need some help finding an area to live

[o1yellowGT]

I mentioned a couple weeks ago we may be moving to the Tampa area..Well I got the call yesterday and was offered a promotion which I accepted..Heres the downside , they want me there the 10th..I really dont know the area that well and was wondering which areas would be best..I have a wife and 3 kids so the school system and a safe area are a must..

I heas wesley Chapel , Seven oaks...Any others that we should look into ? We will be there this weekend to look around bt dont want to waste time..We need to look between Brandon and Tampa..

We'd appreciate any help we can get..

thanks

Sean

[ShakinIt]

The traffic is HORRIBLE in the Brandon area and it's an older, not as nice area.....


Now the area you mentioned, Wesley Chapel/Land O Lakes and Seven Oaks is very nice, is a growing area, great schools, very little crime, pretty much everything is new. Several malls are being built in the area. Traffic is not great, but not as bad as Brandon. And, it's in Pasco County, and taxes and insurance is much cheaper here, but you are still very close to Tampa and everything else.

But, really, it all depends.....where and when are you going to be working?

[95coBraSVT]

Wesley chapel exit is the WORST during rush hour. I've never seen such IDIOTS driving as those that are in a hurry to get off the freeway at that exit. They clog up I-75 for about a mile back just trying to get home. The traffic at that exit is a nitemare and needs to be looked at by minds greater than mine to find a cure for it since it will just become worse. Maybe widening the freeway right there instead of NARROWING IT DOWN right before the exit!?!? I swear....real geniuses working in govt here folks.

Personally, I have only lived in downtown Tampa for about 6 months. Prior to that, I lived in Spring Hill. Nice area there, but a LOT of sinkholes. Pasco is full of low income people although Wesley Chapel is the exception. The schools in Florida SUCK in general. There really aren't ANY "good" schools here. Best option: Homeschool if you can. Here all the teachers worry about is the Fcat test and prepping the kids for the Fcat test. It stresses out the kids and then the parents get mad because the teachers are hounding the kids. It's a real mess.

[Duceanahalf]

Scott is a Realtor in brandon

[ShakinIt]

Wesley chapel exit is the WORST during rush hour. I've never seen such IDIOTS driving as those that are in a hurry to get off the freeway at that exit. They clog up I-75 for about a mile back just trying to get home. The traffic at that exit is a nitemare and needs to be looked at by minds greater than mine to find a cure for it since it will just become worse. Maybe widening the freeway right there instead of NARROWING IT DOWN right before the exit!?!? I swear....real geniuses working in govt here folks.

Personally, I have only lived in downtown Tampa for about 6 months. Prior to that, I lived in Spring Hill. Nice area there, but a LOT of sinkholes. Pasco is full of low income people although Wesley Chapel is the exception. The schools in Florida SUCK in general. There really aren't ANY "good" schools here. Best option: Homeschool if you can. Here all the teachers worry about is the Fcat test and prepping the kids for the Fcat test. It stresses out the kids and then the parents get mad because the teachers are hounding the kids. It's a real mess.

I75 will be expanded soon.....at trust me, I go through that exit everyday and it is no where near as bad as Brandon......and again, it all depends on the time....plus SR56/54 are being expanded so that will empty traffic faster too....


And it's the school board's curriculum that pushes teachers to push FCAT training, not the teachers.....trust me, my wife is a teacher and they hate how they are pushed to do that......it's the school boards and this class size amendment crap and FCAT crap that fucks up the system...not the teachers....but, you are wrong, there are still GREAT schools.....especially in the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area....

[2klara]

Like everyone said, the Wesley Chapel area is a nice area especially for a family. I live in Land O' Lakes near 54/56, I used to live in the New Tampa area before that. That area is very up and coming. Seven oaks is a nice community(cookie cutter IMO), but close to everything. Good luck with everything.

[o1yellowGT]

I work for Best Buy and will be working at the Brandon location...

I have talked to Scott , unfortunately I need this to happen as fast as possible and he is away this weekend.

I think we are looking toward the wesley chapel/seven oaks area..Thanks for the help guys..
Brandon is tough wih traffic I use to live there by the autozone (?) I cant remember the street name..It is the rd that Costco is on..

[REDLIGHTRACER]

trinity (city in pasco zip 34655) is awesome place to live !
it is located at little road and trinity blvd! great schools and shopping and great food (outback bone fish ect) in your back yard!

[quicksig]

I moved to Zephyrhills just across the Wesley Chapel line (same basic area) a year and a half ago and haven't minded it a bit. Got a pretty good amount of house for my money (and there are even better buys now with new construction being what it is) and there is a lot of stuff popping up out here. New Publix plaza going in right by my house and some new mall coming to the area. Taxes/insurance in Pasco county are less than Hillsborough (Tampa/New Tampa). Just be sure to get some insurance quotes before buying as there was only 1 other company next to Citizens (expeeeeensive) who would insure my brand new house!

The commute to Brandon will be all I-75 and, while traffic sucks everywhere down here, it's not unbearable. Good luck and feel free to shoot me any questions about the area up here.

[95coBraSVT]

I75 will be expanded soon.....at trust me, I go through that exit everyday and it is no where near as bad as Brandon......and again, it all depends on the time....plus SR56/54 are being expanded so that will empty traffic faster too....


