a condo. Rents go up during snowbird season. You can rent it out during summer months, if you want. If ya need a realtor in the Tampa area I know a great one.

but he insists on renting first. That said, I'll certainly keep you in mind. Thanks.

So is the Venice area. My daughter will be going to college in Tampa and we are looking for condos. I priced them at 60 -120,000.

It depends on location and condition of condo. The thing to watch for is the homeowners association fee.

Get on the internet NOW! Rentals fill up fast and landlords usually want three month guarantee. Tampa is much warmer than St Augustine. Atlantic breezes are chilly til March. We started in Tampa area and had some frosty days in January. Now in Ft Myers area and no frost at all. More Midwesterners stay on Gulfcoast . Easteners tend to go to Atlantic coast. Hope this helps, but get renting now for a nice place. There are some nice mobile home parks in the middle of the state as well. Less expensive. Lots of fishing lakes around there. Good luck!

Whereabouts in Chicago ate you from, if I might ask?..We live in the NW burbs but are in the city a lot.

Your advice sounds solid -- I had heard that one must get things secured early...Let me ask you..When you say that landlords want at least 3 months, does that mean as a lease term or as 3 month notice?.

Thanks again for your info and response.
.

I meant they want three month rentals. You might find a place or two that will take less, but not the best ones. BTW, we made the mistake of buying before we got to know the entire state. I'd advise traveling around and find what suits you best first. Everyone is different. You could just drive down next season and stay at resident hotels in various areas to see what you like. The closer to water means the higher rental remember😎 SW sider my whole life. Go Sox!

actually showed a lot if four month leases...I would hope to be able to get a three month lease, but we'd be willing to go for four if we need to.
We actually have been around Florida enough to know we'd prefer to be in the more north or Cental part of the state...We considered doing a Resident Hotel stay, but our biggest problem is that we have pets --a dog and three cats!...so we'll probably have to rent a single house with a yard.
Thanks again for weighing in -- All suggestions remain welcome!

Long time resident here.. True Tampa is warmer.. More "snow bird" traffic also. I'm in So Fla and have plans to move to StPete/Dunedin/Safety harbor area.. I just love it there. It has more of the MidWest mentality that I like.
I have a friend that is a snowbird. What they do is the northern house is in his name and the southern house is in his wife's name. Then they get to take advantage of the homestead exemption on property tax ($25k) and lower car insurance. The have one car in Fla and one up north. Since both cars only drive for 6 mos a year they save on auto insurance also..
It works for them...YMMV
m

I like the Gulf Coast better than the East Coast.

You may find a contact with a rental that's a better deal than the usual ads and listings. I know lots of people rent via word of mouth or bulletin board.

but yes, you're right -- visiting again in person for the purpose of renti g seems important. Thanks for taking the time to respond.

We love the St Augustine area, the old Spanish fort, Anastasia state park beach, so much to do in the area. We can drive there in 12 hours with the dog, stay for a reasonable price and for a week and we really enjoy. Jacksonville is the closest airport, and they have done some near things there too.

Tampa ( the city itself) seems to be filled with nothing but boobie bars and New York Yankees stuff. Further out from the city things get better.

With me, my wife and the dog in a king bed room it is 84.00 a night with breakfreat included (nothing fancy but as good or better than I eat when I am home). I think the dog adds 10 dollars a day to get to the 84.

It is an old school motor court type place but the price is right and they allow pets. It is not fancy, but we are really only looking for a place to sleep. There are also outlet malls close by for the rain day.

I've not yet been to St. Augustine but what you say about it, especially it's historic aspects, is what confirms my initial impression of it as a good place. Thanks so much for your good information.

