retiring from Wash. D.C. to FL in 1-2 years. Yes, we're innovative people. We're drawn to the Gulf Coast, and are trying to decide between the cities of Fort Myers, Sarasota, and Tampa/St. Pete. We've both been in FL quite a bit over the years -- mostly on the east coast -- and are cognizant of the drawbacks (scorching summer heat, high insurance rates, etc) but we are not intimidated. I thought I'd ask the folks on this forum whether they'd have a preference for one of those 3 cities/areas (or 4, if you separate Tampa from St. Pete) as a place to live.
About us: we enjoy daytime outdoor activities, like hiking, biking, and golf, as well as cultural and educational activities, like theatre, museums, and dance clubs (we're salsa dancers!). Therefore, we'd like to live in a more natural area away from a city center, but within a 1/2 hours drive of city amenities. We'd be looking for a single family home in the range of $350-$450K. Waterfront property is not necessary, tho it'd be nice to be a short drive from a beach. After looking thru Trulia for a bit, it seemed that home prices are about the same in these 3 areas? but maybe there are other subtle differences in living conditions that we missed? Yes, we plan to rent for a year first. Thank you in advance!
About us: we enjoy daytime outdoor activities, like hiking, biking, and golf, as well as cultural and educational activities, like theatre, museums, and dance clubs (we're salsa dancers!). Therefore, we'd like to live in a more natural area away from a city center, but within a 1/2 hours drive of city amenities. We'd be looking for a single family home in the range of $350-$450K. Waterfront property is not necessary, tho it'd be nice to be a short drive from a beach. After looking thru Trulia for a bit, it seemed that home prices are about the same in these 3 areas? but maybe there are other subtle differences in living conditions that we missed? Yes, we plan to rent for a year first. Thank you in advance!
Oct 15th, 2014, 12:54 PM
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Sarasota is lovely, and good for culture, but both St. Pete and Tampa offer more: more performance spaces, more museums, more music venues, more theater, more parks, more galleries... I love visiting Sarasota, and recommend it often, but it has a sleepy feel to me.
Another advantage to Tampa and St. Pete is proximity to a major airport, if that's important. They are most certainly two different cities, so definitely separate them for decision-making purposes! I prefer Tampa, but then again, I live here
St. Pete has a more vibrant, walkable downtown, but that won't matter to you if don't want to live in the city. It's a shorter drive from St. Pete to most beaches, except Clearwater, but it does depend on where exactly you settle.
Have you considered Dunedin?
Another advantage to Tampa and St. Pete is proximity to a major airport, if that's important. They are most certainly two different cities, so definitely separate them for decision-making purposes! I prefer Tampa, but then again, I live here
St. Pete has a more vibrant, walkable downtown, but that won't matter to you if don't want to live in the city. It's a shorter drive from St. Pete to most beaches, except Clearwater, but it does depend on where exactly you settle.Have you considered Dunedin?
Oct 15th, 2014, 08:41 PM
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We've seen Sarasota briefly and Fort Myers, but not the Tampa St. Pete area. I've heard that Sarasota has a big cultural scene, but it would make sense that Tampa/St. Pete would have more of those amenities, being the larger metropolitan area.
I'm pretty sure we drove thru Punta Gorda, but don't remember much of it. Home prices look pretty good, but I'm concerned the Fort Myers area might be just a bit too laid back. We did like the city itself, and found parts of it attractive.
Newbe -- that's an interesting comment about Tampa and St. Pete having different flavors. In what sense? As for Dunedin, Clearwater, etc., my wife is pushing to live walking distance from a beach, but I noticed that home prices are much higher. I'm also concerned about weather and flooding. When we were at Englewood beach this summer, it rained 4-6 inches in Naples in a period of just a few hours. News media showed photos of nice, new, Mediterranean style homes flooded with several inches of water -- and this was just a thunderstorm, not a hurricane! Seems like a stressful thing to go thru, having to replace your stuff every few years. Plus, scientists say that Florida weather and flooding is getting worse over time with climate change.
I'm pretty sure we drove thru Punta Gorda, but don't remember much of it. Home prices look pretty good, but I'm concerned the Fort Myers area might be just a bit too laid back. We did like the city itself, and found parts of it attractive.
