Relocating to Tampa/St Petersburg

[fishinthepilins]

After 40 New England winters, I've decided to "head south 'fore my dream shrinks". I've spent a couple of months exploring, and have decided on the Tampa/St Petersburg area. I'd greatly appreciate any suggestions or warnings from the phlock.

I plan to rent for 6-12 months until I get a good feeling for the area. I just spent a week in St Pete interviewing, and looking at apartments, but didn't get much of a look at Tampa. I'm at different stages of interviewing in both cities, so I'm not sure where I'll be working yet. My biggest question is if I start looking at apartments in Tampa, what parts of the city should I look at, or avoid? Safe, cheap, comfortable is my order of priority.

I'd also appreciate employment suggestions. My abridged resume is: 15 yrs. sales (former new car dealership general manager), 4 years financial services (NASD series 7,63,66) recent BA in accounting.

Thanks!

[z-man]

Welcome to our corner of paradise!

Great choice of places!

Tampa-St. Pete is probably the best area in the state for the combination of business/weather/activities.

If you are going to be here Feb 25, you need to join us in Plant City (just east of Tampa) and meet your BN neighbors from Tampa and central Florida .

[ToplessRideFL]

After 40 New England winters, I've decided to "head south 'fore my dream shrinks". I've spent a couple of months exploring, and have decided on the Tampa/St Petersburg area. I'd greatly appreciate any suggestions or warnings from the phlock.!

Congrats on your decision to move. There are several of us in The Tampa Bay area... we cover from the beaches to the Easternmost part of Hillsborough County.

I have lived here since 1976. And lived in Indian Rocks Beach, Seminole, Clearwater and now in Plant City. And most of that time I worked in Tampa...so commuting has been a way of life. Where you live should be decided by how much you want to drive to your job.

If you want to be on the beach you should live in Pinellas County. Depending on your standards of living, beach rentals can be pricey... but there are great deals out there of you look.....hard!

The most central area to live in in Pinellas County is the Feather Sound area... the 4th Street / Gateway area is a bit less pricey... they both are at the western end of the Howard Franklin Bridge. Its a 20 minute drive to almost any where in St Pete, Clearwater or Tampa.

There is also the Rocky Point area of Tampa. Just west of the airport off Route 60 Many apartments are springing up off a road called Memorial Highway.

Besides the beaches there are pricey areas everywhere these days... but towns like Belleair in Pinellas and "New Tampa" and Hyde Park in Downtown Tampa are some of the higher priced digs.

A reasonable area in Pinellas is near US 19 and Route 60. There are alot of apts. Many offer 7 month leases, which will give you time to look around, secure employment and get settled.

Places to avoid? Hmmm in Tampa the neighborhoods off Hillsborough Avenue between Nebraska and 56th Street can be a bit tough. As can some areas of Seminole Heights in Tampa. St Pete has Jordan Park area which I would avoid.. and in Clearwater the Greenwood area has a similar reputation....

As for jobs... there are a zillion financial service centers.... and more car dealerships... you should have no trouble!

Feel free to PM me for more info... and I want to remind you that on February 25 there is a phlocking in Plant CIty...so if you are here by then...please come over for the party!!!

[ToplessRideFL]

I forgot to mention... there are several free apartment hunter type books / mags available... did you pick them up while you were here? If not, I am happy to send them your way... a good source for non complex type places is the St Pete Times and the Tampa Tribune... and I would check out monster.com careerbuilder.com american job bank (http://www.ajb.org/) and the newspapers for job leads.

[fishinthepilins]

Thank you both! I do have a stack of apt. guides, now I have a better idea where to concentrate. I'll try to schedule my next interview trip around the 25th! We hope to be there for good around March 1.

[longlinergirl]

Read some Tim Dorsey books before you move...

[Gulfbreeze]

Thank you both! I do have a stack of apt. guides, now I have a better idea where to concentrate. I'll try to schedule my next interview trip around the 25th! We hope to be there for good around March 1.

If you come earlier than that let me know. I'd be happy to drive you around the area. (I'd avoid the Feather Sound area though...Ulmerton Road is a beatch any time of the day).

[ToplessRideFL]

(I'd avoid the Feather Sound area though...Ulmerton Road is a beatch any time of the day).

Unless you get a job across the street @ Raymond James.....

[Gulfbreeze]

(I'd avoid the Feather Sound area though...Ulmerton Road is a beatch any time of the day).

Unless you get a job across the street @ Raymond James.....

Dolphin Landings is hiring

[fishinthepilins]

Thank you both! I do have a stack of apt. guides, now I have a better idea where to concentrate. I'll try to schedule my next interview trip around the 25th! We hope to be there for good around March 1.

If you come earlier than that let me know. I'd be happy to drive you around the area. (I'd avoid the Feather Sound area though...Ulmerton Road is a beatch any time of the day).

Thanks! That's very generous of you! I drove through Treasure Island several times last week. Its very nice! We went over one night just for the sunset. I'll definitely contact you when I'm coming down again.

[fishinthepilins]

I did email a resume to Raymond James. Have any suggestions on getting it looked at?

As for Dolphin Landings, I'm a little old to be a deck hand, and just took my first sailing class last summer. Need a bookkeeper?

[ToplessRideFL]

I did email a resume to Raymond James. Have any suggestions on getting it looked at?

Wow... Ummmmm I used to... cannot recall now....

But I always suggest u circumvent HR and find the person in charge of the position you want... (ez to do).. then call that person and ask if he can use someone with your skills... (list 2 : or 3). When he says yes, ask him if you can send your resume to him for a professional opinion....wink:

Oh...and another thing.... DO NOT PUT an out of the area address on your resume without specifiying that you will be in town on (Specific) date... Florida employers are more unique in that regard.

[Gulfbreeze]

Thanks! That's very generous of you! I drove through Treasure Island several times last week. Its very nice! We went over one night just for the sunset. I'll definitely contact you when I'm coming down again.

Excellent...I've driven to Tampa for the last 4 years...the commute isn't too bad depending on what time of day just like any other city...but the payoff of living here is well worth it...I'm only one block from the beach and found a very cool place for very reasonable.

I lived in north Tampa when I first moved to FL, lasted less than a year...didn't like it...

You've seen where I live...I'm happy...

[Gulfbreeze]

I did email a resume to Raymond James. Have any suggestions on getting it looked at?

As for Dolphin Landings, I'm a little old to be a deck hand, and just took my first sailing class last summer. Need a bookkeeper?

You haven't seen some of the crew....

[balcony girls]

I'd also like to offer any help I can give you re: finding a place. . .

I live in Gulfport. . also a very sweet little place . . .

lots to choose from . . .come be our neighbor . . ! !

the hardest part is trying to decide where to eat . .! !

many, many good places here to grab " a bite and a beer by the sea " . .! !