There is also a winery and a distillery that gives tours (and samples!). It gets a fair bit of traffic during the season and it has narrow streets. Some Cobblestone!! Which I might add are a bitch to ride a motorcycle on in the rain..
It's old, like historical old. Longest occupied city in the new world!! 1565.
When your down here check out north of Tampa. Lakeland it up and coming too with lesser priced homes.
m

I heard it's on the "artsy" side too, right?...Does it mean Democratic too?
Definitely plan to scope out north of Tampa too..I found one town in that area called Palm Harbor that, on paper at least, seems to checks all the boxes -- low pollution, low crime and majority democrat. I will check out Lakeland and Lake Worth as well....Thanks again, Mitch!

I heard it's on the "artsy" side too, right?...Does it mean Democratic too?

I don't know but if college towns are Dem I guess so.. Florida is a very red state with pockets of blue. Artsy yes.. Lots of old buildings Fishing? yes.

Definitely plan to scope out north of Tampa too..

Never been to Palm Harbor and I'll check it out also. Check City-Data.. lots of info on citys
http://www.city-data.com/city/Palm-Harbor-Florida.html

I still like Dunedin/Safety harbor. I go up for the Art's fest in Feb.. Great stuff. Lots of art shows in the area during the "season". Pro and locals. Last time I was there for the art show this Feb, there were town garbage and utility trucks blocking all the roads just adjacent to the show. We were wondering what the trucks were doing there in the middle of the road.. Bingo!! To prevent some whack job from driving a car into the crowd... These people think!! If you like to walk or bike there is the Pinellas trail. A abandoned rail track paved over for biking, walking and running. Plus there is a kick as BBQ joint right on the trail.. A win/win... if you like BBQ.. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinellas_Trail
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g34187-d6537146-Reviews-Pinellas_Trail-Dunedin_Florida.html
m

cutesy little arttsy village.

Pinellas county is quite purple and Safety Harbor is pretty blue. There's a great bar we go to every Fri/Sat night, great music. http://crookedthumbbrew.com/ They brew their own beer, support local artists/artisans. Hit it up if you head to that part of town. Always an open air market in the town on Saturdays, lots of things to do, and it's on Tampa Bay so access to the water. Lots of parks.

I love this side of the state more than east side. Not as built up. Cheap, too, but prices rising. get in quick!

We bought our house for $271k in 2016 and is already up to $365k at last appraisal and rising...1957 ranch, nothing special, just....hot part of town

I'm trying as fast as I can!! I have to sell my house here in Hollyweird Fla.. Kitchen almost done and the two bathrooms also. New floors and I'm set to sell!!
I might come over to the "other side" of Florida in a few months and can I hit you up to tell me the lay of the land? I only know Dunedin and a bit of Safety Harbor...

mitch..

Safety harbor is quaint. I mean, Main street is maybe a mile or 2 long, but it's got some good stuff there. Usually something going on on the weekends

I loooooooove Dunedin. Wished I lived there. If you're a beer person, hit up the House of Beer. I think they've got like 40 taps?
https://www.cityofsafetyharbor.com/72/Special-Events

Also have a market there on the weekends (Dunedin).
https://www.dunedingov.com/live-work-play/events-calendar

Mee toooo. I have snowbird friends that have a place off Main and Belcher. Yes I'm a beer person and I think they have six brewpubs in town.. We have hit them all. I go up for the big art show every year.. Great place. Snowbird traffic. I was there for the last hurricane and the place was empty.. Silly me I ran from the hurricane that was suppose to hit So Fla and went to Dunedin.. HA!

mitch

Lantana/Boynton Beach. He and his girlfriend are thinking about buying a condo and there are *cheap* ones (some under $50000!) in the area but they are all age-restricted. If you are over 55 it's a great place to buy.

That is GREAT, and yes we are over 55, so thank you very much for that tip..We will definitely check out that area.

They are both in their 90s now and bought their condo at the Inlet Harbor Club. I was just there visiting them for Christmas and my dad happened to mention that their place was worth about $55K. It's an older building, laid out like a horseshoe with views to the inlet.
It used to be age restricted and to buyers only, but my dad says they are letting younger people buy now, and even offer rentals.