Newbe -- that's an interesting comment about Tampa and St. Pete having different flavors. In what sense? As for Dunedin, Clearwater, etc., my wife is pushing to live walking distance from a beach, but I noticed that home prices are much higher. I'm also concerned about weather and flooding. When we were at Englewood beach this summer, it rained 4-6 inches in Naples in a period of just a few hours. News media showed photos of nice, new, Mediterranean style homes flooded with several inches of water -- and this was just a thunderstorm, not a hurricane! Seems like a stressful thing to go thru, having to replace your stuff every few years. Plus, scientists say that Florida weather and flooding is getting worse over time with climate change.
Oct 16th, 2014, 02:04 AM
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You sound pretty well prepared to live in Florida, not least because you are coming from an area with its own miserable summers!
Punts Gorda is inexpensive but lacks easy beach access. It is a great place for people who love to sail.
Neither Sarasota nor Tampa is "on the beach" but both have cultural activities and bay views. Tampa is a biggish city with, as NewBe says, an international airport, and it is a good one. Pro sports, etc. Sarasota has opera.
When I was a kid, I loved St Pete Beach, and the last time I passed through the city, it was pretty pleasant. But Tampa and St Pete do have frost and sometimes freezes.
Ft Myers has great airline connections to anywhere in the US and is affordable. Ft Myers Beach is not the best beach in the area, but there are great beaches nearby. As you recognize, pretty laid back.
Look at Venice. It is a funky kind of place and Sarasota is not inaccessible.
Is Clearwater still dominated by Scientologists? If so, I would avoid it like the plague.
The problem with Florida pretty much everywhere is sprawl. In many places, you will spend an inordinate amount of time in your car. It is worth searching for the places where you don't.
Punts Gorda is inexpensive but lacks easy beach access. It is a great place for people who love to sail.
Neither Sarasota nor Tampa is "on the beach" but both have cultural activities and bay views. Tampa is a biggish city with, as NewBe says, an international airport, and it is a good one. Pro sports, etc. Sarasota has opera.
When I was a kid, I loved St Pete Beach, and the last time I passed through the city, it was pretty pleasant. But Tampa and St Pete do have frost and sometimes freezes.
Ft Myers has great airline connections to anywhere in the US and is affordable. Ft Myers Beach is not the best beach in the area, but there are great beaches nearby. As you recognize, pretty laid back.
Look at Venice. It is a funky kind of place and Sarasota is not inaccessible.
Is Clearwater still dominated by Scientologists? If so, I would avoid it like the plague.
The problem with Florida pretty much everywhere is sprawl. In many places, you will spend an inordinate amount of time in your car. It is worth searching for the places where you don't.
Oct 16th, 2014, 06:41 AM
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If it lacks easy beach access, my wife will nix it.
I don't mind occasional frost/freeze. I'm sure it will be a vast improvement over the eyeball-freezing cold we had up here last winter. Plus, I don't think I'll be shoveling snow or raking leaves. I'd rather die with a golf club in my hand than with a rake or snow shovel.
Venice is an interesting option. We were there last summer and it is fairly close to Sarasota; tho I guess the question remains whether we'd favor Sarasota over Tampa/St. Pete.
I hear the Scientologists are still in Clearwater. Tom Cruise is one of them. Enough said.
I agree about the sprawl problem. I think its worse in Southeast FL, which is one reason why we're looking at the Gulf Coast. Also, I got the impression that the Gulf Coast has retained more of its natural vegetation. That is a big factor for me.
I don't mind occasional frost/freeze. I'm sure it will be a vast improvement over the eyeball-freezing cold we had up here last winter. Plus, I don't think I'll be shoveling snow or raking leaves. I'd rather die with a golf club in my hand than with a rake or snow shovel.
Venice is an interesting option. We were there last summer and it is fairly close to Sarasota; tho I guess the question remains whether we'd favor Sarasota over Tampa/St. Pete.
I hear the Scientologists are still in Clearwater. Tom Cruise is one of them. Enough said.
I agree about the sprawl problem. I think its worse in Southeast FL, which is one reason why we're looking at the Gulf Coast. Also, I got the impression that the Gulf Coast has retained more of its natural vegetation. That is a big factor for me.
