Headed to Florida... goodbye Frozen Tundra.

LoKyBuckeye · #1 (**permalink**) 07-07-2004, 02:06 PM

Well.... I took a job in Florida yesterday and was looking for moving advise. The job will be in Sarasota for the first year and then move to the south side of Bradenton (Lakewood Ranch area). Any Florida Buckeyes have an idea on a nice place to live? We are looking for 3 bedroom house and are looking at spending no more than 150K. I don't want to be more than a 30 minute drive from Lakewood Ranch since that will ultimately be where I will work. Also... could anyone suggest a realtor?

The new employer is paying for the relocation and told me I can take my time to get down there but would like me there by the middle of next month. My parents live in Lakewood Ranch so I can always stay with them for a few weeks if I don't have a house right away but I don't really want to be a burden on them for to long (it would be me, my wife and two kids).... so that's my time frame.

Any info is appreciated!!

gbearbuck · #2 (**permalink**) 07-07-2004, 02:22 PM

Congrats on the new job... property in Florida is shooting through the roof. My family owns a couple of condo's a little north of West Palm Beach outside of that area I don't know much about Florida.

I do know their public schools are not considered to be very good. Apply for private school for your kids ASAP (you will more than likely be put on a wait list)... the only reason I know this is because my wife lived in Florida for several years during the middle school/highschool part of her life. Her folks wanted her (and her brother) out of the public schools ASAP. That was in the Tampa area, maybe other cities have better school systems (my wife was bussed into a ghetto where there were no sports or afterschool activities in middle school. They had to walk through security detectors due to the high crime rate, and risk of kids bringing guns to school).

not the most pleasent thing to talk about, figured you might want to know (this was many years ago, so things might have changed. something to talk to your realtor about)...

exhawg · #3 (**permalink**) 07-07-2004, 02:33 PM

Congrats on the new job. I can't help you on where to live, but I'm going on vacation to Sarasota on Friday so I'll keep an eye open.

buckeyebri · #4 (**permalink**) 07-07-2004, 02:44 PM

No info on Florida, but congrats on the move. Seems like the BP Nation is doing some moving...

LoKyBuckeye · #5 (**permalink**) 07-07-2004, 02:47 PM

Thanks guys.

exhawg- take a camera with you... if you see anything I'd like email me some pics

gbear- I've heard that about the schools. My dad was an educator for 30 years so has kept me up to date with how the schools are down there. That was one of the negatives about moving there but we'll just have to deal with it. I was not impressed with the Tampa area as a whole while we were down there so we'll try to stay as far south as we can.

luckobucko · #6 (**permalink**) 07-07-2004, 02:58 PM

Well, I'm a Tampa area buckeye on here so I'll chime in with my two cents. I live in Riverview, which is roughly half an hour north of Bradenton. If you were to choose to live in Riverview it would also mean that your drive to Sarasota would be about an hour or so for your first year here. My wife and I just bought a brand new 1700 square foot, three bedroom house here for ~143K. We closed in January, and now the going rate for our house (new) in this development has gone up almost 20 grand. We live about five miles away from I-75, which goes down to Bradenton and Sarasota. I don't know a whole lot about Bradenton other than we go through there whenever we go to the beach, we usually go to Anna Maria Island on beach Sundays. There are a bunch of new developments propping up near Apollo Beach - this on Tampa Bay in Hillsborough County - Tampa is in Hillsborough County (as is Riverview) and Bradenton is in Manatee County. The only drawback to Apollo Beach is the coal plant right there on the bay at Big Bend Road, nothing quite screams pristine like smoke billowing out of three huge stacks. I personally think you'll be better off staying in Hillsborough County, Riverview is the fastest growing part of the bay area right now. I'm admittedly biased since that's where I live, but I think you'll get the most out of your money if you buy a house there. Good luck with the new job, PM me if you'd like more details on Tampa...

LoKyBuckeye · #7 (**permalink**) 07-07-2004, 03:16 PM

lucko... thanks for the info about your house. My sister lives in Riverview and likes it very much. If we are not able to find anything we like around Sarasota we are going to look up that way. That would be as far north as we would want to go. I can take an hour drive as long as it wasn't permanent.