I was born and raised in Park Ridge (north suburb of Chicago). The parents still have the house they bought the year before I was born...53 years ago! They go to FL Nov - April, then back to Park Ridge.

Do it now. You’re already late but should be able to still find decent rentals. And enjoy next winter!

We we're planning to go to St. Augustine next week anyway..Now it looks like we'd be better off dividing our time between there & the Tampa area and devote most of our time into securing a rental
Thanks again! -- You've likely helped us dodge a bullet!

But at times in my 71 years, I have lived in both areas.
I like St Augustine, but you'd get more of the winter storms (I think).

I'd not live in Tampa, but there are some real nice areas near Tarpon Springs, FL.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarpon_Springs,_Florida

http://www.city-data.com/city/Tarpon-Springs-Florida.html

Tarpon is a classic old Florida town the last time I was there. History of Greek sponge divers working the gulf. The captains built nice homes overlooking the water. I don't know about now. One year I rented a small sailboat for the three days around new years. I got a bunch of rock shrimp and veggies and sailed around Anclote Key and watched the fireworks on land while I was on the key.. neat stuff. I sailed down to St Pete and had dolphins playing with my minimal bow wake. Cormorants buzzed thru the rigging.. Great memories. Some folks were using jet skies like they were motorcycle camping. Running up the coast during the day, pulling in for gas/food and then pulling in to set up camp on a deserted beach for the nite. Great fun!!
m

the Sponge Docks are nothing but overpriced tourist traps. The greek food of yester-year is gone and now just $18 plates of store-bought feta. Took some family there last year and it was like wow....this is horrible. It was very disappointing. It gets very overcrowded in the summer, can barely walk on the sidewalks. The sponge-docks are still working docks but everythign else is tacky touristy. So disapointed that you can't get the good honest greek food like you used to be able to. The bakeries are good, though, but the restaurants...bleh. Just garbage. You have to go outside of the tourist area to get really good Greek Food that isn't $18 for a store-bought pita with Steak-Um "gyro".

Sounds like Key West.. Duval St is a bunch of junk now.. So where is the good Greek food places?? I use to work for a Greek/American MD and he would take us out for real Greek food and it was amazing!!

mitch

I haven't found it yet....

love it.

Grew up in Charleston SC, have lived in Seattle, Yakima, and Phila.

Live here permanently but also lived in St Pete a few years ago.

Snowbirds here come from November-May. If they stay past May then they start complaining about the humidity and how hot it is. Seriously, don't be that person.

The later towards May you come, the more competition you have with spring breakers and younger folks (I find), but also more likely to have better beach weather (if that's your thing)> Although it's April 17th and only 68 outside. Was 63 yesterday. Still haven't gone in the pool this year, and I was swimming out back 2 weeks ago last year. Spring has not sprung (IMO) in Clearwater this year. We had a pretty bad winter (all things considered) this year and half of my tropical plants took a beating from the frost.

Just know that it can get "cold" here (florida-wise), so don't be "that person" who complains that it's cold here (When it's 55 during the day) and they were expecting 90 year round (then complain when they come in May and it's 90 and they were expecting 70 year round)

out of the three cities you mentioned having lived in?...Just curious, as I'm a Philly native who has lived in various places as well -- San Francisco, New York, and now Chicago.

Living in Chicago, you can bet I won't be "that person" who complains about 55 degrees in winter -- That's springtime to me -- Ditto for complaints about heat & humidity since I'll be long gone by then..Don't like the cold, but dislike extreme heat even more...Thanks a lot for weighing in.

Well...

Seattle was my favorite, but it was
1) too expensive
2) too cold
3) too...cold

I'm a southern girl at heart, and I mean in my need for water and warmth. Even my husband and I both being RN's making 2 west-coast RN salaries couldn't afford Seattle's high cost of living, and I'm not going to 1) live in a condo for the rest of my life and 2) pay upwards of $600k for a starter home that's 1bd 1ba and 3) live 1.5+ hours outside of the city and 4) be cold as shit and wet 9 mos out of the year. Other than that, I loved it

Yakima, for being land-locked and having snow was probably the best 4 years of our lives, really. It was just this quaint little town and it was super. The middle of BushCheney country (at the time) and really nothing to do but I loved it. Woudln't move back, but it was cute.