Oct 16th, 2014, 07:32 AM
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Big Russ -- having checked out home prices in the Panhandle area, I'd say there's definitely more bang for your buck in that respect. But, I've lived my entire life in NYC and the Wash. DC area, and I'm concerned I'd suffer some "cultural dislocation." I spent a couple of weeks in Biloxi once, and my NooYawk accent definitely did not fit in. Plus, I've never been to Pensacola or Panama City (didn't they recently get hit with a hurricane?) but I get the impression they're not Tampa or even Sarasota in terms of city amenities. Yes, we're trying to have it both ways -- trying to find a balance between a pleasant area outside of a city, and a city that provides those "citified" activities. We know this will require some compromises on both ends.
I will say that we will seriously consider traveling up to the Panhandle at least once before we make up our minds, since I don't want to reject an area without ever having been there. But, it doesn't look like a major contender for us.
I will say that we will seriously consider traveling up to the Panhandle at least once before we make up our minds, since I don't want to reject an area without ever having been there. But, it doesn't look like a major contender for us.
Oct 16th, 2014, 08:17 AM
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The Redneck Riviera is most definitely not further off the hurricane belt! BigRuss, I think you got that one backwards. CapnTrips, you are correct that you will experience "cultural dislocation" in the Panhandle. Gorgeous beaches, but that's about it. Best beaches/natural vegetation to me would be Sarasota or close by.
Oct 16th, 2014, 09:27 AM
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AustinTraveler -- that's helpful, re the natural vegetation.
I noticed no one has said anything about differences in home prices. Are there no meaningful differences for comparable homes?
I noticed no one has said anything about differences in home prices. Are there no meaningful differences for comparable homes?
Oct 16th, 2014, 12:01 PM
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Have you checked out this relocation forum?
http://www.city-data.com/forum/florida/
More information than you could ever want.
http://www.city-data.com/forum/florida/
More information than you could ever want.
Oct 17th, 2014, 12:39 AM
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In general, house prices in FL vary depending on distance from the ocean/beaches, home amenities like dock and pool, external amenities like golf and tennis, reputation of the town/region/area, and sales history of the neighborhood. The weather is going to be pretty much the same across broad swaths of the state, though it will differ from one end of the state to the other.
Things to be aware of in towns: taxes and tax base. A town with no industrial or commercial district sounds good but all taxes fall on the homeowner. Zoning: some places don't seem to have any, others are affected by the lack in the past. Water: where is it coming from and will there be enough when the community is built out?
Amenities: pools and docks are expensive to maintain. Do you want your own or would you be happy with community access? Double this for golf. Golf course are over built so you may well not need to be in a golf community to play all the golf you want. Beach access: all beaches are open to,the public, but is there access? Parking? Can you ride a bike?
Recovery history: how long did it take for the community to recover from the last real estate collapse? Florida real estate is a boom and bust proposition. If you are not planning to sell in the short term, you can wait it out. Some places, like Naples west of the interstate, barely trembled. A house on a street with abandoned houses is not cheap at any price. A house in a town with empty, unbuilt
streets like Cape Coral, which has never been fully built out, isn't as valuable as a house in a town with a record of survival.
Things to be aware of in towns: taxes and tax base. A town with no industrial or commercial district sounds good but all taxes fall on the homeowner. Zoning: some places don't seem to have any, others are affected by the lack in the past. Water: where is it coming from and will there be enough when the community is built out?
Amenities: pools and docks are expensive to maintain. Do you want your own or would you be happy with community access? Double this for golf. Golf course are over built so you may well not need to be in a golf community to play all the golf you want. Beach access: all beaches are open to,the public, but is there access? Parking? Can you ride a bike?
Recovery history: how long did it take for the community to recover from the last real estate collapse? Florida real estate is a boom and bust proposition. If you are not planning to sell in the short term, you can wait it out. Some places, like Naples west of the interstate, barely trembled. A house on a street with abandoned houses is not cheap at any price. A house in a town with empty, unbuilt
streets like Cape Coral, which has never been fully built out, isn't as valuable as a house in a town with a record of survival.
Oct 17th, 2014, 04:11 AM
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Shouldn't be too hard to understand, AA. You've named some beach communities NEAR Sarasota, but to get to the beach from Sarasota itself, you MUST cross a bridge or a causeway or both. So why feign surprise that it is NOT on a beach? Same with Tampa. Same with Ft. Myers.
