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Although I live in the midst of all these Yankees,some of whom I have grown to love,my heart has remained in the South.The older I get,the more I miss those steamy nights, the sounds,the food...reading this has made me think that I might have to start whispering in someones ear while he sleeps and make him think that moving to Florida was all his idea~thank you for an informative thread~S

So is Tampa really like the true south? As in lifestyle and mentality. I thought Florida was kind of on its own as far as lifestyle.

Come on downs Johns<BR>We loves to have ya! <BR>Hee bee dee hee hee

Well, I think Georgia and the Carolinas have a little more of that Old South atmosphere, but Florida IS South so it will do ~ and the food is more southern than that found in say, New York:)<BR>But Florida is still slower and has that Southern softness about it...you know what I mean,sugar?

Whoa, the image and the reality differ, GB. Get in the way of a retiree in the checkout line at Sam's, and you'll be hard pressed to find any of that southern softness you hanker for. They'll turn you into cold slaw and make your hush puppies pop, and you'll feel like a catfish in a fryer. They'll removed the buttermilk from your buisquik real quick. They are the elderly, and they didn't get that way by being soft. I rue the day I decided to live among them, and that clock is ticking.

LOL, ya'll are really goofy today~but that is quite alright as long as the cats don't mind~S

Why now, GB, us southern boys is never goofy, not if we was raised right. One time in a bar, some drunk introduced himself as Buddy, and somebody asked what his first name was. Why, Good, I says, and didn't the brunswick stew (made w/chicken, of yeah!!) begin to fly. Lordy, I had that 'vette ripping across the gravel and me and my squeeze parked by the lake to "Teen Angel" and wondered why she went running back.

John, We lived in Savannah before we moved here and Dallas before that. Any similarity between Tampa and the South is purely coincidental!! Well...there are a couple of similarities: warm moist air, a couple of errant flags, but no one would ever accuse Tampa of being the South. Oh boy. Nope. Un-uh.

Hey John,<BR><BR>I moved from Tampa about 6 years ago, and I have dreamed of the day when I can get back there. I lived on the great Davis Islands. From my backyard I had a beautiful view of downtown at night. The community there is great, with broad palm lined streets, and a great village feeling. It is very close to one of my favorite parts of Tampa, the Hyde Park Area, where I would also look for a place. The houses are very old and enchanting, but most are in great shape. They are what you might call historical buildings. Also, you should look at getting a place on Bayshore Blvd, or just off the Blvd. This area is right at downtown, a short drive to any destination, and a great place to raise kids. It is in the Plant district and I had friends that had kids there, and they said that it was a good school. If you are looking for an absolutely beautiful floridian type place to live, work and play, I would check these places out.

I haven't visited the board for quite a while so the Tampa question caught my eye. OO suggested, a few posts ago, that you look into the Bradenton area. THis area has really become a bedroom community to Tampa. There are several very nice developments near the interstate that are in your price range. Longwood Ranch comes to mind--it's a community within a community concept--shopping, restaurants, good public schools etc. As Olive mentioned, it's only a 30 minute ride to the beach (IMHO, we have the best on the West Coast). The commute to Tampa is about 50-60 minutes. My husband commutes to St. Pete and it's an easy drive and worth the way of life we have here.<BR><BR>OO--life took over for a while--I'll be in touch soon!

I was just talking about you today Sal and saying we hadn't "seen" you in ages!! Welcome home..don't let real life get in the way too much! Look for email..probably tomorrow, now...<BR><BR>John, Regan mentioned a couple of places I love too if you are going to be living in Tampa, not the beaches--Hyde Park--beautiful old bungalow style homes from the '20's and 30's. You can get in there I believe, for the low 3's. Bayshore Blvd, is in the millions, unfortunately. Reserve that for next year when you've made your fortune. :&gt; <BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>

Thanks guys!<BR>I think im gonna stick with the newer developements in gated communities. Does anyone know what the community fee is around the area? Also i read that the property tax is 2.9%. Right now in Fairfax County Virginia, it went up to 29% and where I live we pay about 10%! Thats pretty high so I'm looking forward to saving some of that money and maybe take you posters our for lunch! You guys have been really nive and polite. Something you dont normally see on this board. Says a lot about tampa folk!

John,<BR><BR>Thought I'd throw in a few comments...my husband and I moved down here 3 1/2 years ago from NC. We looked everywhere, and finally settled in an area north of Oldsmar (about 30 minutes to Clearwater Beach and 25 minutes to the Tampa Airport). We rented an apartment for 1 year and built in Westwood Lakes. Our area (NW Tampa) is quickly growing, and homes are around $200k up to 500+. In one neighborhood, Westchase, they have a CDD fee which covers reclaimed water (something new to you?) and the upkeep of their landscaping and gated communities, along with pool and tennis areas. Our neighborhood, does not have a community fee (but we do have HomeOwner Assoc. fees $500/yr) and we are supposed to be getting reclaimed water anyday now. I'm thinking the CDD - community development district - is around $1100/year. But another neighborhood in Carrollwood HOA dues are only $125 per year. Several communities have websites with information on their community and fees. It can vary depending on the ammenties (pools, clubhouse, etc.) and the age of the subdivision (older ones are usually less because they don't have all the ammenties and upkeep).<BR>Hope this was helpful. There is a lot of information and the best you can do is make a list of what is important to you and only look at places that match (i.e., water, new, old, size). I would guess your first move would be how close to the beach do you want to be and then how far will it be to drive to your "place of work". The traffic can be a bit tough at times, but NOTHING LIKE DC (I know, I lived in Laurel about 12 years ago and visit family still up there).<BR>As for Hurricanes...I'm a meteorologist and if I could afford living at the beach (with the house I have now :-) storms would not stop me...but I take evacuations very seriously. Good Luck and "Welcome to the Tampa Bay Area"<BR>P.S. GO BUCS!!

thanks debbie for that informative report. I am used to commmunity fees but our current house does not have them so i was kinda hoping for an area where we can avoid them. oh well. I heard that there is a car tax? any ideas? is it based on the value of the car or what?<BR><BR>thanks again folks!

John,<BR>Yes, I remember a tax on my car when registering it in FL, but not sure how it was based. You might want to check this website: http://www.hsmv.state.fl.us/dhsmv/newflres.html<BR>Also, there are some neighborhoods that do not have CDD fees, or have lower HOA fees, so check around. Unfortunately, I think most gated communities will have some kind of dues, as will most of the newer subdivisions.<BR>P.S. By the way, we LOVE living in TAMPA FL!!

John,I think the car tax is paid one time only,something about bringing your car into Florida and registering it and all, my daughter went through that, she only had to do it once.Also, there is no tax I think when you buy a car in Fla so maybe that is how they deal with it?Just a thought...especially since I don't even live in Fla! lol~

well, c~, you can always visit the sunshine state - everybody's got spare BRs - but course it's LV-style early bird dining exclusively, and anything favoring gumbo is more than likely bait, but it's a good place to tarry and think about that tomorrow. Bring your pastel windbreaker, white shoes and matching belt, and you'll be good to go.

Well guys, I did it. bought a nice house in Heritage Harbor in Lutz and am excited to move in later this year. Thanks for all the help!