Philadelphia can be swallowed by the earth. Horrible, filthy city filled with horrible, filthy people who can't drive and will kick you in the head (as what happened to me) when I asked so politely (no, really) if I could pass someone who was chatting on the stairs of the bus so I could get to the other bus that was pulling away. Worst 3 years of my life living in that Shit-hole. And people want to pay $750k for a 2bd pre-fab in NoLibs? No way. Just awful. I thought it was so charming when we did our extended weekend there, enough to move there. HA! Worst. Drivers. EVER> Oh, I still work long distance there from home. And the taxes suck. Glad that my distance work exempts me from the taxes ha ha ha.

I do like Tampa/St Pete/Clearwater. Everyone rags on Fl, and NoFl and the panhandle can get a little Floribama to it, and I wouldn't wanna live there. There's good and bad about everywhere, except for Philadelphia which should just get hit by an asteroid. This area is pretty blue. There are assholes who drive around with rebel flags on their trucks, and yet I still see Bernie and Hillary stickers on cars every day that I drive.

Every single day I have great blue herons and egrets and flocks of ibis in my front yard. I have a flock of Monks parrots that live in a tree behind my house that come to the feeders. Pelicans that fly next to the car when we drive across the bridge to Tampa and I'm within a 5 mins drive to Tampa Bay, and prob 20 mins to the Gulf.

I have access to more waterways than I can count, and practically every weekend throughout the year we're on the water. I'm at work now and have tons of school to do afterwards but I've got pics of us on the water the day after T'giving in short-sleeves, and on New Years day getting a sunburn. It got a little dicey in Feb, bt it was warm shortly after and I have a year round tan-ish.

I have veg growing in my back yard year-round thanks to the 2 growing seasons and yeah, it gets hot in the summer time but that's why God created AC. I don't run the heater in the winter except for a few days, and I work from home and have a portable heater if it gets chilly (because I sit at a desk so the blood pools) and a portable AC so I don't have to run the HVAC to cool the whole house if I'm just sitting in one room 8 hours a day.

I have green and brown anole lizards that keep my yard active, a whole host of frogs and toads in the spring-thru-fall and albino geckos chirping all night by the outdoor lights.

I love living here. We have a small sailboat called a Sunfish and 2 kayaks. we had a power boat but it was just too much. I'm not a get-up-at 8am to beat the traffic at the boat ramp person, so we're selling it. The kayaks are enough for us.

Business is booming. There are assholes and "Florida Man" everywhere. I don't hear a lot of trump talk down here but based on what you read on DU you'd think there's a rebel flag in my front yard and a GO TRUMP sticker on every car. Maybe elsewhere but not in Tampa, Clearwater, or St Pete. St Pete is a bit more liberal than Tampa, which can be pretty Red given that it gets rural to the east and north. At least here on the peninsula you're kidn of penned in, close to the water. Yeah, there's yahoo's but I don't hear it or see it. Everyone I interact with are liberals, and I live in a liberal area.

It's nowhere near as blue as SF, Chicago, or NY, but it's not Oklahoma, and it's not Jacksonville, and it's not Pennsyltucky. It's a good place, and it's turning far more blue than red, esp. after the hurricane with a lot of the folks from PR coming over.

Let me know if you settle here. I'll take you to the Thumb and we can get a brewski

Don't go telling people about our secret place in Fla... The word might get out!
Interesting you and yours are RN's. My friends in Dunedin are nurses also and I was a X-ray/CT tech for over 40 years... small world!...
mitch...

Tampa would be warmer though. I live in the same latitude as St Augustine and it can be a little chilly here. By chilly, I mean the 50s.

Living in Chicago, winter temps in the 50's sound toasty to me.