That's always been one of the "bragging rights" people in Naples have. You can be at the center of the MAIN shopping street in Naples, and the beach itself is just a three or four block walk away. That's not true in Sarasota. I'm not suggesting the OP wants to live RIGHT on the beach, but those drives TO the beach from most residential areas in Tampa or (less so) Sarasota can be pretty frustrating -- especially in season. Just so the OP is aware of that.
But back to the original three requests. Tampa is much more of a city with all that goes with cities, and Tampa itself can be quite a drive from the beach. Sarasota is easily the most "cultural" of the three as well as much more "white collar" than Ft. Myers. Ft. Myers by comparison is almost a cultural wasteland (unless you include spring training as culture).
That's always been one of the "bragging rights" people in Naples have. You can be at the center of the MAIN shopping street in Naples, and the beach itself is just a three or four block walk away. That's not true in Sarasota. I'm not suggesting the OP wants to live RIGHT on the beach, but those drives TO the beach from most residential areas in Tampa or (less so) Sarasota can be pretty frustrating -- especially in season. Just so the OP is aware of that.
But back to the original three requests. Tampa is much more of a city with all that goes with cities, and Tampa itself can be quite a drive from the beach. Sarasota is easily the most "cultural" of the three as well as much more "white collar" than Ft. Myers. Ft. Myers by comparison is almost a cultural wasteland (unless you include spring training as culture).
Oct 17th, 2014, 04:18 AM
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K,
We live on mainland in south Sarasota and we can get to Siesta Key Beach in 5 or less minutes.
There you go.....
There are many hotels/condos on Siesta Key and you're only few minutes away from downtown Sarasota. No issues.
We live on mainland in south Sarasota and we can get to Siesta Key Beach in 5 or less minutes.
There you go.....
There are many hotels/condos on Siesta Key and you're only few minutes away from downtown Sarasota. No issues.
Oct 17th, 2014, 04:28 AM
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btw, many of the mainland hotels have free "beach shuttles" running back and forth all day long.
but once again there are many hotels/condos on each Key right on the beach.
Don't understand your argument.
but once again there are many hotels/condos on each Key right on the beach.
Don't understand your argument.
Oct 17th, 2014, 04:40 AM
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AA, you said:
"Neither Sarasota nor Tampa is "on the beach"
huh?"
Since you seemed to have an issue with that statement I thought I'd try to clarify it to you. Sorry, I didn't realize you specifically DIDN'T want clarification.
Regarding hotels with beach shuttles -- I didn't realize the OP was looking for a hotel to live in! Thanks for making THAT clear to ME.
The last time I drove from Sarasota to Siesta Key (we were meeting someone for drinks after the Asolo), it took us well over an hour to get there from the theatre --in February or March, admitttedly. Just sayin. . . Of course if you happen to live right at the bridge or causeway, well, that's quite a different story.
"Neither Sarasota nor Tampa is "on the beach"
huh?"
Since you seemed to have an issue with that statement I thought I'd try to clarify it to you. Sorry, I didn't realize you specifically DIDN'T want clarification.
Regarding hotels with beach shuttles -- I didn't realize the OP was looking for a hotel to live in! Thanks for making THAT clear to ME.
The last time I drove from Sarasota to Siesta Key (we were meeting someone for drinks after the Asolo), it took us well over an hour to get there from the theatre --in February or March, admitttedly. Just sayin. . . Of course if you happen to live right at the bridge or causeway, well, that's quite a different story.
Oct 17th, 2014, 07:35 AM
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Ackislander makes excellent points; I also agree with Neo's take on Ft. Myers. He said what I couldn't quite find a way to articulate!
I don't quite agree on Sarasota's cultural bona fides, as I've said, mainly because it's small. If you love opera, it's great because it has an opera company. When "the season" starts, there are many cultural events; but at any other time, there may be one community theater thing, and one long-running exhibit at the Ringling. But it's a lovely place to live--I guess I really am quibbling, aren't I?
I don't quite agree on Sarasota's cultural bona fides, as I've said, mainly because it's small. If you love opera, it's great because it has an opera company. When "the season" starts, there are many cultural events; but at any other time, there may be one community theater thing, and one long-running exhibit at the Ringling. But it's a lovely place to live--I guess I really am quibbling, aren't I?