And it's the school board's curriculum that pushes teachers to push FCAT training, not the teachers.....trust me, my wife is a teacher and they hate how they are pushed to do that......it's the school boards and this class size amendment crap and FCAT crap that fucks up the system...not the teachers....but, you are wrong, there are still GREAT schools.....especially in the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area....I-75 needs to be expanded last year, not "soon". There is no sign of construction on it, and no survey crews, so any "words" of an expansion MIGHT be followed up upon and actually carried out in three to four years. Maybe.

SR56/54 have begun the construction process, and it is a veritable NITEMARE. It will be for about a year to come until they finish the construction there. This project COULD be expanded to include the freeway also. I just don't know. Either way, it will still be about 2-3 years before something on the freeway is done.

The school system is failed here in Florida. Anyone who says otherwise is not looking hard enough. or is biased. My children have been in three schools in both Pasco and Hernando counties. Not because they were kicked out, but because we PULLED them out. The teachers weren't doing ANYTHING. I just heard from a friend who has her child in a PRIVATE school. The math teacher is litterally giving the kids ear plugs and a math book and telling them to "work at their own pace". WTF? My friend said she is pulling her son out of that school ASAP and re-enrolling him at the school she works at. She is a therapist, not a regular teacher. Let us not forget Deborah LaFave.

We moved here from Seattle three years ago to open a business. Why we haven't left yeat is beyond me. Maybe because my business is doing "ok". :nerd: If I thought for a minute that my business would survive there and I had the money to do it, I would move it in a heartbeat. However, I feel that I am far better at teaching my childern than the underpaid (some of the worst paid in the country) and overworked teachers here in Florida. :dunno: This is just my opinion though, even though their test scores show it too.

[EFI-Unlimited]

I like the Westchase area. Near Sheldon and Linebaugh. Easy to be anywhere quick, but Brandon might be a little stretch to go to work. Check it out though.

Brian

[Ford DNA]

I work for Best Buy and will be working at the Brandon location...

I have talked to Scott , unfortunately I need this to happen as fast as possible and he is away this weekend.

I think we are looking toward the wesley chapel/seven oaks area..Thanks for the help guys..
Brandon is tough wih traffic I use to live there by the autozone (?) I cant remember the street name..It is the rd that Costco is on..

Just get anywhere near I-75 since the Best Buy is right off the interstate. Anywhere WEST of I-75 is okay for traffic. East is a BITCH. It's not a good situation either way, but 54 east of I-75 is a freaking nightmare. There is a Best Buy opening up right there at 54 and 75, so if there's any chance of another transfer, that might work out perfect.

New Tampa is right there by Wesley Chapel, too. Easy access to 75.

The biggest problem is heading north on 75 in the afternoons. You might want to look into Riverview and Gibsonton...then you'd be going south on 75. Plenty of newer subdivisions there.

Anywhere with newer subdivisions is going to be a pain in the ass with traffic no matter what. So if you're expecting traffic, you'll be fine.

[Ford DNA]

I moved to Zephyrhills just across the Wesley Chapel line (same basic area) a year and a half ago and haven't minded it a bit. Got a pretty good amount of house for my money (and there are even better buys now with new construction being what it is) and there is a lot of stuff popping up out here. New Publix plaza going in right by my house and some new mall coming to the area. Taxes/insurance in Pasco county are less than Hillsborough (Tampa/New Tampa). Just be sure to get some insurance quotes before buying as there was only 1 other company next to Citizens (expeeeeensive) who would insure my brand new house!

The commute to Brandon will be all I-75 and, while traffic sucks everywhere down here, it's not unbearable. Good luck and feel free to shoot me any questions about the area up here.

I live in Zephyrhills, too, and I love it here. I'd rather deal with the old people than live in "the city." Easy trip down 301 to Fowler to get to I-75. Just kind of dangerous..crazy drivers on 301. I'd be dead a dozen times if I didn't pay attention to the oncoming, suicidal idiots.

[95coBraSVT]

RentTheBay.com – Homes for rent in Tampa FL - Rent Condos in Clearwater, Landlord Resources, Renter Information and more! (http://www.rentthebay.com) A friend of mine's business. If you're into renting he should be able to help you out.

[ShakinIt]

Just get anywhere near I-75 since the Best Buy is right off the interstate. Anywhere WEST of I-75 is okay for traffic. East is a BITCH. It's not a good situation either way, but 54 east of I-75 is a freaking nightmare. There is a Best Buy opening up right there at 54 and 75, so if there's any chance of another transfer, that might work out perfect.

New Tampa is right there by Wesley Chapel, too. Easy access to 75.

The biggest problem is heading north on 75 in the afternoons. You might want to look into Riverview and Gibsonton...then you'd be going south on 75. Plenty of newer subdivisions there.

Anywhere with newer subdivisions is going to be a pain in the ass with traffic no matter what. So if you're expecting traffic, you'll be fine.


Best Buy at the Grove on SR54/75 is already open.......that would be perfect if you worked there.....you could live in Seven Oaks and have a 5 minute drive to work....

[o1yellowGT]

I think its going to be Riverview or Valrico..F that WC traffic !!! WOW.. On a sat even..Appreciate all the help.. We got screwed by our realtor ..He no showed so we wound up cold calling reators to find a place we could see same day lol...We saw 4 and liked maybe 1..

Extended stay here we come lol///

[GNs-r-slow]

I live in Riverview and like being there. If you need to go in Brandon there are plenty of short cuts that they have opened recenctly. Makes life very easy. Be careful if you buy in riverview with the CDD fees and HMA fees.